The animated DC movies and shows, there is clearly great importance within the DC brand to have high-quality animated projects in addition to their live-action ones, and has been the case for years.
The Marvel's animated shows shared a continuity, so many DC programs worked hard to build a larger canon within their stories. This saw one of the earliest and most interesting iterations of the DC Universe ever put on screen, putting together a handful of the below shows.
10 Legion of Super Heroes
Ran From 2006-2008, 26 Episodes
One of the less ed DC animated shows of the past few decades is Legion of Super Heroes, which saw a version of Clark Kent being brought to the future to help resist oppression. A team of heroes from the future comes back in time to collect Superman in the first episode, as he is the champion of this era and the strongest that they can get. These include heroes like Brainiac 5 and Saturn Girl.
10 Best Episodes Of The Legion Of Superheroes (According To IMDb)
From Superman's edgy clone to Brainiac 5 fighting his ancestor, there are many great episodes in the often-overlooked The Legion Of Superheroes.
While not the strongest DC Universe series that has ever been made, there is much to enjoy in this show. The iteration of Superman is coming from an interesting place in his timeline, just before moving to Metropolis. The new heroes from the future are also compelling and original ideas of a future-set DC canon. For anyone who hasn’t yet seen this show, it is worth looking back on.
Legion of Super Heroes
- Release Date
- 2006 - 2008-00-00
- Network
- The CW
- Directors
- Brandon Vietti, Tim Maltby, Lauren Montgomery
Cast
Bumper RobinsonStar Boy (voice)-
Janice KawayeYoung Lightning Lord (voice)
Space Warrior / Ma Kent (voice)
Zyx (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- J. M. DeMatteis, Matt Wayne, Michael Jelenic, Amy Wolfram, Stan Berkowitz, Steven Melching, David Slack, Eddie Guzelian, Greg Weisman, Marty Isenberg, Keith Damron
9 Teen Titans
Ran From 2003-2006, 65 Episodes
Many grew up with this show, and still consider the best Teen Titans episodes to be among the best DC shows that have ever appeared on TV. Introducing some of the best iterations of these popular heroes, including Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, and more, the show blended humor and drama satisfyingly and effectively. While the later comedic spin-off Teen Titans Go! would last longer, most consider this to be the better of the two shows.
With heart, action, and great characters, Teen Titans holds up especially well to rewatches. While multiple iterations of these heroes have been explored, including in the live-action Titans series, none are nearly as strong as the ones that appeared on this animated show. It is worth revisiting Teen Titans and likely always will be.
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Teen Titans
- Release Date
- 2003 - 2006-00-00
- Network
- Cartoon Network
- Directors
- Michael Chang, Alex Soto, Ben Jones, Ciro Nieli, Matt Youngberg
Cast
Greg CipesBeast Boy (voice)
Punk Rocket (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- David Slack, Amy Wolfram, Rob Hoegee, Adam Beechen, Greg Klein, Rick Copp, Tom Pugsley, Marv Wolfman, Richard Elliott, Simon Racioppa, Dwayne McDuffie, John Esposito, Melody Fox, Joelle Sellner, George Pérez
8 Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Ran From 2008-2011, 65 Episodes
As DC Studios works on making their own The Brave and the Bold movie, this excellent series has already done a great job of creating a unique Batman iteration. Rather than dour and dark, this animated show was a lighter and more comedic take on the Batman mythos. This was pulled from campy influences, like the 1960s live-action television series, and created a unique iteration of the character.
Every Batman Animated Series Ranked Worst To Best
From Silver Age cartoons like The Adventures of Batman to the DC Animated Universe shows, here is every Batman animated series, ranked worst to best.
Featuring a larger DC Universe, with all kinds of heroes popping in to Batman in various episodes, this show was a truly unusual look at Batman. Releasing while the Christopher Nolan films were being made, The Brave and the Bold was an excellent variation on Batman that made sense as a point of contrast for its time. As Batman has only grown darker in the films, this iteration remains even better primed for a rewatch.
