All 10 Animated Superman TV Shows, Ranked Worst To Best
Summary
The DC Animated Universe timeline includes some of the best Superman stories of all time, although there was only one solo Superman series in the franchise. Most Superman animated shows are not tied to any continuity and can be watched as standalone stories. From classic cartoons and compilations to new releases, here is every Superman animated show, ranked worst to best.
Your browser does not support the video tag. 10 The Batman/Superman Hour (1968)![]()
The Batman/Superman Hour was a compilation of previously aired Batman and Superman cartoons that also included new segments featuring Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman. However, its Superman segment was limited to re-runs of The New Adventures of Superman (1966).
Therefore, while the Batman episodes made it so The Batman/Superman Hour was not just a compilation of old cartoons, there was not any new Superman material. New animated Superman episodes would only be created decades later for the Ruby-Spears Superman series, but the lack of fresh substance for the Superman side of the series means it stands as one of the less engrossing Superman animated releases, especially for those already familiar with the prior show it takes from.
9 The New Adventures of Superman (1966)![]()
The Fleischer Superman cartoons had proven that the Man of Steel could make for a great animated hero, a trend that continued with The New Adventures of Superman. DC released several cartoons between the 1960s and the 1970s, mostly from Filmation and Hanna-Barbera. While none of those were as game-changing as the Fleischer ones, they successfully translated the tone of the Silver Age comics into fun episodes.
Filmation’s The New Adventures of Superman may not have become a classic like Super Friends, but the show is an important addition to Superman’s legacy regardless. It features classic Superman characters, from the Daily Planet crew to villains like Luthor and Brainiac, and its decision to adapt these traditional comic depictions of the characters certainly warrants it being a notable part of the Man Of Steel's on-screen history, even if the decision to do just this can be seen to have dated it many years later.
8 The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997)![]()
Following the successes of Batman: The Animated Series (1993) and Superman: The Animated Series (1995) as the first of the DC Animated Universe TV shows, WB Kids aired a compilation centered on DC’s most popular heroes. The New Batman/Superman Adventures included previously aired episodes from Superman: TAS and Batman: TAS, as well as brand-new episodes from The New Adventures of Batman. In other words, while the show was not just a compilation and included new Batman episodes, there weren’t any new Superman adventures. This is why The New Batman/Superman Adventures doesn’t rank high as a Superman show and can be skipped by those who watched all of Superman: TAS.
7 The Superman/Batman Adventures (1995)![]()
The Superman/Batman Adventures was also a compilation of previously aired shows, this time as a celebration of classic DC animated series. Premiering in 1995, The Superman/Batman Adventures included episodes from both Hanna-Barbera's Super Friends and Filmation’s The New Adventures of Superman. This compilation also included lost episodes from Super Friends that had never been broadcast, which makes it a very important release in DC’s animation history. For being a celebration of past DC animated shows that also brought never-before-seen content to life, The Superman/Batman Adventures cannot be overlooked.
6 Krypto the Superdog (2005)![]()
The early 2000s saw the release of several DC animated shows, most of which were part of the DC Animated Universe. DC also released series that were not part of the same continuity that began with Batman: The Animated Series, although most of them were heavily inspired by the DCAU. This includes Krypto the Superdog, a two-season show that followed Superman’s iconic dog from Krypton living as a superhero on Earth. Krypto the Superdog also featured Ace, Batman’s dog. Superman only appears in Krypto the Superdog episode 1, with his design strongly resembling the one from Superman: TAS. Even still, Krypto was not canon to the DCAU.
Related: DC Movies in Order: How To Watch Every Canon & Continuity
Despite only featuring Superman in the pilot, Krypto the Superdog is one of the best-animated series to come out of Superman’s mythos. Naturally, the show was aimed at younger audiences, especially compared to how serious Superman’s stories had become in Justice League Unlimited. Krypto and Ace are surprisingly fun characters, and their adventures had good enough pacing to make for an entertaining show. A similar dynamic would be explored decades later in the 3D-animated DC League of Super-Pets, although the series was arguably better than the theatrical movie.
