When it comes to animation, fans know that DC is the superior creator. Along with the company's expansive lineup of direct-to-video animated films, fans have also enjoyed some of the best-animated TV series of all time. However, that doesn't mean Marvel doesn't have its own collection of amazing animated shows for fans of the genre.
Marvel has created some great animated projects that are worth checking out, even if they're not as groundbreaking as something like Batman: The Animated Series. With characters like Spider-Man, The X-Men, and the Silver Surfer in its stable, there's no shortage of entertaining stories for fans of all eras.
Updated on June 26, 2023, by Scoot Allan: Modern cartoons like What If...? and the recently-released Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur revival are just the latest to join Marvel's enjoyable roster of animated adaptations. Popular characters like Spider-Man and Iron Man have each received multiple series while teams like the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy have successfully jumped to animation as well.
20 Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes (2006-2010)
1 Season, 26 Episodes
A unique adaptation of Marvel's First Family aired in 2006 called Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes. The anime-inspired series used the origin from 2005's live-action Fantastic Four film, though the series also adapted classic storylines from the comics.
While Fantastic Four: WGH offered a fresh new take on the Marvel heroes, the series never really found its footing with fans and it was pulled from rotation after half the season aired. It would eventually finish airing the rest of the season in a different animation block about three years after it was originally pulled.
19 Spider-Man Unlimited (1999-2001)
1 Season, 13 Episodes
The success of cartoons like Batman Beyond and comic series like Spider-Man 2099 led to a unique new spin on the web-slinger that aired on FoxKids in 1999. Serving as the spiritual successor to the hit '90s Spider-Man cartoon, Spider-Man Unlimited gave the character a flashy high-tech costume and transported him to a new futuristic setting.
Peter Parker created a new nanotech suit inspired by the design of Spider-Man 2099 to aid him on his mission to the High Evolutionary's Counter-Earth, populated by his evolved bestial New Men. Spider-Man Unlimited featured a bold departure for Peter Parker as well as fresh new directions for the Venom and Carnage symbiotes, though the series ultimately ended on a cliffhanger.
18 Iron Man: Armored Adventures (2009-2012)
2 Seasons, 52 Episodes
Tony Stark wore a few of his most powerful Iron Man armors in his own series as well as alongside animated teams like the Avengers. However, a new take on the character appeared in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, which followed a teenage version of Tony Stark.
Similar to Marvel's Spider-Man, Iron Man: Armored Adventures reimagined Tony Stark's origins and sent him to a high-tech school to better perfect his inventions. The 3D computer-generated series was a departure from the classic animation style used in other Marvel cartoons, which helped it stand out from the crowd.
17 Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends (1981-1983)
3 Seasons, 24 Episodes
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends didn't have the best animation, and the dialogue is cheesy on a rewatch. Nevertheless, the 1981 Saturday morning cartoon was the entrance for many kids into the Marvel Universe. On top of that, the show gave audiences an early glimpse of the X-Men in some of their first animated forms.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends featured some comedy, a lot of action, and an exciting concept that appeared in the comics years later. However, the most important part of the show was its introduction of the mutant Firestar – a hero who would have an extensive career in the '90s before joining teams like the Avengers and the X-Men.
16 Fantastic Four (1967-1968)
1 Season, 20 Episodes
Before Hanna-Barbera grabbed hold of DC's Super Friends, it dabbled in the world of Marvel's superheroes. For Fantastic Four, Hanna-Barbera worked with Marvel to ensure the characters were accurate and had the budget to do them some justice.
During its 1967-1968 Saturday morning run, Fantastic Four's 21 episodes strongly focused on the team and their rogues' gallery. It didn't have the grandeur of Jack Kirby's illustrations, but it did have appearances from characters like Silver Surfer, Doctor Doom, and Galactus.
15 The Incredible Hulk (1996-1997)
2 Seasons, 21 Episodes
The Incredible Hulk aired on UPN Kids and featured a fairly comics-accurate depiction of the hero. The Incredible Hulk was similar to Fox's X-Men and Spider-Man for its two-season run. Each episode featured a main plot and a continuing subplot resolved at the season's end.
This version of The Incredible Hulk featured most of Bruce Banner's supporting cast, including Betty Ross and Rick Jones. It even featured alternate versions of the character like the Gray Hulk. In the second season, She-Hulk joined her cousin on numerous adventures. The Incredible Hulk pulled some plots from various comic book storylines, making it a good partner to other media.
