History WesternAnimation / SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries

'''''Spider-Man''''', [[FanNickname commonly referred to as]] '''''Spider-Man: The Animated Series''''' after a [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries certain other comic book cartoon that came out around the same time]], 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).

The series' legacy lives on. The Saban Entertainment produced ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited'', which is considered by many to be a sequel despite plot discrepancies, a little over a year later. 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 was for the longest time the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] until ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' 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.

* BackForTheDead: [[spoiler: Dan Slott has stated that he conisders ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited'' a seuqel to to ''TAS'' and thus, set in the same universe, ergo the Spidey of this show is now dead as of ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse''.]]

The series' legacy lives on. The Saban Entertainment produced ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited'', a sequel to this series a little over a year later. 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 was for the longest time the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] until ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' 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.

The series' legacy lives on. The Saban Entertainment produced ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited'' was a sequel to this series a little over a year later. 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 was for the longest time the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] until ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' 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.

The series' legacy lives on. The Saban Entertainment produced ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManUnlimited'' was a official sequel to this series a little over a year later. 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 was for the longest time the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] until ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' 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.

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 was for the longest time the single longest lasting Spider-Man cartoon]] until ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan'' 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.

* ExiledFromContinuity: There were plans to have Comicbook/GhostRider appear in episode, but Fox axed it after finding out that Marvel had pitched a ''Ghost Rider'' cartoon to UPN (the station that aired ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibleHulk''). The execs refused to promote a hero who might soon be airing on a rival network, which massively disappointed producer John Semper.

* AnimationBump: The early episodes are of the same quality as most of Creator/TMSEntertainment. Then they outsourced to SeoulMovie, budget problems set in, and StockFootage use went way up.

* ButForMeItWasTuesday: When Mysterio claims that Spider-Man ruined him on the Brooklyn Bridge, Spider-Man couldn't remember who he was until his FriendOnTheForce went through police records and reminded him.

* UnexpectedCharacter: In the SeriesFinale, Spidey went to an alternate universe where she met [[spoiler:Gwen Stacy, who was unexpected because there was no appearance or even mention of any Gwen Stacy in that series until then]].

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.

-->'''Smythe:''' (looking at their smouldering base) Ever hear the phrase, "[[PyrrhicVictory pyrrhic victory]]"?
-->'''Kingpin:''' You're wrong, Smythe. We're going to rebuild it, bigger and better than before. The main thing is it's ''mine'' again.

* MetaOrigin: Spider-Man's powers and a handful of other villains including Scorpion and the Lizard are connected to a specific branch of MadScience called Neogenics. Spidey's powers were a complete accident due to a spider being caught in an experiment, just like the comics, while Scorpion was an intentional creation gone wrong and the Lizard was a side effect of Kurt Conners' experiments.

* NerdsAreSexy: Both Peter and Dr. Conners.

* ScottyTime: During the Secret Wars arc. Spidey = Kirk, Curt Conners = Scotty, the Enterprise = Iron Man's armor.

** Well, whose show did you think this was? Spidey himself even {{Lampshades}} it more than once.

* {{Heroic Sacrifice}}: Nobody dies, but John Hardesky voluntarily returns to prison to prevent anyone else threatening his family or attempting to get the Captain America formula from him.

** Jonah Jameson hates Spider-Man and verbally abuses his staff in every episode he appears in, but he loves his son, goes out of his way to prove Robbie innocent of a frame-up and (secretly) pays Peter's legal bills. [[spoiler: And, after Peter and Mary Jane get married, his gift is a Daily Bugle van for them to take a honeymoon on.]] It's occasionally implied that he sees Peter as a [[{{Irony}} surrogate son.]]

The 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.