The Complete Superman Cartoons - Diamond Anniversary Edition

Starring:Jackson Beck, Joan Alexander, Noa, Bud Collyer, Jack Mercer
Director: Dave Fleischer
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
This collection of fully restored, 1930s animated shorts from the legendary Max Fleischer are a real treat. For anyone who has grown up associating the Superman character with different phases of art direction in Superman comic books over the last 50 years, or best remembers the look of the Christopher Reeve films or the old television show, these 'toons will be a mini-revelation. Expanding on cues from the first generation of Superman comics, Fleischer immerses the man from Krypton in a marvelous blend of art deco, William Cameron Menzies-inspired sets, and edgy compositions that can't help but remind one of Fritz Lang-ian paranoia. Everything is oversized, blocky but rounded, ferociously modernist, and all too vulnerable. Superman's very function as a character in these highly dramatic and richly colored fables is both defending the overbearing, urban progressiveness and capital excesses of a young 20th century while also reassuring us that progress is not as indomitable as a man--at least a Superman. The DVD includes a bonus Fleischer short, "Play Safe," plus information about the restoration process, three choices of sound, complete history, synopsis, and credits. --Tom Keogh
Description
THE MAN OF STEEL IS BACK! When America's favorite superhero flies back into theaters this summer, you can catch the original animated adventures on DVD with the complete 1941-1943 Paramount Superman cartoon classics! Legendary animation innovators Max & Dave Fleischer were the first to bring Superman to theater screens, only four years after the comic book hero's debut. Capturing the comic book spirit better than any live action film with the stunning early art-deco look of the original Superman/Action Comics era and a film noir feel, these stylish adventures proved so powerful that they influenced every Superman production afterward. Now restored to their best possible quality, these 17 animation masterpieces are presented in superbly clear quality! FEATURING: Superman (Pilot) Mechanical Monsters Billion Dollar Limited The Arctic Giant The Bulleteers The Magnetic Telescope Electric Earthquake Volcano Terror on the Midway Japoteurs Showdown Eleventh Hour Destruction Inc. Mummy Strikes Jungle Drums The Underground World Secret Agent

Average customer rating:

Superman's Animated Screen Debut

The Complete Superman Cartoons - Diamond Anniversary Edition

In the beginning...

Fun; Nice animation

A Timeless Classic

The Complete Superman Cartoons - Diamond Anniversary Edition
Starring: Joan Alexander , Jackson Beck , Noa , Bud Collyer , and Jack Mercer
Director: Dave Fleischer
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305943389
Release Date: 2000-08-01

Amazon.com

This collection of fully restored, 1930s animated shorts from the legendary Max Fleischer are a real treat. For anyone who has grown up associating the Superman character with different phases of art direction in Superman comic books over the last 50 years, or best remembers the look of the Christopher Reeve films or the old television show, these 'toons will be a mini-revelation. Expanding on cues from the first generation of Superman comics, Fleischer immerses the man from Krypton in a marvelous blend of art deco, William Cameron Menzies-inspired sets, and edgy compositions that can't help but remind one of Fritz Lang-ian paranoia. Everything is oversized, blocky but rounded, ferociously modernist, and all too vulnerable. Superman's very function as a character in these highly dramatic and richly colored fables is both defending the overbearing, urban progressiveness and capital excesses of a young 20th century while also reassuring us that progress is not as indomitable as a man--at least a Superman. The DVD includes a bonus Fleischer short, "Play Safe," plus information about the restoration process, three choices of sound, complete history, synopsis, and credits. --Tom Keogh

Description

THE MAN OF STEEL IS BACK! When America's favorite superhero flies back into theaters this summer, you can catch the original animated adventures on DVD with the complete 1941-1943 Paramount Superman cartoon classics! Legendary animation innovators Max & Dave Fleischer were the first to bring Superman to theater screens, only four years after the comic book hero's debut. Capturing the comic book spirit better than any live action film with the stunning early art-deco look of the original Superman/Action Comics era and a film noir feel, these stylish adventures proved so powerful that they influenced every Superman production afterward. Now restored to their best possible quality, these 17 animation masterpieces are presented in superbly clear quality! FEATURING: Superman (Pilot) Mechanical Monsters Billion Dollar Limited The Arctic Giant The Bulleteers The Magnetic Telescope Electric Earthquake Volcano Terror on the Midway Japoteurs Showdown Eleventh Hour Destruction Inc. Mummy Strikes Jungle Drums The Underground World Secret Agent

Customer Reviews:

Superman's Animated Screen Debut.......2007-07-08

Ahead of their time in terms of animation, Superman is still entertaining on this level to the degree that the newer animated series by Warner (as well as its Batman counterpart) are mimicing much of this original style. The comments that can be viewed prior to the cartoons themselves help one appreciate the incredible work (and money - $30,000.00 for one cartoon in an era when one could purchase a very nice home for around $10,000) that went into the making of this series. Definitely reflective of the era they were made and, by the time these were released, show how much Superman had entered the American psyche. Lots of fun.

The Complete Superman Cartoons - Diamond Anniversary Edition.......2007-05-22

The Fleischer Brothers' Studio were doing animation work, light years ahead of their time. Cartoon animation seems to be the correct arena to display a comic book story. The still pages of the comic strip come to life with amazing(and sometimes surrealistic) colors;check out "The Magnetic Telescope". Sammy Timberg's musical arrangements hold you riveted into the ever-progressing action of the plot. And then, there is always at the end of the story a comforting quip from Clark Kent to the viewers. This is Superman as he was meant to be. This is Superman from the 1940s. This is Superman who could leap tall buildings in a single bound. Not the Superman of today who travels from galaxy to galaxy. This is the time zone into which Superman was born. Relive it!!! Don't miss it!! Buy this treasure of American Mythology today!!

In the beginning..........2007-04-10

Holy cow, these 10-minute animated shorts are awesome! The funnest part in watching them is to see Superman, Clark Kent, Lois Lane and the whole gang in their originality. The stories are basic but smart, quick-paced, exciting, and heroic. Yeah, the soundtracks are a bit over-the top at times, but that was the music style of adventure movies in the 1940s. I love the spirited characterizations and some of the stories like with the volcano, the runaway train robbery, etc.

I also noticed how the recent Donner and Singer films have borrowed from these. Especially in "Superman Returns", his flying style of dropping out of the sky feet-first was originally done in these animations -- COOL! A must for Superman fans.

Fun; Nice animation.......2007-04-10

I recommend this DVD set for fans of Superman and classic animation (1st half of 20th century). The stories are fun and the visuals are very nice to watch.

A Timeless Classic.......2007-04-03

It is amazing to see all of the work and artistry that went into this series. It is also interesting to think of what was transpiring in the outside world when these were shown in theaters. I also wonder if we give these serials enough credit in the formation of the Superman mythos. After all, they came out just a few years after his creation. Great stuff.

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