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.
Voice Cast[]
Character | Voice Actor |
---|---|
Superman / Clark Kent / Kal-El | Tim Daly |
Lex Luthor | Clancy Brown |
Lois Lane | Dana Delany |
James "Jimmy" Olsen | David Kaufman |
Brainiac | Corey Burton |
Darkseid | Michael Ironside |
Kalibak | Michael Dorn |
Granny Goodness | Ed Asner |
Lashina | Diane Marie Michelle |
Stompa | Diane Delano |
Mad Harriet | Andrea Martin |
Bizarro | Tim Daly |
Inspector Dan Turpin | Joseph Bologna |
Perry White | George Dzundza |
Mercy Graves | Lisa Edelstein |
Angela Chen | Lauren Tom |
Jonathan Kent | Mike Farrell |
Martha Kent | Shelley Fabares |
Lana Lang | Joely Fisher |
Professor Emil Hamilton | Victor Brandt |
Inspector Maggie Sawyer | Joanna Cassidy |
Bruce Wayne / Batman | Kevin Conroy |
Tim Drake / Robin | Mathew Valencia |
Alfred Pennyworth | Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. |
Jax-Ur | Ron Perlman |
Mala | Leslie Easterbrook (ep. 14-15) Sarah Douglas (ep. 47) |
Mr. Mxyzptlk | Gilbert Gottfried |
Ms. Gsptlsnz | Sandra Bernhard (ep. 21) Jennifer Hale (ep. 46) |
John Corben / Metallo | Malcolm McDowell |
John Henry Irons / Steel | Michael Dorn |
Leslie Willis / Livewire | Lori Petty |
Bruno Mannheim | Bruce Weitz |
Lobo | Brad Garrett |
Bibbo Bibbowski | Brad Garrett |
"Neato" Coralli | Brad Garrett |
Director of the Paranormals Institute | William H. Macy |
Teenage Clark Kent | Jason Marsden |
Kara In-Ze / Kara Kent / Supergirl | Nicholle Tom |
Winslow Schott / Toyman | Bud Cort |
Rudy Jones / Parasite | Brion James |
Saturn Girl | Melissa Joan Hart |
Rokk Krinn / Cosmic Boy | Chad Lowe |
Reep Daggle / Chameleon Boy | Jason Priestley |
Kenny Braverman | Scott Menville |
The Joker | Mark Hamill |
Harley Quinn | Arleen Sorkin |
The Penguin | Paul Williams |
The Riddler | John Glover |
Commissioner James Gordon | Bob Hastings |
Detective Harvey Bullock | Robert Costanzo |
Roxanne Sutton / Roxy Rocket | Charity James |
The Mad Hatter | Roddy McDowall |
Bane | Henry Silva |
Ra's al Ghul | David Warner |
Talia al Ghul | Olivia Hussey |
Edward Lytener / Luminus | Robert Hays |
Claire Selton / Volcana | Peri Gilpin |
Detective Bowman | Eddie Barth |
Jor-El | Christopher McDonald |
Lara | Finola Hughes |
Wally West / The Flash | Charlie Schlatter |
Mark Mardon / Weather Wizard | Miguel Ferrer |
Doctor Fate | George DelHoyo |
Orion | Steve Sandor |
Arthur Curry / Aquaman | Miguel Ferrer |
Kyle Rayner / Green Lantern | Michael P. Greco |
Steppenwolf | Sherman Howard |
Sinestro | Ted Levine |
Abin Sur | Peter Mark Richman |
Darci Mason | Nancy Travis |
Reverend Howell | Stephen Root |
Gallery[]
Episodes[]
Color | Season | Episodes | Toonami Premiere | Toonami Finale |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | November 13, 2000 | November 30, 2000 | |
2 | 28 | November 17, 2000 | January 12, 2001 | |
3 | 10 | February 19, 2001 | March 8, 2001 | |
4 | 03 | February 21, 2001 | February 28, 2001 | |
Movie | 01 | November 17, 2000 | ||
Movie | 01 | June 17, 2006 |
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[11] - 2006[12]
- United States (Disney XD) — February 13, 2009 - September 6, 2010
- United States (The Hub) — September 6, 2011 - 2013
- Japan (Cartoon Network) — 2003[13] - 2005[14]
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.[1][2] 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.[3] The series then returned to the lineup the following week, at 6:30 PM on Monday, February 19th, replacing Batman: The Animated Series.[4] 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.[5][6]
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.[7][8]
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.[9][10]
Superman: The Animated Series aired in Japan on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block from June 2003[13] - 2005[14].
