Superman: The Animated Series
1996 · 3 seasons · 54 episodes · Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Created by Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett
Superman, an incredibly powerful alien from the planet Krypton, defends Metropolis from supercriminals. Superman hides his identity behind the glasses of Clark Kent; a mild-mannered reporter for the newspaper the Daily Planet. At the Daily Planet Superman works with fellow reporter Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen.
Why it's worth watching
Superman: The Animated Series is a visually stunning and morally uplifting series that captures the essence of Superman's heroic journey while maintaining a family-friendly tone. It offers valuable lessons on justice, integrity, and the importance of standing up for what is right.
What it praises
The show praises virtues such as truthfulness, selflessness, and the pursuit of justice, all while honoring the values of faith and family.
For discernment
This is arguably the definitive Superman for a Christian viewer to enjoy: the DC-animated version leans hard into hope, self-sacrifice, and a hero who protects the weak and refuses to kill, and it treats the Kent farm-family that raised him with real reverence. The cautions are genuinely minor. Some female characters wear form-fitting or revealing outfits and there are occasional adult innuendos written to sail over children's heads. The action involves guns, explosions, and fistfights, and a couple of striking moments push past cartoon norms — Superman bleeding from mouth and ears under Darkseid's attacks, and the sudden, emotional death of a character in 'Apokolips Now.' 'God' is used a handful of times as interjection. For a family superhero series this is about as clean and morally sturdy as the genre gets; the flags are cosmetic costuming and a few intense beats, not anything that undercuts its virtue.
- SexualitySome female characters wear revealing, form-fitting outfits, with occasional adult innuendo aimed over kids' heads.
- ViolenceGunplay, explosions, and fights, with a few striking moments of Superman bleeding and a sudden emotional character death.
- Language'God' used a handful of times as an interjection.
Cast
Tim Daly
Superman / Clark Kent (voice)
Dana Delany
Lois Lane (voice)
David Kaufman
Jimmy Olsen (voice)
Clancy Brown
Lex Luthor (voice)
Lauren Tom
Angela Chen (voice)
Victor Brandt
Professor Hamilton (voice)
Joseph Bologna
Dan Turpin (voice)
Corey Burton
Brainiac (voice)
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