Intro of "Filmation's Superman" (1966)

[lekocafe]

But why is Superman flying in to stop the bullet from hitting a target?

[Laceykat66]

Why isn't Cartoon Network showing THESE cartoons??????

Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[WizzoPro9476]

Great Childhood memories, Real Talk!

[1701echopapa]

That is one funky theme.

[RawrNinjaBurgers]

why do he need to jump over a building if he can fly?

[RogueFTW]

@RawrNinjaBurgers Because originally Superman could not fly, he could leap about one eighth of a mile. He was only given the ability when the Fleischer studio started making Superman cartoons and thought that flying would be easier to reuse film as opposed to constantly having him leap.

[RawrNinjaBurgers]

@RogueFTW alright

thanks :)

[BernyjackStone]

superman is better than geronimo stilton

[12redscorpion]

Catchy song.

[DuracellEnergizer]

"The New Adventures of Superman" was slightly less lame than the Silver Age comics it were based on.

[galesayers]

@DuracellEnergizer Not the voices, young blood. The voices sounded like MEN

[DuracellEnergizer]

@galesayers Well, expect for the Warlock, Mxyzptlk, and all those other villains voiced by the same guy.

[galesayers]

@DuracellEnergizer I meant the heroes, of course.

[DuracellEnergizer]

@galesayers Yes, those were well done.

[BernyjackStone]

is superman super super superman

[kwakaj14]

I love the strong voices & music in this opening theme song! I loved watching this cartoon before school, it reminds me of the great old days. :))

[SnailFlies]

I am here because forrestfire101 made a video of this in lego

[RouroniRockman]

nanananananananananananananana­na SUPERMAN!

[Noveltooner]

While I enjoyed this series as a child with the voices of the radio and Fleischer/Famous Paramount shorts back again, it got a little painful in later years. The Paramount shorts were so beautifully done with their smooth animation and multi-plane backgrounds, and they were obviously aimed at kids alone. Filmation at the time suffered from the jerky cost-cutting TV animation and had not yet adopted the xerography technique that improved the Hanna-Barbera series so greatly.

[dttruman]

This cartoon series lasted a couple of years before it joined with Batman. Then I thought it went down hill( In my opinion). It had great villains like the Sandman and some aliens that surrounded their craft with some invisble energy monster. I thought the 1967 series with Aquaman was the best.

[NathanRomml]

wtf

[BernyjackStone]

questo è il cartone piu' divertente del mondo e non il laboratorio di dexter

[BernyjackStone]

is superman super super superman

[BernyjackStone]

grazie io ci sono cresciuto con superman e anche con mario

[KBallenger53]

You just took me back to my childhood!!! I was 6 years old when this came out, and used to watch it every Saturday Morning with my Father..................R.I.P.

[BigRedUnderpants1]

Why does it say that he can leap tall buildings in a single bound, I thought that by now he could could fly?

[ivan1120ify]

Superman couldn't fly in the early years in which he was created,he only could jump very high.After his creators added to him the feature of flying

[zuki1899]

@ivan1120ify you are correct sir!!

[3636jae]

@ivan1120ify

Yeah, his creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster added the flying power after

Captain Marvel, the other superman who displayed flight power first.

If J and J hadn't stolen this from Cap M, Superman would've failed and would be long forgotten by now.

[ericinwisconsin]

@3636jae I doubt that Superman would have failed without the power of flight. And you may be right that this power was added because of Captain Marvel, but I had always heard that it was added because the Fleischer brothers, who were making Superman cartoons at the time felt he looked like a grasshopper in the cartoons so they wanted the flying power added.

[3636jae]

@ericinwisconsin

I hear ya!

It's just that big case with J and J vs Fawcett, trying to prove CM was a SM rip-off.

CM earned greater sales and SM was starting to get stale. So J and J retaliate and copy CM flying ability.

Not to say Fleischer had this in mind but people generally go with history's actions rather than words.

But I love both characters anyway, even there height and build are similar.

You brought up a good point though.

[ivan1120ify]

@BigRedUnderpants1 

[johnnyacosta1305]

¡¡es una nota el recuerdo de superman original¡¡¡

[DocRunaway]

6 people are Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Gral Zod, Metallo, Bizarro and a piece of Kryptonite.

[asherleez]

it feels like earrape but cool

[tigerboy2011]

I like.

