Superman has been around for a long time. Cartoon fans have long been fascinated by the man in black, so it makes sense that the man in the suit should also have a rich history. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the early Superman cartoon history. The first appearance of Superman came in 1941 in the first of the “Lost Fleischer” cartoons, storyboarded and drawn by the Fleischer Studios.
The first cartoon of Superman, “Showdown,” was released on October 16, 1942. It’s the 11th of 17 theatrical cartoon episodes starring the Man in the Suit. It was the first Superman cartoon to introduce the character known as Jimmy Olson, who would become an important part of later live-action television. Although the character was originally not named Jimmy Olson, his voice was provided by Jack Mercer. Mercer would later go on to voice the imposter Superman.
The character has undergone many changes and interpretations since his first appearance. In 1971, Umberto Eco wrote that “Superman may represent all those who are like him.” Gerald Clarke, writing in Time magazine in 1971, believed that comics characters were constantly evolving and reflecting the mood of the nation. In this way, Clarke’s Superman character of the seventies was a comment on the modern world. But it is unlikely that the character is forever remade.
After the first two Fleischer Superman cartoons were released, the series was produced by Famous Cartoons and was nominated for the 1942 Academy Awards. The movie won the Best Cartoon Animation category, but was beaten by a similar cartoon featuring Pluto, produced by Walt Disney Productions and RKO Pictures. The Fleischer Superman cartoons were widely distributed on VHS, DVD, and laserdisc, but the original film elements were owned by Warner Bros.