History WesternAnimation / SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries

'''''Spider-Man: The Animated Series''''' is TheNineties AnimatedAdaptation of the popular superhero ComicBook/SpiderMan. Premiering in 1994, it ran for five seasons on Fox Kids. The animated series chronicles the story of a single, nineteen-year-old Peter Parker attending his first year at Empire State University, trying to get by through his part-time job as a photographer for the ''Daily Bugle'', adjusting to new relationships, and growing into his newfound alter-ego as the amazing Spider-Man. The production history has it meant to be a tie-in to a Creator/JamesCameron made ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' movie that [[DevelopmentHell was never made]] (eventually passed over to Creator/SamRaimi to become the well-known film franchise released over half a decade later).

-->'''Smythe:''' (looking at their smouldering base) Ever hear the phrase, "pyrrhic victory"?

By the time the higher-ups caught on to what they had been up to, the series had become the number one cartoon in America. In the end, it was vindictive internal strife between Marvel Studios and Fox Kids that led the show to be cancelled. The head of Fox Kids Network at the time, Margaret Loesch, had deep antipathy towards show producer Avi Arad and sought to put him out of business. By refusing to order more episodes after the initial 65, she effectively forced the show to be cancelled and, as she had intended, Marvel Films Animation studio went out of business. [[ScrewedByTheNetwork And thus, the award-winning, number-one-rated hit show was brought to a close all thanks to petty internal politics.]]

Nonetheless, the series' legacy lives on. The Saban Entertainment produced ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited'' was an unofficial sequel to this series (they don't really [[ContinuitySnarl work together]], but ''Unlimited'' premiered only a few months after this show ended, which led to some viewer confusion). Not only is it one of many 90s cartoons responsible for introducing a new generation of fans into the world of comic books, but several of its plot elements were later integrated into [[Film/SpiderMan the blockbuster films]] that followed it. And despite getting ScrewedByTheNetwork, [[LongRunner at 65 episodes,this remains to date the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] and the second-longest Marvel AnimatedAdaptation after [[WesternAnimation/XMen the X-Men]]. Even after being canceled, it continues to have reruns going to this day in the U.S. and in various other parts of the globe. (Of course, the reruns are even ''more'' censored.) It also inspired the visual style of the "Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man" ride at Universal Studios' Island of Adventure theme park.

* CompositeCharacter: Gwen Stacy never appeared on the show (save for an alternate reality version in the finale) because the producers didn't want to use a character who was dead in the comics, never the less Felicia Hardy looks and acts a lot like the Steve Ditko-era Gwen Stacy (reasonably wealthy, the most popular girl at ESU, and a bit stuck up). Mary Jane also seems to have a lot of the Romita-era Gwen Stacy traits (mainly being down to earth and being thrown off a bridge by the Green Goblin).

* DeathIsCheap

** Still, the show was pretty infamous for seeking to avoid every variation of "die" or "kill". Sometimes the aversion of the word death would take the dialogue into serious {{Narm}} territory. In the episode "Return of Hydro-Man, Part II", Mary Jane says, with all seriousness, "I just can't shake the feeling that when we find out what's wrong with me, it's going to lead to my destruction!" Serious intents or not, try saying that out loud and see what kind of reaction you get. [[spoiler:This Mary Jane was later revealed to be a clone, and did indeed die shortly later.]]

** ''Spider-Man: The Animated Series'' is not the show's actual title (that would be just ''Spider-Man''), but a FanNickname referencing ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', which came out around the same time.

* GoodParents: Norman Osborn, of all people. The demands of his work caused him to neglect Harry during his childhood, but Norman deeply regrets it and is willing to risk his own life to protect Harry. His desire to protect his son is even part of the reason he becomes the Green Goblin, in a ''stark'' contrast with the [[WesternAnimation/{{The Spectacular Spider-Man}} next]] animated Osborn.

