X-MEN '97 Misses Out On "Outstanding Animated Program" Emmy To Relatively Obscure Netflix Series

X-MEN '97 Misses Out On "Outstanding Animated Program" Emmy To Relatively Obscure Netflix Series

Despite being the firm favourite to win at the Emmys last night, X-Men '97 failed to emerge triumphant and was instead beaten by a relatively obscure, albeit critically acclaimed, Netflix series...

By JoshWilding - Sep 08, 2024 06:09 AM EST
Filed Under: X-Men '97

While X-Men '97 was a hot favourite to win the Emmy for "Outstanding Animated Program" yesterday evening, the Marvel Animation series was beaten by Netflix's Blue Eye Samurai.

That relatively obscure adult animation series also soundly defeated The Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, and Scavengers Reign

While some of Blue Eye Samurai's fanbase might take issue with it being described as "obscure," it certainly didn't receive the same level of mainstream attention as Marvel Studios' X-Men: The Animated Series revival. Still, that never matters when it comes to awards and the show was clearly deemed superior. 

Heading into the first night of the 76th Emmys, it had already picked up wins for "Character Design," "Storyboard," and "Production Design," so this probably shouldn't come as a huge surprise.

Blue Eye Samurai premiered last November and, the next month, was renewed for a second season which is currently expected to debut in 2026.

"It’s still an animatic phase," Marvel Television executive Brad Winderbaum said of X-Men '97 season 2 plans earlier this year. "Animation takes so long to make as I’m sure you know. There was a great bit about this in Invincible Season 2. They just nailed it so hard, it is the greatest."

"We were lucky enough to get the greenlight before we aired so there’s maybe less of a lag," he added. "People are just going to have to be patient with us."

Stay tuned for updates as we have them.

This provocative and visually stunning cinematic series immerses the viewer in a world of vivid adult animation with a live-action edge. Set in Edo-period Japan, Blue Eye Samurai follows Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine), a mixed-race master of the sword who lives a life in disguise seeking the deliverance of revenge. TV-MA.

Blue Eye Samurai is created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, who also serve as executive producers and writers. Erwin Stoff is executive producer. Jane Wu is supervising director and producer. Blue Spirit is the animation studio.

Voice cast includes Maya Erskine (Mizu), George Takei (Seki), Masi Oka (Ringo), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (The Swordmaker), Brenda Song (Akemi), Darren Barnet (Taigen), Randall Park (Heiji Shindo), and Kenneth Branagh (Abijah Fowler). Supporting voice cast includes Stephanie Hsu (Ise), Ming-Na Wen (Madame Kaji), Harry Shum Jr. (Takayoshi) and Mark Dacascos (Chiaki), among others.

The first season of Blue Eye Samurai is now streaming on Netflix.

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DTor91
DTor91 - 9/8/2024, 6:14 AM
Blue Eye Samurai was not obscure, Josh. Your reporting is getting worse by the second.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 9/8/2024, 6:39 AM
@DTor91 - yeah, it was like the biggest thing for a month atleast. For a show thay dropped all at once it did pretty well
Nagi
Nagi - 9/8/2024, 6:25 AM
Loved both shows but Scavengers reigns should have won.
Kneeonbrown
Kneeonbrown - 9/8/2024, 10:15 AM
@Nagi - scavengers reign was by far the most deserving. Insanely underrated. Real shame it got cancelled.
HermanM
HermanM - 9/8/2024, 6:38 AM
That's because it wasn't that great
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 9/8/2024, 6:48 AM
No joke or hyperbole, Blue Eyed Samurai was probably one of the best animated series we have watched in the last decade in our opinion.

We have not gotten around to Xmen 97' yet or indeed Invincible as we don't watch THAT much animated unless on standard TV like Simpsons/Futurama and happens to be on and only started streaming any since What If season one landed. As such that isn't me putting it over and above the Marvel series or any other and would also say Arcane is up there with it too which our youngest got us watching and loved but from our PoV think it is fair it had awards consideration at least.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 9/8/2024, 6:53 AM
I think we all knew this was going to win the Emmy.
soberchimera
soberchimera - 9/8/2024, 1:26 PM
@ObserverIO - Deservedly so.
Typhoon20
Typhoon20 - 9/8/2024, 7:05 AM
I don't mean to be a D (it just comes naturally) but I was really disappointed with XMen 97. I read so much praise for the show that I was pretty hyped to watch it. I didn't care about Scott & Jean nor Storm, some of the accents were bad, Wolverine was wasted, Gambit was cool. Magneto had an interesting path when he took over but then they reverted back to the same silly death to all humans side we've seen a million times. In the end it all became predictably boring. Some of the dialogue as well was typical Disney fluff. I was legit hoping the episodes would finish up quickly after a while it was that boring for me.