5 Superman (1988)![]()
The first original piece of animated Superman content in years, the Ruby-Spears Superman show was meant to celebrate the Man of Steel’s 50th anniversary. Each episode included two 11-minute-long segments, bringing self-contained Superman adventures. Superman (1988) was an improvement from previous shows, as it had better pacing and obviously better animation quality. The show included comic book writer Marv Wolfman as part of the creative team, which explains why Superman (1988) was arguably more comic-accurate than previous cartons. It also featured a reimagined version of Lex Luthor, now more of a businessman than a mad scientist. Often overlooked, Ruby-Spears’ Superman is one of the best Superman animated shows.
4 Legion of Superheroes (2006)![]()
Legion of Superheroes featured dozens of heroes, yet Clark Kent was the show’s main character. Unlike Justice League or Justice League Unlimited, both of which followed an ensemble cast of characters, Legion of Superheroes was centered on Superman. More specifically, the show followed a young Clark Kent who had yet to become Superman. The Legion of Superheroes goes back in time and recruits Kal-El before he becomes a superhero, and his journey into becoming Superman happens in the future instead. With creative premising and characters that had never appeared on screen before, Legion of Superheroes is one of DC’s most unique shows.
3 Superman (1940)![]()
A groundbreaking show for Superman and animation as a whole, the Fleischer Superman cartoons from 1940 still hold up more than 80 years later. Fleischer Studios was commissioned to do a series of Superman shorts, yet the result was more impressive than most could have imagined. These Superman cartoons featured incredible animation for the time, with moments like the robot sequence from "The Mechanical Monsters" changing how animated action sequences were done. The Fleischer Superman animated series inspired animators all over the world, and it set the stage for shows like Batman: TAS and Superman: TAS to be created. Each of the shorts was charming, engaging, and visually impressive.
2 My Adventures With Superman (2023)![]()
The first solo Superman animated series since 1995, My Adventures With Superman was the story the Man of Steel needed. One of the most famous characters in all of pop culture could not have gone almost 30 years without getting another animated show, especially considering all the Batman animated series that happened in the same period. While this put a considerable bit of pressure on the series, My Adventures With Superman lived up to expectations and then some, managing to balance Superman's nostalgic origin story and roots with a fresh perspective on his lore.
My Adventures With Superman is a love letter to the character and to previous Superman animated shows, including “multiverse cameos” from Superman: TAS, Super Friends, and Fleischer Superman. With modern storytelling and unique character designs, My Adventures With Superman was already one of DC’s best animated shows following just its first season, and has continued to demonstrate its unique advantages throughout its second season, with the confirmed upcoming third season in a prime position to continue enhancing the overall show.
With My Adventures With Superman season 2 ending with a setup that left Lex Luthor about to become the main antagonist of the show and began Kara's official time as a superhero, the exciting potential of the future of the series certainly suggests the best may be yet to come. As such, it's perhaps harder to not consider My Adventures With Superman one of the hero's best animated shows, given just how much it manages to get right between its stellar cast, gripping story, and dedication to conveying what makes DC's most famous hero so iconic even decades later.
1 Superman: The Animated Series (1995)![]()
The creative team behind Batman: The Animated Series episodes returned to craft a Superman show, which would be the first piece of original Superman animated content since the Ruby-Spears cartoon. Fortunately, Bruce Timm’s Superman: The Animated Series was both a spiritual successor to Batman: TAS and its own thing. Instead of a timeless Gotham City, there was now a futuristic Metropolis. Instead of drawings on black paper, there were now vibrant colors picturing Metropolis in broad daylight. Superman: TAS explored all of the corners of Superman’s mythos, from Lex Luthor and Brainiac to Mr. Mxyzptlk and Toy Man.
Related: Every DC Animated Universe Movie Ranked Worst To Best
Superman: TAS found the perfect balance between the “symbol of hope” and “action hero” aspects of Superman. As a result, Superman: The Animated Series features what is one of the best takes on the Man of Steel in any media, including comics and live-action movies. The fighting scenes were dynamic and entertaining, although Superman is slightly weaker here compared to Justice League Unlimited. Superman’s rogues gallery may not be as iconic as Batman’s, but villains like Lex Luthor and Darkseid stole the show. A celebration of the DC Universe and a perfect take on Kal-El, Superman: The Animated Series is the best Superman animated show.
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- Superman: The Animated Series (1995) is one of the best Superman animated shows, showcasing a perfect balance between the "symbol of hope" and "action hero" aspects of the character.
