Max Fleischer’s classic SUPERMAN cartoons are getting an HD remaster

Warner Bros. Discovery recently announced that Max Fleischer’s classic Superman cartoons have been meticulously remastered from the original 35mm elements and will be released in HD for the first time this spring!

The release is marked as Superman by Max Fleischer 1941-1943, and will be available for purchase digitally on HD and Blu-ray on May 16, 2023. While these films have been available to watch for years as they are in the public domain, this release will offer the best viewing experience.

I’ve always been a fan of these cartoons and especially loved Fleischer’s signature design and Superman vibe.

Superman made his comic book debut in 1938, appearing in Action comics #1 (dated June 1938, but officially released April 18, 1938), and became so popular, so quickly, that in the early 1940s it had a radio show, and acclaimed animator Max Fleischer gave the character his first film animated into the spotlight, producing 17 theatrical animated shorts from September 1941 to July 1943 that further raised the character’s profile and added many significant aspects to his canon, including coining many of Superman’s patented catchphrases and attributes.

The advanced Warner Bros. Discovery remastering process began with a 16-bit 4K scan of Fleischer’s original 35mm post-exposure negative. Staying true to the original cinematic aspect ratio of 1.37 to 1, the very high quality RAW image was then scanned and then put through the recombination process, using special proprietary software to merge the successively exposed Technicolor negatives into a single image RGB color. The end result is pristine animated shorts that have been brought back to the production quality the animators originally intended.

Popular radio actors Clayton “Bud” Collyer and Joan Alexander reprized their famous The Adventures of Superman radio show roles for Fleischer/Famous Studios animated shorts as Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively. Jackson Beck provided the voice of Perry White and the show’s lead narrator. Additional voices, many of whom had featured on the Superman radio show, were provided by Jack Mercer, Grant Richards, Julian Noa, Lee Royce, Max Smith, Sam Parker and Carl Meyer.

Superman by Max Fleischer 1941-1943 will be available May 16, 2023 for digital purchase in HD from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more, and on Blu-ray at major retailers both online and in-store. You can see the specs for the release, as well as a first look at the new cover, below.

EPISODES (AND PREMIERE DATE):

⦁ Superman (Mad Scientist) – 09/26/1941
⦁ The mechanical monsters – 11/28/1941
⦁ Billion Dollar Limited – 9/1/1942
⦁ Arctic Giant – 02/27/1942
⦁ The Bulleteers – 03/27/1942
⦁ The magnetic telescope – 04/24/1942
⦁ Electric earthquake – 05/15/1942
⦁ Volcano – 10/7/1942
⦁ Terror Midway – 08/28/1942
⦁ The Japoteurs – 09/18/1942
⦁ Showdown – 10/16/1942
⦁ The Eleventh Hour – 11/20/1942
⦁ Destruction, Inc. – 12/25/1942
⦁ The mummy strikes – 02/19/1943
⦁ Jungle Drums – 03/26/1943
⦁ Underworld – 06/18/1943
⦁ Secret Agent – ​​07/30/1943

SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

New Featurette – Superman: Speeding Into Tomorrow – Superman’s exploits in the Fleischer series modernized the monomyth of the god-like Greek hero and expanded and romanticized prevailing science fiction and fantasy themes. It was this combination of heartfelt storytelling, relatable heroes, and stunning visuals that made the Fleischer series a fan favorite as one of the greatest superhero stories of all time. This featurette explores visual storytelling as lavish animation, with a focus on all atomic age technology, pushes science fiction one step closer to becoming a powerful social and pop culture force.

Featurette – First Flight: The Fleischer Superman Series – The Origins and Influence of this Groundbreaking Cartoon Series – A gathering of contemporary animators, comic and animation historians, and legendary Fleischer artists examine these beloved shorts, focusing on animation and the groundbreaking techniques that created it, as well as to study the title character’s place in the story.

Featurette – The Man, the Myth, Superman: Exploring the lore of Superman heroes on the page and screen – A fascinating study of Superman characters throughout history – in ancient myths, literature and film – who bring out imaginative and superhuman qualities, captivating audiences and withstanding the test of time.