History: (Pryde of the X-Men cartoon special - BTS) - Professor Charles Xavier founded the X-Men, a team of mutants working to achieve his dream of mutant and human coexistence. However, at the same time mutant supremacist Magneto formed the Brotherhood of Mutant Terrorists which attracted other mutant criminals that joined his cause. While the X-Men worked from the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, the Brotherhood of Mutant Terrorists worked from Asteroid M, a space station.
(Pryde of the X-Men cartoon special (fb) - BTS) - When Magneto learned that the comet Scorpio would pass by Earth he planned to let it impact Earth to wipe out humankind, leaving mutants to rule the planet. To do so Magneto planned to steal the X-Men's mutant-power circuit of Cerebro with whom he could change the comet's course. Magneto sent Blob and Pyro to retrieve the comet's coordinates from a space satellite to lure the X-Men away from their mansion.
(Pryde of the X-Men cartoon special) - Professor X watched as his X-Men trained in the Danger Room when his newest student, Kitty Pryde arrived at the mansion. After Pryde was introduced to the X-Men, an alarm sounded throughout the mansion, signaling a mutant alert. Leaving Kitty Pryde and Professor Xavier behind, the X-Men boarded the Blackbird jet and flew to a deep-space observatory to face Blob and Pyro. Meanwhile Magneto and Juggernaut stormed the mansion. While Juggernaut dealt with Xavier, Magneto hunted Pryde who tried keeping the mutant-power circuit save. Magneto easily dealt with Pryde and acquired the circuit after which the duo retreated to Asteroid M.
The X-Men subsequently arrived back at the Mansion after their mission to the deep-space observatory to learn of their attack and Magneto's plan to use the Circuit to amplify his own magnetic abilities and move the Scorpio comet into the path of Earth, Xavier joined the X-Men as they set course for Magneto's space-based headquarters, Asteroid M.
(Pryde of the X-Men cartoon special) - While the X-Men breached Asteroid M, Xavier stayed behind on the Blackbird, and confronted Kitty Pryde who'd snuck aboard. After being allowed to follow the X-Men she helped the mutant heroes face off against Magneto and his Brotherhood. Holding Magneto off long enough for Nightcrawler to hold on to the power circuit to steer the comet away from Earth. Realizing he was defeated, Magneto fled after which Asteroid M broke apart due to the comet's vicinity. Victorious, the X-Men returned home.
(X-Men Arcade Game) - When Magneto had appeared again, he wielded an army of magnetically-controlled Sentinels with whom he once again aimed to destroy the world. Professor X sent the X-Men to stop Magneto from destroying the city while he and Kitty Pryde stayed behind, unbeknownst to them Magneto actually wanted to lure the X-Men away from the school so he could abduct Xavier and Pryde.
(X-Men Arcade Game - BTS) - With the X-Men gone, Magneto successfully abducted Xavier and Pryde. Xavier, however, managed to send a telepathic warning to his X-Men, informing them of their capture and current location of Island M, Magneto's ocean-based headquarters.
(X-Men Arcade Game - BTS) - Making their way to Island M, the X-Men faced seemingly endless waves of enemies, including Sentinels, alligator-men, mutated flower creatures, toxic hornets, sand creatures and even the white-haired Wendigo guarding the entrance to Magneto's base. In the underground passageway the X-Men faced off against Nimrod after which they successfully rescued Kitty Pryde who urged them to rescue the Professor as well. Making their way even deeper into Magneto's Island M complex, "Professor X" appeared ordering them to follow him to Magneto. Unaware he was impersonated by mutant shapeshifter Mystique, the X-Men followed him only to be dropped near the lava-core of the island. After dealing with more of Magneto's forces the X-Men received a telepathic message from the real Xavier, informing them Magneto had taken him to his asteroid base, Asteroid M, from where he would attack Earth.
(X-Men Arcade Game) - Following Xavier's orders, the X-Men followed a giant Sentinel into space to locate Asteroid M. The X-Men once more engaged Magneto's gauntlet of villains, having defeated Mystique the X-Men freed the real Professor X after which they finally faced off against Magneto himself. The X-Men returned to Earth victorious just as Asteroid M was destroyed, always vigilant should Magneto and his evil mutants return to threaten mankind again.
Comments: X-Men created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby;
adapted by Larry Parr and Marvel Productions. (see Appearances list for full list of artists)
Pryde of the X-Men was Marvel's first and failed attempt at creating an actual X-Men animation series. The project started in 1987 with Marvel Productions President Margaret Loesch deciding to invest $300,000 in a pilot episode she could pitch to TV executives in hopes of convincing them there was merit in an X-Men cartoon series. The result was Pryde of the X-Men, which failed to get picked up by any of the networks at the time. In their book X-Men the art and making of the animated series writers Eric and Julia Lewald blame this commercial flop on too many corporate "cooks" spoiling the proverbial broth with notes and suggestions the creative team had to incorporate. They list examples like: "Crocodile Dundee is popular - let's make Wolverine Australian!" "Let's put twenty extra Marvel characters in it so we can sell toys!". As a result, Pryde of the X-Men didn't work, both as a story and a showcase for a series despite having faithful character design and sharp animation. In 1992, Margaret Loesch, now head of children's programming at FOX, pitched the idea for X-Men again along with members of the original creative team. The result was X-Men: The Animated Series which went on for five seasons and delivered definite proof that the X-Men would work as an animated series.
The Pryde of the X-Men was adapted into a comic book in December 1990, using stills from the cartoon, called the X-Men Animation Special GN (adapted by Danny Fingeroth and edited by Bob Budiansky). Quite a bit of dialogue was altered in this special, including the name of the Brotherhood calling them the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants instead of Brotherhood of Mutant Terrorist in the cartoon. While some dialogue is different, the overall story and plot are exactly the same.
Pryde of the X-Men takes place on Earth-652975 and their storyline continued in the X-Men Arcade Game. Although its the only example we know of from any Marvel animated series we've seen this same principle applied between movies and games. For example Ang Lee's 2003 Hulk movie and game.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
Earth-652975 has no known connections to:
- Earth-8096, Wolverine and the X-Men cartoon reality
- Earth-11052 , X-Men: Evolution cartoon reality
- Earth-92131, X-Men: The Animated Series cartoon reality
- Earth-101001, X-Men: Anime cartoon reality
- or any other "X-Men" reality
images: (without ads)
Pryde of the X-Men poster (main image)
Pryde of the X-Men cartoon special (X-Men team on the horizon)
X-Men Arcade Game (arcade game)
Pryde of the X-Men cartoon special, model sheet
Appearances:
Pryde of the X-Men cartoon special (September 16, 1989) - Larry Parr (writer, story editor), Russ Heath, Carol Lundberg (models), E.R. Cruz (background layouts), Will Meugniot, Larry Houston, Rick Hoberg (story editors, storyboard editors), Neal Warner, Rudy Cataldi, Tom Ray, Eileen Dunn, Charlie Downs, Margaret Nichols, Stan Phillips (animation directors)
X-Men Animation Special Graphic Novel (December, 1990) - Danny Fingeroth (writer), Janice Chiang (letterer), Bob Budiansky (editor)
X-Men Arcade Game (1992) - K. Hattori, Captain Oe (visual design), Y. Asano (design works), Lee (chief producer, director)
First Posted: 03/19/2023
Last Updated: 03/19/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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