Audiences have been flocking to James Gunn's new version of Superman, with one of the big takeaways being a newfound appreciation for Krypto the Superdog. Krypto was introduced in Adventure Comics #210 all the way back in 1955. Superman's loyal canine companion quickly became a fan-favorite character in the Superboy stories of DC's Silver Age. While Krypto hasn't appeared in every adaptation of the Man of Steel, there have been plenty of shows and movies that feature versions of the character.
Often, it's a one-off appearance as in Superman & Lois. Other times, it's alongside his fellow superheroes in shows like Justice League Action. Sometimes, Krypto even takes center stage and drives the story forward, as in Superman. If you loved Krypto in Superman, there are plenty of other DC adaptations that are worth checking out across streaming apps like HBO Max, Netflix, and more!
The Adventures of Superboy (1966)
Debuting in 1966 as segments in other animated shows, The Adventures Of Superboy marks the animated debut for Krypto. The shorts feature a young Clark Kent growing up in Smallville, with each segment focusing on Superboy racing off into an adventure. Krypto heavily factors into many of these stories, like "The Spy From Outer Space" and "Krypto, K-9 Detective."
Pulling directly from the bombastic comics of the era, the shorts are very much of their time (often paired with Super Friends) but make for an enjoyably goofy superhero story in retrospect. The show is also infamously hard to track down due to rights issues pertaining to the estate of Superboy co-creator Jerry Siegel, and it isn't available on streaming at the time of writing. However, it's worth remembering if for nothing else featuring some pretty fun Krypto storylines.
Smallville (2001)
Debuting in 2001, Smallville brought Clark Kent and Lex Luthor back to TV in the vein of teenage dramas like Dawson's Creek. Over the course of 10 seasons, the show incorporated dozens of characters from the comics, including a reimagining of Krypto.
Introduced in the aptly titled Season 4 episode "Krypto," Smallville's version of the Superdog is the Kents' golden retriever who briefly gains super strength after being exposed to Kryptonite. The dog eventually loses its powers but remains a part of the show for the rest of the run as the Kents' pet. Although the dog is formally named Shelby, an Easter egg reference in the episode has Clark consider naming the dog Krypto. It's a clever way of incorporating Krypto into the show in a way that doesn't overcomplicate Smallville's relatively grounded focus.
Krypto the Superdog (2005)
Debuting 50 years after his comic counterpart made his first appearance, Krypto the Superdog is an adventure-filled and kid-friendly take on the superhero genre. The animated show, which ran for 39 episodes, is a deliberate throwback to the Hanna-Barbera cartoons of the 1960s and was developed by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, two of the major creatives behind the highly successful DCAU (which includes Batman: The Animated Series and Justice League Unlimited).
The series focuses on Krypto and his owner, a nine-year-old boy named Kevin Whitney. Krypto protects the town as a superhero, working alongside other animal heroes (like Streaky the Supercat and Ace the Bat-Hound) to confront all sorts of threats. It's a light-hearted and cute cartoon that highlights the inherent appeal of a superhero dog.
Batman: The Brave And The Bold (2008)
Batman: The Brave And The Bold is a purposefully campy and colorful take on the Dark Knight, bringing the larger DC Universe into the kind of wacky but authentic superhero setting that Adam West's Batman codified. One of the best episodes is Season 3's "Battle of the Superheroes," which serves as the show's biggest Superman storyline.
After being corrupted by Red Kryptonite and becoming a huge jerk, Superman is confronted by Batman and Krypto. The team-up follows the show's standard practice of pairing Batman with different heroes in every episode while also letting a version of Krypto show off his abilities alongside Batman and even hold his own against Superman in a fight. The Brave and the Bold is a great and self-aware riff on the superhero genre that's well worth a watch—and fans of the 2025 Superman movie will find plenty to love about "Battle of the Superheroes."
DC Nation (2012)
DC Nation was a great experiment courtesy of Cartoon Network, serving as an informal programming block that featured various DC shorts. These cartoons varied vastly in terms of character focus and artistic style, ranging from the super stylized "The Bat Man of Shanghi" to the charming aesthetic of Aardman Animation.