- The Fleischer Superman cartoons from 1940 were groundbreaking and set the stage for future animated series, with impressive animation and memorable moments.
- Other great animated Superman series include My Adventures With Superman (2023), a love letter to the character and previous Superman shows, and the unique Legion of Superheroes.
The DC Animated Universe timeline includes some of the best Superman stories of all time, although there was only one solo Superman series in the franchise. Most Superman animated shows are not tied to any continuity and can be watched as standalone stories. From classic cartoons and compilations to new releases, here is every Superman animated show, ranked worst to best.
Your browser does not support the video tag. 10 The Batman/Superman Hour (1968)
The Batman/Superman Hour was a compilation of previously aired Batman and Superman cartoons that also included new segments featuring Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman. However, its Superman segment was limited to re-runs of The New Adventures of Superman (1966). Therefore, while the Batman episodes made it so The Batman/Superman Hour was not just a compilation of old cartoons, there was not any new Superman material. New animated Superman episodes would only be created decades later for the Ruby-Spears Superman series, but the lack of fresh substance for the Superman side of the series means it stands as one of the less engrossing Superman animated releases, especially for those already familiar with the prior show it takes from.
9 The New Adventures of Superman (1966)
The Fleischer Superman cartoons had proven that the Man of Steel could make for a great animated hero, a trend that continued with The New Adventures of Superman. DC released several cartoons between the 1960s and the 1970s, mostly from Filmation and Hanna-Barbera. While none of those were as game-changing as the Fleischer ones, they successfully translated the tone of the Silver Age comics into fun episodes. Filmation’s The New Adventures of Superman may not have become a classic like Super Friends, but the show is an important addition to Superman’s legacy regardless. It features classic Superman characters, from the Daily Planet crew to villains like Luthor and Brainiac, and its decision to adapt these traditional comic depictions of the characters certainly warrants it being a notable part of the Man Of Steel's on-screen history, even if the decision to do just this can be seen to have dated it many years later.
8 The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997)
Following the successes of Batman: The Animated Series (1993) and Superman: The Animated Series (1995) as the first of the DC Animated Universe TV shows, WB Kids aired a compilation centered on DC’s most popular heroes. The New Batman/Superman Adventures included previously aired episodes from Superman: TAS and Batman: TAS, as well as brand-new episodes from The New Adventures of Batman. In other words, while the show was not just a compilation and included new Batman episodes, there weren’t any new Superman adventures. This is why The New Batman/Superman Adventures doesn’t rank high as a Superman show and can be skipped by those who watched all of Superman: TAS. 7 The Superman/Batman Adventures (1995)
The Superman/Batman Adventures was also a compilation of previously aired shows, this time as a celebration of classic DC animated series. Premiering in 1995, The Superman/Batman Adventures included episodes from both Hanna-Barbera's Super Friends and Filmation’s The New Adventures of Superman. This compilation also included lost episodes from Super Friends that had never been broadcast, which makes it a very important release in DC’s animation history. For being a celebration of past DC animated shows that also brought never-before-seen content to life, The Superman/Batman Adventures cannot be overlooked. 6 Krypto the Superdog (2005)
The early 2000s saw the release of several DC animated shows, most of which were part of the DC Animated Universe. DC also released series that were not part of the same continuity that began with Batman: The Animated Series, although most of them were heavily inspired by the DCAU. This includes Krypto the Superdog, a two-season show that followed Superman’s iconic dog from Krypton living as a superhero on Earth. Krypto the Superdog also featured Ace, Batman’s dog. Superman only appears in Krypto the Superdog episode 1, with his design strongly resembling the one from Superman: TAS. Even still, Krypto was not canon to the DCAU. Related: DC Movies in Order: How To Watch Every Canon & Continuity
Despite only featuring Superman in the pilot, Krypto the Superdog is one of the best-animated series to come out of Superman’s mythos. Naturally, the show was aimed at younger audiences, especially compared to how serious Superman’s stories had become in Justice League Unlimited. Krypto and Ace are surprisingly fun characters, and their adventures had good enough pacing to make for an entertaining show. A similar dynamic would be explored decades later in the 3D-animated DC League of Super-Pets, although the series was arguably better than the theatrical movie.
