In 1997, the WB network aired a superhero-packed half hour show titled The New Batman/Superman Adventures, starring two caped gentlemen from Gotham and Metropolis, respectively. The New Superman Adventures was the name of Superman's segment within that show, though when it had aired independently it was called Superman: The Animated Series. No need for confusion here, all you need to know is that Superman was involved and he was animated.

Like his bat-costumed colleagued, this Superman was edgier and more serious than previous incarnations. Still, elements from every version of the Man of Steel made it into the series. The superhero's familiar and tragic backstory stayed the same: his home planet of Krypton destroyed, the infant Kal-El jettisoned to Earth where he was found and adopted by the kindly Kents, a couple from rural Smallville. Superman blended into human society up to a point but whenever someone needed help, mild-mannered Clark Kent  transformed into Superman, able to bound tall buildings and fly faster than a speeding bullet.

Clark kept his real identity secret from those around him, including friends and colleagues. He took a job as a reporter at the Daily Planet newspaper of Metropolis and got on with the business of battling villains.

The series had a long life on the air, as a stand-alone show and as part of various superhero anthology shows. After his collaboration with Batman, the new Superman was folded into Justice League and then Justice League Unlimited.