One of the most consistent of these shorts is "DC Super-Pets!," which focuses on characters like Krypto and Ace the Bat-Hound. Animated in the style of Art Baltazar, the cute cartoons lean into the clear personalities of the superheroes and play with the premise to great effect. Krypto is a highlight of the shorts, a well-meaning goof who will just as quickly save a sinking ship as he will chase a squirrel. The shorts are available to stream on YouTube and are perfect for kids who love Krypto.
Teen Titans Go! (2013)
One of Cartoon Network's longest-running shows, Teen Titans Go! is a madcap take on the DC Universe. Krypto is one of the many DC characters who has made the leap to the series, debuting with a cameo in Teen Titans Go! to the Movies. Various episodes also feature Krypto in gag appearances and short bursts.
His biggest showcase in the show so far comes during Season 8's "Toliet Water," where the Titans are hired by Superman to dog-sit for him. Their lax attitude toward his bad behavior ends up turning Krypto briefly into a villain, although the heroes are able to save the day by the end of the story. It's a subversive and silly take on the character, just like with everything else in Teen Titans Go! that will likely get some laughs from anyone who enjoyed how unruly Krypto was in Superman.
Titans (2018)
Titans is a gritty and dramatic take on DC's younger superheroes, which finds a way to incorporate Krypto into the story. Krypto is reimagined in Titans as a regular Earth dog that was experimented on by Cadmus Laboratories. Krypto debuts in the Season 1 finale "Dick Grayson," setting him up to informally join the Titans as their pet.
After being saved by Conner, the dog develops a deep loyalty to Superman's clone. While Krypto doesn't have the most important role in the show, he is a reliable ally for the Titans to call upon in emergencies. It's also a good reminder that even when DC adaptations are taking things deadly seriously, there is still room for a good dog who can use laser eyes to protect his people.
DC Super Hero Girls (2019)
Although Krypto is only a minor character in Lauren Faust's DC Super Hero Girls, it is a great showcase for the Superdog. In this follow-up to the animator's super successful My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!, DC Super Hero Girls reimagines the DC Universe with a focus on six young women—Supergirl, Batgirl, Wonder Woman, Zatanna, Green Lantern, and Bumblebee—as they attend high school in Metropolis.
Krypto is Supergirl’s dog, a friendly and rowdy hound that feels very similar to the way the pair is portrayed at the end of Superman. "#BeastsInShow" is DC Super Hero Girls' best showcase for Krypto, pitting him against a reimagined version of Ace the Bat-Hound in a dog show that Supergirl and Batgirl take far more seriously than they do.
DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
Krypto fully takes center stage in 2022's DC League of Super-Pets, an animated film that focuses largely on Krypto. When Lex Luthor's guinea pig test subject Lulu enacts a plan to capture the Justice League, Krypto teams up with a group of shelter animals who have been granted superpowers in a bid to save them.
Krypto is at the heart of the film, which largely focuses on his bond with Superman, which he fears is being threatened by Lois Lane. Voiced by Dwayne Johnson, this version of Krypto gets the most focus of any incarnation of the character, although given the popularity of Krypto in Superman and his expected role in the upcoming Supergirl movie, it might not be long before the Superdog gets another starring cinematic role.
Scooby-Doo! And Krypto, Too (2023)
Scooby-Doo has had plenty of adventures over the years with guest star characters, with the DC Universe at large factoring into the events of Scooby-Doo! And Krypto, Too!. The film pairs up Scooby-Doo with Superman's canine partner, throwing Scooby and his friends into a big superhero adventure against the likes of Lex Luthor and Solomon Grundy.
The film sees Mystery Inc. recruited by Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen to help investigate the missing Justice League, throwing them into a Silver Age-inspired adventure. The gang encounters Krypto during their investigation, with the Superdog quickly befriending Scooby-Doo and developing a cute dynamic. It's a fun throwback adventure for fans of Super Friends and Scooby-Doo!, with a light-hearted tone that perfectly fits both iconic cartoon dogs.
Where To Watch Krypto The Supderdog Movies & TV Shows Online
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