40s Superman has some of the greatest animation that no one

>>84591407
What did you expect from the studio that did Popeye?

>>84591434
spinach

I started this exact thread maybe 3 weeks ago.

But yeah, Fleischer Studios Superman is best superman.

>>84591434
KFC

>>84591407
I agree, it is a bit weird how no one really talks about it when it was essentially the BTAS of it's time.

>>84591407
So good! Thanks OP

The quality of animation is because the budget for the cartoons was so high.

Fleischer Studios didn't want to do the cartoons when Paramount came to them. So they quoted a budget four times that of a normal short for 1941, thinking Paramount would say no.

They said OK. So the Fleischers put the money into the animation, and it shows.

>>84591407
> that no one ever talks about

The Fleischer Superman cartoons have already been talked to death about here. It's universally regarded as pure awesome. Which is why we don't talk about it as much anymore; everything good that can be said about has already been said about it. All the praises heaped, all the angles covered.

>>84591407
>A woman flying a plane by herself
>a cartoon from the 40's

Did they ever get props for being progressive?

>>84597973

I need to pick up the cheap DVDs next time I see them at the dollar store.

>>84598397
At one point Lois gets a machine gun and starts shooting at Japanese spies. She's fantastic in these.

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>>84598397
And don't forget this scene.

>>84598466
Lois Lane is legitimately the first mainstream action girl. It irritates me when she's characterized as nothing more than a damsel in distress waiting for Superman to rescue her.

https://youtu.be/dDMQ3tXNKgM

>>84591407
WHY. ..the hell....this is fantastic. Thamks OP.

>>84591407
The music was great too. Everything about this was amazing. People rarely talk about the 60's Superman either but I recently saw an episode and it was good, though not as good as this since they didn't have as much cash.

>>84591407
Favorite episode?

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>>84591407
Why can't we have a Superman movie as good as these?

>>84597973
>>84594862
I think this demonstrates how incredibly hot the Superman franchise was back in the day.

That's because this shit cost the equivalent of a million dollars an episode at time.

And he's wearing that Feischer shield.

>>84591407
They are great, always have been. Perfect length to showcase the gorgeous animation and great sound design. Superman was exactly how you want him to be, and Lois was based.

>>84599555
The Mad Scientist has some of my favorite leitmotifs and music from the series, though in terms of actual content, it would have to be Billion Dollar Limited.

Special nod to The Eleventh Hour. Famous Studios content aside, there's just something about the atmosphere and the environment that just raises the tension.

>>84599555
Everybody's gonna say The Metal Monsters (and they're right) but I'm also fond of the one where Supes PUNCHES OUT A DEATH RAY

You could chalk that scene up to "They didn't know/care how science works", but I'm just a sucker for that Popeye-level snubbing of physical laws.

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>superman is flying
>holds up a building
>is punching a lazerbeam
>"he's not human!"

>>84591407
I figured nobody talks about it because of how old it is and the fact it is generally liked

There's not much to say - it's amazing and has been recognized as such before any of us were born. That Jungle Drums sequence when the negroes are about to torch Lois is my fav.

And regarding machine gun Lois and Lois in general, I chuckled about feminism when I first watched this. It was always a load of shit. In that train ep the moment shit hits the fan Lois goes for the tommy gun and starts firing back. Her every action in the series was proactive and she gets herself into all sorts of trouble, but she was never a damsel in distress. Rather the trouble is beyond human means to address - like those undeground hawk people or the godtier mechanical monsters.

The whole series is just beautiful to watch and has a distinctive charm unmatched by other Superman series (I liked STAS and JL, JLU).

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

>>84593744
BTAS very deliberately took inspiration from it

>>84598510
I lover her character in STAS but she really needs to be a part of the action more often

>>84599926
I didn't care for MoS but I loved the scene that may or may not have been an homage to the death ray punching

>>84599790
>>84599926
I haven't seen all of the yet but I liked the one with the guy who was impersonating Superman.

