"Challenge of the SuperFriends" (1978) TV series

Writers:

(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

8 September 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Family | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The Justice League of America battles the plots of the supervillian team, the Legion of Doom.

Plot Keywords:

DC Comics | Superhero Team | Superhero | Justice League | Black Vulcan

Cast

Jack Angel	...	Hawkman / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Marlene Aragon	...	Cheetah (16 episodes, 1978)
Lewis Bailey		(16 episodes, 1978)
Michael Bell	...	The Riddler / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
William Callaway	...	Aquaman / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Ted Cassidy	...	Black Manta / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Melanie Chartoff		(16 episodes, 1978)
Henry Corden		(16 episodes, 1978)
Danny Dark	...	Superman / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Al Fann		(16 episodes, 1978)
Shannon Farnon	...	Wonder Woman / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Ruth Forman	...	Giganta (16 episodes, 1978)
Bob Hastings		(16 episodes, 1978)
Bob Holt		(16 episodes, 1978)
Buster Jones	...	Black Vulcan / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Stan Jones	...	Lex Luthor / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Casey Kasem	...	Robin / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Don Messick	...	Scarecrow / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Vic Perrin	...	Sinestro (16 episodes, 1978)
Renny Roker		(16 episodes, 1978)
Stanley Ralph Ross	...	Gorilla Grodd / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Dick Ryal	...	Captain Cold / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Michael Rye	...	Green Lantern / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Olan Soule	...	Batman / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Jimmy Weldon	...	Solomon Grundy (16 episodes, 1978)
Frank Welker	...	Toyman / ... (16 episodes, 1978)
Louise Williams	...	Young Giganta (16 episodes, 1978)
William Woodson	...	Narrator / ... (16 episodes, 1978)

Series Directed by
Ray Patterson		(16 episodes, 1978)
Carl Urbano		(16 episodes, 1978)

Series Writing credits
Jeffrey Scott		(16 episodes, 1978)
Carmine Infantino		(unknown episodes)
Bob Kane		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Joseph Barbera	....	executive producer (16 episodes, 1978)
William Hanna	....	executive producer (16 episodes, 1978)
Don Jurwich	....	producer (16 episodes, 1978)
Iwao Takamoto	....	creative producer (16 episodes, 1978)

Series Production Management
Jayne Barbera	....	production manager (16 episodes, 1978)
Joed Eaton	....	post-production supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)

Series Art Department
Iraj Paran	....	graphics (16 episodes, 1978)
Tom Wogatzke	....	graphics (16 episodes, 1978)

Series Sound Department
Pat Foley	....	dubbing supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Bill Getty	....	sound director (16 episodes, 1978)
Don Jurwich	....	recording director (16 episodes, 1978)
Richard Olson	....	sound director (16 episodes, 1978)
Joe Reitano	....	sound effects editor (16 episodes, 1978)
Kerry Dean Williams	....	sound effects editor (16 episodes, 1978)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
George Epperson	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Tom Epperson	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Charles Flekal	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Brandy Hill	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Ron Jackson	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Jerry Smith	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Larry Smith	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Terry Smith	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)
Jerry Whittington	....	camera operator (16 episodes, 1978)

