The Ultimate Ranking of Every DC Animated Universe Show, Revealing the Absolute Best!

Summary

Batman: The Animated Series set the stage for the successful DC Animated Universe, creating a legacy of its own.

The DCAU TV shows, including Superman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, have played a pivotal role in shaping the franchise and influencing subsequent series like Justice League. The DCAU stands as a remarkable interpretation of DC Comics' universe, offering captivating standalone Batman narratives alongside gripping, large-scale Justice League quests.

The DC Animated Universe saw immense success by combining all the DC Animated Universe shows into one shared universe. Warner Bros. Animation, after the success of Batman (1989), aimed to release a Batman animated series alongside Batman Returns (1995). Batman: The Animated Series perfectly complemented Burton's Batman movies initially, but it soon established its own legacy. The core team from Batman: TAS later returned for a Superman animated series, which eventually led to the creation of a shared continuity known as the DCAU. Starting from Batman: TAS and culminating in Justice League Unlimited, the "Timmverse" is an integral part of DC's illustrious animation history.

The DC Animated Universe can be perplexing to follow, as each show has its own individual storyline within the same overall continuity. The DCAU original movies are also crucial to this universe, with films like Batman: Mask of the Phantom and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker widely regarded as some of the finest DC animated movies. However, the DCAU TV shows are what truly defined the franchise, boasting the creative talents of Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Dwayne McDuffie. Here, we rank every DC Animated Universe TV show from worst to best.

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8 The Zeta Project

A spinoff of Batman Beyond, The Zeta Project chronicles the journey of Zeta, a renegade android striving to find his purpose in the world while evading the organization that brought him into existence. Despite its occasional ties to the broader DCAU, The Zeta Project has the potential to stand on its own as a separate title. With the exception of the Batman Beyond crossover, the series predominantly revolves around an original character who did not originate from the comics. While The Zeta Project presents intriguing partnerships and an engaging duo of protagonists, the repetitive nature of Zeta's escapades prevents it from attaining the same level of excellence as other DCAU shows.

7 The New Batman Adventures

The New Batman Adventures is often regarded as the final season of Batman: The Animated Series. However, due to its distinct character designs and noticeably different tone, The New Batman Adventures can be seen as its own standalone show. Warner Bros. established WB Kids, a network geared towards children, and the success of Superman: The Animated Series motivated the studio to revive the Batman cartoon. Since Batman: TAS was airing on Fox Kids, WB Kids required a new Batman series with a unique artistic style. Released after Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever, The New Batman Adventures had a more campy and action-packed feel compared to BTAS.

Not all of the redesigns in The New Batman Adventures were successful, particularly those of iconic villains like the Joker and the Riddler. The character portrayal of Batman in TNBA lacks the depth seen in BTAS, shifting the focus towards the Bat Family members instead. The New Batman Adventures loses some of the elements that made Batman: The Animated Series stand out, such as its timeless setting and character-driven episodes. Nevertheless, The New Batman Adventures is an enjoyable Batman show that showcases superb on-screen adaptations of Batman-related characters. Furthermore, TNBA set the stage for shows like Justice League by incorporating Batman into a larger universe of heroes.

6 Static Shock

After debuting in Milestone's Static #1, Static made his first appearance on screen in the Static Shock series, seven years later. The show involved the creators of Static, Dwayne McDuffie and Denys Cowan, as well as long-time collaborators from the DCAU such as Paul Dini. Originally not intended to be a DCAU show, Static Shock eventually became part of the DC Universe due to the crossover appearances of DCAU-designed characters like Batman, the Joker, and Superman. The series expertly balances superhero adventures with personal stories, with Virgil Hawkins as a captivating main character.