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Someone gave a link to some nice, high quality stills from the FS serials

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>>84604882
I only grabbed a few of them

>>84604882
>>84604896
If it weren't for all the apps in the way these would make nice wallpapers for my phone.

>>84598428
The cheap DVDs are actually crap. You'd be better off trying to get some of the remasters - they are still inexpensive.

National (DC Comics) for some reason didn't preserve their copyright on these so they fell into the public domain. A lot of the cheap DVDs you see are poor quality, some of them taken from the old copies sent out to independent and syndication broadcast stations.

The most recent remaster was done by WB for the Superman (Reeves-verse) bonus disk, but those were all Famous Studios, not Fleischer.

You might try eBay or some such for a bargain price on those.

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>>84604899
You can move all your apps to the second and third screen (or more if you really have that many). I only have four, on the sheer bottom.

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>>84604896

>>84593744
>>84602088
It's very uncanny (not outputting but feels off) compared to BTAS which is what I grew up with. Definitely comfy and I'm gonna check it out more. Thanks op

The animation is only impressive because they sank $500,000 (adjusted for inflation) per episode. They literally don't make 'em like this anymore because no one wants to pay that kind of money.

'course, cartoons serve a totally different purpose these days. They're far more disposable now, sadly.

>>84599926
>>84599555
Had Metal Monsters on VHS as a kid with one other episode that I can't seem to recall. But the Metal Monsters really spooked me out, from the shadows to the way they moved to the lighting near the lava and how it just pours all over Superman. I was really giddy when I saw Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow for the first time.

Didn't they use rotoscoping for these? Or was it something else?

>>84598397
They weren't doing anything that wasn't already reality.

http://listverse.com/2012/10/08/top-10-pioneering-women-of-aviation/

>>84604928
WB released a collection of all the shorts from the Reeves-verse collection as a standalone set, but the audio is pretty questionable on most of the shorts. They also felt the need to take the Paramount logo from the closing of the first short and attach it to the other 16 shorts in the set.

>>84591407
To me, this will always be Superman's theme
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDdwrYYTrAI

It's reasonably cinematic and realistic, very uncharacteric of American animation. I wonder why the style never caught on.

>>84608880
Blame Hanna Barbara, I guess.

>>84608880
*uncharacteristic

>>84591407
There's this video essay I found about the influence the cartoon had, it's very interesting how much of an effect it actually had on the character of Superman and pop culture in general:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDMQ3tXNKgM

>>84609161
I still think about how crazy it is that this is how Superman got his ability to fly. Such a great thing. It's kind of annoying how many other heroes can fly though, wish they limited that so that Superman and others are seen as more powerful and rare comparatively.

>>84604938
Oh shit is that a M3 I see.

>>84591407
Can't beat Eaglemen that live underground

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>>84598510
Action Lois is my waifu

>>84591407
Huh. Will check this out. Thanks anon

>>84591407
And there hasn't been a better screen Superman since.

>>84597973
I'm on here nearly every day and have been for like two years and haven't seen it mentioned.

>>84611779
Then something must be up with your timezone because I've been on 4chan regularly since before Chocolate Rain and I've lost count how many time Fleischer Superman has come up for discussion.

>>84591407
>Paramount was interested in financially exploiting the phenomenal popularity of the then-new Superman comic books, by producing a series of theatrical cartoons based upon the character. The Fleischers, looking for a way to reject the project without appearing uncooperative, agreed to do the series—but only at a (intentionally inflated) per-episode-budget number so exorbitantly high that Paramount would have to reject them, instead. They told Paramount that producing such a conceptually and technically complex series of cartoons would cost about $100,000 (in 1940s dollars) per short; this was about four times the typical budget of a six-minute episode of the Fleischers' popular Popeye the Sailor cartoons of that period.[3] To the Fleischers' shock, instead of withdrawing its request, Paramount entered into negotiations with them, and got the per-episode budget lowered to $50,000.[4] Now the Fleischers were committed to a project they never wanted to do—with more financial and marketing support than they had ever received for the projects they had done.

>>84601768
Huh. That was neat.

