The Ultimate Guide to Watching Batman Animated Series Chronologically

Summary

Batman has had a successful history in animated television series, with shows running since the 1960s, making it a multigenerational delight.

There is a Batman TV show available for every preference, ranging from lighthearted and comedic to intense and introspective, which highlights the multifaceted nature of the character.

Batman: The Animated Series is commonly hailed as one of the utmost Batman TV shows, showcasing iconic portrayals of characters and establishing the definitive voices for Batman and Joker.

Batman, one of DC's most successful superheroes on the big screen, has also had a remarkable history in animated television series. Despite his fame in acclaimed films like The Dark Knight trilogy, many children grew up watching Bruce Wayne battle various enemies in 30-minute segments. The fact that Batman animated series have been running consistently since the 1960s makes enjoying The Caped Crusader on TV a joy for multiple generations.

What's even more impressive is the range of styles that Batman's best animated DC TV series offer. Whether you prefer a campy and humorous tone or a dark and brooding atmosphere, there is a Batman TV show to suit every preference. With several shows currently airing and more on the way, it seems that The Dark Knight will continue to captivate audiences on television for years to come.

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Batman Animated Series In Order

The Adventures Of Batman (1968-1969)

Super Friends (1973-1986)

The New Adventures Of Batman (1977)

Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)

The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999)

Batman Beyond (1999-2001)

Justice League (2001-2004)

The Batman (2004–2008)

Batman: The Brave And The Bold (2008-2011)

Young Justice (2010-2022)

Beware The Batman (2013-2014)

Batman Unlimited (2015-2016)

Justice League Action (2016-2018)

Harley Quinn (2019-)

Batman: Caped Crusader (2023-)

16 The Adventures Of Batman (1968-1969)

The first animated series to showcase the Caped Crusader's solo adventures, The Adventures of Batman, cleverly repurposed content from The Batman/Superman Hour. With each episode comprising two short Batman stories lasting only 6.5 minutes each, this concise animated series featured a total of 17 episodes. Voiced by Olan Soule and Casey Kasem as Batman and Robin respectively, it embraced the lighthearted and campy spirit of the era while incorporating all of The Dark Knight's iconic adversaries.

15 Super Friends (1973-1986)

Hanna-Barbera's Super Friends, a beloved Saturday morning cartoon in the 1970s and 80s on ABC, played a significant role in shaping the Justice League for a whole generation of youngsters. Interestingly, the show underwent several name changes during its 13-year duration including variations like "The World's Greatest SuperFriends," "The All-New Super Friends Hour," and "The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians." Regardless of the title, the focal point of the series remained the Justice League, where Batman occupied a prominent position among the characters. Not only did the show introduce iconic DC characters, but it also introduced numerous original heroes and villains.

14 The New Adventures Of Batman (1977)

The New Adventures of Batman only aired on CBS for a brief four-month period from February to May 1977. Despite its short run, the animated series stands out due to its remarkable cast of heroes. Batman is brought to life by the iconic Adam West, who is accompanied by Robin and Batgirl as the main characters. Adding to the show's quirkiness is the inclusion of Bat-Mite, a peculiar imp from another dimension who claims to be Batman's biggest fan. Bat-Mite even dons his own version of The Dark Knight's suit, further emphasizing the show's whimsical nature.

13 Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)

Even more than two decades after its debut, there is arguably no better Batman TV show than Batman: The Animated Series. Conceived by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, Batman: TAS seamlessly combines a visually stunning modern-noir art style with intricate storytelling and multidimensional character development that was unprecedented in Batman's animated exploits. It also serves as the catalyst for the expansive DC Animated Universe, which includes numerous other TV series and films.

Moreover, Batman: The Animated Series introduced definitive iterations of several beloved characters. Kevin Conroy lends his voice to Bruce Wayne, while Mark Hamill masterfully portrays the Joker. Their dynamic portrayal of the hero-villain duo has endured for years across various media, including movies, TV shows, and video games, making them the quintessential voices for their respective roles. Additionally, the show revolutionized Mr. Freeze's poignant backstory and introduced the iconic character of Harley Quinn, who has since become a prominent figure in the DC universe.

12 The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999)

11 Batman Beyond (1999-2001)

Batman Beyond captivates with its innovative concept: what unfolds when Bruce Wayne's age impedes his ability to serve as The Dark Knight? While other iterations of DC media have temporarily embraced the role of Batman, Batman Beyond distinguishes itself by portraying the complete transition of the mantle to the young Terry McGinnis. This series, which builds upon the established canon of Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, stands out due to its futuristic portrayal of classic Batman adversaries and cutting-edge equipment. Terry's sleek attire deviates significantly from Bruce's, ultimately achieving its own iconic status.

