The Ultimate Nostalgic Collection: 12 Timeless Superhero Cartoons That Never Lose Their Magic
Timeless classics that will captivate audiences today: Spider-Man, Batman Beyond, Static Shock, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, The Batman, Teen Titans, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, and X-Men: The Animated Series
Summary
Classic Marvel and DC animated series have stood the test of time and continue to hold up even in the age of the MCU.
Animation has allowed superhero properties to be portrayed in a more accurate and thorough manner, often delving into aspects that live-action films have not. These timeless shows, like Spider-Man: The New Animated Series and X-Men: The Animated Series, continue to captivate audiences and hold significant influence, with devoted fan bases and a clamor for their revival.
The DC Universe and Marvel Cinematic Universe are widely known for their superhero adaptations, but there are also many timeless animated series from Marvel and DC. While the success of the MCU has made superhero adaptations popular in mainstream media, they were once considered niche before the start of the MCU movie timeline. However, there were still successful adaptations that left a lasting impact on pop culture before superheroes became dominant in media.
Animation was a medium that allowed Marvel and DC to faithfully depict the superpowers and unique worlds of their properties, which were sometimes difficult to portray in live-action. Additionally, animated shows were used to market superhero films and explore their properties in ways that the movies could not. There are 12 classic superhero shows that remain popular and influential even after decades, providing a fulfilling experience while we wait for Marvel's upcoming MCU movies and DCU releases.
12 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series
Initially intended as a canonical follow-up to 2002’s Spider-Man, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series features Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, and Harry Osborn as students at Empire State University. The show explores new threats that arise in New York City following the Green Goblin's demise. It's important to note that the events depicted in The New Animated Series are later contradicted by the subsequent two Spider-Man movies and their associated spinoff materials. As a result, the series exists as part of a branching timeline that only aligns with the first Raimi film. However, due to Neil Patrick Harris's charming portrayal of Spider-Man and the show's effective blend of realistic and fantastical conflicts, it remains a highly regarded adaptation of the beloved superhero.
11 Batman Beyond
Batman Beyond, a beloved addition to the DC Animated Universe, is set in a distant future after the events of Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures. In this futuristic version of Gotham City, Bruce Wayne, the aging Batman, is unable to effectively combat crime. Taking up the mantle with the guidance of Wayne, Terry McGinnis becomes the new Batman. Despite its cancellation, this show has maintained its popularity for over two decades, with spinoff comics continuing the thrilling exploits of Terry McGinnis and other DCAU heroes.
10 Static Shock
9 Spider-Man: The Animated Series
Static Shock, a critically acclaimed TV show, was based on DC’s Static comics from the early 90s. The series follows the story of Virgil Hawkins, a teenage boy who accidentally gains electric-based superpowers. While the first season of the show stands on its own, the following three seasons place it within the larger DC Animated Universe (DCAU). This integration makes Static Shock a unique and relatable addition to the franchise. The character's adventures skillfully blend the ordinary with the extraordinary, and both his comics and the animated series have contributed to his enduring popularity as a beloved DC superhero.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series made its debut in the mid-90s and quickly garnered a dedicated fanbase among longtime readers of Marvel’s Spider-Man comics. This series stands out as one of the first truly faithful adaptations of the Spider-Man mythos, staying true to the character of Spider-Man and showcasing his extensive array of memorable supporting characters and formidable villains. As Spider-Man tackles his superhero responsibilities, his ordinary life as college student Peter Parker becomes entangled in his thrilling escapades. The Spider-Man Animated Series continues to be hailed as one of Marvel’s finest animated shows, and the fans' clamor for a much-deserved revival of this beloved series remains strong.
8 The Batman
Although it deviates from the source material to some extent, The Batman released in 2004 offers a distinctive portrayal of the Batman mythos that captures the attention of any Batman viewer. Taking place during the early years of Batman's journey, The Batman features Rino Romano in the role of Bruce Wayne and Batman, presenting a refreshingly relatable interpretation. Additionally, the series gradually expands the Batman Family, introducing Barbara Gordon as Batgirl and Dick Grayson as Robin, while also weaving their adventures into the overarching DC universe by incorporating guest appearances from iconic characters like Superman, Green Arrow, and Hawkman.
