Spider-Man has been swinging through comic book pages since 1962, with his massive popularity leading to a staggering amount of monthly solo books, various team books and guest star appearances. In live-action, there’s been plenty of Spidey as well, including three different TV versions in the 1970s and then a consistent run of feature films in the past 25 years starring three different actors.
But aside from the comic book source material, it’s animation where Spidey has been pretty much a mainstay through nearly every decade since his debut. With the new Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man about to debut on Disney+, here’s a look back at the many animated versions of the wall-crawler so far, including multiple ongoing shows and an Oscar-winning move into animated feature films.
Spider-Man (1967-1970)
It may have featured relatively cheap and frequently reused animation, but the first-ever Spider-Man animated series impressively continues to resonate. Part of that is thanks to an iconic and ever-catchy “does whatever a spider can!” opening theme song, which has been included and/or adapted in a ton of Spidey media since. But these days, it’s also because of a scene featuring Spider-Man and an imposter that spawned a certain finger-pointing meme that has become ingrained into social media and pop culture for the past decade-plus.
Spider-Woman (1979)
The 1970s stand out as the only decade since Spider-Man’s comic book introduction that no new animated series starring the character debuted. Yet he still managed to get in a couple of appearances in the Spider-Woman animated series, again voiced by Paul Soles, who played him in the 1960s series.
Spider-Man (1981-1983)
Oddly enough, Spider-Man had two different animated series debuting on the same day in 1981, sharing identical animation styles and character designs, yet not strictly connected. The solo Spider-Man series didn’t have the impact of the other show (more on that below), even as it had Spidey encountering his own rogue’s gallery, original foes, and familiar Marvel villains like Magneto and Red Skull, while meeting guest stars like Sub-Mariner and Captain America.
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983)
Making the bigger impression was this popular team-up series, in which Spider-Man formed the “Spider-Friends” with Iceman and Firestar. Even more than the simultaneous solo series, Amazing Friends was filled with guest stars from all across Marvel like the X-Men, Doctor Strange, Black Knight and more, evoking the biggest feeling yet in any Marvel adaptation of the larger shared universe the comics contained.
Muppet Babies (1989)
In a show all about the power of imagination, the Muppet Babies episode “Comic Capers” had Rowlf and Skeeter both imagining themselves as Spider-Man (or Spider-Dog and Spider-Girl, respectively) and running into the real Spidey along the way. On top of that, an animated Hulk and a live-action Stan Lee also popped up.
X-Men: The Animated Series (1994)
It was literally just his hand, but it’s clearly Spider-Man shooting a web in a quick moment in X-Men: TAS’ “The Phoenix Saga – Part V: Child Of Light.” With the many 1990s Marvel animated series eventually proving to be interconnected, this can thus be seen as a cameo introduction for the same Spidey who would then star in the next series on this list…
Spider-Man (1994-1998)
Still held in high regard by all who grew up with it, the 1990s Spider-Man animated series was easily the most faithful to the comics to that point, packed with both familiar villains and involving adaptations of iconic storylines from the source material. Its visual style and the specific looks it gave its characters remain iconic—and frequently merchandised—to this day.
Spider-Man Unlimited (1999-2001)
A bit of a head scratching curiosity, this kinda-sorta sequel to the earlier 1990s Spider-Man show (but not really if you don’t want it to be) found Peter Parker wearing a fancy new suit while trapped on the bizarre “Counter-Earth.” There, he faced the High Evolutionary’s human-animal hybrid Bestials and encountered strange versions of familiar characters. Not resonating with Spidey fans, a cliffhanger couldn’t save Unlimited from cancellation.
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003)
Neil Patrick Harris voiced Spidey in this MTV CG-animated series that positioned itself as a follow-up to Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man movie, continuing from where that film left off while introducing villains like Kraven, Lizard and Electro… before Spider-Man 2 would contradict it and firmly set this show in its own reality.
Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes (2007)
Though he’s never named due to TV rights restrictions, it’s amusingly clear the freelance photographer Johnny Storm hires to follow him around throughout the episode “Frightful,” hoping to improve his image, is meant to be Peter Parker.
