Superman (1940s Cartoons)

The Fleischer ''Superman'' cartoons are a series of seventeen animated superhero short films released in Technicolor by Paramount Pictures and based upon the comic book character Superman, making them his first animated appearance.

They were originally produced by Fleischer Studios, which completed the initial short and eight further cartoons in 1941 and 1942. Production was resumed in May 1942 by Famous Studios, the successor company to Fleischer, which produced eight more cartoons in 1942–1943. ''Superman'' was the final animated series initiated by Fleischer Studios before Famous Studios officially took over production.Barrier, Michael (1999). ''Hollywood Cartoons''. New York: Oxford University Press, pp. 303-305. .

Although all entries are in the public domain in the United States, ancillary rights, such as merchandising contract rights, as well as the original 35 mm master elements, are owned today by Warner Bros., which has also owned Superman's publisher, DC Comics, since 1969. In 2023, Warner Bros. released a Blu-ray set containing the 17 cartoons, taken from high-definition restorations of the original 35mm source elements.

History

Development and initial entries

Only the first nine cartoons were produced by Fleischer Studios; nonetheless, all seventeen shorts are collectively known as "the Fleischer ''Superman'' cartoons". In 1942, Fleischer Studios was dissolved and reorganized as Famous Studios, which produced the final eight shorts. These cartoons are seen as some of the finest quality and most lavishly budgeted animated cartoons produced during The Golden Age of American animation. In 1994, the first entry in the series was voted #33 on a list of The 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time by members of the animation field.

By mid-1941, brothers Max and Dave Fleischer were running their own animation studio in Miami, Florida, and had recently finished their first animated feature film, ''Gulliver's Travels''. The Fleischers were also well into production on their second, '' Mr. Bug Goes to Town''. They were reluctant to commit themselves to another major project at the time when they were approached by their studio's distributor and majority owner since May 1941, Paramount Pictures. Paramount was interested in financially exploiting the phenomenal popularity of the new ''Superman'' comic books by producing a series of theatrical cartoons based upon the character. Dave Fleischer had misgivings about Superman as a subject, recognizing the greater technical difficulties and costs that would come with properly animating the characters as compared to the more unrealistic, traditionally cartoony characters that Fleischer Studios were experienced with. The Fleischers hoped to discourage Paramount from committing to the series, so they told the studio that the cost of producing such a series of cartoons would be about $100,000 per short (or $ per short as of ), about four times the typical budget of an average cartoon of that period.Maltin, Leonard (1980, rev. 1987). ''Of Mice and Magic''. New York: Plume. pp. 120–122. Instead of withdrawing its request, Paramount entered into negotiations with them, and got the per-episode budget lowered to $50,000 (or $ per short as of ).Barrier, Michael (1999). ''Hollywood Cartoons''. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 304. However, only the first short was actually done for $50,000; the rest of the series were produced at $30,000 per short.

Recognizing that the Fleischer Studios staff were inexperienced in animating characters like Superman, Max Fleischer hosted a sketch class for the animators and assistant animators. Superman co-creator Joe Shuster also became involved during the design phase. Schuster happened to be in Miami for a visit at the time, and an acquaintance invited him to the animation studio to see them working on ''Superman''. Fascinated by what he saw of the project, Schuster stayed at the studio for a few days drawing model sheets of the characters.

In the summer of 1940, Paramount announced their deal with Fleischer Studios and promised the first in the series would be released that Christmas, but technical issues stalled the project. The first cartoon in the series, simply titled ''Superman'', was released on September 26, 1941, and was nominated for the 1941 Academy Award for Best Short Subject: Cartoons. It lost to '' Lend a Paw'', a Pluto cartoon from Walt Disney Productions and RKO Radio Pictures.

The voice of Superman for the series was initially provided by Bud Collyer, who also performed the lead character's voice during ''The Adventures of Superman'' radio series. Joan Alexander