Superman: The Animated Series

Superman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and originally aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. It was the first spin-off of Batman: The Animated Series, and was equally praised for its thematic complexity, quality animation, maturity and modernization of its title character.

As with the first season of Batman, the main opening "title" sequence of Superman had no actual title. Also, like Batman, the opening theme sequence of Superman had no sung or spoken words, but was merely an instrumental piece over scenes from the series.

Midway through the series' run, it was combined with Batman: The Animated Series to become The New Batman/Superman Adventures. The characters of Superman and Batman were then spun off into the Justice League animated series, which also featured other popular DC Comics characters; including Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl and The Flash.

Superman: The Animated Series premeired on Cartoon Network's Toonami block on November 13, 2000.

Plot
The series focuses on the adventures of Superman, an incredibly powerful crime fighter from the planet Krypton, who defends Metropolis from a variety of supercriminals that include Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Metallo, The Parasite, Livewire, The Toyman, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Bizarro, Darkseid, Lobo, Jax-Ur, and Mala. Superman's secret identity is that of Clark Kent, a mild-mannered reporter for the newspaper "The Daily Planet". There he worked with fellow reporter Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen.

Characters
Superman (Clark Kent/Kal-El) — an incredibly powerful alien crime fighter from the planet Krypton, who defends Metropolis from a variety of super-villains. His Kryptonian birth parents sent him off in a spaceship before being destroyed along with their planet, he crash landed in Kansas where he was found and raised by the Kent Family. Superman's Kryptonian body is given special powers by the Earth's yellow sun. Such powers include: heat vision, x-ray vision, super strength, super speed, ability to fly, etc. Superman's only weakness is Kryptonite, glowing green rock fragments,which come from his destroyed home planet Krypton. Superman works at The Daily Planet under the pseudonym Clark Kent.

Lois Lane — Superman's main love interest throughout the series, she works at the Daily planet as a reporter alongside Jimmy Olsen and Superman's alter ego Clark Kent. Superman often saves her when her life is in danger, which it often is.

Jimmy Olsen — A young photographer who works alongside Lois Lane and Superman's alter ego Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. He often stumbles into danger that only Superman can get him out of.

Episodes
A Direct-To-DVD feature, Superman: Brainiac Attacks was released in 2006, although it is not considered to be part of DCAU continuity, despite featuring the same character designs as Superman: The Animated Series, as well as both Tim Daly and Dana Delany reprising their voice roles as Superman and Lois Lane, respectively.

Superman: The Animated Series Volume One was released on DVD January 25, 2005, though it did not receive the same disc transfer as Batman: The Animated Series did (the second disc of each volume was given the Side A/B treatment). The DVDs present the series' episodes in their airing order along with special features. Volume Two was released on December 6, 2005 and Volume Three was released on June 20, 2006. On November 24, 2009, Warner Home Video released Superman the Complete Animated Series, a 7-disc boxed set that includes all 54 episodes of the series as well as extensive bonus features.

Broadcast History
Superman: The Animated Series originally aired on The WB's Kids' WB! programming block from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. The series premiere consisted of a 90-minute movie special on September 6, 1996, which included the first 3 episodes.
 * United States (The WB) — September 6, 1996 - February 12, 2000
 * United States (Cartoon Network) — 2000 - 2004
 * United States (Boomerang) — 2005 - 2006
 * United States (Disney XD) — February 13, 2009 - September 6, 2010
 * United States (The Hub) — September 6, 2011 - 2013
 * Japan (Cartoon Network) — 2003 - 2005

Toonami Broadcast History
Superman: The Animated Series premiered on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block on Monday, November 13, 2000 at 6:30 PM, replacing Batman: The Animated Series in the lineup. After the Toonami broadcast on Friday, January 12, 2001, the series was replaced in the lineup by Outlaw Star. On Wednesday, February 14, 2001 (Valentine's Day) the series returned to the lineup, for one day only, and aired at 4:00 PM during the Villaintine's Day marathon. The series then returned to the lineup the following week, at 6:30 PM on Monday, February 19th, replacing Batman: The Animated Series. Toonami lost an hour of programming, the 4:00-5:00 PM hour, on Monday, May 14, 2001 and Superman moved to the 5:00 PM time slot. Following the Friday, June 1, 2001 broadcast, the series was replaced in the lineup by Cardcaptors.

The series returned along with Batman: The Animated Series for a week long Toonami event, titled Batman VS. Superman, from January 21-26, 2002. During the event, Batman and Superman aired Monday through Friday from 5:00-6:00 PM and the event concluded on Saturday with a 6-hour marathon. Superman was declared the winner of the event and the last two hours of the marathon were dedicated to him.

The series then aired on a revived version of Toonami: Rising Sun from Saturday, February 23, 2002 to Saturday, January 4, 2003. This version of the Rising Sun, which was originally cancelled in 2001, consisted of only Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series and aired on Saturdays from 2:00-3:00 AM.

Superman: The Animated Series aired in Japan on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block from June 2003 - 2005.


 * Toonami (United States) — November 13, 2000 - January 12, 2001 ; February 14, 2001 ; February 19, 2001 - June 1, 2001  ; January 21-26, 2002
 * Toonami: Rising Sun — February 23, 2002 - January 4, 2003
 * Toonami (Japan) — June 2003 - 2005

Toonami Marathons
The following is a list of Toonami marathons in which at least one episode of Superman: The Animated Series appeared.
 * Villaintine's Day (February 14, 2001)
 * Batman VS. Superman (January 21-26, 2002)