The official Fleischer Superman thread: An open discussion

[BATS N' HORNETS]

Discuss anything and everything about the 17 animated shorts released in the early 1940's.

I am of the opinion that these are the most perfect cartoons ever produced. I love the stylistic choices that were made for the shorts.

This may have been previously discussed and analyzed a million times before but there was no thread on this, so...

What aree your thoughts?

[Ruthmarks]

All of the Fleischer "Superman" shorts are magnificent, as far as I'm concerned.

At least from the standpoint of hand-drawn animation, they've never been bettered. Certainly, they're close to the same level as a lot of the shorts and features that Walt Disney was doing at the same time. The rotoscoping (which recreates human movements) is terrific, the character designs spot on, and the visuals are spectacular. Additionally, I always loved how -- and this is so representative of the era -- some of the best aspects of 1940's "film noir" are employed, such as when Clark Kent transforms into Superman, and you never see anything aside from a silhouette behind a pebble glass store room door, phone booth, or his exaggerated shadow thrown upon a wall or some other surface. It's almost never out in the open. Along with Sammy Timberg's music score, it always makes it fairly dramatic.

I'd actually go as far as to say that it's too bad there were only seventeen episodes, and that the Fleischers couldn't manage to do a full-length feature at Paramount along the lines of "Gulliver's Travels." The cost just might have been too prohibitive.

A part of me also wishes that someone would do a cartoon series set in this 1940's WWII-era period -- Rob Pratt's short, "Superman Classic," probably comes closest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2WVlmNqMMs

As for the Fleischer shorts, my favorite episodes would have to be "Billion Dollar Limited," "Electric Earthquake" "The Magnetic Telescope" and "The Mechanical Monsters."

[BATS N' HORNETS]

It's also important to remember that Superman was very powered down. This was the golden age man of steel and his powers were such that everyday objects might pose some very minor threat to him.

The animation has never been better and IMO, exceeds Batman: the animated series as well as Superman: the animated series

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

My favorite part from all the cartoons is in "The Bulleteers" (I think), where Lois grabs a machine gun and fires it out a train window.

[Deathlok]

I'm not a great expert on these. But those that I have seen have fantastic animation and colours.

[BATS N' HORNETS]

In an attempt to resurrect this thread, I will ask... have you guys seen the FIRST FLIGHT documentary and if so, what did you think of it?

[BATS N' HORNETS]

Originally Posted by Blitzkrieg Bop

My favorite part from all the cartoons is in "The Bulleteers" (I think), where Lois grabs a machine gun and fires it out a train window.

that's not "The Bulleteers" you are thinking of. That is "BILLION DOLLAR LIMITED"

[Young Superman]

The Fleischer "Superman" shorts are AMAZING!

[BATS N' HORNETS]

what is the best thing about them in your opinion, Young Superman?

[Young Superman]

The animation, These cartoons are over 70 years old and they still look incredible. Also Clayton "Bud" Collyer as the voice of Clark Kent / Superman. The way he used a tenor voice for Clark Kent and a baritone one for Superman was genius. He was/is the definitive voice of Clark Kent / Superman.

[BATS N' HORNETS]

Originally Posted by Young Superman

The animation, These cartoons are over 70 years old and they still look incredible. Also Clayton "Bud" Collyer as the voice of Clark Kent / Superman. The way he used a tenor voice for Clark Kent and a baritone one for Superman was genius. He was/is the definitive voice of Clark Kent / Superman.

I agree. There will never be a better voice actor for Superman

[Comics N' Toons]

I'm surprised this thread doesn't have that much interest. I loved this series!