| Italic Title: | no |
| Origin: | (1992–1995) |
| Owner: | Warner Bros. Entertainment |
| Years: | 1992–2019 |
| Comics: | List of comics |
| Films: | List of films |
| Shorts: | List of short films |
| Tv: | List of television series |
| Vgs: | List of video games |
The DC Animated Universe (DCAU, also referred to as the Timmverse or Diniverse by fans) is a shared universe based on DC Comics and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It began with in 1992 and ended with Justice League vs. the Fatal Five in 2019. The associated media franchise includes theatrical and direct-to-video feature films, shorts, comic books, video games, and other multimedia adaptations.
The DC Animated Universe has been praised for its storytelling, voice acting, animation, and maturity, with several of its shows listed among the greatest animated television series of all time.[1] [2] It has also influenced the mainstream DC Comics in various ways, such as introducing new characters, revamped backstories, and character designs.[3]
While there are many animated projects based upon DC Comics characters, the DC Animated Universe consists of TV series and films that spin off from Batman: The Animated Series. While the series is largely standalone, two characters outside of the normal Batman canon, Zatanna and Jonah Hex, would guest star. However, the first series to indicate a shared continuity with other well-known characters was , in which the title character encounters heroes such as Batman, the Wally West version of Flash, the Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, Aquaman, and Doctor Fate. The follow-up sequel to Batman: The Animated Series, titled The New Batman Adventures would feature an art style revamp similar to Superman: The Animated Series, and these two shows would feature crossovers. Both of those shows would be followed by Batman Beyond, which featured an elderly, retired Bruce Wayne passing on the mantle to Terry McGinnis, the Batman of the future.
After Batman Beyonds third season, the Justice League show followed, which starred Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash (Wally West), Green Lantern (John Stewart) Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz), and Hawkgirl. After two seasons, the series was rebranded as Justice League Unlimited, a successor series which expanded the League roster and was the final series set in the DC Animated Universe. In between these shows was also Static Shock, which told the story of Virgil Hawkins and showcased a different aspect of the DC Animated Universe. It was the first time an African American superhero was the titular character of his own animated show, and the show explored many diverse stories and characters throughout its run. Another show that aired was The Zeta Project, which was a spin-off series based on the character Zeta from the Batman Beyond episode of the same name, a humanoid robot who is on the run from NSA agents. While minimal, the show had a few continuity tie-ins with the larger DC Animated Universe as well.
The DC Animated Universe consists of the following animated television series:
The DCAU continuity also includes the following feature films:
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriters | Release | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm | Story by: Alan Burnett Screenplay by: Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko and Michael Reaves | Theatrical[4] [5] | Continuation of Batman: TAS | |||
| Boyd Kirkland | Boyd Kirkland and Randy Rogel | Direct-to-DVD | ||||
| (edited version) April 23, 2002 (uncut version) | Curt Geda | Story by: Paul Dini, Glen Murakami and Bruce Timm Screenplay by: Paul Dini | Continuation of Batman Beyond, Batman: TAS, and The New Batman Adventures | |||
| Story by: Alan Burnett Screenplay by: Michael Reaves | Continuation of Batman: TAS and The New Batman Adventures | |||||
| Batman and Harley Quinn[6] [7] | Story by: Bruce Timm Screenplay by: Bruce Timm and Jim Krieg | |||||
| Justice League vs. the Fatal Five[8] | March 29, 2019 (WonderCon Anaheim) March 30, 2019 | Story by: Eric Carrasco Screenplay by: Eric Carrasco, Jim Krieg, Alan Burnett | Digital HD | Continuation of Justice League Unlimited | ||
| Honorable mention | ||||||
| July 21, 2015 (Digital) July 28, 2015 (Physical) | Sam Liu | Story by: Alan Burnett, Bruce Timm Screenplay by: Alan Burnett | Digital HD, DVD and Blue-ray | While Bruce Timm did not gave a clear answer[9] regarding the film's continuity (also mentions Elseworlds) it adopts the same JLU animation style, thus making the JL:G&M aesthetically part of the DCAU. | ||
| Film | U.S. release date | Director | Screenwriters | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dark Knight's First Night | Bruce Timm & Eric Radomski | A short film which acted as the developmental pilot for Batman: TAS. | |||
| Justice League: The First Mission | James Tucker | Story by: Bruce Timm | A short film which acted as the developmental pilot for Justice League. | ||
| Chase Me | Curt Geda | Paul Dini and Alan Burnett | A short film with no dialogue based on The New Batman Adventures. | ||
| Batman Beyond | [10] | Darwyn Cooke[11] [12] | A short film based on Batman Beyond created by Darwyn Cooke for Batman's 75th anniversary. The short features the original voice cast of the show, as well as cameos of robotic batmen from The New Batman Adventures, The Batman, , Beware the Batman, The Dark Knight Returns, Michael Keaton's Batman, Adam West's Batman, and the original comic book Batman from 1939. | ||
The DCAU also includes tie-in materials such as comic books, video games, and direct-to video films with a similar animation style; however, their canonicity is disputable. While they are sometimes marketed as being part of the DCAU, some of these works have contradictory elements or are written by a different team.
