X-Men: The Animated Series

<span style="font-size: 150%;">Sypnosis<!--size--></span> <strong>X-Men: Evolution was the second animated series to be based on Marvel Comics' popular comic book title, The Uncanny X-Men. Following on the heels of the successful X-Men animated series, which ran for five seasons, X-Men: Evolution took place before the original series, at a time when most of the mutant students were newly-arrived at Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. For those unfamiliar with the story backdrop, 'mutant' is a term for people who are born with one or more superhuman abilities due to an aberration in their genetic makeup. The X-Men were a group of mutant superheroes, feared by the common man, yet instrumental in protecting the very society that shunned them. The wheelchair-bound Professor Charles Xavier, himself a mutant telepath, ran his School for Gifted Youngsters in Westchester, New York. The students at his school were all outcasts who knew since early adolescence that they had unusually remarkable abilities. His goal was to gather these special people and train them to harness their unique abilities in a positive way, and to oppose other mutants who chose to abuse their special powers for selfish reasons. The main themes of the show were unfair discrimination and segregation. The common people feared and persecuted the mutants, good and evil alike, simply because they were different. Some mutants wanted to ignore and rise above their discriminators, while others wanted justice and a means of retaliation. X-Men: Evolution didn't follow the comic's canon as faithfully as X-Men did. The characters were much the same, but the series had its own independent storyline. The series slowly introduced new students Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Rogue and a newly created character named Spyke. Storm, Cyclops, Wolverine and Jean Grey acted as teachers and mentors to the younger students. In the show's second season new recruits Iceman, Boom-Boom, Wolfspane, Berzerker, Multiple Man, Sunspot, Magma, Cannonball, and Jubilee joined the mansion, and the school got a new teacher; the Beast. Once again, Professor Xavier's main nemesis was Magneto, the Master of Magnetism, who recruited his own mutants to support his agenda against humanity. During the course of its run, the show introduced a bevy of mutants who played supporting roles in the storylines. As the series progressed, the storylines took on a darker and more ominous tone, introducing the mutant Apocalypse and his diabolical plans for the world. After four successful seasons the series concluded, leaving with it the premonition of an uncertain future for mutants.</strong> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 150%;">X-Men cartoon opening<!--size--></span> <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.com/v/8PrvRnjJ0HY&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8PrvRnjJ0HY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object> <span style="font-size: 150%;">Season 1 Episode 1 - Night of the Sentinels - Part 1<!--size--></span> <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.com/v/qqekP27roak&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qqekP27roak&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><!--center--></div> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=</a><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.com/v/jhduREUUEZo&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jhduREUUEZo&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>