In The Iron Giant (1999), what is the giant’s first spoken word?

In The Iron Giant (1999), the giant’s first spoken word is “Superman.”

The word appears when the Giant sees a Superman comic and connects the heroic figure with the idea of protecting people. The reference helps shape the Giant’s understanding of identity, choice, and the difference between having destructive abilities and choosing to be good.

The animated film is set in 1957 during the Cold War. A young boy named Hogarth Hughes discovers the enormous robot and becomes his friend, while a government agent named Kent Mansley treats the Giant as a threat.

Brad Bird directed the film, which was adapted from Ted Hughes’s 1968 novel The Iron Man. The movie was praised for its animation, character work, and anti-war themes, although its initial theatrical performance was disappointing. It later gained a strong reputation as a modern animated classic.