Spiderman - The Animated Series

***Spider-Man***, also known as ***Spider-Man: The Animated Series*** (***Spider-Man TAS*** for short), is an American superhero animated television series based on the Marvel Comics superhero of the same name. The show ran on the Fox Kids Network from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998, and ran reruns on the Jetix block on Toon Disney and on Disney XD, with a total of five seasons and sixty-five episodes. The producer/story editor was John Semper Jr. and the production company was Marvel Films Animation.

## Synopsis

The series focuses on Spider-Man and his alter ego Peter Parker during his college years at Empire State University. As the story begins, Peter has already gained his superpowers and is a part-time freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. The show features most of Spider-Man's classic villains, including the Kingpin, the Green Goblin, the Lizard, the Shocker, Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, the Scorpion, Rhino, the Vulture and Venom. Over the course of the series Peter contends with the romantic love interests of Mary Jane Watson, Felicia Hardy and her alter ego, the Black Cat. The show also features appearances from various other Marvel superheroes; including the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, War Machine, Daredevil, Blade, Doctor Strange, the Punisher and Captain America.

### Adaptations

A large number of storylines and events from the comics are loosely adapted in the series, such as:

#### Season 1

* The first episode, "Night of the Lizard", is loosely based on the comic story "Face-to-Face with... the Lizard!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #6 (November 1963).
* The episode "The Spider Slayer" is loosely based on the comic story "Captured By J.Jonah Jameson!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man #25* (June 1965), with the subplot of Flash Thompson dressing up as Spider-Man to scare Peter Parker being taken from "Marked for Destruction by Dr. Doom!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man #5* (October 1963).
* The episode "Return of the Spider Slayer" borrows elements from the comic books including the way Alistair Smythe treated Spider-Man and Jameson is a very similar way to how his father Spencer Smythe treated them in the comic story "24 Hours till Doomsday!" in *The Amazing Spider-Man* #192 (May 1979), the three spider slayers are from "Invasion of the Spider Slayers Part 5: Arachnophobia Too!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #372 (January 1993) and Mary Jane uses her famous line from her first comic appearance: "Face it, Tiger. You just hit the jackpot", in the comic story "The Birth of a Super-Hero!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #42 (November 1966).
* The episode "Doctor Octopus: Armed and Dangerous" is loosely based on the comic story "Spider-Man Versus Doctor Octopus" from *The Amazing Spider-Man #3* (July 1963).
* The episode "The Menace of Mysterio" is loosely based on the comic story "The Menace of... Mysterio!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #13 (June 1964).
* The episode "The Sting of the Scorpion" is based on the comic story "Spidey Strikes Back!"/"The Coming of the Scorpion! OR: Spidey Battles Scorpey!" in *The Amazing Spider-Man* #19-20 (December 1964-January 1965).
* The episode "Kraven the Hunter" is loosely adapted from the comic story of the same name from The Amazing Spider-Man #15.
* The dream sequence from the episode "The Alien Costume, Part One" where the symbiote and the Spider-Man costume fight over Peter Parker is adapted in the comic story "The Sinister Secret of Spider-Man's New Costume!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #258 (November 1984).
* The end of the episode "The Alien Costume, Part Two" where Spider-Man uses the bell to get free from the symbiote is adapted in the comic story "'Til Death Do Us Part!" from *Web of Spider-Man* #1 (April 1985).
* The beginning of the episode "The Alien Costume, Part Three" where Eddie Brock has a wall covered with newspaper clippings of Spider-Man and turns into Venom swearing vengeance on Spider-Man is adapted from the comic story "Chance Encounter" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #298 (March 1988), while the scene where Eddie menaces Peter at Aunt May's home is adapted from the story "The Sand and the Fury" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #317 (July 1989).
* "The Hobgoblin" two-parter is loosely adapted from the comic stories "Secrets!"/"Confessions!"/"Endings!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #249-251 (February–April 1984).
* The episode "Day of the Chameleon" is loosely adapted from the comic story "Spider-Man Vs. the Chameleon!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #1 (March 1963).

