Commentary: The Animation Of ‘What If…?’ Stretches The MCU’s Possibilities
by Frank Martin
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a very unique storytelling environment. It has done wonders combining so many different tones and genres that it’s quite a narrative feat. However, there is definitely a line the films simply cannot cross because of limitations in live action storytelling. That doesn’t mean certain things are impossible with real actors. It just means that the overall MCU can only handle so much absurdity. Films like Thor: Love and Thunder and Ant-Man and Wasp: Quantumania scratch the surface of this tone, but it’s really only possible through animation, which is why the series What if…? is a unique approach to this shared universe.
A great example of this is in the episode “What if Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?” It explores the idea of Iron Man (Mick Wingert) failing to return to New York after saving the day in the first Avengers film. Because he was lost in space, he winds up on Sakaar, the garbage planet run by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). In an effort to overthrow this cruel leader, Iron Man challenges him to a demolition derby race. At one point, Iron Man’s car explodes, but he’s still wearing his suit, which disassembles and becomes a brand new car for Tony Stark to drive to victory.
The possibilities of what Iron Man can pull off in a live-action film have been extremely stretched. He’s done incredible feats such as coated other people in his armor and even converted it into a suitcase. But transforming his armor into a car in the middle of race is on a whole other level. This is something too crazy and absurd for a live action Avengers film, but it is something that seems completely plausible through animation. So instead of being looked at as something impossible, this scene fits perfectly into the tone of the show.
What If…? is now streaming Disney+