Batman has led some of the greatest animated TV shows ever made, but which of those adventures are the very best?
Batman has a long and rich history in just about every medium imaginable. Whether we’re talking comic books, movies, video games, or TV shows, DC’s Caped Crusader has such a presence in anything and everything that people consume. But perhaps none of his accomplishments are quite as impressive as his history with animated TV shows.
We all know the impact that the legendary Batman: The Animated Series made but The Dark Knight has been fighting crime and saving the day in cartoons long before – and long after – that series debuted in 1992. Whether you grew up watching the animated spinoff of the 1966 TV series or the underrated The Batman that entertained us all in 2004, you likely had an animated Batman in your life at some point or another if you were a fan of the character.
With that in mind, which of those animated outings were the best, and which ones never quite lived up to expectations? As we continue to celebrate the legacy of The World’s Greatest Detective, let’s take this opportunity to revisit all of Bruce Wayne’s animated adventures and figure out which one(s) truly reign supreme.
Honorable mention: Harley Quinn
Okay, so Harley Quinn isn’t technically a Batman show in the same way that the others on this list are (The Dark Knight only plays a supporting/guest role depending on the episode), but given that it’s based on a beloved Batman character, I thought we should give it an acknowledgement.
The show is highly exaggerated in tone and mature on content, which sets it apart from almost everything else in the DC landscape, and it’s become quite the hit for the streaming service that produces it (formerly DC Universe, now Max), with fans championing the spotlight on Harley and the LGBTQ+ representation via her relationship with Poison Ivy.
Harley Quinn doesn’t take itself too seriously so it’s a hoot of a time, with some of the best one-liners you’ll ever hear on an animated series, but it’s also nuanced in its writing, with Harley’s struggles as a part-time hero/part-time villain being one of the most compelling aspects of the show – as is her alliance with the Bat-Family and adventures with Batman.
The Dark Knight is a far cry from the confident and calm hero we know, but there’s an interesting story there, and he adds a great deal to Harley Quinn given that he doesn’t appear as often as you’d think.
11. Batwheels
The most recent chapter of Batman’s animation legacy began in 2022 when Batwheels premiered. The show isn’t like other Batman shows as the Dark Knight and the Bat-Family aren’t primary characters as Batwheels‘ focus is on vehicles of Gotham City.
That means that the lead character is, of course, the Batmobile, a.k.a. Bam. But he’s not the only one taking to the streets, as he’s joined by Robin’s Redbird (a.k.a. Red), Batgirl’s cycle (a.k.a. Bibi), the Bat Truck (a.k.a. Buff), and the Batwing (a.k.a. Wing), as the Bat-Family of vehicles attempt to keep Gotham safe from the other nefarious vehicles operated by the many villains in Batman’s rogues gallery. And they are aided in their quest by the Bat-Computer (a.k.a. BC), who brings them all to life, and M.O.E., Batman’s helpful robot mechanic.
Batwheels is the most kid-friendly of all the Bat shows on this list as it is essentially Warner Bros. Animation and DC’s answer to Disney’s Cars. It works given Batman’s vast array of vehicles and gadgets and it’s a lot of fun, with younger audiences guaranteed to love the characters and the visuals.
It’s not up to the standard of some of the other shows on this list in terms of writing, but it does exactly what it was made to do – and that’s entertain.
10. Batman Unlimited
You might be forgiven for not knowing that Batman Unlimited existed as an animated series. Sure, it was the name of a DC toy line in 2015 and a trilogy of animated movies spun-off from it; but a series? Yep, that too.
The webseries was created to promote the Batman Unlimited Mattel action figure line, so it didn’t offer up much beyond gadgets and weaponry, which was of course promoting the merchandise. There was a talented voice cast at the helm of it, including Roger Craig Smith, Troy Baker, and Will Friedle, but the 3 minute webisodes often featured little-to-no dialogue as there wasn’t much need for it. If the Bat-Family was showing off their moves, suits, and tech, then each mini adventure did its job well.
It’s hard to rank this one among the others as there isn’t much else to go on outside of the action-packed shorts. But they were action-packed and always made for a fun watch. They were short but sweet. And the animation was great, too, with some unique character designs in there as well.
If I had watched this series as a child, I would have wanted the action figures. So mission accomplished!
9. The Adventures of Batman
The Adventures of Batman was the very first solo animated series to feature the Caped Crusader in a starring role. It was produced by Filmation in 12-minute segments as part of CBS’ The Batman/Superman Hour before being repackaged as its own standalone show without any of the Superman or Superboy additions.
