Marvel Just Proved in 5 Seconds Exactly How Badly They’ve Messed Up The MCU’s Shows

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Marvel Studios’ move into television with Disney+ has had some ups and downs. While they aimed to expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe with new shows, the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and impacted production. Beyond that, the quality has been inconsistent – shows like *WandaVision* were hits, but others, such as *Secret Invasion*, didn’t fare as well. Their newest release confirms another major criticism, and it became apparent almost immediately – within the first five seconds.

Marvel Studios’ animated shows haven’t been well-received either, facing similar criticism to their live-action series. A common complaint about shows like *What If…?*, *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man*, *Eyes of Wakanda*, and now *Marvel Zombies* is the animation style. These series use a cel-shaded look, aiming to blend seamlessly with the live-action movies and characters fans are familiar with. However, this style has been criticized for a long time, making a recent sequence in *Marvel Zombies* particularly unexpected and puzzling. (Spoiler warning ahead.)

One Marvel Zombies Moment Proved the Marvel Animation Style Is Still Boring

The fourth episode of *Marvel Zombies* reaches a climax with a massive fight. Our heroes are battling Scarlet Witch and her zombie army, but things get even more intense with the arrival of the Infinity Hulk. During the battle, a zombie Thor, still wielding the powerful Stormbreaker, heads straight for the Hulk, threatening everything and everyone.

Okay, so I just watched the scene and it’s *intense*. Thor’s walking forward, and Blade tries to stop him with a flying attack. But then Wanda steps in and unleashes this crazy blast of chaos magic! It completely destroys Blade – like, he starts dissolving mid-air, his suit, skin, everything, until he’s just…gone. Totally atomized. It’s pretty shocking to see, and you can check it out in the video below.

This scene is memorable not just because of the shocking death – it’s one of the series’ best – but because of its unique visual style. It stands out from the rest of the animation, offering a different, more stylized look with impressive depth and vibrancy. In just five seconds, this moment highlights that much of Marvel’s animation lacks a distinctive personality, and that experimenting with different styles can significantly enhance storytelling in ways the usual style doesn’t. It’s the most captivating moment in *Marvel Zombies* because it dared to be different.

Many people cite a particular scene in *Marvel Zombies* as evidence that Marvel’s animation often feels uninspired, but that example simply reinforces what Marvel has already demonstrated themselves.

Marvel Can Still Fix Their Big TV Problem

There’s something special about this situation that hasn’t been discussed. The most popular Marvel animated series on Disney+, *X-Men ’97*, doesn’t follow the typical Marvel animation style. It continues the story of the original *X-Men: The Animated Series* and builds on its distinctive visual look, but with a modern update. The show is well-written, features compelling characters, and is visually dynamic – the smooth animation, stylish action, and clear picture quality all make it incredibly engaging to watch.

Fortunately, Marvel can still improve its animation style going forward. Currently, the only confirmed animated projects are more seasons of *X-Men ’97* and *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man*. This gives Marvel time to develop a fresh visual approach for any future shows. They’ve used this 2.5D style for several series now, and it’s time for a change.

The success of *X-Men ’97* already showed audiences want more visually dynamic animation, but a particularly shocking death in *Marvel Zombies* might really drive the point home and help improve animated shows going forward.

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2025-09-27 18:14