14 Spider-Man (1967-1970)
3 Seasons, 52 Episodes
One of the first Marvel series to really capture the audience's attention is the original Spider-Man animated series, which first aired in 1967. The series featured a now-iconic opening intro that has been referenced countless times in other adaptations. Recent animated adaptations like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse even featured the classic Spidey to bring him to the big screen.
While the animation is sometimes laughable and the storylines and villains don't really do the comics justice, the original Spider-Man cartoon is still one of the most nostalgic adaptations of the character. Every Marvel animated series that followed owed something to Spider-Man '67.
13 Silver Surfer (1998)
1 Season, 13 Episodes
After the Silver Surfer appeared in other Marvel cartoons, he starred in his own animated series on Fox Kids in 1998. Combining cel and computer animation, fans praised Silver Surfer for its unique settings rendered in the influential art styles Jack Kirby once produced.
Silver Surfer's 13 seasons followed the "Sentinel of the Spaceways" from his origins as Norrin Radd to his freedom from Galactus which led to his many space adventures. Along the way, he encountered the Kree, Drax the Destroyer, and even the heroic Nova. Though it only lasted for one season, Silver Surfer found new popularity when it started streaming on Disney+.
12 Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2023)
1 Season, 16 Episodes
One of the newest animated additions to Marvel's roster of superheroes is Luna Lafeyette, the brilliant young star of Disney Channel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. As one of the smartest human beings in the Marvel universe, Lafayeete hoped to use her intellect to help her family after a series of devastating blackouts.
She designed a powerful generator, though she accidentally opened a portal that transported the mutant T-Rex known as Devil Dinosaur to her present-day universe. She decided to carry on an old Marvel legacy and joined Devil Dinosaur as a costumed hero. The fantastic cast of Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur successfully debuted a fun new hero for the next generation.
11 Marvel's Spider-Man (2017-2020)
3 Seasons, 58 Episodes
Marvel's Spider-Man started airing in 2017 and took a very unique approach to the character, inspired by the MCU's youthful and brilliant version of Peter Parker. The show followed Peter Parker as he attended the technologically-advanced Horizon High and tried to balance his life as a student while being Spider-Man.
In Marvel's Spider-Man, Peter Parker also befriended other geniuses like Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales, who each appeared in their own superhero alter egos as well. Marvel'sSpider-Man has good action, decent animation, and an excellent cast that has earned it a place among other great adaptations of the character.
10 Avengers Assemble (2013-2019)
5 Seasons, 127 Episodes
After Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes aired two incredible comic-inspired seasons, the subsequent animated adaptation of the Avengers had big shoes to fill. While nowhere as compelling as its predecessor, Avengers Assemble was a solid superhero show that both kids and adults could enjoy.
Ditching the drawn-out storylines of EMH, Avengers Assemble focused on one-off storylines that featured the Avengers fighting against fearsome villains. While the dialogue can get a little grating, the characters' MCU-inspired personalities still shine, and the show's great animation delivered some truly dynamic action sequences.
9 Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-2017)
4 Seasons, 104 Episodes
Ben 10's Man of Action worked with Ultimate Spider-Man co-creator Brian Michael Bendis and Batman: The Animated Series co-creator Paul Dini to bring a new animated version of the hero to DisneyXD. Everyone's favorite web-slinger working with Nick Fury and teamed up with teenage versions of Nova, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and White Tiger to stop some of Marvel's biggest foes.
Ultimate Spider-Man managed to capture everything that made Spider-Man iconic. He cracked bad jokes, faced crises of confidence, and dealt with great responsibilities. It also featured some of Marvel's best TV animation, leading to some genuinely outstanding action sequences and character designs. It's not his best outing, but it's still one of Spider-Man's better shows.
8 Guardians Of The Galaxy (2015-2019)
3 Seasons, 79 Episodes
Guardians of the Galaxy featured the basic set-up of the 2014 film and the same cast of characters. While the cartoon Guardians were not as fleshed out as their big-screen counterparts, the show captured most of what made the Guardians such wonderful characters. Star-Lord was still the lovable numbskull with a heart of gold, and Rocket was still the short-tempered rodent.
Guardians of the Galaxy also had the film's wit, leading to some truly hilarious scenes. Even if the show was never as good as the films, it's hard to dislike a series that featured the Guardians on a rail cart while Venom symbiotes chased them as Starlord listened to "Shake Your Groove Thing." Definitely worth the price of admission.
