DC Super Hero Girls

Last updated
DC Super Hero Girls
Dc superhero girls logo.png
Genre
Created byShea Fontana (2015 version)
Lisa Yee (2015 version)
Aria Moffly (2015 version)
Lauren Faust (2019 version)
Based on Characters
by DC Comics
Written byShea Fontana
Nina G. Bargiel
Directed byJennifer Coyle
Cecilia Aranovich
Voices of
Theme music composerThe Math Club featuring Colton Fisher and Jason Rabinowitz (2015 version)
Asher Lenz and Stephen Skratt (2019 verson)
Opening theme"Get Your Cape On" by Jordyn Kane (2015 version)
"Super Life" by Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis (2019 version)
ComposerShaun Drew
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes112 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer Sam Register
ProducersJennifer Coyle
Paula Haifley
Running time11-15 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network Cartoon Network
Boomerang
Release1 October 2015 (2015-10-01) 
27 December 2018 (2018-12-27)
Related
DC Super Hero Girls (2019)

DC Super Hero Girls or DC Superhero Girls (in various countries) is an American superhero web series and franchise produced by Warner Bros. Animation for Cartoon Network based on characters from DC Entertainment that launched in the third quarter of 2015.

Contents

DC Super Hero Girls line was later reimagined by Lauren Faust, who had previously worked on The Powerpuff Girls , Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends , and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic . [1] This resulted in a full rebrand for the franchise, centered around an eponymous television reboot of the same name, [2] which began airing on Cartoon Network in March 2019. [3] The rebooted series was heavily inspired by Faust's DC Nation Shorts entry Super Best Friends Forever from 2012, [2] [4] while carrying over certain themes from the earlier DC Super Hero Girls web show. [2]

Overview

Premise

At Super Hero High School, well-known DC heroes, both male and female, attend challenging classes and deal with all the awkwardness of growing up with the added stress of having unique superpowers.

Announcement

The multipronged franchise was announced in April 2015. The franchise includes an animated web series, a graphic novel line, books from Random House, Lego tie-ins and action figures from Mattel. [5] [6] [7] [8] The intended audience is girls aged 6–12. [9]

Website

The website was launched in early July 2015. Characters featured at launch were: Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Supergirl, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Katana, and Bumblebee. [10] Other characters including Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, Star Sapphire, Beast Boy, Cheetah, Hawkgirl and Catwoman also appear. [11] Amanda Waller is featured as the principal of the series' setting Super Hero High. Many other DC Comics heroes and villains appear in the background as cameos.

Publication history

DC Super Hero Girls was originally launched in 2015 with an animated web short on YouTube. [12] [13] [14] Over the course of 2016, the franchise was expanded with a graphic novel line, additional animated and digital content, toys, and apparel. [15] [16] [8] Diane Nelson, president of both DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, stated in 2016: "We think DC Super Hero Girls can be bigger than a $1 billion brand". [12]

A relaunch of the franchise [1] began with the 2019 DC Super Hero Girls TV series. [2] [3] Also that year, the DC Zoom imprint "launched with the continuation of [the] DC Super Hero Girls" graphic novel line. [17] The DC Ink and DC Zoom imprints were built off both the creative success of the post-New 52 DCYou program, which "employed younger creators than the New 52 titles, with the titles having a more contemporary feel", and "the financial success of the DC Super Hero Girls property". [18] Dan DiDio, DC's co-publisher from 2010 to 2020, explained that "a lot of that had also to do with our interest in getting the young adult marketplace. That was DC testing the waters and wondering what a young adult book would be from DC Comics". [18]

Cast and characters

DC Super Hero Girls has various characters inspired by the DC Universe. Certain characters are voiced by actors who have performed as the same characters previously. The characters listed below are listed on the franchise's website:

