It seems like we’ve waited forever, but at long last, James Gunn’s Superman is almost in theaters. The new film, the first earnest salvo of the relaunched DC Universe of films, is promising to be something looser to the traditional comic book take of Superman than we’ve gotten in some time, and excitement is at an all-time high.
For many, though, that ideal Superman doesn’t come from comics, but from animation. While Superman films have seemingly spent more time in development hell than they have being made, so many fans have had to rely on animation to get their fix. If you’re looking to see where those origins lie, look no further than our picks for the best Superman cartoons of all time, and where you can find them on streaming.
10. The New Adventures of Superman (1966-1970)
In 1966, years before Filmation would be known for its landmark He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series, it took over the swashbuckling tales of the Man of Steel. The New Adventures of Superman filled a void that had been left by the cancellation of The Adventures of Superman following George Reeves’s sudden death. The show was something of a DC jam show after its first season, pairing Superman stories with Aquaman episodes for Season 2 and Batman episodes for Season 3. The show was a fan favorite of its era, and for many has aged much better than the Max Fleischer serials it followed.
9. Super Friends (1973-1985)
Superman is perhaps best remembered as something of a meme thanks to the landmark Super Friends cartoon, which started in 1973 and ran in some form or another through 1985. The series featured the heaviest hitters of DC comics, anchored by Superman himself, as they fought an array of enemies, notably the Legion of Doom led by Superman’s nemesis, Lex Luthor. Super Friends may be viewed as something of a joke now, but it was an animation and merchandising juggernaut in its time. Still, there’s a reason it’s remembered today, and it persists in re-runs, streaming, and home releases. The show is just plain fun and downright charming in its eccentricities.
8. Superman (1988)
Considering the era it released in, it’s a little odd that the Ruby-Spears-produced Superman of 1988 is a forgotten relic today. It really shouldn’t be, though! The show has an incredible attention to detail, thanks to stories overseen by DC Comics writer Marv Wolfman. If that doesn’t do it for you, then the gorgeous animation, based on the then-current post-Crisis on Infinite Earths designs by legendary artist Gil Kane, have aged tremendously well. The show is a bit more down-to-Earth and doesn’t feature a whole lot of crossover with other DC characters, though Wonder Woman does notably make an appearance late in the season. Superman only lasted for one season of 13 episodes, but it is a remarkable children’s cartoon from an era where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were coming into prominence.
7. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
Released as part of an ongoing series of DC Comics animated films, 2010’s Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths serves as a loose adaptation of the 2000 graphic novel JLA: Earth 2. The series sees the Justice League thrust onto an alternate Earth ruled by their evil counterparts, the Crime Syndicate of America. This film notably features a new voice cast, with NCIS star Mark Harmon stepping into the role of Superman for an acclaimed performance. Crisis on Two Earths is recognized as one of the high points of DC’s animated outings of the 2010s, though its later sequel, Justice League: Doom, would ditch Crisis’ cast to serve as more of a Justice League reunion.
6. Justice League Action (2016-2018)
Debuting in 2016, Justice League Action is a series of shorts that aired on both the web and Cartoon Network. Clocking in at only a few minutes, the shorts are aimed at a tween audience and feature the Justice League in adventures that border on absurd. Superman is a recurring character and features in some of the best shorts. Of particular mention is the episode “True Colors,” which was acclaimed not only for its action and Kryptonite gags, but also for its reintroduction of Pink Kryptonite, which turned Superman into Superwoman. Justice League Action didn’t last for long, but to this day, it remains a surprisingly well-done DC Comics project.
5. Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)
Following the success of the DC Animated Movie Universe, an attempt was made at a soft reboot for the film series, kicking off with 2020’s Superman: Man of Tomorrow. As such, this wave of films became known as the Tomorrowverse. Man of Tomorrow is an updated origin story, focusing on Superman’s role as the last survivor of Krypton and contrasting him with the likes of Martian Manhunter and Lobo. The film was critically acclaimed and well-regarded by fans, as were most of the Tomorrowverse films. Nonetheless, the arc and this Superman saw their stories end with the 2024 Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation.
4. Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)
In the wake of Batman: The Animated Series, Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett were tapped to give Superman the same animated refresh. The result was Superman: The Animated Series, a show which had an arguably greater impact than Batman did, but much more subtly. A lot of modern Superman is codified in this series, which features a tongue-in-cheek but stoic Superman paired with a modern and feisty Lois Lane. The series streamlined Batman’s art style even further by embracing a timeless art deco look, anchored by perfectly cast voice acting that included Tim Daly, Clancy Brown, and Dana Delany, but it also wasn’t afraid to get dark, as exemplified in its brutal murder of recurring character Dan Turpin.
3. Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)
Everything that made Superman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series great culminates in the double feature of Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. While Justice League may have featured some all-time classic Superman tales, you really have to throw it to Justice League Unlimited if you’re trying to rank one of them as the best Superman cartoon. JLU is the one that gave us an incredible adaptation of “For The Man Who Has Everything” that is so good, even original writer Alan Moore liked it (reportedly) and the legendary “World of Cardboard” speech as he threw Darkseid around Metropolis. But if you must see an all-time great JLU Superman episode, look no further than the show’s tearjerker of a Christmas episode, “Hereafter,” where Superman shares his love of Christmas with the Martian Manhunter.
2. My Adventures With Superman (2023-present)
My Adventures With Superman was a surprise hit when it launched in 2023, and its continued to impress today. The show is a heavily retooled take on the Superman mythos, leaning into modern storytelling and animation tropes to the point that Superman gets an honest-to-God transformation that would make Sailor Moon jealous in its first episode. But don’t mistake it for bad storytelling. My Adventures with Superman, which presents itself as a light-hearted, all-ages adventure series, puts some serious weight on its message of acceptance, found family, and doing what’s right no matter the cost. This is perhaps the definitive Superman animated show of any generation.
1. All-Star Superman (2011)
It should come as no surprise that the best Superman cartoon ever made is a close adaptation of arguably the best Superman comic ever made. Like the critically acclaimed comic, All-Star Superman follows the Man of Steel after he is exposed to a lethal amount of solar radiation and is given just one year to live. During that year, we see him spend time with his friends and family as he strives to complete the impossible tasks he has worked to solve before time runs out. All the while, he never despairs, never mopes, and faces adversity with strength. All-Star Superman, in all its forms, is the definitive Superman tale of hope and its everlasting power, making this easily the best Superman cartoon of all time.
Where To Watch The Best Superman Cartoons Of All Time Online
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