Superman: The Mechanical Monsters (1941) Max Fleischer’s Superman – Episode 2 --- Director: Dave Fleischer Studio: Fleischer Studios / Paramount Pictures Starring (voices): Bud Collyer (Superman / Clark Kent), Joan Alexander (Lois Lane), Jackson Beck (narrator) Release Date: November 28, 1941 Runtime: ~9 minutes (one reel) Format: Technicolor | Mono | Sound | Animated Short | Superhero | Sci‑Fi | Crime Country: United States Language: English Genres: Superhero | Adventure | Sci‑Fi | Classic Animation --- Summary: In The Mechanical Monsters, a mad scientist unleashes a squad of giant robots on Metropolis to rob banks and museums. Lois Lane sneaks inside one of the mechanical thieves, prompting Clark Kent to phone a report—then duck into a phone booth and emerge as Superman (marking the first time Clark uses a phone booth to change in any medium). Using X‑ray vision for the first and only time in the Fleischer series, Superman tracks Lois inside the robot, battles the robot army, rescues her from a molten metal trap using his cape as a shield, and brings the villain to justice. --- Background: This is the second of seventeen Technicolor Superman shorts produced by Fleischer Studios between 1941 and 1943. With a surprisingly high budget—far exceeding typical Popeye cartoons of the time—the series was known for its rotoscope animation, film-noir lighting, and cinematic ambition. Fleischer’s portrayal of Superman leaping before fully flying helped define the character's early animation style. --- Trivia: First use of the telephone booth transformation, now an iconic Superman trope. The only Fleischer short to showcase Superman’s X‑ray vision. Influenced future creators such as Hayao Miyazaki (Castle in the Sky, Lupin III) and live‑action works like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. The restored HD version was showcased at the Museum of the Moving Image in 2025, with colors brightened and individual frames cleaned for authenticity. Seen by fans as a standout example of Golden Age animation, praised for its design and action sequences. --- Hashtags: #TheMechanicalMonsters #MaxFleischer #Superman1941 #ClassicAnimation #GoldenAgeCartoons #TechnicolorShort #XRayVision #PhoneBoothTransformation #PublicDomainCartoon #RobotHeist #SuperheroShort #BudCollyer #JoanAlexander #VintageAnimation #FleischerStudios