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>>84598928
Indeed, the 60's Superman/Superboy cartoon was good. You're right in pointing out that Filmation had absolutely no budget to work with (it was Saturday morning animation, after all), but the show was a monster hit for CBS, featured quick action-driven stories written by DC's writers, and also had Bud Collyer voicing Clark Kent/Superman. It was perfect for little kids and still is.

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>>84591407
Amazing shorts. And if you aren't going to have a shirt rip shot, this is the way to go.

>>84601768
ayyyyyyy yoooooooo thats summmfinna

auyy yoooo that wuz krunk!!!

>>84608880
because that shit cost money, plus, white poeple.

blame pc jewish culture.

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>>84613392
>white people
What?

>>84613392
weren't the fleischers jewish though?

>>84591407
I had random DVDs of the Fleischer Superman and Popeye shorts, always loved that old, kinda creepy style both had.

>>84612259
Different anon and ive been here for two years too, all sorts of sleep schedules and have never seen this before either. It is never talked about. Dozens of comments in the thread about how this is new to them. Some could be summerfags but not all

>>84614071
You haven't been at the right times, but it's always nice too see some love for the classics.

They are fantastic. Art in the true sense of the word.

>>84598567
YOOO the Gucci Mane killed me hahahahaha

>>84613562
All of old school Hollywood was Jewish

>>84615041
I prefer to be on overnight cause we can get some euro comic stuff. Still never scene this. But that may be because i am looking for euro comic stuff.

BTAS is brought up a lot, this is the first i saw this show

>>84614071
>>84615041
>>84615954
I think it's kind of like Sandman or Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run, there are never any threads about certain works as if you're here you probably know about them and know or their high praise in animation or comics.

That being said, BTAS is discussed to death as probably all of /co/ grew up watching it and also because it's Batman and there's more than 13 15-minute episodes of the series to talk about, not mention its the foundation for the DCAU. So naturally theres more discussion about varying quality and character progression over various series, the effect on public perception of DC characters, new characters etc etc

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>>84598397
>plane
>props
I see what you did there.

>>84608911
Blame television. Hanna Barbera were animating high quality shorts for theaters before moving to television, where they received a smaller budget to produce Scooby Doo compared to the money they received to animate Tom and Jerry.

>>84616716
Hanna and Barbera were. Both animators were at MGM making Tom and Jerry before getting shut down along with the rest of MGM Animation.
The H-B Studio, however, was made with the specific intention of cheapening animation for TV-suitable budgets.
Two different things.

>>84593744
It's seventy years old and there's no real plot to speak of. I'm not saying it's impossible to talk about, but why would you expect a thread every day?

>>84616921
Tell some stories. Did you read comics when you were young?

>>84616921
No one really expects daily threads, but a little more appreciation would be nice.

>>84618373
On the other end of the spectrum would be "Fleischer Superman General." So count your blessings.

>>84591407
This would look cool on blu ray.

>>84599587
because people don't believe in themselves, that they could create something beautiful.

>>84591407
This is from the 40s? Holy shit

>>84624179
I know right. I remember I had a VHS and thought it was from the 80's or early 90's the first time I saw them.

>>84613180
Why is both Fleischer and 60's Superman better than TAS? What's up with that?

>>84604928
>DC forgot to renew their own fucking copyright
You don't say?

The best part of these shorts is that they're just The Adventures of Superman with moving pictures to accompany the spoken words. I've never seen a more perfect transition from radio to the silver screen.

>>84599587
becuase millenials are bourgeoisie sjw/liberals/progressives and are a bunch of asshats.

>>84591407
That short with the gorilla was even more ridiculous than the others.

>>84607113
this. no one's doubting it's greatness but it becomes less impressive when you realize there's a direct correlation between budget and quality.

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>>84629617
But animation isn't the only thing that makes it so good, it's just a part of it.

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>despite his powers the cartoon still shows Superman struggling at times
>heroically saves the day while a heroic tune is playing
>Clark Kent winks at the camera
These are wonderful

>>84599618
You should check out the Live action serials as well. I kind of giggle on the inside everytime George Revves Jumps in the air and turns into a cartoon to take off

>>84610820
There are things to like in S-TAS, although I don't like mainly the power level decisions they made for the show and I'm not particularly fond of Livewire. The art is no where near as good, considering the advances in time and technical skills.

