Marvel Anime: Iron Man (2010)
TV SeriesOptional
Tony Stark travels to Japan to unveil the Iron Man Dio armor. Released in 2010, it’s a Marvel series that isn’t part of the MCU timeline, so it’s optional and stands on its own. It has 12 episodes, about 4h 24m in all.
| Release date | October 1, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 12 × ~22 min |
Why it’s worth knowing about
One of four Madhouse anime series made with Marvel.
About Marvel Anime: Iron Man
Iron Man opened the four-part Marvel Anime project. Tony Stark comes to Japan to switch on an arc reactor power plant and show off the Iron Man Dio, a prototype armor meant to replace him once he retires. The Dio goes rogue, the terrorist group Zodiac starts attacking, and Tony has to work out who is behind it with help from Japan Self-Defense Forces pilot Nagato Sakurai and his Ramon Zero armor.
Madhouse made the series with Marvel Entertainment and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, with Warren Ellis credited for the story and Yūzō Satō directing. It ran 12 episodes on Animax from October to December 2010, and G4 premiered the English dub in July 2011. Keiji Fujiwara voices Tony in Japanese, and Adrian Pasdar voices him in English.
Good to know
- Wolverine guest-stars in episode 4, voiced by Milo Ventimiglia in English.
- Director Yūzō Satō later directed Marvel Future Avengers (2017).
- The direct-to-video film Iron Man: Rise of Technovore (2013) followed the series.
Spoiler Spoilers for Marvel Anime: Iron Man: tap to reveal
- Ho Yinsen, an old friend Tony believed was dead, is central to the mystery.
How to watch it
Start the Marvel Anime anthology here, since it came first and sets up the shared Japan setting used by Wolverine, X-Men and Blade. Episode 4 introduces Wolverine before his own series. After this, Iron Man: Rise of Technovore makes a natural next watch. It works best for Iron Man fans who enjoy mecha anime and don't mind a version of Tony that sits outside any movie continuity.
Related guides
Marvel Anime: Iron Man FAQ
Who voices Iron Man in Marvel Anime: Iron Man?
Adrian Pasdar voices Tony Stark in the English dub, and Keiji Fujiwara voices him in Japanese.
What is the Iron Man Dio?
It is a prototype armor Tony brings to Japan to eventually replace him. It goes out of control early in the series, and the mystery of who is operating it drives the plot.
Did Warren Ellis write Marvel Anime: Iron Man?
Warren Ellis guided the Marvel Anime project and is credited with the Iron Man story, while Toshiki Inoue wrote the series.
Can you skip Marvel Anime: Iron Man?
Yes. It isn’t part of the MCU timeline.
How many episodes does Marvel Anime: Iron Man have?
Marvel Anime: Iron Man has 12 episodes, around 22 minutes each.
Is Marvel Anime: Iron Man part of the MCU?
No. It was made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe and isn’t on its timeline.