Superman is the series of seventeen action-oriented animated short films released in Technicolor by Paramount Pictures and based upon the comic book character Superman, making them his first screen appearance.
They were originally produced by Fleischer Studios, who completed the initial short and eight further cartoons in 1941 and 1942. Production was assumed in May 1942 by Famous Studios, a successor company to Fleischer, who produced eight more cartoons in 1942 and 1943. Superman was the last animated series intitiated by Fleischer Studios, before Famous Studios officially took over production.
Although all entries are in the public domain, ancillary rights such as merchandising contract rights, as well as the original 35mm master elements, are owned today by Warner Bros. Entertainment. Warner has owned Superman publisher DC Comics since 1967.
Why It Rocks[]
- The Superman animated series, did NOT followed the zany antics of most golden-aged cartoons of the time.
- The rotoscoped animation are impressive, for larger budgets.
- The character designs was a lot more influence by the Disney studio.
- The backgrounds and art-styles are superb for the 1939 standards.
- Unlike most of these comedy-oriented cartoon shorts, especially Looney Tunes and Tom and Jerry, it had realistic sound effects, which are very decent.
- Excellent voice acting by several movie stars, as well as the radio stars.
- Bud Collyer sounds great as Superman
- The success of the animated superhero action series, increasing the popularity of Superman, during World War II.
- The theme music was pure legend.