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Batman: The Brave and the Bold
- Release Date
- 2008 - 2011-00-00
- Network
- Cartoon Network
- Directors
- Ben Jones, Michael Chang, Michael Goguen
Cast
Diedrich BaderBatman (voice)
Tom KennyPlatinum (voice)-
Jeff BennettThe Atom (voice)
-
Corey BurtonTrung / Jewelee (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Todd Casey, Steven Melching, J. M. DeMatteis, Joseph Kuhr, Paul Dini, James Krieg, Adam Beechen, Paul Giacoppo, Dean Stefan, Matt Wayne, Michael Jelenic, Marsha Griffin, Alan Burnett, Gail Simone, Dani Michaeli, Alexx Van Dyne
7 Justice League Unlimited
Ran From 2004-2006, 39 Episodes
The final iteration of DC's animated universe that began with Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League: Unlimited's best episodes expanded the scope of its stories, telling bigger, more interconnected tales. With heroes including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more of the greater DC canon, the show set up the ideal superhero team. Seeing such familiar iterations working together was especially special.
While the influence of Batman: The Animated Series continues to be felt, with character versions still being seen in even the live-action films, this show was the last direct sequel to that show. With a whole world built around the familiar character, seeing that expand to bring in the larger DC world was special. With iterations of characters like Booster Gold and Mister Terrific, the show was an excellent entry point into the larger DC Universe in animation.
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Justice League Unlimited
- Release Date
- 2004 - 2005
- Network
- Cartoon Network
- Directors
- Joaquim Dos Santos
Cast
-
Susan Eisenberg
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Alan Moore
6 The New Batman Adventures
Ran From 1997-1999, 24 Episodes
Even though to some they began to blur together, there are some enormous The New Batman Adventures and Batman: The Animated Series. While the show was intended as a sequel, it did a great number of things differently, much of this as a way to scale up the universe. Running concurrently with Superman: The Animated Series, the show brought in many more characters from DC canon, including Nightwing and Batgirl.
10 Biggest Differences Between Batman: The Animated Series And The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures was intended to be a sequel to Batman: The Animated Series, yet made some notable changes fostered a new tone and aesthetic.
All of this helped to make the show feel like part of something larger. While some of the stories were not as strong as those of the original series, the show was helped by receiving a more consistent art style with a softer look. It also brought some of the best iterations yet seen of many of the larger Batman cast of characters to television.
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The New Batman Adventures
- Release Date
- 1997 - 1999-00-00
- Network
- The WB
- Directors
- Dan Riba, Curt Geda, Butch Lukic, Atsuko Tanaka, Hiroyuki Aoyama, Kenji Hachizaki
Cast
-
Diane PershingPoison Ivy (voice)
-
Jane SingerOld woman (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Hilary Bader, Rich Fogel, Stan Berkowitz, Bob Goodman, Steve Gerber
5 Super Friends
Ran From 1973-1985, 93 Episodes
The Hanna Barbera cartoon Super Friends is so different from virtually any other show on this list, and those differences help make it so much more rewarding to revisit today. With decidedly campier depictions of its heroes, the cartoon focused on humor and outsized stakes over realism. Still, it introduced an earlier generation to many of these heroes and remains influential to this day.
Lines between serious stories and humorous ones in superhero media are often hard to draw, and it is important to see both sides. This show and its universe, which was recently killed off in a DC movie, was a very important one to many viewers. It allowed certain audiences their first look at the Justice League , including characters like Cyborg and Green Arrow, on television.
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Super Friends
- Release Date
- 1973 - 1985-00-00
- Network
- ABC
Cast
-
Danny DarkScarecrow (voice)
-
Casey KasemWonder Woman (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Creator(s)
- Gardner Fox
4 Krypto the Superdog
Ran From 2005-2006, 39 Episodes
Krypto the Superdog might be the only other DC show that would try to recreate the tone of the aforementioned Super Friends. The show, about Superman's dog, attempted to replicate the style of the original Hanna Barbera cartoons. It gave a polished and humorous look at the world of DC, in a way that would clearly go on to influence the cast of DC League of Super-Pets.
How Powerful Is Krypto Compared To Superman
Superman's adorable dog Krypto is making his live-action big-screen debut, so here's how powerful the DCU's Superdog is compared to the Man of Steel.
With that movie, and with his appearance in the Superman, Krypto has grown increasingly important to DC in the years following. Revisiting this earlier iteration of the character is rewarding to see how he has been depicted in the past. Whether cartoonish and full of agency, or depicted like a traditional dog, Krypto remains a good boy and is worth exploring in greater detail.
