History WesternAnimation / SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries

** 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 ''ComicBook/SecretWars'' crossover event.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: [[spoiler:After Spider-Man stops Spider-Carnage from destroying all reality, and after his meeting with StanLee, the series ends with Madame Web promising Spidey that they will find the real Mary Jane Watson.]]

* GrandFinale: And quite an amazing one as well, tapping into the comics mythology and just about every incarnation of Spider-Man out there. StanLee himself even shows up!

** When SelfDemonstrating/DoctorDoom gives the Thing full control, Ben uses [[WesternAnimation/FredAndBarneyMeetTheThing a ring to change from Ben Grimm to the Thing and back]].

-->-- '''Spider-Man'''

Being made in the 1990s, and not being ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', the Saturday-morning cartoon came under heavy censorship -- heavier, in fact, than even [[WesternAnimation/XMen other Marvel cartoons of the time]]. Spider-Man almost never threw a punch, and most of the action sequences was either DeadlyDodging or swinging kicks. NeverSayDie was in full force and there was even a joke among the staff that they couldn't even disturb any pigeons on the rooftops for fear one might have been hurt. The corner-cutting animation also left a ''lot'' to be desired, featuring static movement, constantly recycled sequences, and all manner of video goofs.

''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).

*** In addition, Mary Jane turning out to be a clone was one of the (many) ideas pitched during TheCloneSaga to end Spidey's marriage.

* BerserkButton:
** Jameson hit Doc Ock's in his debut episode.
--->'''Doc Ock:''' You dare talk that way to a scientist?!\\
'''Jameson:''' Scientist? You're just some coward who kidnapped an innocent girl!\\
(''Doc Ock crushed his portable TV'')
** Don't call the Scorpion names.

* MoodWhiplash: In the "Secret Wars" episodes, Black Cat was angry at Spider-Man for bringing her to the planet while she was helping Blade and Morbius. Throughout the episode, she called him "selfish" and refuses to talk to him. But by the end, she's back to flirting with him again. We guess she can't stay mad at him.

* AdaptationOriginConnection: Similar what was later done in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' and ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'', the spider that bit Peter in this series was tied into the research of Curt Connors, the Lizard. The same neogenetics research later resulted in the creation of the Scorpion and ComicBook/MorbiusTheLivingVampire and, both Vulture and Silvermane showed interest in Connors's work.

-->'''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.\\

* JokerJury: The GreenGoblin gives this to the board members who he blames for the 'death' of Osborne, where he is Judge. He even has a Justice Statue with his face.

* LegacyCharacter: Harry Osborn replacing his father as the GreenGoblin.

* AdaptationDisplacement: Several elements of this series have overshadowed the stories it was originally based on. ComicBook/{{Kingpin}}, for instance, became better known as a Spider-Man villain while he's actually more of a ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} foe. The Black Suit / Venom arc is better known for the version established by this series.

* FailOSuckyname: The Whizzer

* {{Expy}}: The show had a minor recurring expy of [[{{Agent 13}} Sharon Carter]] named "Agent 1".

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/SpiderManTrilogy 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.

* BadassBystander: Spider-Man notes that Mary Jane was the one who was able to set up Hydro-Man's defeat, as she lead him away from any significant water source and he continued to use up what reserves he had fighting Spider-Man.

** Iona Morris reprised her role from the first season of ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' as Storm.
** James Avery reprised his role from the first season of ''WesternAnimation/IronMan'' as War Machine.

** ''WesternAnimation/XMen: The Animated Series'' was flown from Canada to Los Angeles for their voice recording session.

* RoguesGallery

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

* AdaptationOriginConnection: Similar what was later do in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' and ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan'', the spider that bit Peter in this series was tied into the research of Curt Connors, the Lizard. The same neogenetics research later resulted in the creation of the Scorpion and ComicBook/MorbiusTheLivingVampire and, both Vulture and Silvermane showed interest in Connors's work.