Marvel Studios has unveiled the financial commitment behind its animated streaming series, revealing a $19.6 million (£15.5 million) investment in a forthcoming production. This marks a significant venture, distinguishing itself from the studio’s live-action offerings.

Marvel has seen considerable success in animation, with the recent release of X-Men ’97 on Disney+. This sequel to a classic series from 30 years ago has been a success with fans and critics alike. With its good storytelling, faithfulness to the original material, and nostalgic appeal have garnered a 99% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, with audience ratings close behind.

This starkly contrasts the mixed receptions of recent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) live-action films. Marvel Studios Animation, established in 2021, began with the series What If…?. This show reimagined key moments from the MCU, featuring voice performances from many of its stars. Praised for its creativity and anime-inspired visuals, the series received over 90% approval from critics and audiences, leading to a successful second-season debut in December.

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The financial specifics of Disney’s animated productions have typically been shrouded in secrecy, as costs are usually amalgamated into overall expenses. Recent financial filings from Disney for its subsidiary, 4Vibes Productions UK, reveal that $19.6 million was spent over the year ending June 30, 2023.

After a $1.9 million (£1.5 million) reimbursement, net spending was $17.7 million. The project, described as a TV animation production, remains unnamed but is linked to Marvel Studios through its parent company, MVL Productions.

Speculation surrounds the project’s identity, with possible candidates being “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”, “Marvel Zombies”, and “Eyes of Wakanda”.

If this project is indeed Eyes of Wakanda, it raises questions about whether it is a series or an unannounced feature-length film. Directors of “X-Men ’97”, Chase Conley, Emi Yonemura, and Jake Castorena, hinted in April at the potential for a feature-length Marvel Studios Animation movie. Conley noted the audience’s enthusiasm and the benefits of more time and budget for animation.

Yonemura added that an animated “X-Men ’97” movie could rival acclaimed animated films like Sony’s Spider-Verse series or Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Influenced by ’80s and ’90s Japanese animation, the team expressed eagerness to bring such a vision to life.

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