The show didn’t have that long of a run, airing between September 1968 and January 1969 but its creation was in part due to the success of the live-action Batman TV series (which had just completed its run six months before the Adventures series began). Olan Soule and Casey Kasem were tasked with voicing the Caped Crusaders and if those names sound familiar to you, they should as the pair also voiced the characters on Super Friends and two crossovers with Scooby-Doo.
The show was very much a product of its time that was geared towards a much younger audience than some of the other shows on this list, but there is a charm and an innocence to it that makes it an enjoyable watch. And fans who watched it growing up were thrilled to hear that the complete series was released on Blu-ray earlier this year.
What a way to start the animated Bat-legacy!
8. The New Adventures of Batman
Nearly a decade after the previous animated series, Filmation brought the Dynamic Duo back for another adventure. The New Adventures of Batman was very much in the vein of its predecessor, but with a couple of major differences; the most important of them being the fact that Adam West and Burt Ward reprised their roles as the Caped Crusaders from the live-action 1966 TV series.
The other difference was the inclusion of Bat-Mite, an energetic imp from another dimension that is a huge fan of Batman and thus must wear a suit like his. He tries to help Batman, Robin, and Batgirl on their crime-fighting missions but often makes things worse. The character was divisive, to say the least, and the show’s overreliance on him prevented it from living up to its potential.
Nevertheless, The New Adventures of Batman was still an enjoyable part of Batman’s legacy, made that much more special by the fact that the live-action Dynamic Duo returned to voice the characters. It was also the boost that the show needed given that the original animated series’ voice actors were voicing the characters on Hanna-Barbera’s Super Friends at the time.
But hey, Bat-fans got a double dose of the Dynamic Duo at the time, and you couldn’t ask for better than that!
7. Beware The Batman
Perhaps the most underrated of the animated Batman series (and certainly the one with the funkiest theme song), Beware The Batman ran for just one season on Cartoon Network before its abrupt cancellation, but it stuck around for some time, with its 26 episodes airing over the course of a year and a half.
What set this one apart from its predecessors was that it was a computer-generated series, with the character models being more three-dimensional than your typical animated series. It was a look, and one that Beware the Batman wore pretty well, with the exaggerated features blending into the oddly wacky world of the show nicely.
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It also opted against using some of the Caped Crusader’s most recognizable villains, choosing to tell stories revolving around the likes of Professor Pyg and Anarky, all while opting for more of a spy thriller tone. It made for a welcome change-of-pace and, odd as the show was, it owned that oddness well.
Beware The Batman wasn’t really given the chance to find its footing, but as it progressed through its first season, it found it nonetheless. It’s just a shame it wasn’t given the room to grow that it deserved.
6. Batman: The Brave and the Bold
DC Comics fans know that The Brave and the Bold often means we’re getting some team-ups thanks to the classic comic series (and it was even the title of the first crossover between DC shows Arrow and The Flash). So, of course when Batman: The Brave and the Bold premiered on Cartoon Network in 2008, audiences were ready for some legendary Batman team-ups.
The show was geared towards a younger audience so it opted to channel the ’60s TV series, bringing back the blue and gray color scheme for the Caped Crusader’s Batsuit and making him friendlier than his modern day counterparts. This set the stage nicely for his many alliances throughout the show’s run, which included team-ups with heroes such as Green Arrow, Black Canary, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and more.
I wasn’t sure what to make of Batman: The Brave and the Bold at first, but like the ’60s TV series it pays tribute to, it’s incredibly witty, deceptively smart, and darn good entertainment all at the same time. And Diedrich Bader does a marvellous job as the dynamic Caped Crusader.
Though it ended after three seasons, fans got to revisit this world in recent years in the 2018 crossover movie Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
5. Justice League / Justice League Unlimited
The DC Animated Universe was the gift that just kept on giving (which is something you’re about to find out) and perhaps the two most underrated examples of that are Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. They are two separate series but, as you can tell by the titles, they are so closely interconnected that we’re choosing to rank them together.
While there aren’t any other of the multi-hero shows on this list, Justice League featured Batman in such a primary role that it wouldn’t feel right to exclude it – especially as it takes place after the legendary Batman: The Animated Series. That consistently strong DCAU writing is once again present, which naturally makes it feel like a strong next chapter in the incredible story that this shared universe is telling.
The Dark Knight had far more of a presence in the first of the two series, as it showcased his journey from lone vigilante to League leader, but he was also a reliable figurehead in Unlimited, offering up guidance and some of that beloved Batman action in the sequel series too.
