Marvel Animation Can Save the MCU

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been at the center of discussion for months now as audiences try to fathom how the shared comic book landscape will move forward in the coming phases. With concepts like Marvel Spotlight and Special Presentations bringing some variety to Marvel Studios’ slate and further shows on Disney+ introducing new characters, it seems that the MCU isn’t slowing down anytime soon despite a decrease in quantity.

However, the future of the MCU might not be in the live-action projects that take the majority of the focus. Instead, it could be in the realms of animation, with shows like What If…? and X-Men ’97, that these Marvel characters live on. Indeed, while DC enjoys an extensive animated library and Marvel’s animated archives are very healthy, it’s plausible that Marvel Studios will pivot entirely to animated projects down the line, and the Marvel Animation studio is the first step.

The MCU Will End One Day

The Marvel Cinematic Universe will likely have to come to an end at some point as changing times prove that audience interest may not remain strong forever. A new equilibrium with superhero films has come and while there are so many exciting projects that will likely do well at the box office in the coming years, it seems that the audience perception is that the MCU peaked with Avengers: Endgame. The upcoming slate could, of course, turn that around, but with the DCU posing a genuine threat to the MCU as it makes its own way in the industry, it’s plausible that the MCU is may consider a conclusion in the coming decades. There are only so many stories to tell in this cinematic landscape, and although there will always be more comics to adapt, feasibly, Marvel is going to reach a point where most of the most popular and beloved stories have been covered in some capacity. Sure, there’s room for consistent reboots to tell those same stories, but audiences will only get more fatigued by that repetition. Major work is going into ‘saving the MCU’ right now, but the one thing that cannot be accounted for is time.

The actors are getting older, the characters more familiar and the audience is maturing and changing. The more time passes, the more likely it is that the MCU will fade from relevancy. Recycling beats from the past or swapping in new actors won’t be the answer Marvel Studios is searching for. Of course, a brand-new universe with completely different versions of these characters, akin to the Ultimate Universe, is an avenue with a lot of potential, but there will still be comparisons to that golden era that will be hard to avoid. With projects like the Fantastic Four, Marvel is going retro and trying to change up the period and genre. Risks like those are sure to pay off and keep things fresh. And there are characters set up for the future, like the Young Avengers, who can continue the MCU long after the likes of Hawkeye, Thor, and Captain Marvel have stood down. But one of the initiatives Marvel has put into action might actually provide more longevity for the MCU and the characters audiences love.

Marvel Animation is the Next Phase of Development

The next phase of Marvel involves a new studio named Marvel Animation. The trailer for X-Men ’97 highlighted this name change, but the studio isn’t a new one. What If…?, I Am Groot, and a few other younger properties have fallen under this banner, and there are set to be other animated projects produced by the studio in the future. Marvel Animation will feature shows and potential films that crossover with or live side-by-side with the MCU. Most of these stories will be a part of the wider Multiverse and might even feature in movies like Avengers: Secret Wars down the line. Returning voice actors have been lending their familiar tones to their iconic characters, and other tremendous actors have stepped up where performers haven’t been available. Marvel Animation is a studio that can take risks that the main MCU simply cannot afford from a financial perspective. With What If…? Season 3 likely boasting even wackier narratives and shows like Eyes Of Wakanda opening up aspects of the Universe fans haven’t seen enough of. It’s obvious that Marvel will be making the most of this new avenue.

Right now, the end goal of Marvel Animation isn’t obvious. While the MCU has specific phases for Marvel Studios to build its releases around, the road map for Marvel Animation is a lot more varied and erratic, with a timeline that doesn’t have to make much sense. That’s a good thing, as it opens the door for any kind of project to be produced based purely on its quality. Original characters can be debuted like Kahhori, and stories that might never make it into live-action, such as the Marvel Zombies arc, are given space to grow organically. Marvel Animation is thus not only a perfect move for Marvel Studios at present, as it both adds to the shared continuity and acts separate from the mainline movies and Disney+ series, but it’s also a massive investment for the future. Indeed, the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse may eventually bring projects like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man closer together, but the medium can also act as a replacement for live-action releases down the line.

The MCU Could Live on as an Animated Universe

The MCU will one day face its end and Marvel Animation has been set up as another tool for Disney to continue to tell these comic book stories. It seems that the problem could be served by the solution. Marvel Animation could easily continue the MCU beyond the conclusion of the live-action projects. The current slate is fantastic for setting the tone of the animated studio and its projects, getting audiences used to this style of storytelling with these characters, and allowing the studio itself to grow and mature. Once the MCU has reached its end on the big screen, those characters could easily live on in an animated universe where new bold stories are told. The actors could return to voice their iconic heroes and villains even as they age, and as actors leave like Chris Evans or Robert Downey Jr., new voice performers can take their place, as has happened in What If…? An animated universe would provide the chance to bring old shows back into canon, like Runawaysand Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. because it will probably be serving a more hardcore fan base than the mainline MCU movies.

Whether Marvel genuinely looks into this route to keep the MCU alive in a post-superhero world is up for debate, but the idea has significant potential. It may well be that continued reboots, much like what Spider-Man and Batman have experienced, will ensure these characters are reinvented for newer generations, with the main Earth-616 fading into the background of a wider shared universe. But, if Disney wants this original continuity to remain intact, then this might be the most logical way to do so. The audience could be depleted, but this cost-efficient proposal means that quality storytelling can be the primary focus of any future projects. Comic arcs fans never would have thought would be adapted to live-action could be realized in animation without any limitations. That’s an exciting prospect for those who don’t want the MCU continuity to be dropped forever.