7 Teen Titans
Teen Titans, based on the famous DC comic books with the same name, brought the beloved 80s lineup of the team to life through animation in 2003. The show adopted an anime-like animation style and successfully balanced comedy and drama. Interestingly, the series departed from the conventional use of secret identities and portrayed the heroes in their costumes at all times. Teen Titans continues to be a fan-favorite among DC's extensive collection of animated shows, contributing to the increased popularity of characters like Cyborg, who went on to become a founding member of the Justice League in the New 52 relaunch. Additionally, the show spawned a hilarious spinoff series called Teen Titans Go!
6 Superman: The Animated Series
The DCAU's Superman: The Animated Series had a tough act to follow after the widely praised Batman animated series. Drawing inspiration from John Byrne's post-Crisis Superman comics, this animated series portrayed a relatable Clark Kent who faced challenges in executing his most extraordinary feats as Superman. While the show did take some liberties with Superman's depiction, its exceptional score, talented voice cast, and artistic style undeniably solidify its place as one of the finest adaptations of the iconic superhero.
5 Justice League
The Justice League, an expansion of the beloved DCAU, showcased the iconic iterations of Batman and Superman as they formed a renowned superhero team alongside five other classic DC heroes. This series effectively balanced its roster of heroes and presented them with formidable obstacles, such as the Manhunters, Lex Luthor’s Secret Society, and even an alternate-universe version of the Justice League. With its impressive execution, Justice League stands as one of DC’s finest television franchises, solidifying its status as a remarkable adaptation of the titular superhero team.
4 Justice League Unlimited
Justice League's sequel series, Justice League Unlimited, kept the original cast of 7 heroes and expanded its lineup to include a wide range of DC characters, such as The Question, Huntress, Green Arrow, and Black Canary. In addition to featuring a greater number of heroes and villains, the show delved even further into character-driven storytelling compared to its predecessor. It gradually showcased Hawkgirl's journey to regain the trust of her teammates after the Thanagarian invasion. The first two seasons of the show, which revolved around the Justice League's conflict with CADMUS, offer some of the most engaging character and plot development within the DCAU, making it a must-watch for DC fans.
3 Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series was initially created as a promotional tool for Batman Returns. However, it quickly became an iconic Batman adaptation, comparable to the groundbreaking success of the 1989 film. The series' distinctive artistic style, exceptional voice cast, memorable soundtrack, and mature storytelling approach solidified its status as one of the greatest animated shows of all time. Additionally, Batman: The Animated Series left a lasting impact on the comics by introducing a new backstory for Mr. Freeze and the beloved character, Harley Quinn, who has since become one of DC's most popular figures.
2 The New Batman Adventures
The Superman successor and the subsequent DCAU franchise were made possible by the groundbreaking Batman animated series. However, this success also paved the way for a sequel series to Batman itself. In The New Batman Adventures, fans rejoiced as they witnessed the return of DCAU's Batman and the introduction of new heroes, including Tim Drake, who took on the mantle of Robin after Dick Grayson in this universe. Moreover, this series not only included crossovers with other animated DC properties but also graced us with the beloved episode "Mad Love," which unraveled the tragic origins of Harley Quinn. The New Batman Adventures lives up to the caliber of the original series, firmly establishing itself as a must-watch for fans.
1 X-Men: The Animated Series
The X-Men, despite being one of Marvel's most beloved franchises, have seldom received high-quality adaptations on the screen. Nonetheless, X-Men: The Animated Series effectively captures the essence of the comics, faithfully portraying the iconic superhero team in both style and substance. Even today, in an era where the Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Universe have created their own animated series for their respective massive on-screen franchises, this series remains the benchmark for superhero animated shows and X-Men interpretations. Its dedicated fanbase has resulted in various sequel properties, including the X-Men '92 comics and the upcoming X-Men '97 animated series.