Voice cast

Voice actorCharacter(s)
Grey Griffin Wonder Woman
Giganta
Silver St. Cloud
Korugarian
Platinum
Robin
Anais Fairweather Supergirl
Mae Whitman Barbara Gordon/Batgirl (first voice)
Speed Queen (first voice)
Tara Strong Harley Quinn
Poison Ivy
Raven
Teala Dunn Bumblebee
Artemiz
Stephanie Sheh Katana
Bleez
Ashley Eckstein Cheetah
Jessica DiCicco Star Sapphire
Lashina
Hynden Walch Starfire
Blackfire
Toddler
Nika Futterman Hawkgirl
Cheshire
Danica McKellar Frost
Teen
Lauren Tom The Double Dare Twins
Professor Minerva
Yvette Nicole Brown Principal Waller
Bumblebee's Mom
Greg Cipes Beast Boy
Josh Keaton Hal Jordan/Green Lantern
Flash
Steve Trevor
Maurice LaMarche Red Tornado
Carl Ferris
Oberon
Cristina Pucelli Catwoman
Miss Martian
Amethyst
Violet Lantern Ring
Phil LaMarr Mr. Fox
Killer Moth
John DiMaggio Coach Wildcat
Vice-Principal Grodd
Dr. Seid/Darkseid
Anti Hall Monitor
Tom Kenny Crazy Quilt
Commissioner James Gordon
Parasite
Sinestro
Lobo
Helen Slater Martha Kent
Dean Cain Jonathan Kent
Tania Gunadi Lady Shiva
Fred Tatasciore Killer Croc
Perry the Parademon
Solomon Grundy
Brainiac
Ares
Kryptomite
Swamp Thing
April Stewart Granny Goodness
Stompa
Ms. Moone
Misty Lee Big Barda
Mad Harriet
Alexis G. Zall Lois Lane
Khary Payton Cyborg
Firefly
Lion-Mane
Julianne Grossman Hippolyta
Anna VocinoOracle
Kevin Michael Richardson Trigon
King Shark
Mrs. Clayface
Romi Dames Lena Luthor
Cree Summer Thunder
Kimberly Brooks Mari McCabe
Lightning
Cristina Milizia Jessica Cruz
Matthew Mercer Green Lantern Ring
Captain Cold
Erica Lindbeck Mera
Siren
Ashlyn Selich Barbara Gordon/Batgirl (second voice)
Speed Queen (second voice)

Media

Web series

The DC Super Hero Girls has a series of animated shorts on YouTube and their site centered on the young heroes and villains attending Super Hero High. The first season premiered on 1 October 2015. [19] The second season premiered on 21 April 2016. The third season premiered on 26 January 2017, while the fourth season premiered on 18 January 2018. The fifth and final season premiered on 2 August 2018 and ended on 27 December the same year as a cliffhanger.

Television series

In 2019, the DC Super Hero Girls franchise was rebooted as a TV series developed by Lauren Faust, with a continuity separate from that of the previous version of the franchise. Shorts connected with the series began to be released online on 10 January (the first short had previously received a sneak peek screening with showings of Teen Titans Go! To the Movies ), and the full series premiered on Cartoon Network on 8 March.

Films and specials

Special (2016)

TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
"DC Super Hero Girls: Super Hero High"Jennifer CoyleShea Fontana19 March 2016 (2016-03-19) (Boomerang)

21 May 2016 (2016-05-21) (Boomerang UK)

30 May 2016 (2016-05-30) (Cartoon Network)
School is in session for DC Super Hero Girls. This is where students master their super powers to become the Super Heroes of tomorrow. When Supergirl crash lands into the cafeteria, it's evident that though she has incredible power, she has a long way to go before she becomes a Super Hero. As Supergirl learns to harness her powers, the Junior Detective Club investigates a mysterious rash of security breaches.

Direct-to-video films (2016–2018)

TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
"DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year"Cecilia AranovichShea Fontana23 August 2016 (2016-08-23)
"DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games"Cecilia AranovichShea Fontana23 May 2017 (2017-05-23)
"Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain"Todd GrimesJeremy Adams8 August 2017 (2017-08-08)
"Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High"Elsa GaragarzaJeremy Adams15 May 2018 (2018-05-15)
"DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis"Cecilia Aranovich
Ian Hamilton
Shea Fontana2 October 2018 (2018-10-02)

Novels

Random House is publishing a series of text-only novels.

Original series

Lisa Yee wrote every novel for the original series which each focus primarily on one character's experiences as a student at Super Hero High. American "big box" retailer Target has released special editions of the Wonder Woman and Batgirl novels that include additional materials (character profiles and posters).

