History WesternAnimation / SupermanTheAnimatedSeries

A made for DVD movie was also made based on the series' style: ''Superman: Brainiac Attacks''. It is not canon to the DCAU. The series also [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames gave stillbirth]] to the N64 video game ''[[VideoGame/Superman64 The New Superman Aventures]]'' [sic]. Creator/TitusSoftware, the company that made the game, also released ''Superman'', a UsefulNotes/GameBoy game also based on the series, two years prior. It also had a comic book series, ''ComicBook/TheSupermanAdventures'' and may have inspired the ''DC Superheroes'' books based on the character. Interestingly, Superman would not get another animated series focused mainly on him for 23 years after ''STAS''’s conclusion, when ''WesternAnimation/MyAdventuresWithSuperman'' would be be released on Creator/AdultSwim in Summer 2023.

* OffModel: While with generally consistent animation, especially compared to the original ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' run, the show was notable for numerous coloring errors. Most of the time Superman was drawn with [[SkintoneSclerae non-white eyes]] as the standard character model but random shots would show it filled in. Lex Luthor's skin tone was inconsistent enough to make some viewers believe he was supposed to be [[RaceLift a black man]] (most of the time he was the same shade as Superman).

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1412425_wb1045_20man_20of_20steel.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYtdl9BrKUc "Nice 'S.'"]]]]

** Mr. Mxyzptlk's wife, Ms. Gsptlsnz is a blatantly [[MsFanservice sex-on-legs]]. She's basically [[PeekABangs Veronica Lake]] by way of [[Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit Jessica Rabbit]] in terms of ImpossibleHourglassFigure and hair, sultry voicing, and apparently spends her days lounging around the 5th dimension in a midriff-exposing shirt and unzipped Daisy Dukes. It comes to a head in a scene in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E8Mxyzpixilated Mxyzpixilated]]" where, in an attempt to [[DistractedByTheSexy distract]] Mxyzptlk from his crusade against Superman, she gives what can only be described as a PowerPerversionPotential montage, changing her look to various SexyWhateverOutfit. In order, a FemmeFatale, a [[CatholicSchoolGirlsRule sexy schoolgirl]], a pin-up inspired sailor outfit, a [[BarelyThereSwimwear frilly bikini]], a [[AllGuysWantCheerleaders cheerleading outfit]], a tropical dancer, a Creator/BettyGrable swimsuit, a bathrobe-bra-and-panties combo, then finally nothing but a [[ModestyTowel towel]]. Alas, her loving but temporarily obsessed husband is NotDistractedByTheSexy.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* The fourth one has Superman coming in contact with other heroes of the DC Universe who would later become his colleagues in Justice League. These episodes were largely standalone but in the course of the series, Superman met The Flash, Green Lantern, Doctor Fate, and Aquaman. Most important of all -- "World's Finest", the three-part episode that crossed over into ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' and finally established the Franchise/{{DCAU}} as a SharedUniverse. Superman and Batman would have other adventures while Supergirl would appear in ''The New Batman Adventures'' and Superman would also make an appearance in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' which deals with Bruce's LegacyCharacter, and which was also production-wise the first appearance of the Justice League in the DCAU.

A made for DVD movie was also made based on the series' style: ''Superman: Brainiac Attacks''. It is not canon to the DCAU. The series also [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames gave stillbirth]] to the N64 video game ''[[VideoGame/Superman64 The New Superman Aventures]]'' [sic]. Creator/TitusSoftware, the company that made the game, also released ''Superman'', a UsefulNotes/GameBoy game also based on the series, two years prior. It also had a comic book series, ''ComicBook/TheSupermanAdventures'' and may have inspired the ''DC Superheroes'' books based on the character.

** Mr. Mxyzptlk's wife, Ms. Gsptlsnz is a blatantly [[MsFanservice sex-on-legs]]. She's basically [[PeekABangs Veronica Lake]] by way of [[Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit Jessica Rabbit]] in terms of ImpossibleHourglassFigure and hair, sultry voicing, and apparently spends her days lounging around the 5th dimension in a BareYourMidriff shirt and unzipped Daisy Dukes. It comes to a head in a scene in "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E8Mxyzpixilated Mxyzpixilated]]" where, in an attempt to [[DistractedByTheSexy distract]] Mxyzptlk from his crusade against Superman, she gives what can only be described as a PowerPerversionPotential montage, changing her look to various SexyWhateverOutfit. In order, a FemmeFatale, a [[CatholicSchoolGirlsRule sexy schoolgirl]], a pin-up inspired sailor outfit, a [[BarelyThereSwimwear frilly bikini]], a [[AllGuysWantCheerleaders cheerleading outfit]], a tropical dancer, a Creator/BettyGrable swimsuit, a bathrobe-bra-and-panties combo, then finally nothing but a [[ModestyTowel towel]]. Alas, her loving but temporarily obsessed husband is NotDistractedByTheSexy.

