So how about a list for that?
Top 10 DC Animated Works
Here we go...
Honorable Mention 1: WildCATS: A different team, now a part of the DC Universe. It was during the wave of meaningless animated adaptations. Many people missed this. Something that felt familiar but felt different. And it was a great one.
Honorable Mention 2: Static Shock: DC Morning animation gave us this gem. Set in the Justice League shared Universe. This was DC's Spider-Man series. It was. Teenager who ends uo with powers now has to juggle that with high school life. They even tackled a school gun violence episode.
10: Justice League Dark: Animated DCAU movie centered around Matt Ryan as Constantine forming a magical team... with Batman. Animation on point. Story was well done. And Boston Brand being funny. It was a pretty good introduction to the magical portion of the DC Universe.
9: Batman The Brave and the Bold: Cartoon Network gave us this series that was as cheesy as the Adam West 1966 series. With Diedrich Bader as the voice of Batman. It was episodic, each one being its own story. And entertaining as it was goofy.
8: The Death and Return of Superman: Technically called "The Death of Superman" and "The Reign of the Supermen", buying them together in a set, it is called that. They did the truncated version in the infancy of this studio, and it was... okay. So we had a version in DCAU. And it is wonderful. Of the comic stories, this is near the top of the crop. Iconic story... done beautifully through animation.
7: Superman the Animated Series: When this series came out, I had one HUGE hang up about it. Clark Kent was way too solid. He LOOKED like Superman in a business suit. And it worried me. But one iconic theme later, and we have the definitive Superman animated series... that ended up leading to the definitive Justice League series(which makes this list too). Besides... Clancy Brown as Lex Luthor was SPOT ON.
6: The Dark Knight Returns Parts 1 & 2: This is the Frank Miller Batman story of Frank Miller Batman stories. Set in the future, Batman comes out of retirement... and attacts the attention of the US Government. Peter Weller gives Bruce that weathered, but still bad ass in his old age. Besides... killing Conan O'Brien is satisfying. If you've seen it, you get it.
5: Flashpoint Paradox: So this movie in the DCAU presents us with the first Flash story I gave any damn about. Heartbreaking, ingenious, and a surprise Michael B. Jordan. It was brilliantly adapted. Also... it introduced audiences to the team that USED to be the WildCATS, complete with Grifter. Give me a movie centered around them... now please.
4: Batman Beyond: Many people are going to moan that this should be higher on the list. And maybe for you... but wait until you see the top 3. This was futurist take on Batman, set in the future of the Batman the Animated series. Some of the stories were weak... sure. But the overall feeling of this series is truly timeless. Different takes on old Batman villains(like the Jokerz gang), new villains. And tech galore. It was a different series. A different Batman. And it felt good.
3: Justice League/Justice League Unlimited: These are essential the same series from the people that brought us Batman: the Animated Series, Superman: the Animated Series, Static Shock, and Batman Beyond. The ultimate team up facing universal threats. What is the difference? Justice League focused on the main seven: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Jon Stewart Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter. The Unlimited series made the audience realize there were other heroes in the DC Universe. The main seven are there, but more focus was put on the others.
2: The Killing Joke: The FIRST Rated R movie in the DCAU, it adapted one of the best Batman graphic novels off all time. Some people were pissed that the first part was there. For those not aware, we had an intro with Batgirl. It was necessary. Batgirl hadn't been in ANY other DCAU movie... and she is integral to the Killing Joke story... anyway... I digress. This story centers around the now confirmed origin story for the Joker, and the One Bad Day. With a bonus of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill from Batman TAS doing their voices for Batman and Joker respectively.
And the Number One DC Animated Work is...
1: Batman the Animated Series: What else was it going to be? The definitive Batman animated series. Led to Superman TAS and Justice League. In the same "mood" as the Tim Burton movies. Dark, noir, moody, episodic. With the Batman/Joker duo of Kevin Conroy/Mark Hamill... that is STILL relevant today, even through the whole Arkham games trilogy. Even AFTER the weird animation switch, it was still entertaining. Plenty of guest voices, including Ron Perlman, Melissa Gilbert, and Roddy McDowell. Also... this series changed the COMICS forever in two HUGE ways: the debut of Harley Quinn AND changing Mr. Freeze into an antagonist that we can feel for. Plus that theme/intro... it is playing through my head right now... this spot also includes the movies "Mask of the Phantasm" and "Batman/Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero".
There is the list. Did I miss any that you loved? I know a few I love didn't make the list. So I'm open to it. Tell me in the comments other DC animated series you love or DCAU movies you thought were awesome!
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Part 2 if this journey is down. Stay tuned for the next one.
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