Superman: The Last Son of Krypton

This feature length video release is actually a re-cutting of the three part pilot for the new superman series produced by Warner Bros. using mostly Japanese animation talent. The pilot re-tells the familiar origin story of the Last Son of Krypton, while introducing two classic DC villains (Brainiac and Lex Luthor) and giving us a feisty new Lois Lane.

The look very 50s comic bookish and kind of sci-fi retro. Metropolis looks like what TV and the movies were predicting for the year 2000: an urban landscape of huge buildings, elevated highways, high speed commuter trains, all very ultra-modern and glossy, and yet clean, efficient and familiar. The color palette is very bright and full of primary colors, giving the cartoon a Sunday supplement feel. My biggest complaint relates to a slightly clumsy look to the character animation, and even this is really minor. It's a big step up from Superfriends.

The show has a good look, great stories and lots of superhero action, and Clark Kent himself (as voiced by Tim Daly) is wryly amusing and stubbornly heroic in the face of occasionally tough choices. I watched this pilot and signed on for the run of the show. Recommended.

This compilation movie from Superman: The Animated Series (STAS) condenses Superman's origin into three arcs and locations - Krypton, Smallville, and Metropolis. It's close to the original comic, the only major change being that Superman's origin is now interestingly - and cleverly - linked with that of his famous foe Brainiac. We see Superman's introduction to Lois Lane and the Daily Planet, his first meeting with Lex Luthor, and get an early hint of the shared continuity that will become known as the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) (an amusing mention of "that nut in Gotham City"). It's not all great; the Krypton segment drags in places, the Smallville segment feels like it needed more time, the dated art/animation style jars, and the final showdown isn't that exciting. The voice work is all good though, and it does serve as a nice introduction to Superman generally and STAS in particular. Overall 7/10

The Last Son Of Krypton was essentially an introduction before the Superman animated television series premiered. Therefore as you'd imagine this is an origin story, from Krypton to Smallville to Metropolis.

Sadly this is only an hour long and that's a lot of content to get into 60 minutes! Regardless they do a surprisingly good job as do the voice actors who would go on to become regulars in the DC animated universe.

With an introduction to his rivalry with Lex Luthor to Braniacs part in his homeworlds demise this does tick every box even if it does feel a tad rushed.

This feel good 60 minutes is a must for fans of the animated television series and makes a good stand alone effort for fans of the characters as well.

Good job.

The Good:

Malcolm McDowell

Origin story is well done

The Bad:

A bit "Too" Warner Brothers

Rushed

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

Kryptonian dress sense was awful

Colonel Sanders flies coach

I enjoyed this start to the Animated Series. It gave Superman an origin that seemed to simplify the destruction of Krypton, yet tied in the comics a great deal. What I liked about this incarnation the most was how Superman wasn't overly powerful like in some incarnations. The animation is very crisp, and Tim Daily is PERFECT as the voice for Kal El. I got such a kick out of seeing Lex getting annoyed by the quiet, hovering Superman near the DVD's ending. I never caught all of the series' premier, so this $10 DVD was worth every penny. I only wished that the show lasted longer, too bad the WB nixed it. Its my fave DC animated series bar none so far, including Batman.

Superman: The Last Son of Krypton is a movie that serves as the three-part series premiere to Superman: The Animated Series. In this, Jor-El sends his infant son when Krypton is destroyed, the knowledge kept from the planet's people by Brainiac, who also escapes. The baby grows up under the name of Clark Kent, and after learning of his heritage after saving a little girl from an exploding RV, he moves on to Metropolis as an adult and becomes Superman. And at a good time, as Lex Luthor is plotting to give a battlesuit to terrorists from Kaznia.

A show released four years after Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Last Son of Krypton has the same great storytelling as its predecessor, despite being set in a lighter tone. The action sequences are great, and there is even a reference to Batman (since his cartoon came first). This is a good start to one of the greatest animated shows of the 1990's.