#### Season 2

* The episode "The Insidious Six" "and "Battle of the Insidious Six" are both based on the comic story "The Sinister Six!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man Annual* #1 (October 1964).
* In "Battle of the Insidious Six" the scene where Peter is unmasked by the Insidious Six, after Aunt May is kidnapped by them (but he manages to convince them that he is a fraud) is from the comic story "Unmasked By Doctor Octopus!" from *Amazing Spider-Man #12* (May 1964) but instead of Aunt May, it's Betty Brant who is kidnapped by Doctor Octopus by himself.
* The episode "Hydro-Man" is based on the comic story "The Coming of Hydroman!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #212 (January 1981).
* The episodes "The Mutant Agenda" and "Mutants' Revenge" are based on *Spider-Man: The Mutant Agenda* #1-3 (March–May 1994).
* The episodes "Morbius" and "Enter the Punisher" are both based on the comic stories "The Spider or the Man?"/"A Monster Called Morbius!"/"Vampire at Large!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #100-102 (September–November 1971). The Man-Spider plot is loosely adapted from "Fast Descent into Hell!"/"To Sacrifice My Soul..." from *Marvel Fanfare* #1-2 (March 1982 and May 1982).
* "Enter the Punisher" is also based on the comic story "The Punisher Strikes Twice!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #129 (February 1974).
* The episode "Tablet of Time" is based on the comic story "The Web Closes!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #73 (June 1969) with Smythe's robot originating from "Invasion of the Spider Slayers Part 4: One Clue Over The Cuckoo's Nest" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #371 (December 1992).
* The episode "Ravages of Time" is based on the comic stories "If This Be Bedlam!"/"Death Without Warning!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #74-75 (July- August 1969) and "Lifetheft Part One: The Wings of Age"/"Lifetheft Part Two: The Thief of Years"/"Lifetheft Part Three: The Sadness of Truth" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #386-388 (February–April 1994).
* The episode "Shriek of the Vulture" is based on the comic stories "Duel to the Death with the Vulture!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #2 (May 1963) and "The Wings of Age!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #386 (February 1994).
* The episode "The Final Nightmare" is loosely based on "The Thief of Years" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #387 (March 1994).

#### Season 3

* The episode "Make a Wish" is based on the comic stories "Doc Ock Wins!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #55 (December 1967) and "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #248 (January 1984). A flashback to Spider-Man's origin is shown and is adapted from the comic story "Spider-Man!" from *Amazing Fantasy* #15.
* The episode "Attack of the Octobot" is based on the comic stories "Disaster!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #56 (January 1968) and "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #248 (January 1984).
* The episode "Rocket Racer" is based on the comic stories "The Fiend from the Fire!" from *Amazing Spider-Man* #172 (September 1977) and "The Rocket Racer's Back in Town!"/"...And Where the Big Wheel Stops, Nobody Knows!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #182-183 (July–August 1978).
* The episode "The Ultimate Slayer" is loosely based on the comic story "Invasion of the Spider Slayers Part 6: The Bedlam Perspective" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #373 (January 1993).
* The episode "Tombstone" is loosely based on the comic stories "Grave Memory" from *The Spectacular Spider-Man* #139 and "Will!" from *The Spectacular Spider-Man* #142.
* The episode "Venom Returns" is blended from several different comics including "Hearts and Powers"/"Gun From the Heart" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #344-345 (February–March 1991) and "Toy Death!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #359 (February 1992).
* The episode "Carnage" is loosely based on the comic stories "Savage Genesis"/"Savage Alliance"/"Savage Grace!" from "The Amazing Spider-Man" #361-363 (April–June 1992).
* The episode "The Spot" is based on the comic story "True Confessions!"/"Spider on the Spot!" from *Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man* #98-99 (January–February 1985).
* The episode "Goblin War!" is based on the comic story "The Goblin War" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #312 (February 1989).
* The episode "Turning Point" is based on the comic stories "How Green Was My Goblin!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #39 (August 1966) and "The Night Gwen Stacy Died"/"The Goblin's Last Stand!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #121-122 (June–July 1973).