5 Superman (1988)
The first original piece of animated Superman content in years, the Ruby-Spears Superman show was meant to celebrate the Man of Steel’s 50th anniversary. Each episode included two 11-minute-long segments, bringing self-contained Superman adventures. Superman (1988) was an improvement from previous shows, as it had better pacing and obviously better animation quality. The show included comic book writer Marv Wolfman as part of the creative team, which explains why Superman (1988) was arguably more comic-accurate than previous cartons. It also featured a reimagined version of Lex Luthor, now more of a businessman than a mad scientist. Often overlooked, Ruby-Spears’ Superman is one of the best Superman animated shows. 4 Legion of Superheroes (2006)
Legion of Superheroes featured dozens of heroes, yet Clark Kent was the show’s main character. Unlike Justice League or Justice League Unlimited, both of which followed an ensemble cast of characters, Legion of Superheroes was centered on Superman. More specifically, the show followed a young Clark Kent who had yet to become Superman. The Legion of Superheroes goes back in time and recruits Kal-El before he becomes a superhero, and his journey into becoming Superman happens in the future instead. With creative premising and characters that had never appeared on screen before, Legion of Superheroes is one of DC’s most unique shows. 3 Superman (1940)
A groundbreaking show for Superman and animation as a whole, the Fleischer Superman cartoons from 1940 still hold up more than 80 years later. Fleischer Studios was commissioned to do a series of Superman shorts, yet the result was more impressive than most could have imagined. These Superman cartoons featured incredible animation for the time, with moments like the robot sequence from "The Mechanical Monsters" changing how animated action sequences were done. The Fleischer Superman animated series inspired animators all over the world, and it set the stage for shows like Batman: TAS and Superman: TAS to be created. Each of the shorts was charming, engaging, and visually impressive. 2 My Adventures With Superman (2023)
The first solo Superman animated series since 1995, My Adventures With Superman was the story the Man of Steel needed. One of the most famous characters in all of pop culture could not have gone almost 30 years without getting another animated show, especially considering all the Batman animated series that happened in the same period. While this put a considerable bit of pressure on the series, My Adventures With Superman lived up to expectations and then some, managing to balance Superman's nostalgic origin story and roots with a fresh perspective on his lore. My Adventures With Superman is a love letter to the character and to previous Superman animated shows, including “multiverse cameos” from Superman: TAS, Super Friends, and Fleischer Superman. With modern storytelling and unique character designs, My Adventures With Superman was already one of DC’s best animated shows following just its first season, and has continued to demonstrate its unique advantages throughout its second season, with the confirmed upcoming third season in a prime position to continue enhancing the overall show.
With My Adventures With Superman season 2 ending with a setup that left Lex Luthor about to become the main antagonist of the show and began Kara's official time as a superhero, the exciting potential of the future of the series certainly suggests the best may be yet to come. As such, it's perhaps harder to not consider My Adventures With Superman one of the hero's best animated shows, given just how much it manages to get right between its stellar cast, gripping story, and dedication to conveying what makes DC's most famous hero so iconic even decades later.
1 Superman: The Animated Series (1995)
The creative team behind Batman: The Animated Series episodes returned to craft a Superman show, which would be the first piece of original Superman animated content since the Ruby-Spears cartoon. Fortunately, Bruce Timm’s Superman: The Animated Series was both a spiritual successor to Batman: TAS and its own thing. Instead of a timeless Gotham City, there was now a futuristic Metropolis. Instead of drawings on black paper, there were now vibrant colors picturing Metropolis in broad daylight. Superman: TAS explored all of the corners of Superman’s mythos, from Lex Luthor and Brainiac to Mr. Mxyzptlk and Toy Man. Related: Every DC Animated Universe Movie Ranked Worst To Best
Superman: TAS found the perfect balance between the “symbol of hope” and “action hero” aspects of Superman. As a result, Superman: The Animated Series features what is one of the best takes on the Man of Steel in any media, including comics and live-action movies. The fighting scenes were dynamic and entertaining, although Superman is slightly weaker here compared to Justice League Unlimited. Superman’s rogues gallery may not be as iconic as Batman’s, but villains like Lex Luthor and Darkseid stole the show. A celebration of the DC Universe and a perfect take on Kal-El, Superman: The Animated Series is the best Superman animated show.
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