Since Superman's A-list RoguesGallery is smaller than Batman's, the creators chose to largely dispense with the stand-alone format of the previous series, instead focusing on four concurrent {{Myth Arc}}s:

''Superman: The Animated Series'' (or ''The New Superman Adventures'' in its second season) is an animated television series than ran from 1996 to 2000 on Creator/KidsWB. After ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' proved to be an enormous success, Creator/BruceTimm and Creator/PaulDini turned their attention to Creator/DCComics's other major hero: Franchise/{{Superman}}. The new series would use the same "back to basics" approach to storyline and art stylings, [[AdaptationDistillation giving the Superman mythos the same timeless feel that they brought to the Batman mythos.]]

* The third arc brought in the characters from Creator/JackKirby's ''[[ComicBook/NewGods Fourth World]]''. The [[GalacticConqueror intergalactic tyrant]] ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} (taking the role of the BigBad for the overall series) sets his sights on Earth, and he wants Superman's help in conquering it. Darkseid is not the type to take "no" for an answer. This arc is usually regarded as the best of the series, as the drama and action were at its peak and the individual episodes collectively formed more of an ongoing story. This arc also brought in ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}.
* The fourth one has Superman coming in contact with other heroes of the DC Universe who would later become his colleagues in Justice League. These episodes were largely standalone but in the course of the series, Superman met The Flash, Green Lantern, Doctor Fate, and Aquaman. Most important of all -- "World's Finest", the three-part episode that crossed over into ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' and finally established the ''Franchise/{{DCAU}}'' as a SharedUniverse. Superman and Batman would have other adventures while Supergirl would appear in ''The New Batman Adventures'' and Superman would also make an appearance in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' which deals with Bruce's LegacyCharacter, and which was also production-wise the first appearance of the Justice League in the ''DCAU''.

A made for DVD movie was also made based on the series' style: ''Superman: Brainiac Attacks''. It is not canon to the ''DCAU''. The series also [[TheProblemWithLicensedGames gave stillbirth]] to the N64 video game ''[[VideoGame/Superman64 The New Superman Aventures]]'' [sic]. Creator/TitusSoftware, the company that made the game, also released ''Superman'', a UsefulNotes/GameBoy game also based on the series, two years prior. It also had a comic book series, ''ComicBook/TheSupermanAdventures'' and may have inspired the ''DC Superheroes'' books based on the character.

** Unity, sort of a mix of [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Shub-Niggurath and Yog-Sothoth]]. This is not the first or the last time the ''DCAU'' would go to the Lovecraft well, but probably one of the freakiest. [[spoiler:The Preacher/Great Old One assisting Unity was an even ''more'' blatant Nyarlathotep {{Expy}}.]]

* {{Nerf}}: In the ''DCAU'', Superman has a considerably lower power level than his comic book counterpart and most versions. On multiple occasions, he is knocked out or otherwise incapacitated by a sufficiently strong enemies who lack the benefit of exploiting his KryptoniteFactor. He also can't [[BatmanCanBreatheInSpace breathe in space]].

** Parasite gained the 'outfit' of his ''DCAU'' counterpart starting in the early 2000's.
** Despite the show's version of ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} being a loose adaptation of Kara Zor-El, the then-current Supergirl, Linda Danvers, wore the first costume of ''DCAU'' Supergirl for the rest of her tenure. Likewise, Kara In-Ze's age gap, being ''older'' than Clark technically, but not physically or mentally, was reused for ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton2004'' when it introduced a post-Crisis version of Kara.
** During the ''ComicBook/PublicEnemies'' arc of ''ComicBook/SupermanBatman'' comic, Metallo's disguise was reminiscent of his human form and disguise from the ''DCAU''.

