Forgotten Spider-Man Gem From 2000s Everyone Ignored Because of Sam Raimi
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003) is not getting the attention it deserves, and here’s why.
The early 2000s were a hard time period for Spider-Man. Following the failure of Spider-Man Unlimited, Marvel decided to take a more straightforward approach in developing their next animated series.
Initially, they tasked Brian Michael Bendis to adapt his highly successful Ultimate Spider-Man comic run. However, after the smashing success of Sam Raimi ’s live-action Spider-Man film in 2002, plans changed.
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series, a bold and unique take on our beloved web-slinger, was reworked to become a direct follow-up to Raimi’s film.
The series was ambitious and different. While it may not have perfectly succeeded as a follow-up to Raimi’s film, when evaluated on its own merits, there is a lot to appreciate.
The series was short-lived, with only one season airing on MTV, but it presented a Spider-Man that was unlike any version we had seen before on screen.
One of the most notable aspects of this series was its use of 3D animation. Produced in the early 2000s, the animation was groundbreaking for its time but hasn't aged particularly well. The character models, while impressive back then, can appear awkward from today’s perspective.
This series wasn't afraid to explore darker and more mature themes, making it a Spider-Man show that was clearly aimed at an older audience. This was a Spider-Man who was navigating college life, romance, and the responsibilities of being a hero, all while dealing with a new set of darker and more dangerous villains.
Interestingly, there was allegedly a pilot produced based on Bendis's version before the series was reworked to align with Raimi’s continuity.
This pilot, which could offer a glimpse into a very different Spider-Man series, has never been made public. It remains one of the great "what ifs" of Spider-Man's animated history.
Despite its short run and the dated appearance of its animation, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series stands as a bold experiment in the character’s history.
It was a series that dared to be different, to appeal to an older audience, and to explore the character of Peter Parker in a way that few other series have attempted.