[JB2KSTL]

It would be fun, but I believe all the home video copyrights for Supes currently rest with Warner Bros., who is a corporate sibling of DC Comics as Filmation, themselves went-away in 1989.

[hootyhaha]

Wow I thought Filmation was a new company in the 80s that did He-Man, She-Ra, and Ghostbusters.

[JB2KSTL]

@hootyhaha - no way -- Filmation was big in the 60s & 70s -- their main features were based on existing characters such as Superman, Batman, and the animated Star Trek...

[hootyhaha]

@JB2KSTL That's awesome. Now if only Blockbuster Online and Netflix both would get these awesome shows. (I subscribe to both for the best of both worlds for under 15 dollars a month). Woops, didn't mean to sound like a commercial :)

[wildwildwest1414]

This was when superman was at peak power he'd a made mince meat of thor!

[TheSV3]

@wildwildwest1414 Not as long as Thor has his hammer. Remember Superman is vulnerable to magic as well as kryptonite or red sun radiation. The cartoons of this time didn't use that vulnerability or the Wicked Warlock could clean Superman's clock with his Sorcerer's Ruby.

[wildwildwest1414]

@TheSV3 I like thor to but supermans powers and abilities seem alot more incredible and fantastic then a hammer dependent thor,and I think supermans super will can overcome any hocus pocus.

[Sweetmervs]

@TheSV3 I should remind you that Superman was created in 1932. Who was the first superhero to be turned into a movie? It's Superman. It seems your belittling Superman's powers.

[rocknrollhell]

@Sweetmervs

Nope, the first superhero to have a movie is Captain Marvel/Shazam.

[Sweetmervs]

@rocknrollhell The adaptation of a Superhero was Superman in 1978 when the Salkinds decided to adapt Superman for the big screen back then. That is what i meant.

[mcs32jr1968]

This theme is the best...why doesn't Hollywood catch on an make a square-jawed, macho, "real-man" type of Superman like this one?? The model could be straight from Alex Ross' designs!

[mrpsycholeojoey87]

how come krypton looks like planet earth when ikrypton exploded i am not a terrorist just very curious at times to safe people from panic i hope the 6 billion people are planet earth lives for all eternity and the troops from iraq come home very soon then hopefully there could be no act of terrorism or war for a long time but as good as that sounds we live in the real world where anything goes regarding terror and war i hope i could be wrong with this

[breeno12301]

this song is so groovy

[RovingCounter]

Beck also did the narration for the Superman radio shows in the '40s.

[johnhrobiii]

Is anybody old enough to know that the announcer was radio actor Jackson Beck--who also was the voice of "Popeye's" longtime nemesis, "Bluto"?

[Astraldragon1]

@johnhrobiii , I'm 43 yrs old and your right it was Radio Actor Jackson Beck.. I like the Filmation series it was good.

[Ma007rk]

I like the way the Bullet just bounces off his chest, and the missiles explode as harmless.

[Believixful]

Also company of she ra and he man

[bjc19199]

this is my favorite cartoon superman, never missed an episode. that is bud collyer doing the voice of clark kent and superman. where can you get the whole song from? thanx 4 posting! bud collyer was a game show host back in the 50's and 60's. he might have started before the 50's, that's when i can remember him!

[Dakers11]

Actually Kurt Swan was an Anatomy artist. his Superman was drawn in 2- dimensions with 3-dimensional perspective and movement. Thats what Norm Prescott used for his Filmation Superman. Anyone can see this, who has taken Anatomy in High School or College.

[Coconido]

can anyone tell me why superman from 1940 is better draw (better animation and shadows) than superman from 1966?

[coolrog0705]

@Coconido this is a weekly television series produced under budget and time constraints so different tricks and techniques such as simplifying the animation had to be used. the fleischer studios had a much bigger window to produce their cartoons.

[sigzor85]

When is this coming to DVD?

[sigzor85]

Damn good memory of this Superman cartoon. Back in the late 1960's to very early 1970's, I would watch this on CBS Saturdays. That theme was a kick-ass for the time. Thanks for posting.

[charlesumesi]

One of the best intros for a superhero ever, its beauty and power is in its simplicity. Fantastic!

[redvelvet1508]

wow...that was loud. awesome intro. brings back memories.

