This show is another under the radar gem, this is based on another of Marvel's best-selling series at the time. The "Fantastic Four" series was one of the very first comic book series I've read when I was about seven years old, it really blew me away just a group of people that had superpowers and were a family; I still read and collect it to this day. When I saw there was going to be an animated show of this series in my secondary era the 90's I was just ecstatic, and it was the perfect time as Marvel's other franchises "X-Men" and "Spider Man" had animated shows made and turned out to be big hits so it would make sense their would be more animated based shows from that company. The "Fantastic Four" has had a couple more animated series adaptations but this series to me is my favorite one (for now anyway).
It's true the only real bad thing for me about the show may seen a tad uneven. The first season of the show, I honestly thought was ok, but I do agree wasn't the strongest start. But same can be said about a lot of first season for most popular TV shows, it's the common case of getting off on the wrong foot. However, the second season was a big exception and I felt really did elevate things in all areas (including animation quality), so at least by the second step it gained traction.
The animation in the show I thought was very good as it was true to the comic book animation from the 80 and 90's run of the series which was cool as I was a kid from both the 80's and 90's era which was where I started reading the series. The music in the show was good, the show had two theme songs, the first theme song not so great though listenable if you are curious. But it was the theme song from the second season that was truly great and one of my favorite theme songs of all time in my book, it's just a song that just sings out fantastic action, adventure, and family.
The storylines are good as most of them are based on some of the early Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, 80's and 90's run, but also a few original stories on their own. I like that the shows had a few story arcs and even some development as the season progressed which gave the show a sense of continuity, story and character development which I thought was cool and wasn't common at the time for both animated and live action shows. Action is also really good well-choreographed as we see each of the four, we see use there superpowers and all do their part working as a team.
Characters are all true to their comic book counterparts and voice acted well both heroes and villains. Really like the chemistry with all the "Fantastic Four" characters you really felt there was a family dynamic going on along with duo dynamics. But also have an amount of depth and emotion which at times make you forget your even watching an animated character but an actual person. Two of my favorite characters of course are Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing. Those two are like a lot of those duo dynamics you've seen throughout the years like Raphael and Michalangelo from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" or even B.A. Barbados and Murdock from "The A Team"; it's always fun seeing two different people clash but yet work well together.
Johnny Storm/Human Torch is still the overactive hotheaded daredevil that isn't afraid of taking risks and can dish out the wise cracks and charisma as fast and as hot as he can emit the flames he produces. Though he can be a little cocky and egotistical as much as Ben Tenison from "Ben 10 Alien Force" but like him in a harmless sense and most of the time he does it because he doesn't want to hide who he is. Fortunately, Johnny doesn't let himself get self-absorbed as deep down he really does care about other people which is why he's always willing to take whatever risks come his way to protect them.
Ben Grimm/ The Thing is still a person that is strong in not just body but heart. His character is sympathetic as he is the one that looks inhuman as he's practically a Golem. I really like how he has sort of this rough blue collar like charisma, he has a bit of a streak of anger as he gets rilled up easy but mainly because he doesn't take crap from anyone nor will he let his friends and family take crap. But what makes him endearing is his humanity, despite looking like a monster he's not in fact he's the most human. He constantly must go though some adjustment blues as he's trying to live life the best way, he can from the cards he's been dealt. But also, that he's willing to do the right thing as he uses his rock solid form and super strength to provide the family along with the innocent the muscle in their time of need.
Even like that in a few episode certain familiar Marvel figures crossed over, which I thought was cool as it was a way on introducing more of the Marvelverse. But also seeing them I thought some of them would be the next ones to get their own animated show. Sadly, this only happened to one of them "The Hulk" whom got one sometime after "Fantastic Four" ended and was actually really good and a story for another time.