Throughout the series, Virgil's family plays a significant role, and the show tackles themes of racism and bullying in a way that sets it apart from other superhero shows. Notably, Static's gallery of villains stands out as one of the DCAU's finest, even when compared to the Batman villains featured in Batman: TAS. While the episodic format may at times seem repetitive, each episode of Static Shock presents Virgil with fresh challenges in both his superhero and personal life. These elements contribute to making Static Shock one of the top DC animated shows.

5 Batman Beyond

Despite being set in a future that was imagined back in the 1990s, Batman Beyond remains a timeless masterpiece, showcasing the continuous evolution of comic book characters. Just as Harley Quinn was introduced in BTAS, Terry McGinnis was a completely new addition to the DCAU. In Batman Beyond, the world and the familiar characters from BTAS are transported decades into the future, resulting in a brilliant and fresh take on the beloved series. Despite Bruce Wayne's presence and the return of some BTAS villains, Batman Beyond establishes itself as a distinct and captivating series. Terry's portrayal as Batman is unique and captivating, delivering stories that push the boundaries of what DC had previously done with the character in the comics.

4 Superman: The Animated Series

After the immense success of Batman: The Animated Series, it was only natural to have the talented creative team take on a Superman series. Despite the challenge of capturing the same enchantment as BTAS, Superman: The Animated Series triumphed. While the tone of Superman: TAS differed greatly from Batman: TAS, the show paid homage to Superman's mythology just as the Batman cartoon had done. Serving as the foundation of the DCAU, Superman: TAS brought together a variety of DC characters. Iconic names like Green Lantern Kyle Renner, Supergirl, Steel, the Flash, and Darkseid all made appearances in Superman: TAS.

3 Justice League

While Batman: The Animated Series thrived in its timeless corner of the DC Universe, Superman: The Animated Series immediately felt like an integral part of a much larger universe. Introducing iconic heroes like Green Lantern and the Flash in a world that already featured Superman and Batman set the foundation for what would eventually culminate in Justice League, further enhancing the impressive legacy of Superman: The Animated Series. Not only were the connections within the DC Universe a standout aspect of the show, but the exceptional portrayal of Clark Kent and Superman themselves were equally remarkable. Consequently, Superman: The Animated Series has solidified its place as one of the finest interpretations of Superman and his rich lore, ranking among the top shows within the DC Animated Universe.

Following Superman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, it was inevitable that the DCAU would expand with a Justice League series. Justice League served as the culmination of the DCAU, focusing on the seven founding members of the team. Taking loose inspiration from Grant Morrison’s Justice League run, the series presented the titular group as the epitome of the DC Universe – a feat even the comics had not achieved. Each episode of Justice League featured thrilling, larger-than-life adventures, yet managed to keep the characters grounded and compelling. Even after two decades, Justice League remains one of the finest DC shows to date.

2 Batman: The Animated Series

The success of the DC Animated Universe is solely attributed to the groundbreaking and serious treatment of characters in Batman: The Animated Series. This iconic series skillfully avoided common clichés of Saturday morning cartoons, instead delivering episodes that engaged audiences on a deeper level. Notably, the finest chapters of Batman: The Animated Series delved into the complexities of both Bruce Wayne and his adversaries, exploring intricate psychological depths. The timeless allure of Gotham City, the captivating soundtrack, and the instantly recognizable character designs all combined to establish BTAS as an instant classic. Undeniably, Batman: The Animated Series stands as one of the supreme superhero shows ever produced, surpassing the boundaries of both live-action and animated formats.

1 Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited, a sequel to Justice League, brings together the original team members alongside numerous other DC characters. Serving as an exceptional introduction to the DC Universe, the show showcases a wide array of DC heroes, villains, and locations. Yet, the brilliance of Justice League Unlimited goes beyond its worldbuilding. With its extraordinary writing, the series skillfully dismantles iconic characters like Superman and Batman through the perspectives of lesser-known DC heroes such as Green Arrow or Captain Atom. The combination of thrilling action and the show's profound reverence for its heroes establishes Justice League Unlimited as the paramount installment in the DC Animated Universe.