[cuxum]

it's crazy that the same animation company was responsible for He-Man

[SigersonLTD]

Yes, as in, this is a job for.... :)

[DarPower1]

i must be honest this theme is crude, its so forgettable, and weird

[only257]

good animation

[MrBranflakes1991]

The sound makes my ears bleed. It's like they set up the recording studio in a helicopter.

[RikuReplicate]

I always liked his animated incarnations, but Supes is definitely not an interesting superhero. He's TOO perfect. Nothing can stop him, his powers adapt to any problem, and he has no emotional or mental flaws. The reason Batman has gained much more popularity is precisely because of his human flaws and his weaknesses. He can't evade bullets, he can't fly, he just does what he can without powers. He has a fragile and sometimes cold mind, because he's more of a real person.

[Noveltooner]

Beck was also one of the announcers for The ABC Sunday Night Movie during the 60's and was also the narrator for Woody Allen's "Take the Money and Run." He was still announcing right of the point of his death in 2004 at the age of 92.

[Noveltooner]

The voice casting was "To Tell the Truth" and "Beat the Clock" host Bud Collyer (Superman), Joan Alexander (Lois Lane), and Jackson Beck (Narrator & Perry White). They all reprised their roles from the original 1940s radio series as well as the Fleischer/Famous Studios Paramount animated film shorts. Beck became the second Bluto in Famous's color Popeye shorts as well as voicing numerous characters for Fleischer cartoons and Paramount Noveltoons.

[merlinforever]

Thats tight ... i remember this as a boy.. LOVED IT..

[Dakers11]

@0:40 this Superman looks more like an anatomical illustration, than a exagerrated cartoon. Kurt Swan was the original creator of this facial body type. No disrespect to all of the other Superman characters. He has a I.F.B.B. physique, but moves almost as if he is Rotoscoped. I could be wrong, but it looks as though Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott were going for this effect.

[classicfreeze72]

awesome

[DJKhrome]

Dig this! The voice of Superman back in the day-Bud Collyer, host of the 60's version of "To Tell The Truth"

[sibphu]

@DJKhrome he was also the voice of batman (1966)

[jayce79]

Wow , classic. Thanks for Uploading

[flapdoodle64]

I love this theme song, and the voices of Supes and the announcer.

[Astraldragon1]

@flapdoodle64 I agree I like the series the voice for Clark/Superman and the theme song

[bobszvetics1]

@flapdoodle64 THE VOICE OF SUPERMAN WAS DONE BY BUD COLLIER THE ANNOUNCER JASON BECK

[galesayers]

@bobszvetics1 Actually, that's Jackson Beck.

[TheSV3]

@flapdoodle64 I don't know who the voice of the announcer was but I'm cretain that the voice of Clark Kent/Superman was the late Bud Collier of "To Tell The Truth" fame (in the'60s), who was also the voice of Superman on radio.

[STP43FAN1]

@flapdoodle64 Bud Collyer and Jackson Beck.

[galesayers]

@STP43FAN1 Loved them. They didn't sound like the timid, vacillating milquetoasts who voice today's Superman. They sounded like MEN - Jackson Beck as the great narrator, and Bud Collyer as the Man of Steel. Miss this deep-voiced, strong-willed confidence.

[RichYan33]

If you can find a nice clean download of the song it's worth a listen. It's a good theme song! And you kn ow what it isn't? It isn't dark! It's big and heroic and says "SUPERMAN!".

[LegolasManowarMJ]

@RichYan33 It's on the Music Of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary CD.

[RichYan33]

@LegolasManowarMJ OOOO! Thanks!

[LegolasManowarMJ]

@RichYan33 You are welcome :)

[JaneFanEyreViewer]

I love the Superman 1966 intro

[JaneFanEyreViewer]

I have a video of Superman 1966

[mavivirgie]

@drluojj ITS NOW ON DVD

[lawrencekin02]

I loved this show when i was a kid.... goodness i was such a fanboy for this show

[RebelSCV]

It looks like they borrowed the opening from Max Fleischer's Superman series.

[BryonYoungblood]

But c'mon. man, the whole Fastest than a Speeding Bullet, etc. stuff is CLASSIC when regarding Superman! So I can see why it was borrowed or inspired by the Fleischer Superman cartoons.

Bryon

[lon40]

actually the whole faster than a speeding bullet bit came from the radio show.. in fact the guy who said it was one of the original annoucers from that show not to mention the man who voiced superman from radio Bud Collyer voiced him for this cartoon... along with Joan Alexander who voiced Lois Lane.