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009)
Living up to its title, this truly spectacular animated series nailed its depiction of a high school-aged Peter Parker, backed by an endearing cast of characters, great storylines, and excellent action sequences. Sadly, the Sony-produced series ended far too soon after two seasons when Marvel got back TV animation rights to Spider-Man.
Ultimate Spider-Man (2012-2017)
Its 104-episode run is currently the highest of any Spider-Man animated series, with Ultimate also kicking off a new group of interconnected Marvel animated shows in the wake of Disney buying the company. As with Spectacular, this series put Spidey in high school, which has remained consistent in most of his shows since.
Featuring Spider-Man heavily connected to S.H.I.E.L.D., it eventually offered up its own animated version of the comic book’s Spider-Verse storyline. This version of Spidey, voiced by Drake Bell, also appeared on the series Avengers Assemble and Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (2012)
Near the end of its run, Spider-Man would show up a handful of times on this animated Avengers series. There was a bit of fan controversy when Josh Keaton, who voiced Peter on the beloved Spectacular Spider-Man, was replaced after first recording the episodes with Drake Bell. It was an apparent attempt to mesh better with Ultimate Spider-Man, despite Earth’s Mightiest Heroes clearly existing in its own continuity.
Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel (2013)
In one of the wackier results of Disney buying Marvel, Phineas and Ferb met a whole mess of Marvel heroes in this crossover, Spider-Man included. Drake Bell and the casts of the other Marvel animated series at the time reprised their roles here, though it feels safe to say this is not canon to Ultimate Spider-Man. Probably.
LEGO Specials (2013-2020)
There have been a bunch of LEGO specials featuring Marvel characters, and Spider-Man has appeared in a few of them – including one, 2019’s LEGO Marvel Spider-Man: Vexxed by Venom, focusing specifically on the world of Spidey and his enemies, LEGO style.
Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers (2014-2015)
This Japanese anime had a very distinct spin on the Avengers – here trapped inside disks that some plucky kids can briefly free them from – and boasted frequent appearances from Spider-Man. Unlike his high school-aged contemporary animated US counterparts, this version of Peter Parker was a Stark Industries scientist.
Marvel Future Avengers (2017-2018)
The next Japanese-produced Marvel animated series followed the Avengers training a group of teens who were Hydra defectors. Spider-Man appeared for a multi-episode story arc also involving his archnemesis, the Green Goblin.
Spider-Man (2017-2020)
Beginning almost immediately after Ultimate Spider-Man, this series incorporated Spider-Verse types like Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen as ongoing characters, removing their multiverse origins. Its version of Peter Parker’s Spider-Man, voiced by Robbie Daymond, would also appear in the animated Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse / Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2018 / 2023)
When Spider-Man finally made his animated feature film debut, it couldn’t have gone better. This adored, Academy Award winning multiverse story focused on Miles Morales, though with plenty of Peter Parker included too, along with Gwen Stacy. The sequel was an even bigger hit, while retaining the critical acclaim, making everyone psyched for the third film… whenever we get it!
What If…? (2021)
Peter Parker made one appearance on What If…? in an episode where he was one of the few survivors of a zombie apocalypse – and temporarily ended up wearing Doctor Strange’s Cloak of Levitation.
Spidey and His Amazing Friends (2022-Present)
Aimed at preschoolers, this show also heavily incorporates Miles and Gwen, who team with Peter here – except they’re all little kids. Filled with heroes and villains from both Spider-Man lore and Marvel at large, Spidey had become quite the sensation with its young audience.
X-Men’ 97 (2024)
The revival of the 1990s X-Men animated series has managed to sneak in two silent cameos from the 1990s animated Spider-Man as well, first showing him in full costume reacting to Magneto’s magnetic pulse at the end of episode 8. We then found Peter Parker alongside Mary Jane Watson and Flash Thompson watching a harrowing news report in the Season 1 finale.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025-?)
Originally intended as a prequel to Tom Holland’s live-action Spider-Man films, this new series was retooled to exist in its own universe, freeing up this newly-powered Peter Parker to encounter characters like Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and Daredevil that MCU canon would not have allowed for. A second season is already confirmed for this Disney+ TV show.