* TheCavalry: In "Framed," Peter Parker is trapped and suffocating in a superstrong airtight chamber strong enough to contain Spider-Man; fortunately {{Daredevil}} comes to rescue him.

* DestinedBystander: Harry and Norman Osborn, as per the comics. Eddie Brock's grudge against Spider-Man is built up over the course of season one, beginning with the first episode. Felicia Hardy takes the place in the cast you'd expect Gwen or Liz to occupy, and gets three seasons of screentime before becoming the Black Cat. Michael {{Morbius}}, etc.

* ItsAllMyFault: Spidey blames himself for '''''everything''''', no exceptions. Particularly [[TVTropesDrinkingGame egregious]] is the whole business with Morbius; Spider-Man goes so far as to state he ''created'' Morbius as if he shoved the guy in a tube and shot him with the neogenic recombinator personally, even though in reality, all he really did was fail to anticipate Morbius trying to steal his work. Morbeus was the one who stole the blood samples and operated the neogenic recombinator by himself in an unsecured lab.

* PyrrhicVictory: Discussed at the end of the Hobgoblin two-parter.
-->'''Smythe:''' (looking at the smouldering Crime Central) Ever hear the phrase, "pyrrhic victory"?

* SelfMadeOrphan: The Kingpin is about as heavily implied to be this as they could get away with. After emerging from prison with the skills and connections he needed to make a name for himself, he destroyed any records of his old identity and had his men bring him the father who sold him out.
-->'''Smythe:''' I knew you were ruthless, but ''this''...\\
'''Kingpin:''' [[IronicEcho Sacrifices must be made.]]
:: At the end of that storyline, Kingpin begins to express concern that ''his'' son will eventually do this as well.

There's also [[Recap/{{Spider-Man The Animated Series}} an episode guide]].

* {{Expy}}: The show had a minor recurring expy of [[{{Agent 13}} Sharon Carter]] named "Agent X".

--> '''Punisher''': I think I know who you really are, Peter Parker. (''Peter Parker looks shocked'') The way I figure it, you're really the GreenGoblin.
--> '''Parker''': That tranquilizer must have gotten to your head too.

** The show had a crossover with the 90's ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' animated series. It was considered a big deal because it was a completely different animation studio involving the then current roster from X-Men in a show that was not their own. Even more impressive was the effort put in to keeping all the same cast (save for one, Gambit, presumably for contractual or scheduling reasons) for the sake of continuity. Even more fun, the crossover remains in continuity for Spider-Man, as {{Storm}} returns during the series' adaptation of the ''SecretWars'' crossover event.

* RealityWarpingIsNotAToy: Doctor Doom is anything but weak-willed. Yet when he tries to steal the Beyonder's power, his new utopia is soon assaulted by demons born out of his nightmares and subconscious fears. This is pretty much what happens in the original ''SecretWars'' comic book too, which that ep was based on.

* DidMomJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu

-->'''Punisher: I think I know who you really are, Peter Parker. (''Peter Parker looks shocked'') The way I figure it, you're really the GreenGoblin.\\
'''Parker:''' That tranquilizer must have gotten to your head too.

Nonetheless, the series' legacy lives on. The Saban Entertainment produced ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited'' was an unofficial sequel to this series (they don't really [[ContinuitySnarl work together]], but ''Unlimited'' premiered only a few months after this show ended, which led to some viewer confusion). Not only is it one of many 90s cartoons responsible for introducing a new generation of fans into the world of comic books, but several of its plot elements were later integrated into [[Film/SpiderMan the blockbuster films]] that followed it. And despite getting ScrewedByTheNetwork, [[LongRunner at 65 episodes,this remains to date the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] and the second-longest Marvel AnimatedAdaptation after [[WesternAnimation/XMen the X-Men]]. Even after being canceled, it continues to have reruns going to this day in the U.S. and in various other parts of the globe. (Of course, the reruns are even ''more'' censored.)

[[redirect:WesternAnimation/{{Spider-ManTheAnimatedSeries}}]]