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Krypto the Superdog
- Release Date
- 2005 - 2006-00-00
- Network
- Cartoon Network
- Directors
- Scott Jeralds
Cast
-
Brian DobsonUncredited
-
Brian DrummondStreaky (voice)
-
Sam VincentKrypto (voice)
-
Scott McNeilAce the Bat-Hound (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- John Loy, Michael Merton, Ken Koonce, Paul Dini, Joseph Kuhr, Wendell Morris, Len Uhley, Alan Burnett, Jeff Elmassian, David Teitelbaum, Ken Pontac, Matt Wayne, Julie McNally Cahill, Timothy Cahill, Bradley Zweig, Andy Merrill, Matthew Wilson, Bill Matheny, Phil Harnage, Ralph Soll, Steven Darancette, Julia Jane Lewald, Renee Palyo, Earl Kress
3 Batman Beyond
Ran From 1999-2001, 52 Episodes
One of the most lauded and original superhero series on television, Batman Beyond saw the introduction of Terry McGuinness to the larger DC Universe. Set in the future, with an older and retired Batman, the show saw Bruce Wayne taking Terry under his wing as a new iteration of The Dark Knight. Bruce provides Terry with futuristic gadgets and to help him fight crime in a transformed, neofuturistic Gotham City.
Michael Keaton's Cancelled Batman Beyond Movie Hurts More After This Excellent Concept Trailer
Michael Keaton was meant to take over from Ben Affleck as the DCEU's Batman, and his lost Batman Beyond movie looks perfect in a DC concept trailer.
The show was wildly influential, and a cancelled Batman Beyond movie nearly happened. Batman's animated series then actually influenced the comics, with Terry McGuinness later going on to become a more important character in the DC Universe beyond just this original series. There remains hope that, someday soon, a live-action version of the hero will finally appear in a big-budget film.
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2 Superman: The Animated Series
Ran From 1996-2000, 54 Episodes
An excellent and original show that saw one of the best iterations of Superman yet seen on television, Superman: The Animated Series was a perfect counterpoint to the Batman show of a similar name. Where Batman was dark, Superman explored big, colorful cityscapes, and brought hope to Metropolis. As arguably the best animated Superman show, the program made a massive impact on audiences.
The show brought in some of the best depictions of all kinds of familiar Superman villains, including Metallo and Brainiac. It also expanded the world of the DC Universe, tying in with several Batman stories and eventually leading into Justice League. As a way of making the DC animated universe bigger and more interconnected, while doing something very different, the show was an enormous success, and remains strong upon rewatches.
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Superman: The Animated Series
- Release Date
- 1996 - 2000-00-00
- Network
- The WB
- Directors
- Bruce Timm
Cast
-
Tim Daly
Jason Marsden
WHERE TO WATCH
1 Batman: The Animated Series
Ran From 1992-1995, 85 Episodes
Arguably the greatest animated show of all time, and certainly the best animated Batman show, Batman: The Animated Series defined the hero for a new generation. Combining the Gothic darkness of the Tim Burton films with a fresh and original take on the hero himself, the show brings surprising depth to a beautiful and rich world. Setting a tone and style for DC animation, the series remains influential to this day.
10 Episodes Of Batman The Animated Series That Still Hold Up 28 Years Later
Batman: The Animated Series is one of the best interpretations of Batman’s mythos, and some episodes have become even better 28 years later.
With such iconic castings that would carry over into other projects, like Mark Hamill's Joker and Kevin Conroy's Batman, the series was truly special and unique. It elevated entertainment for children, crafting a complex and dour iteration of the popular hero. Of all the programs in the DC Universe, Batman: The Animated Series is among the very best that the medium has to offer.
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Batman: The Animated Series
- Release Date
- 1992 - 1995-00-00
- Network
- FOX, Fox Kids
- Showrunner
- Bruce Timm
Cast
-
Batman (voice)
-
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.Alfred Pennyworth (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Directors
- Kevin Altieri, Boyd Kirkland, Frank Paur, Dan Riba, Dick Sebast
- Writers
- Michael Reaves, Brynne Stephens, Randy Rogel, David Wise, Len Wein, Marty Isenberg, Richard Mueller, Sam Graham, Peter Morwood, Dennis O'Neil, Carl Swenson, Beth Bornstein, Steve Hayes, Chris Hubbell, Martin Pasko, Henry Gilroy, Elliot S. Maggin, Eddie Gorodetsky, Diane Duane
- Franchise(s)
- Batman
- Creator(s)
- Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski
- Created by
- Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson
- First Film
- Man of Steel
- First TV Show
- Peacemaker
- Cast
- Xolo Mariduena
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