In 1996, Warner Bros. Animation produced an animated television series based on Superman. The cartoon series aired on Kids’ WB under the title Superman: The Animated Series.
The show – a spin-off of Batman: The Animated Series – ran for three seasons, totalling 54 episodes. It was followed by sequel cartoons Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, which continued Superman’s story.
Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Animated were all part of the same continuity – a continuity collectively known as the DC Animated Universe (DCAU). This universe largely ran from 1992 until 2006.
Although the DCAU was effectively put to rest with the conclusion of Justice League Unlimited, Warner Bros. Animation has revisited this universe for a collection of movies inspired by this era of animation. One of these movies is Superman: Brainiac Attacks – a largely forgotten 76 minute, direct-to-video feature film, based on the character designs of the Superman show.
In the movie, Brainiac arrives on Earth and begins to acquire information about the planet. The alien supercomputer joins forces with Lex Luthor and becomes a very severe threat to the human race.
Superman: Brainiac Attacks was originally released in 2006 through Warner Home Video. The movie was directed by Curt Geda.
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Is Superman: Brainiac Attacks part of the DCAU and is it any good?
Although it looks like a spin-off of Superman: The Animated Series, Superman: Brainiac Attacks is not connected to the show. Superman: Brainiac Attacks utilises the same character designs and some of the same voice actors from Superman: The Animated Series, including Tim Daly as Superman and Dana Delany as Lois Lane, but it is NOT part of the DCAU… although it is sometimes mistakenly viewed as a continuation of the series.
Certain elements of the story contradict the established continuity of Superman: The Animated Series. The character of Lex is also written very differently to how he appears in the Superman/Justice League shows, essentially becoming a new character entirely.
If you watch Superman: Brainiac Attacks it is best to think of the movie as a separate entity. It can be difficult to separate it from Superman: The Animated Series and the DCAU, as they look the same, but it is not part of the series at all.
Arguably the most significant thing about the movie is that at one point, Superman contemplates revealing his secret identity to Lois Lane. The movie also includes the Phantom Zone and a nod to Mr. Mxyzptlk.
As for whether Superman: Brainiac Attacks is any good, well, it’s not great, let’s put it that way. The film contains none of the sharp writing found in Superman: The Animated Series; it appears to be aimed at a younger demographic; and features some dreadful characterisation in Lex Luthor.
Largely overlooked, and arguably for a good reason (it’s a bit clunky), the movie is quite often forgotten about by general audiences. As for those who remember it, Superman: Brainiac Attacks is not looked upon favourably by the fan-base.
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The cast of Superman: Brainiac Attacks
- Clark Kent/Superman – Tim Daly
- Lex Luthor – Powers Boothe
- Lois Lane – Dana Delany
- Brainiac – Lance Henriksen
- Perry White – George Dzundza
- Jimmy Olsen – David Kaufman
- Jonathan Kent – Mike Farrell
- Martha Kent – Shelly Fabares
- Mercy Graves – Tara Strong
Of the names listed above, Tim Daly, Dana Delany, George Dzundza and David Kaufman all reprise their roles from Superman: The Animated Series.
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