The first incarnation of Superman in motion pictures was in animation, specifically Max Fleischer’s cartoon series that began in 1941. And it was this cartoon, even more than the comic books, that shaped how we think of the superhero.
You can see the first of the cartoon series here. There are compilations available at YouTube in which you can see all 17 episodes. Modern Superman stories are often more interesting and complicated, but for the sheer quality of the animation, you can’t beat those old ‘toons. -via reddit