Not pictured: Our Protagonist
"Magneto's hordes are on their way to pillage, burn and plunder
But there's one team that will not yield, the team that strikes like thunder!"
But there's one team that will not yield, the team that strikes like thunder!"
— From the Expository Theme Tune
Pryde of the X-Men was a 1989 pilot for an X-Men animated series that was never picked up; the series would be reworked a few years later into its more successful counterpart. In a somewhat ironic twist, despite being largely forgotten it was the primary basis of the well-regarded X-Men (1992) arcade beat-em-up.
As the title may suggest, the short focuses on Kitty Pryde, a teenage girl who, upon discovering that she has mutant abilities, is recruited by the X-Men in order to learn how to use her powers properly. This is cut short by the machinations of their arch-enemies, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Tropes:
- Adaptational Nationality: As was done in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Wolverine is depicted as an Awesome Aussie rather than a Canadian.
- Adaptational Superpower Change: Causing a mass-hallucination is within the power of Emma Frost in the comics, but this cartoon also inexplicably gives her the power of flight and throwing energy bolts.
- Animesque: Courtesy of Toei Animation. The lighting and shading on Magneto's helmet makes him just as imposing as Raoh.
- Badass in Distress: The story starts with Magneto being held captive by the military, and the Brotherhood releasing him.
- Big Bad: As is the case with most of the X-Men adaptations, Magneto is the main antagonist.
- Big Good: And as always, Professor X is the heroes' mentor.
- Disney Death: Nightcrawler appears to die while plummeting to the Earth, but turns out to be still alive when he is revealed to have teleported into a locker at the last minute.
- Failed Pilot Episode: The show was never picked up.
- Intro Dump: When Kitty arrives, the X-Men are training in the Danger Room. A perfect chance to introduce each one and explain their powers.
- It's All My Fault: Kitty tries to help fight Magneto against the X-Men's wishes because she feels responsible for Magneto advancing his plan.
- Kick the Dog: Toad has gotten the machine in place, and asks for some approval from Magneto. He gave it... and then told him to do something useful for a change, and go to play in the air vents.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Wolverine, naturally. He spends most of the pilot being dismissive of Kitty, but hints near the end that he'll eventually accept her as part of the team once she's earned her stripes. It’s also implied that his earlier hostility was more out of concern for her safety rather than him rejecting her as a new team member.
- Merchandise-Driven: The reason why the various members of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants were so prominently featured. The plan was to launch a TV show and an accompanying action figure line, and the execs wanted to make sure that as many characters with toy potential were in the pilot episode as possible.
- Naïve Newcomer: Kitty, a regular teenager who is suddenly thrust into the world of superheroes and super villains.
- Narrator: The pilot is narrated by Stan Lee.
- Team Member in the Adaptation: Emma Frost/The White Queen is a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants here rather than the Hellfire Club.
- Ungrateful Bastard: The X-Men save a family from Pyro and the Blob, only for the father to immediately yell at them when Nightcrawler goes over to check on them.
- We Can Rule Together: Magneto tries to entice Kitty in joining his side while he’s chasing her for Cerebro’s power circuit. Kitty vehemently rejects his offer.
