VIP my Brother Superman

VIP my Brother Superman (originally titled *VIP, mio fratello superuomo* in Italian, and often released in English as *The SuperVips*) is a 1968 Italian animated musical comedy from director Bruno Bozzetto. The film spoofs superhero tropes and was both a commercial and critical hit. Its story follows the last two members of a lineage of Supermen, using their adventures to satirize advertising, politics, and consumer culture.

The plot centers on two brothers who are descendants of superpowered beings called the Vips. SuperVip looks the part: he has a perfect physique, a bold personality, and impressive abilities. His brother, MiniVip, is less impressive—he is short, wears horn-rimmed glasses, has a potbelly, and his only powers are flying with tiny wings and glowing faintly at night, like a firefly. When a wealthy villainess named Happy Betty schemes to take over the world, both brothers are needed. The key question is whether MiniVip can overcome his own crippling self-doubt to help stop her.

This was Bozzetto’s second animated feature, following his Western parody *West and Soda*. During production, an American woman he calls Lady Robinson was, in his words, “a real pain in the ass!” She would visit Milan and insist on discussing the film, offering what Bozzetto described as “mind-blowing bullshit.” The film’s depiction of Happy Betty’s Asian slave employees drew objections from American financiers, who worried it would hurt sales in Japan. Lady Robinson reportedly asked for the slaves to be recolored green.

The film premiered in Italy in 1968. In the UK and other English-speaking markets, it was retitled *The SuperVips*—a name used for a 1990 Channel 4 broadcast as well. In the United States, DigiView Entertainment released it on DVD as *Vip, My Brother Superman*. A restored version followed on October 7, 2014, on an all-regions DVD with improved picture quality, Italian 5.1 and dual mono audio, and extras including a 45-minute interview with Bozzetto, storyboards, and original promotional materials.