Captain Underpants
Children's book series about a hypnotized principal turned superhero.
George Beard and Harold Hutchins, two fourth graders from Piqua, Ohio, are the creators of a superhero who wears nothing but underwear and a cape. That character, Captain Underpants, springs to life after the boys hypnotize their mean, bossy principal, Mr. Krupp. This premise launched an American illustrated children's book series and multimedia franchise by author-illustrator Dav Pilkey. The original run of twelve novels ended in 2015 with *Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot*. A spin-off series, *Dog Man*, began the following year. By 2026, the franchise included twelve main novels, two activity books, colored versions, and fifteen spin-offs. Translated into over 37 languages, the books have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide, with over 50 million in the United States. Since its 1997 debut, the series has frequently been challenged in American schools and libraries due to mixed opinions from educators, but it has remained popular. DreamWorks Animation released a feature film, *Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie*, on June 2, 2017, followed by the Netflix television series *The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants* from July 13, 2018, to December 4, 2020. A manga adaptation of the first book, *Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga*, written by Pilkey with new art by Motojiro, was announced in July 2025 and released on April 7, 2026.
- field
- Children's literature, multimedia franchise
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Illustrated children's novel series about a superhero principal
- first_book_release
- 1997
- total_main_novels
- 12
- books_sold_worldwide
- over 90 million
- languages_translated_into
- more than 37
Lore & Background
DreamWorks Animation released an animated feature film adaptation, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, on June 2, 2017, followed by a television series, The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants, which aired on Netflix from July 13, 2018, to December 4, 2020. In July 2025, a manga adaptation of the first book, titled Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga, was announced, written and adapted by Dav Pilkey with new illustrations by manga artist Motojiro, and officially released on April 7, 2026. The series has been among the most frequently challenged books in American schools and libraries, with educators holding varied opinions regarding the series.
Reader's Guide
Captain Underpants holds a notable place in children's literature as a commercially successful yet controversial series. Its popularity is reflected in over 90 million books sold worldwide and translations into more than 37 languages. The franchise expanded beyond novels into an animated film and a Netflix television series, demonstrating its cross-media appeal. The series' frequent challenges in American schools and libraries highlight ongoing debates about appropriate content for young readers. The 2025 announcement of a manga adaptation, retaining the series' signature Flip-O-Rama pages while adopting visual conventions of manga, indicates continued evolution and relevance. The series' legacy includes its influence on reluctant readers and its role in discussions about censorship in educational settings.
Did You Know?
- The series includes 12 main novels, two activity books, colored versions, and 15 spin-offs as of 2026.
- More than 90 million books have been sold worldwide, including over 50 million in the United States.
- A manga adaptation titled Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga was released on April 7, 2026.
- The original novel series concluded in 2015 with Captain Underpants and the Sensational Saga of Sir Stinks-A-Lot.
More in Children's film series 1-24
Elsewhere in the Children's Film Series universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record