Marvel’s rich animated history stretches back decades and was so influential that many were referenced in laterMarvel movies and series. From the catchy theme tunes of the 1960s to the groundbreaking animation of the 1990s, Marvel cartoons laid the foundation for many characters’ modern portrayals. While Marvel movies charted their own path, they frequently referenced these classic shows.
Whether it’s through subtle musical cues or full-on visual recreations, Marvel’s live-action and animated films have referenced their animated roots more often than many realize. These moments serve as nostalgic callbacks for longtime viewers while bridging the gap between past and present. In thrilling Easter eggs, Marvel movies tipped their hats to the animated adventures that came before.
10The Spider-Man (1967) Theme Tune In Spider-Man 1 & 2
One of the most beloved callbacks to Marvel animation comes in Sam Raimi’sSpider-Man(2002). As Peter Parker swings through New York in a montage,a street performer sings a songthat includes the line“Look out! Here comes the Spider-Man!”from the originalSpider-Mantheme tune from the 1967 animated series.
Later, inSpider-Man 2, a violin player sings the full lyrics while plucking a violin. This rendition takes the full lyrics, including“does whatever a spider can.”These areinstantly recognizableto anyone who grew up with the original series or knew its place in pop culture.
Raimi, a known fan of the character’s vintage history, uses these moments to ground Peter in a world that already idolizes Spider-Man as a folk hero. The scene not only adds charm but honors one of the most iconic superhero theme songs ever created. It makes it a funbridge between the Webhead’s animated and cinematic legacies.
9HERBIE Originated In the 1970s Fantastic Four Series
The adorable robot HERBIEfeatured throughoutThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. While he might seem like a new MCU creation, he actually hails from Marvel’s animated past. HERBIE (Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics) first debuted in the 1978Fantastic Fouranimated series.
He was created to replace the Human Torch due to legal and branding issues at the time. Decades later, HERBIE returned inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsasa helpful presence and comic reliefin Reed Richards’ lab. While updated for modern audiences, HERBIE’s inclusion is a clear nod to the character’s cartoon roots.
It’s a rare example of an animated-original Marvel character crossing into mainstream canon. By reviving HERBIE,First Stepspays homage to a quirky chapter of Fantastic Four history that only diehard audiences might remember. It also gives the robot his long-overdue moment to shine.
8First Steps Recalls The 90s Fantastic Four Theme
InThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, music plays a subtle but powerful role in connecting the MCU to its animated past. The background score includes motifsunmistakablyreminiscent of the 1994Fantastic Fouranimated series. Particularly, the pulsing“Fantastic Four!”chorus melody that introduced the ‘90s show.
This chorus is reinterpreted inFirst Stepsin orchestral form, implying the lyrics. It’s not a direct reuse but an inspired echo. It addsan extra layer of nostalgiafor those who remember the original cartoon.
The 1994 show was part of the popular Marvel Action Hour, which helped define the team’s media identity outside of comics. By drawing from that music,First Stepsacknowledges the legacy of the ’90s series. It’s an underrated gem that brought the Fantastic Four to a generation of viewers long before the MCU.
7First Steps Included Clips From The 60s Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four: First Stepsdoesn’t just reference past cartoons with music. It goes a step further by showing them directly. During one scene, characterswatch clips from the 1967Fantastic Fouranimated series.
The standout moment shown on-screen is Ben Grimm (aka The Thing) plummeting dramatically through the air inthe show’s vintage glory. This visual throwback is both tongue-in-cheek and reverent. It highlights how far animation and storytelling have come while celebrating Marvel’s earliest TV efforts.
The inclusion of actual footage anchors the MCU’s Fantastic Four in a broader multigenerational context. It’s a meta moment that invites viewers toreflect on the impact of these heroes, even within the narrative. Itreminds of the Fantastic Four’s cultural legacyacross all forms of media, from Saturday mornings to cinematic blockbusters.
6Ms. Marvel Uses The X-Men: TAS’s Iconic Theme Tune
At the end ofMs. Marvel, Kamala Khan’s story takes a shocking twist. It’s revealed she carries a mutant gene. However, what really sent audiences into a frenzy was the brief musical sting that accompanied this reveal: theunmistakable melody from the iconicX-Men: The Animated Seriestheme tune.
This clever musical cue links Kamala’s mutation directly to the legacy of Marvel’s most famous mutant team, as immortalized in the 1992 cartoon. That theme isimmediately recognizable to anyonewho grew up watching Professor X’s team battle Sentinels and Magneto on Saturday mornings. By using that melody, the show subtly signaled the X-Men’s return to Marvel’s cinematic plans.
It wasn’t just fan service. It was foreshadowing. In a few short notes,Ms. Marvelconnected modern MCU storytelling to a beloved cornerstoneof Marvel animation.
5X-Men: TAS References In Multiverse Of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madnessdives headfirst into Marvel’s alternate realities. In doing so, it brings the animated X-Men back into the spotlight. When Patrick Stewart appears as Professor X from Earth-838, he’s not just reprising his movie role: he’s channeling hisX-Men: The Animated Seriescounterpart.
His yellow hoverchair and the background music are straight from the 1992 cartoon, withthe show’s iconic theme playing as he enters. Even his demeanor and psychic visuals recall the animated version more than the Fox films. This nod was a huge win for fans ofX-Men: TAS.