TitleISBNRelease date
Wonder Woman at Super Hero High 978-1101940594 1 March 2016
Supergirl at Super Hero High 978-1101940624 5 July 2016
Batgirl at Super Hero High 978-1101940655 3 January 2017
Katana at Super Hero High 978-1101940686 4 July 2017
Harley Quinn at Super Hero High 978-1524769239 2 January 2018
Bumblebee at Super Hero High 978-1524769260 3 July 2018

Rebooted series

The novels for the rebooted series are written by Erica David.

TitleISBNRelease date
Winner Takes All! 978-1984894533 19 November 2019
Fierce Competition! 978-1984894564 19 February 2020

Graphic novels

The DC Graphic Novels for Kids imprint is publishing a series of graphic novels. [17]

Original series

TitleISBNRelease date
Finals Crisis 978-1-4012-6247-1 5 July 2016
Hits and Myths 978-1-4012-6761-2 1 November 2016
Summer Olympus 978-1-4012-7235-7 11 July 2017
Past Times at Super Hero High 978-1-4012-7383-5 26 September 2017
Date with Disaster 978-1-4012-7878-6 31 January 2018
Out of the Bottle 978-1-4012-7483-2 7 August 2018
Search for Atlantis 978-1-4012-8353-7 26 September 2018
Spaced Out 978-1-4012-8256-1 4 June 2019

Rebooted series

TitleISBNRelease date
At Metropolis High 978-1-4012-8970-6 15 October 2019
Powerless 978-1-4012-9361-1 17 March 2020
Weird Science 978-1-4012-9846-3 14 July 2020
Midterms 978-1-4012-9852-4 1 September 2020
Ghosting 978-1-77950-765-5 7 September 2021
Exchange Students 978-1-77950-891-1 25 January 2022

Toys

From 2016 to 2018, Lego featured a product line using DC Super Hero Girls logo. 12 Lego sets were distributed. These sets used Lego Friends style mini-dolls figures rather than traditional Lego minifigure, a design aimed at feminine market.

Video games

TitlePlatformsRelease dateRef.
DC Super Hero Girls Blitz iOS, Android 8 August 2019 [20]
DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power Nintendo Switch 4 June 2021 [21] [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batgirl</span> Comic book superheroine

Batgirl is the name of several fictional superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts and allies to the superhero Batman. The character Betty Kane was introduced into publication in 1961 by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff as Bat-Girl, and was replaced in 1967 by Barbara Gordon, who became the iconic Batgirl. The character debuted in Detective Comics #359 by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino, introduced as the niece/adoptive daughter of police commissioner James Gordon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klarion the Witch Boy</span> Comic book supervillain

Klarion the Witch Boy is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, having first appeared in The Demon #7 and was created by Jack Kirby. The character is typically portrayed as a powerful but mischievous, immature extradimensional warlock who serves as both the archenemy of Etrigan the Demon and is a reoccurring adversary for various mystic characters and teams in the DC Universe.

<i>Batman</i> (franchise) Franchise based on DC Comics character, Batman

The DC Comics character Batman has been adapted into various media including film, radio, television, and video games, as well as numerous merchandising items. The Batman franchise has become one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

<i>Superman</i> (franchise) Portrayals of Superman outside of comic books

The American comic book character Superman, created in 1938, has appeared in many types of media since the 1940s. Superman has appeared in radio, television, movies, and video games each on multiple occasions, and his name, symbol, and image have appeared on products and merchandise.

Lego Batman is a discontinued theme and product range of the Lego building toy, introduced in 2006, based on the superhero character Batman, under license from DC Comics. The sets feature vehicles, characters and scenes from the comics and films. The inspirations for the design of these vary widely. For example, the Batmobile retains its basic sleek shape and prominent fins from the Tim Burton films, whereas the "Bat-Tank" seems to be based on the tank-like Batmobile in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. The theme was relaunched in early 2012 as part of the Lego DC Universe Superheroes line, which is a sub-theme of the Lego Super Heroes line. In total there were 17 sets, almost all of them including Batman.