The Blue Eyed Samurai wasn't THAT great either but I never got bored watching that show unlike XMen 97. It's clearly the better one out of the two and it's not even close.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 9/8/2024, 7:09 AM
@Typhoon20 - Out of curiosity then, which animated series do YOU think was the best in the last year?
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 9/8/2024, 7:11 AM
X-Men 97 was solid but it’s fine if it didn’t win since both Blue Eye Samurai & Scavenger Reigns were said to be strong contenders to it aswell…

It just being Emmy nominated is a big & prestigious thing on its own.

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Anyway congrats to the team of Blue Eye Samurai , been meaning to check it out since it’s looked good but haven’t been able to as of yet.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 9/8/2024, 7:17 AM
@TheVisionary25 - Yeh, still not gotten around to 97' either as feel I would need to watch the original Xmen series it carries on from first. I know some say you don't need to but feel it would be better to do so as we have never watched it. It wasn't on UK terrestrial TV as far as I'm aware back in the 90's and we had a lot going on IRL that decade so didn't have that much free time for TV anyway.
RedFury
RedFury - 9/8/2024, 10:02 AM
@TheVisionary25 - I loved X-Men but Blue Eye Samurai and Scavengers Reign were on another level. Going up against those power house shows was a losing battle.

Scavengers Reign would be my favourite of the three; what a refreshingly weird sci-fi.
cubrn
cubrn - 9/8/2024, 11:21 AM
@Apophis71 - I felt the same way and did a OG series binge only to realize how dated and bad it is. Nostalgia is what is keeping it alive. X-Men 97 is totally worth your time and doing a re-watch of X-Men 92 is unnecessary.
EZBeast
EZBeast - 9/8/2024, 7:50 AM
Obscure my ass you jealous little fanboy
Drace24
Drace24 - 9/8/2024, 8:08 AM
"Mainstream attention" isn't really what should get you an award though.
WhatIfRickJames
WhatIfRickJames - 9/8/2024, 8:37 AM
Blue Eye Samurai is obscure?? Literally the most popular animation on Netflix at one time.
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 9/8/2024, 8:41 AM
Rightfully so. Blue Eye Samurai was epic! 1000 times better than anything that came out last year and this year. I can't wait for the 2nd season.
ItsNotForMeWahh
ItsNotForMeWahh - 9/8/2024, 8:55 AM
Too bad the animation company for Blue Eye Samurai laid off many that worked on it
Kalsena
Kalsena - 9/8/2024, 8:56 AM
You gotta chill with calling Blue Eye samurai an obscure show , that shit was amazing and got a bunch of attention. It’s like this guy is incapable of showing his bias while reporting .
Spoken
Spoken - 9/8/2024, 8:57 AM
I mean I loved X-Men 97 don't get me wrong, but I don't think it was "EMMY" worthy.
MisterBones
MisterBones - 9/8/2024, 9:02 AM
Obscure my ASS Josh
Cleander
Cleander - 9/8/2024, 9:04 AM
I'm glad bc Disney and all its verticals should always lose 🤣
WEAPONXOXOXO
WEAPONXOXOXO - 9/8/2024, 9:06 AM
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HAUSMAN01
HAUSMAN01 - 9/8/2024, 9:20 AM
Dear Disney, DC and the rest of you other TV/movie companies, take notes. This is how you write a good, strong female lead! Mizus story is incredible, and the fact she has flaws and actually goes through some brutal fights, sustains almost fatal injuries, and overcomes incredible challenges makes her a likable and memorable character. The writing in this show is incredible.
thespiderkat
thespiderkat - 9/8/2024, 9:44 AM
Bet Beau DeMayo is already working on his “the Emmys are racist” only fans video…
RaddRider
RaddRider - 9/8/2024, 10:36 AM
Sooo many people have been talking about blue eye samurai in the comments of this very website. Josh must have all those people blocked I guess
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 9/8/2024, 10:37 AM
Lol, obscure. Pay attention Josh...
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