Despite being a strong contender for a major animated Emmy, X-Men ’97 has been surpassed by the lesser-known Netflix series Blue Eye Samurai.
Although the Primetime Emmy Awards won’t be broadcast until September 15, many shows secured early wins during the Creative Arts Emmys.
Regrettably, not every project claimed a cherished award, including X-Men ’97, which experienced a significant setback in the Outstanding Animated Program category.
The Disney+ series enjoyed substantial success during its early 2024 run but ultimately lost to the relatively obscure Netflix anime Blue Eye Samurai.
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X-Men ’97 wasn’t the only high-profile series to lose to the Netflix production; other competitors included Bob’s Burgers and The Simpsons.
In addition to winning the top prize in the animation category, Blue Eye Samurai also captured three Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation Emmys for character design, production design, and storyboard.
Blue Eye Samurai, developed by the French studio Blue Spirit, debuted in November 2023 with a total of eight episodes.
The series centers on Mizu, a half-White, half-Japanese onna-musha (female warrior) who navigates life as a man to evade discrimination due to her mixed-race heritage.
In Season 1, Mizu embarks on a revenge quest against four men, one of whom is her father, for various deep-seated reasons, including their illegal residency in Japan, which has been sealed off by the militaristic government known as the Tokugawa shogunate.
The show explores numerous complex themes such as race, class, gender identity, and sexual expression.
Blue Eye Samurai features a prominent voice cast, boasting some of the most recognized Asian American actors, including George Takei (Star Trek), Masi Oka (Heroes), Maya Erskine (Pen15), Brenda Song (Dollface), and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever).
Despite flying under the radar of many mainstream Netflix viewers, the series currently holds an impressive score of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
In December 2023, Blue Eye Samurai was renewed for a second season, consisting of six episodes, set to premiere sometime in 2026.
Stay updated with the new shows and movies launching this month.
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