[BryonYoungblood]

Oooohhhhhhh... XD I didn't know that, see?

Bryon

[orinanime]

a bit yeah.

but that intro was used in the 40s Fleischer cartoons, the radio show, the 1950s show and this cartoon.

I think it's even used in the 1988 cartoon.

And it's referenced in practically every other version of the character.

What would Superman be without that intro?

hehe.

[mancalledT]

Could you post more 1966 episodes please..

[Astraldragon1]

I love this series is this on DVD yet as well as the Superboy series?...I do have a Filmation DVD but it only has couple episodes of the heros like Superman, flash, green lantern and so on.

[rathraven1313]

Season one is. It's called New Adventures of Superman.  Superboy isn't on DVD, yet.

[wall5055]

I lived for this show when I was a kid!

[hnelson64]

I just noticed - 40-plus years later. The old live TV show "Superman" with George Reeves intro said Supes "fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and 'the AMERICAN WAY." The 1966 cartoon changed his mission to "truth, justice and 'FREEDOM.'" I had no idea our culture's sell out began that long ago. Today, they probably wouldn't even say Superman fights for "truth," for fear of offending someone...

[orinanime]

yeah, but according to most of our politicians, the american way is to spread freedom throughout the world.

It's not really selling out.

It's the fact that even when he created, he didn't just protect American Interests, but saved people all over the world.

[Noveltooner]

This was a reunion of the 1940's radio voices, "To Tell the Truth's" Bud Collyer (Clark Kent/Superman), Joan Alexander (Lois Lane) and Jackson Beck (Narrator). This was not their first time voicing an animated version; they also voiced the beautiful and riveting Fleischer/Famous Studios shorts for Paramount in the 1940s.

[midknightryder13]

This is my favorite Superman opening -- it took me YEARS to figure out why. Besides the fact that it's catchy in its own right, how brilliant was it to have the instrumental 'sing' "It's a bird, it's a plane, It's Superman!" while the voice actors are SAYING that slogan. (Filmation did the same thing with the intro of "Aquaman", there you can hear the theme 'sing' "King Of The Seven Seas".) It may be obvious now, but when I was a kid, I thought it was VERY cool. Thanks for posting this.

[steveasat2]

0:36 - Is Clark's head supposed to be that small? It looks like someone started drawing at the bottom of the page and later realized, "oh man, not enough room!"

[Bregowald]

faster than an æroplane !

[DanielKetchGR]

I like this opening.

[krim076]

i like this cartoon of superman 1966

[YodaBannon]

man great memories. Loved these reruns.

[2005dave]

My suspicion on this opening was that it was pitched down from the original. Jackson Beck's voice ordinarily doesn't sound that deep. If you pitch it up so the music theme is one step higher (key of Eb to key of F - same key as the closing credits theme), Beck sounds more like himself.

[WildmanWoodie]

Do you think Gerald Mohr, who did the voice of Reed Richards in the 1960s FF cartoon, as well as a lot of other voice work, did the narration for the George Reeves Superman series intro? It sounds like him to me. I could never pin that info down.

That would provide a nice link between Superman and The FF on television.

[13thwho]

Gerald Mohr was not the narrator of "Adventures of Superman," but he did the opening narration on the first few episodes of "The Lone Ranger." He did provide the voice of Green Lantern on "The Superman-Aquaman Hour of Adventure," which was the same year as "Fantastic Four."

[WildmanWoodie]

Thanks!

[eleeking]

Its Bud Collyer, he did the voice of Superman in the 40's for radio

[ACLTony]

Wonderful memories this brings back to the time when I was a kid in New York in the late 1960s. I especially enjoyed the theme and background music of this show. Could you upload the end theme credits as well please? Thanks :)

[WildmanWoodie]

This is my personal favorite Superman theme music. :-)

[RomanTix]

This is one of the first superhero cartoons I evere saw when I was young (Spider-Man was the second). This brings back memories :)

[AriesTRam]

Wow, this takes me back to when I was too young to realize the animation wasn't very good. It's ironic, because the old Max Fleishcher Superman cartoons, decades older, were much better in terms of animation quality.

[bigdaddy40]

Stan Lee once walked into the Filmation corporate headquarters in a Spiderman outfit with a banana stuck down the front of his tights.