After successfully transforming less familiar characters, such as Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and DC’s Christopher Smith/Peacemaker, portrayed by John Cena, into beloved icons within their respective universes, James Gunn is now taking on the monumental task of bringing the most famous superhero of all time, Superman, to life in the DC Universe (DCU), with <b>David Corenswet</b> stepping into the role. While numerous live-action Superman films have graced the screen with varying success, Gunn’s upcoming Superman film is notable for featuring the Man of Steel’s best friend, Krypto the Superdog, making his live-action film debut. Following his success with characters like Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and Weasel in Creature Commandos, Gunn has a knack for fostering audience connections with animals and unique creatures. With Krypto taking center stage, audiences are already expressing their affection for this canine companion, even if he comes with a few quirks.

Although this marks Krypto’s first appearance in live-action theaters, the Superdog has previously led an animated feature film, DC League of Super-Pets, where Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson lent his voice to portray Krypto alongside Black Adam. Beyond that, Krypto has made appearances in various television series and direct-to-video films. However, long before these projects, Krypto had his own animated series, titled Krypto the Superdog, which aired from 2005 to 2006. Developed by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini, who previously collaborated on Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, Krypto the Superdog premiered on Cartoon Network exactly 50 years after Krypto’s comic book debut, featuring 75 segments across 39 episodes in two seasons. If you’re eager to watch Krypto before or after enjoying Superman, this charming series will fill that gap.

Explore the Adventures of ‘Krypto the Superdog’ and the DC Superpets

Recognizing that Krypto is not widely known to the general public, Krypto the Superdog begins by introducing viewers to Krypto, voiced by Samuel Vincent, who is a dog hailing from the planet Krypton and is the pet of a young Kal-El/Superman. After Krypto crash-lands on Earth years after Superman’s arrival, he forms a friendship with a young boy named Kevin Whitney, portrayed by Alberto Ghisi, who helps him embrace his superhero identity. As Krypto discovers his super abilities—much like Superman—he embarks on a heroic mission to rescue animals from a sinking ship, which ultimately captures the attention of his former owner, Superman, voiced by Michael Daingerfield. While Superman is delighted to reunite with Krypto, he acknowledges that Kevin and Krypto have already established a strong bond. Consequently, he instructs Kevin to take care of Krypto, as he is too occupied with saving the world. Initially, this may seem like a lazy justification for Superman’s limited presence in the show, but it aligns with Superman’s character, who consistently brings joy to children everywhere.

Although Krypto the Superdog isn’t designed for audiences of all ages in the way that Superman: The Animated Series is, the animation style pays homage to classic Hanna-Barbera productions like Scooby-Doo and The Flintstones, while also introducing young viewers to characters who had not previously appeared in films. The series showcases Krypto teaming up with other superpets, including Streaky the Supercat, voiced by Brian Drummond, who is associated with Supergirl in DC Comics, and Batman’s loyal companion, Ace the Bat-Hound, voiced by Scott McNeil. The dynamic between Krypto and Ace is strikingly similar to the relationship between Superman and Batman, which may explain Ace’s frequent appearances throughout the series. Notably, the show even introduces a literal robin, Robbie the Bird Wonder, voiced by David Paul Grove, as Ace’s temporary sidekick.

Moreover, the series features a deep cut from DC Comics by including the Dog Star Patrol, a cosmic team of dogs endowed with unique abilities like telekinesis and super-speed. Although the show maintains a relatively low-stakes atmosphere in terms of action and drama, it remains captivating to watch these diverse characters come to life on screen and interact with each other.

Krypto Faces Off Against Iconic Villains’ Pets in ‘Krypto the Superdog’

In Krypto the Superdog, the narrative includes pet adversaries linked to some of the most iconic villains in the DC Universe. Notable characters include Lex Luthor’s (Brian Dobson) pet iguana, Ignatius, voiced by Scott McNeil, the Joker’s hyenas, Bud (Peter Kelamis) and Lou (Lee Tockar), and Catwoman’s cat, Isis (Kathleen Barr). Additionally, Oswald Cobblepot, also known as The Penguin, commands three trained birds he calls the Bad News Birds: Artie the puffin (Dale Wilson), Griff the vulture (Matt Hill), and an actual penguin named Waddles (Terry Klassen). While Ace the Bat-Hound takes a more prominent role, given that many of the series’ villains hail from Batman’s rogues’ gallery, it is ultimately Krypto who devises clever strategies to triumph over his foes. Even during moments when Krypto temporarily loses his powers, he consistently employs quick thinking to outsmart his challengers and save the day.

Krypto the Superdog also introduces entirely original villains, unrelated to established comic book antagonists. The primary antagonist in the series is Mechanikat, voiced by Mark Oliver, an alien cyborg cat with ambitions to conquer Earth. His minions include the menacing Snooky Wookums, voiced by Nicole Bouma, and the simply named Delilah, who is also voiced by Kathleen Barr. Although Mechanikat and his henchcats lack the memorability of characters like Bud and Lou, Isis, or the Bad News Birds, who perfectly embody their owners’ traits, they still contribute to the overall narrative. Interestingly, despite the unconventional choice of an iguana for Lex Luthor, Ignatius exhibits the classic mad-scientist mentality, engaging in experiments with various machines and chemicals. Overall, Krypto the Superdog embraces a tone reminiscent of Silver Age DC Comics, showcasing a variety of adventures and villains that are both entertaining and engaging.

Discover the Upcoming Short Films Featuring Superman’s Krypto in the DCU

With an animated series, feature film, and his live-action debut in Superman, Krypto is receiving substantial recognition. During a recent press event for Superman, Gunn announced that Krypto is set to star in four seasonal short films following the film’s release. He described the tone of these shorts as family-friendly, fun, and goofy, noting, “It’s pretty cool.” Safran confirmed that the Krypto audiences will meet in Superman is indeed the same character featured in the shorts: “He’s definitely the Krypto you fall in love with in Superman. He’s a terrible dog.” While it remains uncertain whether these shorts will be live-action or animated, it’s exciting to see Krypto getting as much representation as possible.

At a time when Bruce Timm‘s Justice League Unlimited and Glen Murakami‘s Teen Titans were captivating audiences, alongside Christopher Nolan‘s <em>Batman Begins</em> lighting up theaters, it’s intriguing to consider the development of Krypto the Superdog. Was there a demand to see Krypto and other superpets? Likely not, yet it did pave the way for younger viewers to discover Superman’s furry companion. Now, Krypto is finally stepping into the limelight in Gunn’s vision for Superman.

For those interested in Krypto’s previous adventures, Krypto the Superdog is available for rent on Amazon Prime.

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