Superman: Doomsday is an original direct-to-video animated film adaptation of the popular DC Comics storyline The Death of Superman focusing on the superhero Superman. The film is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for action violence and is the first in the DC Universe Original Animated Movies line released by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation. It will be followed by Justice League: The New Frontier. The film was released on September 18, 2007. Before the DVD release, the movie was first screened at the San Diego Comic Con on July 26, 2007.
Despite similar animation styles, the film used new animation models, and is only loosely based on the DC Animated Universe that lasted from 1992-2006, with a few allusions to the older series, as well as the Fleischer Superman series, found in the Fortress of Solitude.
"Superman: Doomsday" is the first animated Superman project to be rated PG-13.
Kevin Smith (I) appears animated as himself with one line: "Pff, like we really needed him to bust up the mechanical spider right? Lame!" This is a reference to the requirement made by producer Jon Peters, that Kevin Smith include a giant spider in the film Superman Lives, to be given the position of director (the project was canceled, in favor of Superman Returns). Kevin Smith wanted to use the same basic plot of Superman: Doomsday for Superman Lives.
The character of Mercy, Lex Luthor's assistant, originally appeared in the "Adventures of Superman" series in the 90's as Luthor's Chaffuer/Bodyguard. In this film, she's his corporate assistant.
Superman's black suit, and longer hair when he came back to fight the Doppleganger Superman is one of the few things to match up with the comics.
While on the roof of the Daily Planet, Lois tells Jimmy as she starts up the helicopter, that she was an "air force brat." In the comics however, her father, General Sam Lane, was in the army.
In the Fortress of Solitude various items can be seen from past Superman cartoons. Some of these include Supermans' Space Suit and Rocket from The adventures of Superman Cartoon from the 90's. Others are from the Fleischer Superman cartoons of the 40's including the Bullet Car from Bulleteers and one of the Robots from The Mechanical Monsters. The Bottled City of Kandor can be seen as well.