I'd love to see another "Fantastic Four" animated series, may 'be once that upcoming live action revival for the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) finally gets off the ground it might happen; make sure animation quality is true to the comic series and up to par but also make sure you have a really good voice cast that fit the roles. And if all possible see if we can get some of the other Marvel characters to have animated shows of their own like "Thor" and "Ghost Rider" they haven't had one in years; the animated show department of Marvel needs new blood.
The 1994 "Fantastic Four" is a fantastic good time.
Rating: 3 stars
It's true the only real bad thing for me about the show may seen a tad uneven. The first season of the show, I honestly thought was ok, but I do agree wasn't the strongest start. But same can be said about a lot of first season for most popular TV shows, it's the common case of getting off on the wrong foot. However, the second season was a big exception and I felt really did elevate things in all areas (including animation quality), so at least by the second step it gained traction.
The animation in the show I thought was very good as it was true to the comic book animation from the 80 and 90's run of the series which was cool as I was a kid from both the 80's and 90's era which was where I started reading the series. The music in the show was good, the show had two theme songs, the first theme song not so great though listenable if you are curious. But it was the theme song from the second season that was truly great and one of my favorite theme songs of all time in my book, it's just a song that just sings out fantastic action, adventure, and family.
The storylines are good as most of them are based on some of the early Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, 80's and 90's run, but also a few original stories on their own. I like that the shows had a few story arcs and even some development as the season progressed which gave the show a sense of continuity, story and character development which I thought was cool and wasn't common at the time for both animated and live action shows. Action is also really good well-choreographed as we see each of the four, we see use there superpowers and all do their part working as a team.
Characters are all true to their comic book counterparts and voice acted well both heroes and villains. Really like the chemistry with all the "Fantastic Four" characters you really felt there was a family dynamic going on along with duo dynamics. But also have an amount of depth and emotion which at times make you forget your even watching an animated character but an actual person. Two of my favorite characters of course are Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing. Those two are like a lot of those duo dynamics you've seen throughout the years like Raphael and Michalangelo from "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" or even B.A. Barbados and Murdock from "The A Team"; it's always fun seeing two different people clash but yet work well together.
Johnny Storm/Human Torch is still the overactive hotheaded daredevil that isn't afraid of taking risks and can dish out the wise cracks and charisma as fast and as hot as he can emit the flames he produces. Though he can be a little cocky and egotistical as much as Ben Tenison from "Ben 10 Alien Force" but like him in a harmless sense and most of the time he does it because he doesn't want to hide who he is. Fortunately, Johnny doesn't let himself get self-absorbed as deep down he really does care about other people which is why he's always willing to take whatever risks come his way to protect them.
Ben Grimm/ The Thing is still a person that is strong in not just body but heart. His character is sympathetic as he is the one that looks inhuman as he's practically a Golem. I really like how he has sort of this rough blue collar like charisma, he has a bit of a streak of anger as he gets rilled up easy but mainly because he doesn't take crap from anyone nor will he let his friends and family take crap. But what makes him endearing is his humanity, despite looking like a monster he's not in fact he's the most human. He constantly must go though some adjustment blues as he's trying to live life the best way, he can from the cards he's been dealt. But also, that he's willing to do the right thing as he uses his rock solid form and super strength to provide the family along with the innocent the muscle in their time of need.
Even like that in a few episode certain familiar Marvel figures crossed over, which I thought was cool as it was a way on introducing more of the Marvelverse. But also seeing them I thought some of them would be the next ones to get their own animated show. Sadly, this only happened to one of them "The Hulk" whom got one sometime after "Fantastic Four" ended and was actually really good and a story for another time.
I'd love to see another "Fantastic Four" animated series, may 'be once that upcoming live action revival for the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) finally gets off the ground it might happen; make sure animation quality is true to the comic series and up to par but also make sure you have a really good voice cast that fit the roles. And if all possible see if we can get some of the other Marvel characters to have animated shows of their own like "Thor" and "Ghost Rider" they haven't had one in years; the animated show department of Marvel needs new blood.
The 1994 "Fantastic Four" is a fantastic good time.
Rating: 3 stars