* The first arc of the series concerns ComicBook/LexLuthor, the most powerful man in Metropolis before Superman's arrival. The CorruptCorporateExecutive version of the character from the ComicBook/PostCrisis Franchise/DCUniverse, he is ever the MagnificentBastard. With heavy doses of the VillainWithGoodPublicity, he immediately sees the man flying around righting wrongs as a threat and he begins a number of plots to either destroy Superman or [[WeCanRuleTogether get him on his side]]. These attempts include utilizing an [[KryptoniteFactor unusual rock from space that seems to give Superman a hard time]], [[CloningBlues cloning]] Superman (resulting in [[CloneDegeneration a creature that could only be described as "Bizarro"]]) and [[WeCanRebuildHim recreating a foreign mercenary as an android assassin]]... all in just in the first season.

** Soon after her introduction Maxima gets a {{fanservice}} heavy scene [[BathtubScene where she is being bathed by her servants]], showing a lot of skin, including doing a BathKick for her servants to wash, showing off [[ShesGotLegs her legs]]. Her modesty is only preserved by ShouldersUpNudity shots and CensorSuds and when she [[SexySurfacingShot surfaces from the water]], her servants holding out her robe [[SceneryCensor blocks the view of her body]].

* ShesGotLegs: Almost every female wears skirts, dresses or a LeotardOfPower that show off their legs.
* ShiksaGoddess: [[SpaceJews Mr. Mxyzptlk]] is married to the [[StatuesqueStunner tall]], [[ShesGotLegs leggy]], [[FieryRedhead red-headed]] Gsptlsnz.

* UglyGuyHotWife: Mr. Mxyzptlk, a man approximately three feet tall (half of which is his head), is married to the [[StatuesqueStunner tall]], [[ShesGotLegs leggy]] Gsptlsnz.

This series now has a fledgling [[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries episode guide]] (help needed) [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/crowner.php/BestEpisode/forum_search_titles.php?open=all#897vdsxu Best Episode crowner.]]

* BalefulPolymorph: Mr. Mxyzptlk has a tendency to transform people into random animals, creatures and ''paintings'' as part of his crusade against Superman. When his bosses get involved, they turn his wife into a tree.

* HelloAttorney: Mr. Mxyzptlk's wife appears at his trial to offer up evidence that his obsession with Superman means he is not responsible for his actions. [[BalefulPolymorph She is turned into a tree.]]

* CatUpATree: After {{ComicBook/Darkseid}} brainwashes {{Superman}} into attacking Earth, Supes end up being captured by the military and held prisoner in a facility built by ComicBook/LexLuthor. When Superman asks for a chance to prove himself, a General sarcastically asks if he intends to do it by rescuing a cat from a tree.

** In the episode "Mxyzpxlated", the ''Daily Planet'' [[http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/dariaRTthread/Pan02.jpg comics page]] has a couple of {{Shout Out}}s. One strip is "Dini the Meany", which sounds similar to ''ComicStrip/DennisTheMenaceUS'', but with an art style similar to ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''. It's attributed to "Bill Wemissu[[note]]Bill Watterson having retired from making ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''[[/note]]. Also on the page is "Gleen", with an art style directly lifted from ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}''. "Dini" of course is a reference to Creator/PaulDini. "Gleen" is probably a reference to Glen Murakami, who did art for the show, as the strip's scene suggests the trials and travails of an animation director. It's likely the whole page is shoutouts to the crew.

** In the episode "Mxyzpxlated", the ''Daily Planet'' [[http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/ab85/dariaRTthread/Pan02.jpg comics page]] has a couple of {{Shout Out}}s. One strip is "Dini the Meany", which sounds similar to ''ComicStrip/DennisTheMenaceUS'', but with an art style similar to ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''. It's attributed to "Bill Wemissu[[note]]Bill Watterson having retired from making ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes[[/note]]". Also on the page is "Gleen", with an art style directly lifted from ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}''. "Dini" of course is a reference to Creator/PaulDini. "Gleen" is probably a reference to Glen Murakami, who did art for the show, as the strip's scene suggests the trials and travails of an animation director. It's likely the whole page is shoutouts to the crew.

* AbsoluteCleavage: Livewire's outfit is cut with a wide lightning shaped V that goes all the way down to her belly button, although with the character design there is no actual drawn cleavage.