Each generation of Spider-Man animation reflects the production technology and viewing habits of its time โ ten shows and films, read in order.
Spider-Man has been reanimated for nearly every generation since the 1960s, and each version reflects the animation technology and broadcast environment of its era. This list isn't ranked by quality โ it's sequenced to show what actually changed from one generation to the next.
Because it's arranged chronologically, you can jump to whichever era interests you or work through it start to finish to watch the style evolve. Which platforms carry each series varies by region and changes over time, so check an official source before watching. (Current as of August 2026.)
01
Spider-Man (1967 TV Series)
As the first animated Spider-Man ever made, this is the natural starting point for comparing generations. Production conditions were far more limited than today, so the animation and pacing are simple by modern standards, but it's the baseline every later generation built on. Its theme song alone is memorable enough that plenty of fans recognize this series by that alone.
02
Spider-Man (1981 TV Series)
Made roughly a generation after the 1967 original, this series is a useful gauge of how much TV animation production had changed in the interim. Its focus on standalone adventures suits viewers who want to follow one character closely rather than juggle a large cast. Watching it back to back with its predecessor makes the decade-plus stylistic shift easy to spot.
03
Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
Made around the same period but structured around teamwork and friendship rather than solo action, this series shows a different direction children's animation was taking at the time. It's a useful example of how relationships got handled in kids' TV of that era, and an early blueprint for the team-focused shows that followed. Comparing it with other shows from the same generation makes the reasoning behind this format clearer.