Krypto the Superdog

Krypto the Superdog is an American animated television series that premiered on Cartoon Network on March 25, 2005, and ended its run on December 15, 2006. The series is based on the DC Comics character Krypto, a canine companion of Superman, and targets a demographic of pre-school aged children.

The series is all about the adventures of Krypto. However, this variant of Krypto leaves his home planet Krypton at the same time as Superman when they were both infants. The spaceship carrying Krypto was slower than Superman's so it took the ship much longer to reach Earth, by which time Superman, or as Krypto remembers him, baby Kal-El, had grown up to become Clark Kent. Krypto's ship crash-lands on Earth where a boy named Kevin Whitney discovers him. In this world, aside from Kevins and his family's knowledge, only animals are aware of Krypto's secret powers.

Krypto lives with Kevin's family in Metropolis and acts in a similar capacity for Kevin as he would have for Superman, protecting him from harm and going on titanic adventures, often involving other super-powered animals. Despite his superpowers and extraterrestrial origin, Krypto has the demeanour of an exceptionally smart and loyal canine, with a huge heart and a courageous spirit.

The comic-slant of the show ensures it remains lighthearted enough for children, despite boasting some rather thrilling storylines reminiscent of Superman's own tales. The television series interestingly depicts animals with special abilities and fascinating personalities. They essentially form an animalistic version of the Justice League, with Krypto leading the way as a canine variant of Superman. The series highlights friendship, bravery, and the age-old fight against evil, encapsulated in a fun and enthralling animal's world.

Every episode of Krypto the Superdog offers a unique adventure that pre-schoolers can enjoy. The length of the show is split into two segments - each approximately 11 minutes long. This scattergun format means there are actually double the number of adventures, and audiences can expect a colourful splash of good guys, bad guys, and humorous touches.

Notably, the series continues the tradition of humanlike animal characters in children's programming and imparts moral messages and life lessons with each episode, discussing the themes of courage, friendship, responsibility, and the merits of doing good.

A consistent series of characters populate the show beyond Krypto, including Kevin Whitney, Kevin's parents, and Andrea Sussman, Kevin's neighbor and schoolmate. Other super animals in the show are Streaky the Cat, a pink housecat with super abilities, whose owners are Andrea Sussman and her mom, Melanie Whitney, Kevin's older sister who mostly prefers her cat, Ignatius, to Krypto. Then there are the Dog Star Patrol, a team of space canines each with individual superpowers that travel the galaxy helping others, and The Supercat Fan Club, a group of evil alien cats formed by Mechanikat, a paranoid and frustrated cat who wants to conquer Earth.

Krypto the Superdog fittingly communicates with a mix of traditional dog sounds and English language, thanks to an advanced ear tag that Kevin gives him to translate his thoughts into English, making it easier for the audience to connect to him and understand his thoughts and actions.

Central to the series is the colourful and well-rounded animation, with Metropolis set as a bustling and larger-than-life city where the action unfurls. High-quality production values, enthralling, age-appropriate storytelling, and commendable voice acting add to the appeal of this show. Krypto's visual style wholeheartedly embraces its comic book roots and will presumably feel instantly familiar to anyone who's read a Superman comic or watched a Superman cartoon.

The concept of superpowers in a family-friendly environment, combined with engaging storytelling, unique characters, and humor, make Krypto the Superdog an enjoyable series for young kids and a nostalgic treat for older superhero fans.