The Marvel director behind X-Men ’97 episode 5, “Remember It,” reacts to the show’s major Emmy nomination for Best Animated Program. With the return of X-Men: The Animated Series in the form of X-Men ’97, Marvel Studios earned one of their biggest victories in 2024, as the Disney+ series became a major success. One of the most memorable stories of X-Men ’97 season 1 was the tragic death of Gambit, as he sacrificed himself in episode 5, “Remember It.”

Screen Rant recently spoke with Emi/Emmett Yonemura, who directed X-Men ’97 season 1, episode 5, since their episode was submitted for awards consideration, and ended up earning the show a nomination in the Outstanding Animated Program category at the Emmys. Yonemura, who will be back for X-Men ’97 seasons 2 and 3, shared how they found out about X-Men ’97 being up for the Emmys, sharing the following:

Well, thank you so much for the kind words. I was on vacation. I was sitting on a boat, wishing that my parents didn’t have any kind of connectivity. Because when you’re on vacation, I have to stop myself from working, but then I get this text message from Charley [Feldman,] one of our producers and writers, and they let me know, they’re like, ‘Did you see?’ I was like, ‘See what? What are you talking about? I’m on a boat! I’m not worrying about the world right now.” I was just blown away. I was really happy. It felt really good, because I know that the whole team worked so hard on it, and I know that, like the audience, loved it, and that just felt really good. I’m honored and flabbergasted.

X-Men ’97 was one of three Marvel shows to receive Emmy nominations, with the other two being Loki and Echo. See Marvel’s full list of Emmy nominations below.

Why X-Men ’97’s “Remember It” Episode Deserves All The Awards Recognition

As much as X-Men ’97 has garnered a whole new generation of viewers, it is always crucial to remember that this show is also tapping into the audience who followed X-Men: The Animated Series when it aired in the 1990s. The sequel continues the stories of all of these characters who have stuck with fans for more than three decades. Seeing Gambit’s death after investing time and passion into X-Men: The Animated Series after 30 years made X-Men ’97 episode 5 a devastating watch for viewers who have followed this specific incarnation of Remy LeBeau.

But “Remember It” is also a powerful episode about the existence of mutants in that universe, with the genocide of Genosha being very much X-Men ’97’s own world-changing tragedy. In a lot of ways, “Remember It” was the final loss of innocence for many of the beloved heroes, realizing once again that they live in a world that is still not fully safe for mutants. X-Men has, since its inception in the comics, been about the battle for mutant rights while also presenting an allegory for prejudice against marginalized people in real life, which is also why “Remember It” taps into some really heavy themes.

Whether Gambit’s story is fully over remains to be seen as the X-Men ’97 season 1 finale teased a potential resurrection at the hands of Apocalypse. If Gambit is resurrected in X-Men ’97 season 2 as one of Apocalypse’s Horsemen, it will definitely make for another complex storyline. But for now, time will tell when X-Men ’97 season 2 will finally come out on Disney+, as 2025 is most likely to be when the show returns.

Catch every episode of X-Men ’97 season 1 on Disney+.