I'm surprised this is on Kids WB instead of Cartoon Network, but I was lucky enough to catch the premiere on a second airing. I love that networks do that.
Anyway -- clearly they're capitalizing just a little bit on the Superman Returns movie, although the movie didn't do all that well, and there isn't all that much to capitalize on.
((ETA: I understand that Clark is portrayed as young Superman instead of Superboy because DC is currently in limbo/litigation? about whether they can legally use the name Superboy to describe Superman in his youth.))
There's continuity here. This episode is very much like the Superman: Animated Series episode wherein the Legion shows up in Smallville to ask for Clark's help. Clark is about to leave Smallville for Metropolis -- it looks as if he's just finished high school and about to head for college. So he's more Superboy on the cusp of becoming Superman.
The story wasn't bad. It established a handful of the Legionnaires: Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Triplicate Girl, Bouncing Boy, and Brainiac 5. It mentioned a few more: Shrinking Violet, Colossal Boy, and Cosmic Boy (the latter having appeared in the Superman episode mentioned above). It also established the Fatal Five as the villains of the piece. Getting all this done in thirty minutes, and showing that Clark is still coming to grips with having super powers and learning to use them is no mean feat but I think it was pulled off pretty smoothly.
The voice acting is also pretty good.
The design work is impressive. Saturn Girl's telepathic powers are drawn as a variation on Aquaman's -- glowing concentric circles.
Triplicate Girl is designed as a girl who splits into three costumes, hairstyles, and makeup palettes.
Lightning Lad has a scar that lights up when he uses his powers.
The only stylistic that didn't seem to jibe right was Brainiac 5, but I expect that to grow on me.
Definitely worth a look. Don't let the overly busy opening sequence throw you.
Anyway -- clearly they're capitalizing just a little bit on the Superman Returns movie, although the movie didn't do all that well, and there isn't all that much to capitalize on.
((ETA: I understand that Clark is portrayed as young Superman instead of Superboy because DC is currently in limbo/litigation? about whether they can legally use the name Superboy to describe Superman in his youth.))
There's continuity here. This episode is very much like the Superman: Animated Series episode wherein the Legion shows up in Smallville to ask for Clark's help. Clark is about to leave Smallville for Metropolis -- it looks as if he's just finished high school and about to head for college. So he's more Superboy on the cusp of becoming Superman.
The story wasn't bad. It established a handful of the Legionnaires: Lightning Lad, Saturn Girl, Phantom Girl, Triplicate Girl, Bouncing Boy, and Brainiac 5. It mentioned a few more: Shrinking Violet, Colossal Boy, and Cosmic Boy (the latter having appeared in the Superman episode mentioned above). It also established the Fatal Five as the villains of the piece. Getting all this done in thirty minutes, and showing that Clark is still coming to grips with having super powers and learning to use them is no mean feat but I think it was pulled off pretty smoothly.
The voice acting is also pretty good.
The design work is impressive. Saturn Girl's telepathic powers are drawn as a variation on Aquaman's -- glowing concentric circles.
Triplicate Girl is designed as a girl who splits into three costumes, hairstyles, and makeup palettes.
Lightning Lad has a scar that lights up when he uses his powers.
The only stylistic that didn't seem to jibe right was Brainiac 5, but I expect that to grow on me.
Definitely worth a look. Don't let the overly busy opening sequence throw you.