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What If...? 2021
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What If...? is an American animated anthology television series produced by A. C. Bradley for the streaming platform Disney+, adapting the Marvel Comics comic series of the same name. It marks the fourth television production within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) from Marvel Studios, the first animated entry from the studio, and the inaugural project developed under Marvel Studios Animation. The show investigates alternate realities in the multiverse by exploring how pivotal events from MCU films might have unfolded differently. Bradley led as head writer for the initial two seasons, followed by Matthew Chauncey for season three, while Bryan Andrews served as lead director.
Jeffrey Wright portrays the Watcher, who serves as narrator throughout the series, with numerous actors from MCU films reprising their roles. Marvel Studios began developing the series in Disney+ by late 2018, with Bradley and Andrews confirmed on board. The official announcement occurred in April 2019. Ryan Meinerding, head of visual development at Marvel Studios, contributed to shaping the cel-shaded animation style, aiming to mirror the cinematic aesthetic and draw influence from traditional American illustrators. Flying Bark Productions and Stellar Creative Lab provided animation services, with Blue Spirit and Squeeze involved in season one, and SDFX Studios contributing to season two. Stephan Franck oversaw animation for season one and directed seasons two and three, while Scott Wright led animation for seasons two and three. Chauncey functioned as story editor prior to succeeding Bradley as head writer.
Season one of What If...? debuted on August 11, 2021 and concluded on October 6, consisting of nine episodes as part of Phase Four of the MCU. Season two released daily from December 22 through 30, 2023, followed by the third and final season premiering on December 22, 2024, also distributed daily, marking Phase Five. The series garnered generally favorable reviews, with commendations for voice performances, animation quality, and imaginative narratives, although some criticism was directed toward episode duration and script execution. An interactive augmented and virtual reality experience titled What If...? – An Immersive Story launched in May 2024 for the Apple Vision Pro headset. A spin-off series named Marvel Zombies debuted in September 2025, with three more specials scheduled for release annually in 2027, 2028, and 2029.
Trailer
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Crew
- Creator
- A. C. Bradley
- Producer
- Carrie Wassenaar, Danielle Costa, Marvel Studios, Alex Scharf
- Executive producer
- A. C. Bradley, Bryan Andrews, Victoria Alonso, Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige
- Music
- Laura Karpman, Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum
Details
- Production
- Marvel Studios Animation
- Network
- Disney+
