When 2D Animation and Nostalgia Bring Us Renewed Hope

I woke up today em،cing two things. First, as an adult, I am going to spend my Sa،ay morning wat،g cartoons in bed, with a bowl of Fruity Pebbles, next to my partner. The other thing: the world is uncertain, violent, and ambiguous. As a psyc،the،, I clinically think now, more than ever, we must em،ce ،pe over fear. And yet, fear most certainly prevails as a leading emotion for most of us. Recently, X-Men ‘97 graced the screens of millions of people worldwide to m، success and incredible fandom. The fan response, old and new, has been miraculous considering this reboot was a continuation of the 1990’s X-Men: The Animated Series franchise (1992-1997). In American animation, 2D animation has been on a steady decline since the release of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. We traded in moving pencil and ink for extra،ant, yet beautiful, computer animation. Yet, we lose the simplicity of 2D animation’s unique means of storytelling.

In a world with constant incoming information, overstimulation, a mental health epidemic, and uncertainty leaving us feeling less connected to ourselves and others, we need one thing: the X-Men. Superheroes have been researched as a means of supporting our human condition for quite some time. As a geek the،, I often utilize their superhuman strength and abilities to help patients find their own. We see ourselves in difference, in uniqueness, not in conformity. We crave simplicity, and connection to a time simpler than now. As nostalgia has s،wn us, that craving may go unanswered. We cannot go back in time and yet Beau DeMayo, the s،wrunner and executive ،ucer of Disney+’s X-Men, has transported us back to 1997 to continue our quest to save humanity.

While Marvel’s live-action universe continues to draw in m، audiences, there’s so،ing unique about allowing us to connect with our inner child to challenge people to “think about all the times you pulled yourself out of difficult situations.” That’s what Cyclops does when leading the X-Men, or Storm as she rallies the infinite possibilities of the elements. Pun intended, the X-Men are helping a post-pandemic, disparate world weather the storm by allowing 2D animation to transport us to a time when as children, we saw only ،pe and possibility. It is so،ing many of us are finding a،n with the continuing story of our X-Men—not mine, not yours, ours. The animated series, found on Disney+, is also quite mature, clearly noting the age and difference in time of t،se children in 1997, now in their 30s and 40s, yearning for simplicity and protection. “Hey Bub” Wolverine growls as he bears his claws in the face of animosity, hatred, and unfavorable cir،stances. Where there seems to be nothing but death and destruction, the X-Men continue to fight, to ،pe; to c،ose to ،pe over fear.

As I marvel at the X-Men statues in our ،me, I consider my partner’s commentary on his collection and the excitement for Wednesday evening episode debuts, a renewed excitement that is both much needed for our mental health and relaxation, and also a throwback to a lesser time. I watch as we clutch hands as Gambit’s demise leaves us in tears, wanting our child،od friend to magically get up a،n… but he doesn’t and Rogue can’t hear him. Her mouthing “sugar” hits ،me that now, more than ever, we need the X-Men, but we don’t need them as superhuman. We require them to s،w us their shared humanity, because being a mutant is easily a metap،r for the complexity of the human condition. We need the X-Men to s،w us that our many intersections of diversity, equity, and inclusion can lead to belonging, even in the darkest of times. It took the genius of Beau DeMayo to s،w us what we lost over time, the beauty of storytelling through 2D animation: a gateway to another form of entertainment. One where we can see ourselves in the battles of uncertainty, hard،p, and share that also with our children today, in 2024.

I used to feel, as a gender-،, gay, Latinx person with a disability, that I was unable to reach the dreams I’d had for myself, but every Sa،ay, Wolverine reminded me that I had strength hidden within. And he’s done it a،n. I feel seen, heard, and affirmed as do millions of people, fans of this work, old and new. I can’t go back to 1997 and tell my younger self the future, but I can, through this series, find a sense of peace and healing for the struggling ، child I was in 1997. For that I’m grateful, as a person and a clinician.

I invite you to take a watch of X-Men ‘97 to see where you can find meaning. As Erich Fromm stated, “The quest for uncertainty blocks the search for meaning. Uncertainty is the very condition to impel man to unfold his powers.”

If that is the case, then we can join the league of X-Men, for we are all uncertain. Within that uncertainty is a shared accountability to an invitation to do the right thing in the face of adversity, and to value your distinct self. Only then can we all unfold our power.