DC Studios will launch theDCUwith a useful resource that theMCUhasn’t considered in over sixteen years. Marvel Studios built a cinematic empire with the Infinity Saga’s 23 movies, and ventured into television with Phase 4’s first wave of Disney+ shows. In 2021, Marvel Studios released its first-ever animated show, the animated anthologyWhat If…?, which received a second season in 2023 and a final season in 2024. Once the MCU’sWhat If…?season 3 concludes, other animated shows likeMarvel Zombies,Eyes of Wakanda, andYour Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Manwill carry its legacy.
The DCU officially begins withCreature Commandos' release on December the 5th 2024, two weeks beforeWhat If…?season 3’s release date. DC Studios is betting onCreature Commandosto open the DCU on a high note despite the lesser-known nature of its protagonists.Creature Commandosis also the first of several animated showsthat will be part of DCU canon in the same timeline as live-action movies likeSupermanand live-action shows likeLanternsandPeacemakerseason 2.
The DCU’s Animated Shows Can Feature Action Scenes And Crossovers That Live-Action Projects Can’t
Animated Shows Don’t Have To Worry About Certain Budget And Technical Limitations
WithCreature Commandos, the DCU is introducing a powerful team of extravagant characters, all of whom possess visually striking traits and abilities. AlthoughCreature Commandosisn’t an A-list DC property, the DCU lowers its risk massively by introducing the team in an animated show.Creature Commandoswould be a much more expensive project in live-action, and many of its scenes would have to go through significant changes due to technical limitations and budget constraints.Animated shows are able to feature all kinds of over-the-top characters and action scenes without having to worry about going over budget.
Marvel still hasn’t added animated projects to the MCU’s main continuity even though the animated format could fit some titles' scope perfectly
Marvel Studios only began exploring the limitless possibilities of animation in 2021 withWhat If…?. However,What If…?takes place across several timelines different fromthe MCU’s main universe. Marvel still hasn’t added animated projects to the MCU’s main continuity even though the animated format could fit some titles' scope perfectly. Lesser-known characters and projects with low odds of becoming box office hits could be transformed into animated shows, which Marvel could turn into successful streaming releases by adding higher stakes, bolder action sequences, and ambitious crossovers.
The MCU Would Benefit From The DCU’s Approach To Animated Shows
Animated Shows Could Be Part Of The MCU’s Overarching Story
Marvel Studios could also fast-track projects that have been on the back burner for a long time by turning them into animated shows. Similarly tothe DCU’s Creature Commandos and their allies,Marvel characters like Nova, Ghost Rider, and the whole Midnight Sons could make their MCU debut in their own animated show before returning in a live-action movie or series within the same canon. Likewise, MCU characters such as Black Knight, the Eternals, and the new Guardians of the Galaxy wouldn’t have to wait too long to return.
