Superman: The Animated Series

RELEASED 6 Sept 199618h 54m · 54 episodes★ 7.7 TMDB

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 matters in DC

Metropolis and the Daily Planet give this animated Superman a world of recurring relationships beyond his powers. Alongside the Batman animated stories, it establishes a major part of the character background that later Justice League adventures bring together.

Watch these first

2 titles to watch before Superman: The Animated Series — 32h 26m in total.

Batman: The Animated SeriesRecommended31h 10m★ 8.6
Batman: Mask of the PhantasmRecommended1h 16m★ 7.5

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How these titles are selected

Story prerequisites are curated. Likely prerequisites are inferred from sequel numbering or explicit synopsis references. Recommendations are earlier stories in the same continuity; background picks are separate adaptations. Series lists cover whole shows, not an episode-by-episode watch order.

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Where it fits in the DC universe

Superman: The Animated Series is title 4 of 13 in our DC Animated Universe viewing sequence. Superman: The Animated Series establishes the Metropolis side of the DC Animated Universe. Alongside the Batman series, it provides character context for the later Justice League shows. The catalogue groups whole series for convenience, so this order is not a precise schedule interleaving every episode and crossover.

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