X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men (1989)
SpecialOptionalLegacy
Teenage recruit Kitty Pryde joins the X-Men just as Magneto escapes custody and plots to steer a comet into Earth. Released in 1989, it’s a Marvel special that isn’t part of the MCU timeline, so it’s optional and stands on its own.
| Release date | September 16, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Series | Legacy Marvel films |
| Post-credit scene | No |
Why it matters now
It was the first try at an X-Men cartoon, a pilot for a series that never happened, three years before X-Men: The Animated Series. It also gave Wolverine an Australian accent, which fans still bring up.
About X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men is a one-off animated pilot that aired in 1989 on the Marvel Action Universe syndication block. It was meant to launch a weekly X-Men show. That series never materialized, and the team didn't get a regular cartoon until X-Men: The Animated Series in 1992.
The story draws mainly on Uncanny X-Men #129 to #139. Kitty Pryde is the new recruit, joining Cyclops, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Wolverine and Dazzler, with Stan Lee narrating. Magneto's Brotherhood includes Toad, Blob, Pyro, Juggernaut and, oddly, the White Queen. Toei Animation animated it for Marvel Productions, and it ended up as the last project of that Marvel Productions era after the company's 1989 financial troubles. Reviews were mixed: critics liked the animation and found the story campy next to the comics.
Good to know
- The title is a pun on Kitty Pryde's name.
- The money originally meant for a 13th episode of RoboCop: The Animated Series went to this pilot instead.
- Wolverine is Canadian but speaks with an Australian accent, one of the pilot's most criticized choices.
- Video games adapted from it include The Uncanny X-Men (1990) for the NES and Konami's 1992 X-Men arcade game.
How to watch it
Treat it as a standalone curiosity. It has no connection to X-Men: The Animated Series or the films, so you can watch it any time. It works as a warm-up before the 1992 series, if only to see how much changed in three years. Expect a 1980s Saturday morning tone, a fair amount of camp and a Wolverine who sounds like he's from Sydney.
Where it fits in your watch
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men FAQ
Is Pryde of the X-Men connected to X-Men: The Animated Series?
No. It was a standalone pilot for a series that never got made. X-Men: The Animated Series launched separately in 1992.
Why does Wolverine have an Australian accent in Pryde of the X-Men?
The pilot never explains it. Wolverine is Canadian, and the accent is one of the most criticized things about the pilot.
Which comics is Pryde of the X-Men based on?
Mainly Uncanny X-Men #129 to #139, though it changes plenty, such as putting the White Queen in Magneto's Brotherhood.
Can you skip X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men?
Yes. It isn’t part of the MCU timeline.
When was X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men released?
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men was released on September 16, 1989.
Is X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men part of the MCU?
No. X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men is a Marvel film made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it isn’t on Marvel Studios’ official timeline.
Does X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men have a post-credit scene?
No, X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men has no post-credit scene.