This is easily the best portrayal of the Justice League, and a large part of that it down to the fact that it features one of the very best versions of Batman to ever make his presence felt on-screen.
4. The Batman
Every chance I get, I like to remind everyone that The Batman is the most underrated of all The Dark Knight’s animated outings. It debuted on Cartoon Network in 2004 and ran for five seasons, showcasing as many chapters of the Caped Crusaders’ life as you can imagine. And it did it all well, too – the only problem was that it was always going to live in the large shadow of the critically-acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series.
But The Batman wasn’t trying to be its predecessor. It was funkier than that because it was aimed at a much younger audience who would buy the toys and merchandise based on those funky designs. But the irony is that the writing was really strong throughout, especially in those first two seasons, which tracked the Dark Knight’s development from vigilante to hero as the GCPD slowly learned to trust him.
The first season’s Clayface arc was surprisingly nuanced, while the season 4 episodes “Strange New World” and “Artifacts” are among the Caped Crusader’s most gripping stories ever told.
The Batman just doesn’t get enough credit, so I’m here to give it the flowers that it deserves today. It was exquisite, and the same goes for its movie counterpart The Batman vs. Dracula.
3. Batman Beyond
The DC Animated Universe was the gift that just kept on giving. The year after Batman: The Animated Series‘ revamped season came to a close, it decided to continue the story in the form of a new show. This time, it was Batman Beyond (or Batman Of The Future for the UK fans reading this) – a completely new chapter of the Batman legacy that focused on a brand new character.
Terry McGinnis accidentally stumbled into a retired Bruce Wayne’s life, eventually resulting in the retired superhero getting back in the game as the eyes and ears of a new Batman. That new Batman was, of course, Terry, who took to the streets (or, well, skies) of Gotham City to stop a whole new generation of villains.
Batman Beyond was edgier and younger than its predecessors, placing more of a focus on Terry’s life at Hamilton Hill High School, and that ultimately set it apart. Yes, it was a spinoff sequel but it was a whole monster of its own too, and that much was made clear by Terry McGinnis’ eventual introduction in the DC Comics lore. That youthful energy made the saga appeal to a whole new generation, while the return of the legendary Kevin Conroy to voice the veteran Bruce Wayne was more than enough to ensure the DCAU fans returned as well.
2. The New Batman Adventures
Two years after Batman: The Animated Series concluded, the show was resurrected for another season – but with a twist. It underwent a revamp so that the character designs were more in-line with those of Superman: The Animated Series (the two were airing together and occasionally crossed over), resulting in sharper looks all around.
It’s important to note that this revamp was only visual, as the high standard of writing from the original animated series remained. In many ways, the designs assisted with the storytelling as some time had passed since the events of its predecessor. This also allowed for more mature storylines, with the show dramatizing the tension between Batman and longtime Robin (Dick Grayson) before their eventual split as partners.
The revival season didn’t get as long to find its footing as its more famous predecessor but it didn’t really need the time to thrive, as it hit the ground running with a sequence of fantastic episodes, particularly “Holiday Knights” and “Sins of the Father”. From the introduction of a new Robin in Tim Drake, to the full-time addition of Batgirl to the show’s core team of heroes, The New Batman Adventures was a worthy successor to the original animated series and a damn fine show of its own, too.
1. Batman: The Animated Series
As soon as you found your way onto this list, you probably knew exactly which of the shows on it would be in the top spot. Batman: The Animated Series is the Dark Knight’s greatest animated offering. Heck, some might even say it’s his greatest offering in any medium, and I certainly wouldn’t argue with that, because the show’s legacy speaks for itself.
Debuting back in 1992, the series was created and developed by Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski, Paul Dini, and Mitch Brian. It was inspired by the success of Tim Burton’s Batman movies but it very quickly found its own identity. With a unique art deco design, the most compelling and mature writing you’ll see in any Batman story ever, and an incredible career-defining performance from Kevin Conroy at the heart of it, the show was a resounding success.
Its impact continues to be felt today, as it gifted us with many of the characters and aspects of the Batman lore that are still prominent in other mediums, such as the creation of Harley Quinn (and her relationship with Poison Ivy) and Mr. Freeze’s tragic backstory, which was brought to life beautifully in the Emmy Award-winning episode “Heart of Ice”.
This show might be the most pivotal piece in Batman’s long, rich, and complex history – and deservedly so.
Which of Batman’s many animated series over the years has been your favorite?