Disney+ is continuing to provide more expansion opportunities for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With multiple series like WandaVison and Ms. Marvel streaming on the platform right now, and tons of new projects in the works, Marvel fans are sure to continue seeing content appear on Disney+ for years to come. The newest series to take place within the MCU is about Groot, the talking tree from Guardians of the Galaxy, and the adventures he has as a baby.
Unlike other animated Marvel content, I Am Groot takes place alongside The Infinity Saga in the main MCU timeline. Reprising his voice role from the main Guardians films is Vin Diesel as Baby Groot. Guardians character Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a slightly wild, genetically modified raccoon is also returning to the screen in I Am Groot. Rocket and Groot are pals in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, and in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the two seem to continue their strange and sometimes frustrating friendship.
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I Am Groot was created by Kirsten Lepore specifically for Disney+. Each of the short story episodes follows Baby Groot as he matures. He travels around the cosmos and embarks on adventures with strange and new personalities who often get him in a bit of hot water. Lepore noted in an interview with Disney Central that Baby Groot is “the child in all of us.” There were scenes in the Guardians films where we know Groot was de-aged, but we never see how he gets from baby Groot to Teenage Groot and that is what this new series hopes to show. So, where does the I Am Groot series fall within the MCU timeline, and what do you need to watch before watching I Am Groot?
I Am Groot’s Place in the MCU Timeline, Explained
Walt Disney Studios
Ironically enough, only die-hard Marvel comic books fans really know how deep Groot’s roots go. Groot began in Marvel Comics, created by Stan Lee, as a villain who came to Earth to conquer, as outlined by Screen Rant. He made his first appearance in the 1960s comic, Tales to Astonish #13, as a member of a race of extremely large tree-like people. In the comics, his size and strength were used to show him as a horrific beast, a Flora Colossi from Planet X. Marvel Studios obviously wanted something more light-hearted in the Guardians of the Galaxy films, so they changed Groot’s personality and made him one of the most beloved characters in the MCU.
In the MCU, Groot sacrifices himself to protect his fellow Guardians in Guardians of the Galaxy, and afterwards, Rocket replanted a part of Groot’s body, which grew into Baby Groot. Then in Guardians of the Galaxy 2, we see Baby Groot take on enemies and fight with his friends to the best of his abilities. He remains a baby throughout the film, but in the end-credits scene, we see Groot has aged up and is acting more like a teenager than a baby. This means that whatever happens in I Am Groot is set in the time we don’t see between the end of Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and the end-credits scene.
What You Need to Watch Before I Am Groot
Marvel Studios
Groot makes his first appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy as an adult humanoid tree. Groot is friends with Rocket when we first meet him, and eventually, he becomes a member of the Guardians after agreeing to assist Peter Quill/Starlord (Chris Pratt) after they are all arrested. Groot continues to fight alongside his fellow Guardians in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Baby Groot, risking his life again to save his friends. So, if you want to watch the universe in order, you’ll need to have watched both the Guardians films before watching I Am Groot.
A sassy teenage version of Groot also appears in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame when the Guardians team up with the Avengers to take down Thanos. At the end of Endgame, Thor has joined up with the Guardians and is bickering with Quill. Therefore, to get a complete picture of who Groot is before watching I Am Groot, you could watch the last two Avengers films, but just keep in mind they are set after I Am Groot.
The Guardians, including Groot, also appear in a small bit of Thor: Love and Thunder, which continues Thor’s story and tells us where the God of Thunder is going next. Groot and the Guardians are also scheduled to appear in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which is set for a 2023 release date and will hopefully give even more information on who Groot really is.
Disney’s Marvel catalog continues to grow and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. I Am Groot looks like it is going to be the cutest Marvel series on Disney+. The best part about doing a series like this is that fans of all ages will be able to see little baby Groot in his adventures. I Am Groot premiered with five animated shorts on Disney+ on August 10, 2022.