>>84612509
Paramount also badly needed a serial to compete with the other studios. They could package it with their films and more importantly, coming attractions for their future releases. It's the same thing studios like to do with popular releases - for example, sticking something ACTUALLY on the trailer for The Force Awakens or (for digital projection) actually forcing the theaters to agree to show XYX in front of their trailer.

>>84613280
Very nice

This on VHS was my first ever real exposure to Superman. Not Superfriends, not the Donner movies (didn't see those until I was a teen), not the comics or STAS. I must've watched The Mad Scientist over forty times.

Now I have all of the shorts on DVD. Dem's good watchin'.

>>84632670
This! This was actually my first taste of superman when I was a kid and I was born in 1990, my mom wanted me to grow up with good taste when it came to all kinds of media.

>>84632828

Did you also have that Superman toy with the magnet Kryptonite ring that made Superman fall over because the same charge magnet in him?

I wish I still had that fucking thing. Toy Biz DC figures were awesome.

>>84630411
in this he struggles to just beat up a bunch of guys or to lift a giant boulder
he is pretty underpowered compared to recent versions

>>84591407
The first Superman... The best Superman.. the Post Crisis ruin this character..

>>84591407
What's the best short?

>>84598397
Nellie Bly circled the globe in like 70 days and was also a war correspondent overseas during WWI

By the 40s, that shit was passé

>>84635699
Machanical Monsters, obviously.

>>84599587
There is... it's called "Superman", directed by Richard Donner and starring Christopher Reeve.

>>84598397
>progressive?
one of the biggest mysteries of 40s superman cartoon is that there is supposed to be a cut in the first episode - the mad scientist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_frD6bGp63U
3:13
the legend is, clark said "chief don't you think that's a dangerous mission FOR A GIRL?" (the legend even gets more fucked up, because some say that it's not a girl, but a woman)
I've investigated this, and there is some fucking conspiracy over this, and I'm not joking. I've WATCHED THOUSANDS OF VERSIONS OF THIS EPISODE. Nothing. Same cut. This is some Men in Black cover up shit.
Of course there is a possibility that's just a myth, but that cartoon is old as fuck, and the first release was on vhs back in the 80s, so the CUT was made right there. And that cut, it's so bizarre, it doesn't feel right.

>>84591407
I wish neo-futuristic design was used in all science these days.

>>84638389
Berenstein?

But yeah it does sound a little weird, I think it might just be the way Lois says the line and how it comes too quickly.

>>84607209
Yeah, but you can't expect /co/ to even k ow what rotoscoping is. The fact that you're the only one to mention it is proof enough.

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>>84591407
>that opening narration
>that perfectly integrated rotoscoping
>Superman literally punching a death ray back
Well, now I know what I'm gonna do for two hours. Is using a 30s/40s setting the best way to do Superman stories?

>>84601768
He also did a Bizarro short

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSIlr2-mw-w

>>84638921
>Is using a 30s/40s setting the best way to do Superman stories?
Superman stories work in any setting.

>>84638713
it's not berenstein, I've found mention of this on the internet in 2005, and even earlier I think. It's nothing new, that's why I said it's some kind of legend

>>84638921
>Is using a 30s/40s setting the best way to do Superman stories?
Not necessarily but it's the best way to do Batman stories.

Are the Famous Studios shorts worth watching too?

>>84640103
I say they're worth checking out just for the the sake of checking them out. The shift in tone can be quite jarring, though it's not too bad in a couple of the shorts.

...and this is coming from someone with a strong dislike of the Famous Studios era of animation.

>>84601768
>2D animation is still a common skill even among new talent
>3DCGshit will always dominate, even with Disney because retarded american children.
End it all.

>>84598428
>Those super cheap "3000 Classic Cartoons" collection dvds only ever contain one or two of the Superman shorts