#### Season 4

* The episode "Guilty" is based on "Guilty!"/"Lock-Up" from *The Spectacular Spider-Man* #150-151 (May–June 1989) and "Crash Out!" from *The Spectacular Spider-Man* #155 (October 1989).
* The episode "The Black Cat" is based on "Never Let the Black Cat Cross Your Path!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #194 (July 1979).
* The episode "The Return of the Green Goblin" is based on "The Green Goblin Lives Again!"/"The Green Goblin Strikes!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #136-137 (September–October 1974).

#### Season 5

* The episode "The Wedding" is loosely based on "The Wedding" from *The Amazing Spider-Man Annual* #21 (September 1987).
* The "Six Forgotten Warriors" saga is loosely based on "The Parents of Peter Parker!" from *The Amazing Spider-Man Annual* #5 (November 1968) and "The Assassin-Nation Plot" storyline from *The Amazing Spider-Man* #320-325 (September 1989–November 1989).
* The "Secret Wars" trilogy adapts the 1984 limited series *Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars* (May 1984–April 1985).
* The "Spider Wars" duology adapts the second Clone Saga (October 1994–December 1996).

## Cast and characters

### Main voice cast

* Christopher Daniel Barnes – Peter Parker / Spider-Man
* Ed Asner – J. Jonah Jameson
* Jennifer Hale – Felicia Hardy / Black Cat
* Sara Ballantine (credited as Saratoga Ballantine) – Mary Jane Watson
* Roscoe Lee Browne – Wilson Fisk / Kingpin
* Linda Gary / Julie Bennett – Aunt May Parker
* Gary Imhoff – Harry Osborn / Green Goblin
* Rodney Saulsberry – Joseph "Robbie" Robertson
* Mark Hamill – Hobgoblin
* Hank Azaria – Eddie Brock / Venom

## Production

While Marvel's *X-Men* animated series was being produced by Saban, *Spider-Man* was produced by the newly formed Marvel Films Animation; it was the only series that in-house studio produced, but was animated by TMS-Kyokuchi Corporation, with their subsidiary, Seoul Movie helping their parent company with the show's animation (uncredited). Koko Enterprises Ltd. and Anima Sam Won did additional animation for this series (though they were also uncredited). For many years, the series was the second longest-running Marvel show created, after *X-Men*, as well as the longest-running series based on Spider-Man (until *Ultimate Spider-Man* surpassed its record in 2015). In some episodes, realistic guns were depicted, but only in flashbacks, such as the showing of guns being fired during a flashback about the Punisher's origins where his wife was killed in the crossfire during a crime. In November 2014 podcasts, Semper clarified that the show was not censored more than any other show at the time and that every time this has been brought up to him, he feels it has been blown out of proportion; Semper said that Marvel had no creative control on the TV series because Marvel at the time was in a tough time and close to bankruptcy. In addition, Semper stated that Stan Lee had influence on the show in the first thirteen episodes. The series is currently owned and distributed by The Walt Disney Company (Marvel's parent company), which acquired all Fox Kids-related properties from News Corporation and Saban International in 2001.

### Writing staff

Producer John Semper was the primary credited writer on the show, receiving some sort of writing credit (usually a story, co-story or co-writing credit) on 60 of the 65 produced episodes. He wrote 8 episodes solo; many of his story credits were actually adaptations of previously published comic book stories.

Mark Hoffmeier was a frequent contributor, receiving credits on 16 episodes, while Stan Berkowitz was credited on 9.

