In its first minute,What If…?season 3 showed how perfect theMCUseries could have been, and solved a major criticism aimed at the multiversal Marvel Animation show.What If…?season 3 kicked off on December 22, and its eight-episode run was the final chapter for the animated series that explores alternate storylines and variant characters from across the MCU’s multiverse.Season 3 isWhat If…?‘smost boundary-pushing installmentyet, and it did something no previous season had done in its premiere’s opening moments.
What If…?season 3’s premiere, “What If… the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?,” saw a new Avengers team kitted out with huge mechanical suits of armor that were designed by Tony Stark’s Iron Man after Bruce Banner accidentally created a legion of giant Hulk monsters.Inspired by elements of anime,Godzillastories andPower Rangersnarratives,What If…?season 3’s premiere was a wild adventure. This inspiration, however, also allowedWhat If…?to do something completely new, addressing a major MCU animation criticism.
What If…? Season 3’s Premiere Used A New Animation Style
What If…? Season 3 Opened With A New Animation Style
The opening moments ofWhat If…?season 3 acted as a huge diversion from what audiences had come to expect from the animated series, as a new animation style was used to introduce the original Mech Avengers. This style seemed reminiscent of anime, with a 2D rendering that separated it clearly from the primarystyle ofWhat If…?‘sanimation.This could have established a new way of storytelling for the series, as there have been calls forWhat If…?to explore different styles of animation, but this didn’t come to pass.
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“What If… What If?”
July 11, 2025
Instead, this interesting new style was revealed to be that of theGo-Avengersseries being watched withinWhat If…?season 3’s premiere. This established the background of theoriginal Gamma War and Tony Stark’s creationof the giant suits of armor, adapted from his decade-old Hulkbuster design.This sequence only lasted for less than a minute, but piqued audience interest immediately, and would have been great to see continue for the entire episode. This would have helped to assuage criticisms aimed atWhat If…?‘sanimation style.
Why What If…?’s Animation Style Has Been Criticized
What If…?’s Animation Style Is Divisive
While some are completely unfazed and comfortable withWhat If…?‘sanimation style, others have expressed criticism about the style of the series since the very beginning withWhat If…?season 1 in 2021.The animation style of the series lies somewhere between 2D and 3D, which creates an unusual feeling of the uncanny, perhaps making some viewers unnerved. The goofy and sometimes staccato animation style is also reminiscent of kids’ cartoons, which some adult viewers have found underwhelming.What If…?season 3 almost solved this issue, but missed the mark.
What If…?
Cast
What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