Series Animation Department
Edwin Aardal	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
John Ahern	....	layout supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Deborah Akers	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Robert Alvarez	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Frank Andrina	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Fernando Arce	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Clifford Augustson	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Ed Barge	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Tom Barnes	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Bob Bemiller	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Toby Bluth	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Lars Calonius	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Bob Carr	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Roger Chiasson	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Tom Coppola	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Jesse Cosio	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Doug Crane	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Susan Crossley	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Sukhdev Dail	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Zeon Davush	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Daniel de la Vega	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Ron Dias	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Joan Drake	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Norman Drew	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Dennis Durrell	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Martin Forte	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Hugh Fraser	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Al Gaivoto	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Miguel Garcia	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Robert Gentle	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Mark Glamack	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Al Gmuer	....	background supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Bob Goe	....	assistant animation supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Fernando Gonzalez	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Paul Gruwell	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Ann Guenther	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Jeff Hall	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Terence Harrison	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
C.L. Hartman	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Bob Hathcock	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Fred Hellmich	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Jim Hickey	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Harry Holt	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Paro Hozumi	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Jack Huber	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Michael Humphries	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Bill Hutten	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Raymond Jacobs	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Homer Jonas	....	key layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Mario Julio	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Mike Kawaguchi	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Jim Keeshen	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Bill Keil	....	animation supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Billie Kerns	....	ink and paint supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Mark Kirkland	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Brad Landreth	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Andre Le Blanc	....	character designer (16 episodes, 1978)
Rick Leon	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Bill Lignante	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Hicks Lokey	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Ernesto Lopez	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Ed Love	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Tony Love	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Larry Miller	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Jim Mueller	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Terry Lee Mullen	....	key layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Kenneth Muse	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Constantin Mustatea	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Emory Myrick	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Frank Nakielski	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Margaret Nichols	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Dan Noonan	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Eduardo Olivares	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Michael O'Mara	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Margaret Parkes	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Andrew Phillipson	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Bill Pratt	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Tom Ray	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Morey Reden	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Jeff Riche	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Vive Risto	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Craig Robertson	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Mitch Rochon	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Jay Sarbry	....	animation supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Robert Schaefer	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Sera Segal-Alsberg	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Gary Selvaggio	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Tony Sgroi	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Wallace Sides	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Mark Simon	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Cindy Smith	....	checking and scene planning (16 episodes, 1978)
Ken Southworth	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Leo Sullivan	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Dave Tendlar	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Dean Thompson	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Richard Thompson	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Bob Trochim	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Richard Trueblood	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
John Tucker	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Peter Van Elk	....	background artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Carlo Vinci	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
James T. Walker	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
John Walker	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Ron Westlund	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Al Wilson	....	layout artist (16 episodes, 1978)
Allen Wilzbach	....	animator (16 episodes, 1978)
Star Wirth	....	xerographer (16 episodes, 1978)
Alex Toth	....	character designer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Larry C. Cowan	....	supervising film editor (16 episodes, 1978)
William E. DeBoer	....	negative consultant (16 episodes, 1978)
Nancy Massie	....	color key (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Hoyt Curtin	....	musical director (16 episodes, 1978)
Paul DeKorte	....	music supervisor (16 episodes, 1978)
Sam Horta	....	music editor (16 episodes, 1978)
Joe Sandusky	....	music editor (16 episodes, 1978)
Robert Talboy	....	music editor (16 episodes, 1978)
John Beal	....	composer: additional music / orchestrator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
John Bruno	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Jan Green	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Gil Iverson	....	show editor (16 episodes, 1978)
Ron Maidenberg	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Hal Mason	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Michael O'Connor	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Bill Perez	....	title designer (16 episodes, 1978)
Mario Piluso	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Jeffrey Scott	....	story editor (16 episodes, 1978)
Dick Sebast	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Don Sheppard	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Paul Sommer	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Robert Taylor	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Alex Toth	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Warren Tufts	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)
Tom Yakutis	....	story director (16 episodes, 1978)

Production Companies

• Hanna-Barbera Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1978-1979) (USA) (TV)
• LBS Communications
• Warner Bros. Television

Other Companies

• DC Comics  characters

Runtime:

30 min (16 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-Y7

Company:

Hanna-Barbera Productions

Trivia:

Originally when Black Vulcan first appeared in "The All-New Super Friends Hour" (1977), his costume covered his legs. Starting in this series, Black Vulcan's costume no longer covers his legs; it leaves them bare.

Quotes:

[title sequence]
Series Narrator: Banded together from remote galaxies are thirteen of the most sinister villains of all time, The Legion of Doom, dedicated to a single objective: the conquest of the universe. Only one group dares to challenge this intergalactic threat: The SuperFriends! The Justice League of America versus The Legion of Doom! This is the Challenge of the SuperFriends!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One (#5.17)" (2007)

Best Super-Team Ensemble Cartoon For Kids Of Its Era

It took a few incarnations but eventually Hanna Barbera did what they should have done the first time; they blew off the ultra-goofy Marvin and Wendy and Zann and Jayna child's eye view sidekicks and went strictly with the real DC Comics superheroes and supervillains kids love. While CHALLENGE OF THE SUPER-FRIENDS' toe-to-toe battles still feature the Gardner Foxesque "goodness and teamwork will overcome greed and evil" morality, they also have darker plot lines with surprising violence and they usually end with the bad guys getting away. Some episodes take an adult approach, including "History of Doom," which incorporates an interesting time travel doomed alternate universe premise which Harlan Ellison would love. All in all, this is clearly the most satisfying and sophisticated work done on the longrunning show. If you're a fan of 1970s DC superheroes, you'll definitely want to check out these episodes.