Batman has been depicted in various animated series over the decades that have explored different facets of the character. From the campy Silver Age portrayal to the dark and complex renditions, each animated show brought Bruce Wayne and his rogues gallery to animated life in unique ways.
While some stuck closer to the source material, others took more creative liberties, but they all contributed to the evolving animated legacy of the Dark Knight. Here are the top 10 Batman animated series ranked from worst to best.
10. The Adventures of Batman
This 17-episode series from Filmation was an important early adaptation that captured the Silver Age Batman of the comics at the time. As a product of its era, the animation is rather basic and the stories simplistic.
However, it introduced Batman, Robin, and Batgirl to animation and allowed young viewers to experience the campy Dynamic Duo taking on villains like the Joker, Penguin, and Riddler.
9. The New Adventures of Batman
A follow-up to the 1960s series, this one brought back Adam West and Burt Ward to voice Batman and Robin. It mixed in characters from the popular 1960s TV show but the animation was still rather not developed much.
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The inclusion of Batgirl helped brighten things up, but overall it stayed very loyal to the aloof and campy nature of the era the series came out in which added to its rawness.
8. Batman Unlimited
The animated series ‘Batman Unlimited’ at its core was a very experimental series that comprised of short online episodes and movies that gave more focus on the various interpretations of Batman and his allies and enemies rather than a compelling story.
The designs for the series were very stylized but the lack of a true ongoing narrative caused more harm to it than favor. However, it tried to do something new for a Batman cartoon all things considered.
7. Beware the Batman
The only 3D animated Batman series so far, ‘Beware The Batman’ stood out with others on the list with its gritty art style and serialized story arcs. It avoided relying on most of the classic villains and focused more on the unknown ones weaving a complex mystery story.
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Hurting the series was its short run-time in comparison and its sudden cancellation that prevented it from continuing with its story-telling in the long-term.
6. Batman: The Brave And the Bold
A celebration of the Silver and Bronze era aloofness, ‘Batman The Brave And The Bold‘ embraced its campiness. It partners Batman with a wide range of heroes in comedic and also adventurous episodes.
While very different from the other shows in its tone, it was a nostalgic love letter to the funkier and weirder side of Batman’s history that told its own kind of story with a different take on it.
5. Batman Beyond
Set decades into the future, ‘Batman Beyond’ presented a new teenage Batman in Terry McGinnis. He takes over the mantle of Batman from an aging Bruce Wayne. With a futuristic Gotham, technologically advanced villains, and intriguing supporting characters, it made for an imaginative future world for the character of Batman.
The series wasn’t all there was of the futuristic Batman setting. It wonderfully concluded with the movie ‘Return Of The Joker’ which is both critically acclaimed and loved by the fans as well.
4. The New Batman Adventures
A follow-up to ‘Batman: The Animated Series‘ with sharper character designs, ‘The New Batman Adventures’ puts a greater focus on the Bat Family over dark standalone stories. While not as consistently strong as its predecessor, it further explored Robin, Nightwing, and Batgirl and provided closure to classic arcs.
It also set up Batman’s place in the DCAU. Many fans judge this and ‘Batman: TAS’ with the same lens. However, As a standalone Batman animated show, it is a good watch and Dark Knight fans should definitely give this a try.
3. The Batman
With a unique animated style, this series told mature stories in the noir tradition through longer runtimes. It reinvented classic villains and introduced new profound interpretations of main and supporting characters. Creative standalone episodes explored the Batman mythos in new ways.
2. Batman: Caped Crusader
While only one season in so far, this return to the dark roots of the ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ promises to push boundaries further. With the same creative team, a mature serialized storyline explores Batman as cold and isolated at the start of his crusade.
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‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ gripping character work shows a hero learning what it means to be human once more in a promising new entry that treats its audience intellectually.
The animated format has allowed different creative visions of the Dark Knight to be realized over the decades in ways that expanded his mythology. It also features new versions of other characters such as the female version of Penguin and it also changes the ethnicity of Harley Quinn.
1. Batman: The Animated Series
Revolutionizing superhero cartoons forever, ‘Batman The Animated Series’ is not only the best Batman animated series but overall the best superhero animated show ever created. It translated the darkness and complexity of the comic book Batman into a format accessible to both children and adults.
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Late Kevin Conroy’s voice as Batman was mesmerizing and cemented it as the voice of the Dark Knight. To match Conroy’s portrayal, there was Mark Hamill’s Joker. The show featured top-notch storytelling and a great mix of villains from Batman’s Rogues Gallery. It is a prevalent assumption there wouldn’t be a superhero show that will beat this one.