10 Justice League (2001-2004)

Justice League is, without a doubt, centered around DC's most iconic heroes, with Batman serving as one of the prominent figures throughout the show's two-season run. Positioned as the seventh series in the DC Animated Universe, it continues the narrative from Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series, yet it can also be enjoyed as a standalone experience for newcomers. True to its nature, the show seamlessly weaves together well-known and lesser-known villains, serving as the ultimate representation of numerous DC icons for many fans.

9 Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)

Justice League Unlimited takes place in the same continuity as Justice League, but with a time jump of a few years. This animated series serves as the final installment in the canon that started with Batman: The Animated Series over a decade ago. While it shares similarities with its predecessor, Justice League Unlimited delves into the stories of lesser-known DC characters, while still maintaining Batman and the Trinity as the central heroes. Existing threads from previous TV shows are woven into the narrative, providing a rewarding experience for longtime fans of the DC Animated Universe. However, even without prior knowledge of the franchise, Justice League Unlimited can be thoroughly enjoyed.

8 The Batman (2004–2008)

7 Batman: The Brave And The Bold

In contrast to the previous animated series within the DC Animated Universe, The Batman establishes its own unique storyline, distinct from the DC Universe film sharing the same name. Despite this distinction, there are connections to other forms of media, including the movie Batman vs Dracula and the comic series The Batman Strikes!, both set in the same fictional universe as the animated series. While Bat-fans will find familiar narrative threads in The Batman, the show garnered widespread critical acclaim and achieved remarkable success, amassing a notable 12 Daytime Emmy awards and 6 victories in various other accolades.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold is not only an upcoming Batman movie in the DC Universe but also a highly acclaimed animated series. Before making its way to the screen, it had gained popularity through various comic series. Unlike its darker predecessors, The Brave and the Bold presents a lighter tone, catering to a younger audience. Enriching its narrative, the show highlights the collaborative efforts of Batman as he teams up with other iconic DC heroes.

6 Young Justice (2010-2022)

Young Justice diverges from Batman's other animated series by not focusing directly on him, but it still relies heavily on Batman and his Bat Family. In this world, a group of young heroes, each connected to a prominent member of the Justice League, forms a team to tackle missions that the main team either cannot or will not handle. While Batman makes several appearances, it is Dick Grayson as Robin who represents the Bat Family and serves as the team's technological expert. As the story progresses, Grayson adopts the Nightwing persona and briefly assumes leadership of the team.

5 Beware The Batman (2013-2014)

Despite an intriguing concept, Beware the Batman faced challenges in its distribution process. Initially airing on Cartoon Network, the show was suddenly taken off the schedule a few months after its premiere. However, it later returned to the Toonami block seven months later, where it successfully completed its run. Noteworthy for being the first computer-generated Batman animated series, the show delves into Bruce's formative years as Batman, depicting his continuous development of combat and detective skills.

4 Batman Unlimited (2015-2016)

3 Justice League Action (2016-2018)

Out of all the Batman animated series, Batman Unlimited stands out as the most unique. This web-series, consisting of 33 episodes spread over 2 seasons, can be enjoyed for free on DC Kids' YouTube channel. What sets it apart is the fact that each episode is only two to three minutes long, focused solely on an intense fight sequence, with no spoken dialogue. While this may disappoint those seeking a deep storyline, it offers a thrilling and action-packed approach to the world of Batman.

Justice League Action may feel familiar to those who have seen the earlier Justice League cartoon, but that is not necessarily a negative aspect. Similar to Justice League (2001), Justice League Action centers around the team itself, with a specific emphasis on Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Although the show only lasted for one season, it managed to attract a talented voice cast comprising renowned actors such as Kevin Conroy (Batman), Mark Hamill (Joker), Sean Astin (Shazam), Hannibal Burres (Mister Terrific), Lacey Chabert (Zatanna), and many other notable individuals.

2 Harley Quinn (2019-)

Though Marvel's movies and shows have generally been lighter and more family-friendly compared to DC's media, Harley Quinn takes things to a whole new level by offering a truly R-rated adventure within the DC Universe. Centered around Harley Quinn, who ends her tumultuous relationship with the Joker in the very first episode, the series also features other prominent characters such as Poison Ivy, Clayface, King Shark, Frank the Plant, and more. In addition, Harley Quinn humorously portrays various DC superheroes, including Batman, who makes occasional appearances throughout the ongoing four-season series.

1 Batman: Caped Crusader (2023-)

Not much is currently known about Batman: Caped Crusader except that it is scheduled to premiere on Prime Video in 2023. The show has had a tumultuous journey to its release. Initially, Batman: Caped Crusader was commissioned as a series for the then-named HBO Max. However, over a year later, it was unexpectedly cancelled prior to its debut. Fortunately, the project, led by Executive Producers J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, managed to find new life on Prime Video. As we approach the end of 2023, more details about Batman's forthcoming animated series are expected to emerge soon.