- Toonami (United States) — November 13, 2000 - January 12, 2001[1][2]; February 14, 2001[3]; February 19, 2001[4] - June 1, 2001[5][6]; January 21-26, 2002[7][8]
- Toonami: Rising Sun — February 23, 2002 - January 4, 2003[9][10]
- Toonami (Japan) — June 2003[13] - 2005[14]
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)
External Links[]
See Also[]
All series are also part of the DC Animated Universe
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Toonami Line-up ". cartoonnetwork.com. December 3, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001203133400/http://cartoonnetwork.com:80/TOONAMI/lineup/index.html. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Superman: The Animated Series ". cartoonnetwork.com. December 12, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001212072900/http://alt.cartoonnetwork.com:80/Schedule/1,2989,CTN%7c0%7c314820%7cEastern,00.html. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Villaintine's Day Bumpers ". https://toonami.fandom.com/File:Toonami_Villaintine's_Day_Bumpers.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Outlaw Star re-runs added to Cartoon Network ". animenewsnetwork.com. January 26, 2001. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-01-26/outlaw-star-re-runs-added-to-cartoon-network. Retrieved on February 22, 2015.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Superman: The Animated Series ". cartoonnetwork.com. February 9, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010209085324/http://alt.cartoonnetwork.com:80/Schedule/1,2989,CTN%7c0%7c314820%7cEastern,00.html. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Thursday, May 03, 2001 ". cartoonnetwork.com. May 3, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010509191636/http://alt.cartoonnetwork.com:80/Schedule/1,2989,CTN%7c-6%7c%7cEastern,00.html. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Monday, January 21, 2002 ". toonzone.net. January 21, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20040820110048/http://www.toonzone.net/shows/cnschedules/2002-01/21.html. Retrieved on March 20, 2017.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Saturday, January 26, 2002 ". toonzone.net. January 26, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20040820110254/http://www.toonzone.net/shows/cnschedules/2002-01/26.html. Retrieved on March 20, 2017.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Superman: The Animated Series Schedule ". cartoonnetwork.com. June 2, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020602071644/http://alt.cartoonnetwork.com/Schedule/0,3671,CTN%7c0%7c314820%7cEastern,00.html. Retrieved on February 19, 2015.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "TV Schedule - Superman: The Animated Series ". cartoonnetwork.com. October 12, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20021012182009/http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com/servlet/ScheduleServlet?action=viewAll&showID=314820&show=Superman:+The+Animated+Series. Retrieved on February 19, 2015.
- ↑ "Schedule ". cartoonnetwork.com. August 28, 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050828021241/http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com:80/servlet/BoomerangServlet?action=selectBMDay. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
- ↑ "Schedule ". cartoonnetwork.com. July 20, 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060720053739/http://schedule.cartoonnetwork.com:80/servlet/BoomerangServlet?action=selectBMDay. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Schedule ". cartoonnetwork.co.jp. June 18, 2003. http://web.archive.org/web/20030618073500/http://www.cartoonnetwork.co.jp/toonami/lineup.asp. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Schedule ". cartoonnetwork.co.jp. February 6, 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050206043618/http://www.cartoonnetwork.co.jp:80/toonami/lineup.asp. Retrieved on February 2, 2018.
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