Originally created in 1967, the fictional comic book character Barbara Gordon has been adapted into various other forms of media. The character has appeared in both live action and animated television series and films, as well as in video games in her alter-egos as both Batgirl and Oracle!.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cartoon Network Arabic</span> Arabic-language feed of Cartoon Network EMEA

Cartoon Network Arabia is a pan-Arab free-to-air children's television channel that is broadcast to Arab audiences in the Middle East and North Africa. It is one of two language versions of the original namesake American channel. the other being a pay television channel on beIN and additional providers known as Cartoon Network MENA, which is available in both English and Arabic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Entertainment</span> American entertainment company

DC Entertainment is an American entertainment company that was founded in September 2009 and is based in Burbank, California. The company is a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery that manages its DC Comics units and characters in other units, as they work with other Warner Bros. units. It also delves into those units within their flagship the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). DC Comics was founded in 1934 when it was National Comic Publications.

Lego Ninjago is a Lego theme that was created in 2011 and a flagship brand of The Lego Group. It is the first theme to be based on ninja since the discontinuation of the Lego Ninja theme in 2000. It was produced to coincide with the animated television series Ninjago, which was superseded in 2023 by a new series titled Ninjago: Dragons Rising.

Lego Super Heroes is a theme and product range of the Lego construction toy, introduced in 2011, owned by The Lego Group and licensed from DC Entertainment, Marvel Entertainment, Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company and Pixar.

<i>The Lego Batman Movie</i> 2017 film directed by Chris McKay

The Lego Batman Movie is a 2017 animated superhero comedy film produced by Warner Animation Group, DC Entertainment, RatPac Entertainment, Lego System A/S, Lin Pictures, Lord Miller Productions, and Vertigo Entertainment, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was directed by Chris McKay from a screenplay by Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern, and John Whittington. Based on the characters from the DC Universe created by DC Comics and the Lego DC Super Heroes' Batman toy line, the film is a collaboration between production houses from the United States, Australia, and Denmark, the first spin-off in The Lego Movie franchise and the second installment overall. The film features Will Arnett reprising his role as Batman from The Lego Movie alongside Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson, and Ralph Fiennes. The story follows the eponymous character (Arnett) as he attempts to overcome his greatest fear while saving Gotham City from the Joker's (Galifianakis) latest scheme.

<i>Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain</i> 2017 American film

Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain is a 2017 American animated superhero comedy film based on the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is the third film in the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, as well as the first in the series to be based on the DC Super Hero Girls brand of Lego. It was digitally released on July 25, 2017, and was followed by a DVD release on August 8. The film premiered on Cartoon Network in the US on November 19 the same year.

<i>DC Super Hero Girls</i> (TV series) American children animated action-adventure television series

DC Super Hero Girls is an American animated superhero television series created and developed by Lauren Faust and produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment for Cartoon Network. Based on the web series and franchise of the same name, the series premiered on March 8, 2019, with a one-hour special.

<i>Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High</i> 2018 American film

Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Super-Villain High is a 2018 American animated superhero comedy film based on the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is the fourth film in the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, as well as the second and final Lego branded film in the series to be based on the DC Super Hero Girls, before the franchise itself got rebooted by Lauren Faust in 2019. It was digitally released on May 1, 2018, and was followed by a DVD release on May 15.

<i>DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis</i> 2018 American film

DC Super Hero Girls: Legends of Atlantis is a 2018 American animated superhero film based on the DC Super Hero Girls franchise, produced by Warner Bros. Animation and distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. It is the fifth and final film in the DC Super Hero Girls franchise before it got rebooted by Lauren Faust, and it takes place in the Season 4 timeframe. It premiered at the San Diego Comic-Con International on July 22, 2018 and was released digitally and on DVD on October 2.

DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults, formerly known as DC Ink, is an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics consisting of original one-shots, graphic novels and reprints of books previously published under other imprints. The imprint intends to present traditional DC Universe characters for young adult readers. The first title of the DC Ink imprint, Mera: Tidebreaker, was published on February 2, 2019 and Batman: Nightwalker was the last title to be published under DC Ink. Wonder Woman: Warbringer, the first title of DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults, was published on January 10, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lego Batman Movie (Lego theme)</span> Lego theme

The Lego Batman Movie is a discontinued product line based on The Lego Batman Movie, the second film of The Lego Movie franchise. It is licensed from The Lego Group, DC and Warner Bros. Animation Studios. The theme was first introduced in 2017 as part of a licensing and merchandising programme associated with the film. Alongside the release of the Lego sets, the programme included the release of several promotional short films and The Lego Batman Movie Game app. The product line was discontinued by the end of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lego DC Super Hero Girls</span> Lego theme

Lego DC Super Hero Girls (stylized as LEGO DC Super Hero Girls) was a Lego theme based on the DC Super Hero Girls franchise. It is licensed from DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The theme was first introduced in November 2016. The toy line was accompanied by several shorts, a television special and films based on Lego DC Super Hero Girls. The Lego DC Super Hero Girls theme was discontinued by the end of 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Graphic Novels for Kids</span>

DC Graphic Novels for Kids, formerly known as DC Zoom, is an imprint of American comic book publisher DC Comics consisting of original one-shots and reprints of books previously published under other imprints. The imprint intends to present traditional DC Universe characters for middle-grade readers. The first title of the DC Zoom imprint, DC Super Hero Girls: Search for Atlantis was published on September 26, 2018. Black Canary: Ignite and Super Sons Book Two: The Foxglove Mission were the last titles to be published under DC Ink. Diana: Princess of the Amazons, the first title of DC Graphic Novels for Kids, was published on January 7, 2020. The first reprint, DC Super Hero Girls: Weird Science was published on July 14, 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 Comtois, James (May 22, 2018). "First Look at DC Super Hero Girls Relaunch for New Cartoon Network Series". Syfy . Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dahl, Angie (August 1, 2018). "DC Super Hero Girls Reboot Was Lauren Faust's 'How Could You Say No' Moment". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  3. 1 2 McLean, Tom (March 8, 2019). "Teen Girls to the Rescue: Lauren Faust Powers Up 'DC Super Hero Girls'". Animation Magazine . Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  4. Amaya, Erik (March 11, 2019). "DC Super Hero Girls Brings Wonder Woman, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, More Fan-Favorite Characters to the Small Screen". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  5. Mendelson, Scott. "Girls To Get 'Separate But Equal' DC Super Hero Girls Product Line". Forbes. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. "Mattel Enlists Feminists to Help Design DC Super Hero Girls Dolls". The Mary Sue. 2015-10-12. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  7. "Here's a First Look at LEGO's New 'Super Hero Girls' Collection". Time. October 3, 2016. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  8. 1 2 "Second Book Added to DC Super Hero Girls Graphic Novel Series". PublishersWeekly.com. March 3, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  9. Polo, Susana (2015-04-22). "DC announces long-overdue girl-focused superhero initiative, but few specifics". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  10. Reich, J.E. (8 July 2015). "Hotly Anticipated DC Super Hero Girls Website Is Now Live". TechTimes. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  11. "Meet the Heroes – Others". DC Super Hero Girls. 1 October 2015. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  12. 1 2 Brown, Luke (May 25, 2016). "DC Super Hero Girls Could Break the Mold and the Bank". ComicsAlliance. Archived from the original on 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  13. Truitt, Brian. "DC's 'Super Hero Girls' taps into what kids want". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  14. Kit, Borys (2015-04-22). "DC Launches Female-Centric Universe With DC Super Hero Girls". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  15. Faughnder, Ryan (2016-02-09). "Make way! Warner Bros. expands its universe with DC Super Hero Girls". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  16. "DC Super Hero Girls Bring Comic Book Toys To A Brand New Audience". Kotaku Australia. 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  17. 1 2 "Do DC's graphic novels for young readers get a passing grade?". AV Club. August 31, 2019. Archived from the original on 2019-09-01. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  18. 1 2 McMillan, Graeme (2021-09-21). "The oral history of DC Comics' infamous New 52 reboot". Polygon. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  19. "The DC Super Hero Girls Universe is Live!". dccomics.com/. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  20. "DC Super Hero Girls Blitz (2019)". DC. 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  21. "DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power Is A Great Kids Game". Kotaku. June 9, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  22. "DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power Review". IGN . 22 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-22. Retrieved September 21, 2021.