Many of the other series writers had previously worked on *Batman: The Animated Series*, including Brynne Stephens, Marv Wolfman, Gerry Conway, Marty Isenberg and Robert N. Skir, Len Wein, and Sean Catherine Derek.

### Animation

To reproduce New York City's appearance, background illustrators undertook a large amount of visual research by using photo archives from above New York, particularly rooftops. Maps were consulted for references and buildings were faithfully reproduced.

It has been reported that the animation cels depicting Manhattan's Pan Am Building (recently renamed the MetLife Building) were scrapped after being complete because the California-based art staff learned the Midtown landmark had been given a new sign more than a year earlier.

The animation staff were directed to populate the city with cars and crowds on the street level. Semper believed that was one of the limitations of earlier Spider-Man animated projects.

Originally, Marvel Films planned to make the backgrounds completely CGI while Spider-Man 'web-swings' around New York, yet due to budget constraints were forced to use traditional cel based animation while occasionally using CGI backgrounds by Video Game Developer Kronos Digital Entertainment. As well, reuse of animation became more common as the series progressed, which also included reuse of animation involving a character speaking (these scenes were sometimes slowed down in order to better match the actor's voice to the animation).

The animated series entirely used digital ink and paint in every episode, although most American animated television shows of the 1990s still use traditional cels such as Bobby's World and Animaniacs by the collaboration of Japanese Animation Studio, TMS Entertainment Co. Ltd.

### Music

Marvel outsourced the show's music to distributors Saban Entertainment, who were also responsible for the music in the concurrent *X-Men* cartoon airing on Fox Kids. The theme for the series was performed by Joe Perry of the hard rock band Aerosmith, although the song was written by Shuki Levy. Levy, Kussa Mahchi and Udi Harpaz are credited as composers of the orchestral background score.

## Reception

*Spider-Man* revieved positive reviews and was commercially successful, receiving praise for its faithfulness to the source material and many classic storylines from the comics. It also garnered exceptionally high ratings for a Saturday morning cartoon and shortly after the premiere became one of the most popular animated television shows at the time of its release. Throughout the years, many consider the series to be one of the best Spider-Man adaptations produced.

Despite the show's outstanding success, the show concluded after only 65 episodes due to disagreements between executive producer Avi Arad and network head Margaret Loesch.[*citation needed*]

### Awards

Writer / Producer John Semper Jr. won an Annie Award in 1995 for Best Individual Achievement for Writing in the Field of Animation for the episode "Day of the Chameleon". *Spider-Man* was also nominated for one 1996 Image Award for Outstanding Animated/Live-Action/Dramatic Youth or Children's Series/Special.

## Merchandising

Three comic book series based on the TV series were produced:

* *Spider-Man Adventures* (December 1994 to February 1996): the first 13 issues each adapted one episode from the first season, and the last two issues were original stories. *Spider-Man Adventures* #1–4 was later reprinted in *Kellogg's Froot Loops Mini-Comics* #1–4.
* *Adventures of Spider-Man* (April 1996 to March 1997): featuring new stories based on the series. *Adventures of Spider-Man* was later reprinted in *Spectacular Spider-Man (UK Magazine)* #11–21 from August 1996 to May 1997.
* *Marvel Adventures* (April 1997 to September 1998): anthology featuring various animated versions of Marvel characters—Spider-Man only appeared sporadically.

A number of video games based on the series were also produced:

* *Spider-Man Cartoon Maker* for the PC
* *Spider-Man Animated Series* for the Super NES and Genesis

Electronic versions of classic Spider-Man comics were released by Marvel that included narration by Christopher Daniel Barnes and featured animation and theme music from this series. Spider-Man novels inspired by selected episodes were also released. A wide variety of themed merchandise (lunch boxes, cereals, clothing, etc.) was produced. McDonald's produced a themed line of Happy Meal toys for the show. However, this paled in comparison to the extensive official toy line that ran over eight series, and included a staggering amount of play sets and vehicles and actually lasted longer than the television series itself.