X-Men: TASremainsone of the most faithful adaptations of Marvel’s mutant team. Rather than ignoring that legacy, the MCU embraced it. It usedMultiverse of Madnessto canonize the animated X-Men’s existence within the broader Marvel multiverse.
4Spider-Man: No Way Home Recreated The Pointing Spider-Man Scene
Spider-Man: No Way Homeunited Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland on screen. Yet the film delivered more than just epic team-ups. It also offereda live-action recreation of one of the most famous Marvel memes.
As the three Peters debate their identities in the lab, they point at each other in confusion. It perfectly echoes the legendary “pointing Spider-Man” image from the 1967 animated series. The meme, which depicts two (and later, three)Spider-Men accusing each other of being impostors.
It became internet legend and a shorthand for comic confusion. By incorporating the gag into the movie’s dialogue and blocking,Marvel turned an online joke (and an old cartoon frame) into a live-action moment of comedic gold. It’s a perfect example of how even a goofy moment from an old show can become modern pop culture treasure.
3Into The Spider-Verse Recreated The Spider-Man Pointing Scene
WhileNo Way Homedelivered a live-action version, thehighly rewatchable superhero movieSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Versegave the original meme its animated due. In the post-credits scene of the firstSpider-Versefilm, Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099) travels to Earth-67. This isa direct nod to the 1967Spider-Mancartoon.
Upon arrival, he immediately gets into a pointing match with that universe’s Spider-Man. It’sa perfect recreation of the viral “pointing” memein exaggerated cartoon form. The scene goes full meta, with old-school animation styles clashing hilariously with Miguel’s sleek futuristic tech.
It’s a loving send-up and accurate recreation of the iconic frame that became internet gold. This wasn’t just a meme reference, it was a full-blownhomage to one of Marvel’s earliest animated hits. With just a few seconds of screen time, Into the Spider-Verse proved how deeply it respected and understood Spider-Man’s animated legacy.
2Across the Spider-Verse Expanded the Pointing Meme
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Versedidn’t just reference the iconic pointing Spider-Man meme. Itleveled it up to multiversal proportions. In one of the film’s most hilarious scenes, Miguel O’Hara shouts,“Spider-Man—stop him!”while chasing Miles Morales through the Spider Society.
Immediately, hundreds of different Spider-People all turn and point at each other in utter confusion. It created a massive, chaotic recreation of the classic 1967 meme. The moment isframed as both an in-joke and a full-on visual spectacle, with the camera capturing a web of finger-pointing that sprawls across the entire headquarters.
It’s a brilliant escalation of the original gag, acknowledginghow deeply the meme has embedded itself in pop culture. By having nearly every Spider-variant participate simultaneously,Across the Spider-Versecreated the ultimate homage. It blended humor, self-awareness, and multiverse madness into a moment that instantly became iconic.
1Spectacular Spider-Man Appears In The Spider-Society
InSpider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, there is a thrillingly familiar face among the Spider-Society: Spectacular Spider-Man. Voiced once again by Josh Keaton, this version of Peter Parkercame from the critically acclaimed 2008 animated series. It was sadly canceled prematurely but remains a fan favorite.
His appearance wasn’t just a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo. He actually speaks and interacts with the main characters. His design was preserved in its original 2D style,standing out among the crowdof differently animated Spider-people.
Including Spectacular Spider-Man was a major win for longtime viewers who felt the show deserved closure. It also confirmed that every Spider-Man story, no matter the medium,has a place in the multiverse. By giving this version screen time,Across the Spider-Versehonored one of the most belovedMarveladaptations of the modern era.
Spider-Man
Cast
Spider-Man is the first film in Sam Raimi’s trilogy starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker. Released in 2002, the film introduced superhero fans to a live-action Norman Osborn, played by Willem Dafoe, who is transformed into his villainous alter ego, Green Goblin, after being forced out of Oscorp Industries. At the same time, Peter Parker is grappling with his newfound abilities as the iconic wall-crawler.
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 continues Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, with Tobey Maguire returning as Peter Parker. Released in 2004, the film follows Peter’s struggle with balancing his personal life and superhero responsibilities, while confronting the formidable villain, Doc Ock, portrayed by Alfred Molina. Parker’s relationships with Mary Jane and Harry Osborn further complicate his journey.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness follows Doctor Strange as he navigates diverse and perilous alternate realities in the Multiverse with the aid of mystical allies. Directed by Sam Raimi, this installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces a mysterious new adversary.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighborhood hero is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the trials and tribulations of being a superhero. In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) when his identity becomes a problem for the ones he loves. Unfortunately, when the spell goes wrong, Spider-Man will now have to face off with villains such as Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) as Peter finally comes to terms that he can’t run from being Spider-Man. Supported by his close friends and help from an unexpected place (or multiverse), Spider-Man will go toe-to-toe with some of the most legendary foes in his storied history.
Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse
In the first animated Spider-Man film released in theaters, Miles Morales, a teenager who idolizes Spider-Man, gains Spider-Man powers of his own. While learning to use his new abilities, Miles crosses parallel dimensions and teams up with the different versions of Spider-Man from those dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Miles Morales returns in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. With his identity still safe but “grounded” by his parents, Miles Morales is visited by his friend from another dimension, Gwen Stacy. Inviting him on a new adventure, Miles jumps at the opportunity but is seemingly accosted by an unknown assailant on his journey. Miles and Gwen will unite with new and old Spider-Heroes to face a villain of immeasurable power.