7 X-Men: Evolution (2000-2003)
4 Seasons, 52 Episodes
X-Men: Evolution followed teenage versions of classic mutant heroes like Cyclops, Jean Grey, Shadowcat, Rogue, and Nightcrawler. They tried to live average lives at a local high school while also training their mutant abilities as the X-Men. When they weren't in school, they helped Professor X, Storm, and Wolverine save mutantkind.
X-Men: Evolution shows its age on a rewatch, as some of the dialogue is reminiscent of late '90s teen melodrama, but that's also part of its charm. The animation holds up surprisingly well for something made in 1999, and the voice acting is top-notch. Perhaps its most recognized contribution to the X-Men franchise was introducing the world to X-23, Wolverine's female clone.
6 What If...? (2021)
1 Season, 9 Episodes
Concurrent with the MCU's Phase Four, What If...? is precisely the sort of series that comic book fans have always wanted. The premise is simple, with each segment plugging different variables into familiar Marvel equations. For example, what if Killmonger prevented the missile from going off that turned Tony Stark into Iron Man?
Other episodes are more outlandish, but What If...? is built on the budding multiversal proceedings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A second series is set for 2023, which will surely push the envelope for interesting twists to comic lore while also setting the tone for what's to come in Phase Five.
5 Wolverine And The X-Men
1 Season, 26 Episodes
Wolverine and the X-Men had everyone's favorite mutant taking the front stage as the team's leader. After an attack on the X-Mansion disbanded the team, Wolverine re-formed the X-Men to save the future. Created by Thor: Ragnarok writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost, Wolverine and the X-Men featured some of the best storytelling and character development seen in the X-Men franchise.
Wolverine and The X-Men was one of many shows created and released when Disney purchased Marvel. As a result, the series suffered from financial problems, and Disney canceled it after one season. WTXM ended on a cliffhanger that teased the villainous Apocalypse and an animated adaptation of the hit Age of Apocalypse storyline.
4 Spider-Man: The Animated Series
5 Seasons, 65 Episodes
The '90s version of Spider-Man has a place in many fans' hearts. For some, it was the first introduction to Spider-Man and the world of Marvel. Unlike other versions of Spider-Man, which featured him as a high school student, Peter was in college in Spider-Man: TAS. It might have made this version of Peter Parker less relatable for younger fans, but it allowed for new stories.
As fans grew up, many of them saw this version as Peter Parker's most relatable incarnation. Spider-Man: TAS isn't perfect. The animation has aged badly and moves at such a fast pace that it can feel rushed. That said, Spider-Man: TAS had solid action, great writing, and effectively portrayed Spider-Man's complicated world.
3 The Spectacular Spider-Man
2 Seasons, 26 Episodes
A lot of Spider-Man fans hail The Spectacular Spider-Man as the definitive take on Marvel's most recognizable character. Spectacular Spider-Man again placed Peter Parker in high school with a lot on his plate. He had to juggle school and his personal life with his heroic calling, and Parker often struggled as a result.
While these are familiar story beats, the execution made Spectacular Spider-Man great. The creative team cared about the subject matter and didn't want to talk down to its audience or skimp on the action.Spectacular Spider-Man only lasted for 26 episodes and ended on a cliffhanger. Fans may never see a proper ending for this version of the Spectacular Web-Slinger.
2 X-Men: The Animated Series
5 Seasons, 76 Episodes
X-Men is still one of the best-animated shows of all time. The hit '90s cartoon featured epic storylines, grandiose action, and well-developed characters who were true to their comic book counterparts. X-Men also handled its themes of prejudice and minority mistreatment while never talking down to its young audience.
X-Men adapted iconic storylines to the small screen much better than its film counterparts, with its portrayal of Days of Future Past clearly outshining the movie version. Some of its silly moments and references are dated, but it still pumped up audiences who were rooting for Mutantkind.
1 Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
2 Seasons, 52 Episodes
Marvel Animation released its first in-house Avengers show which combined elements from both the comics and the MCU. Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes was a love letter to anyone who enjoyed the iconic superhero team. The characters were just as fleshed out as they were in the MCU, the art was stylized in the best possible way, and the in-house animation was top-notch.
With excellent storytelling and great voice acting, it's easy to understand why EMH still has a dedicated fan following. Simply put, Marvel Animation created the closest thing to a rival for DC's Justice League animated series. Unfortunately, it was canceled and replaced with DisneyXD's Avengers Assemble.