This is about the best animated series, but that doesn't necessarily mean television. # 8 on the list is a series of animated shorts by Fleischer/Famous Studios featuring Superman.

These 17 shorts are glorious with great art that stands out from most cartoons of the time. It's a fantastic style. While the 1990s Superman cartoons may have been more proficient, what the 1940s cartoon used was more memorable.

These were 7-10 minute episodes, so the plots were not terribly complex, but they were well-written. The creators knew what viewers expected and gave kids and adults who might no admit to watching the films a thrilling experience. So you get Superman punching a comet, Superman fighting mechanical monsters, Superman committing sabotage in Japan.

You compare to this to other shorts even of later era, and you'll find they don't measure up. I was very disappointed in the 1960s New Adventures of Superman because even though they had Bud Collyer as Superman and the same episode length, they didn't have that focus. They didn't have an awesome Superman theme.

The 1940s Superman cartoons captivate the imagination and provide a solid dose of action, adventure, and fantasy that stands up very well more than 70 years later.