For instance, many of the DCAU tie-in comics were written by a different team than the animated crew, such as the Ty Templeton penned The Batman Adventures comic series. However, some of the comics, such as the comics were written by the animated series writers, Paul Dini and Alan Burnett. Per the opinion of Bruce Timm, who has commented about the canonicity of the DCAU comics previously, said "we didn't have any direct input on the comics...DC never solicited our opinions on what they were doing, nor would we have had time to give them notes if they had--I learned very early on not to get my nose bent out of joint if they did something in the comics we would never have done--my own personal way of dealing with it was to consider only the animated episodes themselves as true canon-which means that even Mad Love wasn't purely canonical until we adapted it for the animated series."[13]
In terms of feature films, the 2006 feature film has been stated by writer Duane Capizzi that it was not intended to be part of the DCAU, despite using the same animation style and many of the voice actors from .[14]
An animated series based on the Teen Titans comic books was planned for the DC Animated Universe during the mid-1990s, but was ultimately scrapped, however the team was confirmed to exist in the universe in the Static Shock (which was also not initially intended to be part of the DCAU until the second season) episode "Hard as Nails" with Robin confirmed to be a member by Batman.[15] Instead a Teen Titans series not related to the DC animated universe was released. Also, after the success of Batman: The Animated Series in the early 1990s, Fox approached producer Bruce Timm to create a spin-off series focusing on Catwoman, but the project never materialized.[15]
In 1998, writer John P. McCann had been tasked with coming up with a Lobo animated series in the DC Animated Universe, with Brad Garrett set to reprise his role as the character, but the show had been cancelled right before production. A few elements of the show would find its way in the 2000 Lobo webseries, an online Flash animated series starring Lobo, the galactic bounty hunter, however whether the webseries is part of the official DCAU is unclear. A wax statue with the same character design as Lobo in this series appeared in an episode of Gotham Girls which somewhat support that the webseries is part of the official DCAU, although this is still disputed. Unlike the other shows set in the DCAU, it has graphic violence, sexual content, strong profanity, and a lack of tie-ins with the greater DCAU.
Before the release of , a third animated feature based on Batman: The Animated Series was planned, entitled Batman: Arkham. The film was supposed to be a follow-up for , and Boyd Kirkland was attached to write and direct; but the project was soon scrapped. A second Batman Beyond movie was planned for release but was finally scrapped due to the dark tones and controversies of Return of the Joker in 2001.[16] Around 2003, during the production of , Warner Bros. approached Kirkland to write a Catwoman direct-to-video feature film as a tie-in with the 2004 live-action film. Although the script was written, the project was soon scrapped after the poor reception of the live-action film.[17]
Also, a direct-to-video feature-length animated film entitled Justice League: Worlds Collide was planned to connect Justice League with its follow-up Justice League Unlimited, but the production was finally cancelled in 2004, and the script was later rewritten for the animated film , removing all connections to the DCAU.[18] [19]
See main article: DC Animated Universe (comics). Many of the DCAU productions have also had comic books created based on the characters of the various series, though their canonicity is disputable. The comics are:
| Year | Title | Issues | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | The Batman Adventures (vol. 1) |
| |
| 1993 | Superman & Batman Magazine |
| |
| 1995 | Batman and Robin Adventures |
| |
| 1996 | Superman Adventures |
| |
| Two-Face: Two of a Kind[20] |
| ||
| 1997 | Adventures in the DC Universe |
| |
| 1998 | The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years |
| |
| Batman: Gotham Adventures |
| ||
| Batgirl Adventures | One-Shot | ||
| 1999 | Batman Beyond (vol. 1) |
| |
| Batman Beyond (vol. 2) |
| ||
| Claritin Syrup Presents Batman[21] | One-Shot | ||
| 2001 | Gotham Knights |
| |
| 2002 | Gotham Girls |
| |
| Justice League Adventures |
| ||
| 2003 | Batman Adventures (vol. 2) |
| |
| Batman: Shadow of Sin Tzu |
| ||
| 2004 | Batman: Harley and Ivy |
| |
| Justice League Unlimited |
| ||
| 2010 | Batman Beyond (vol. 3) |
| |
| Superman/Batman Annual |
| ||
| 2011 | Batman Beyond (vol. 4) |
| |
| Superman Beyond |
| ||
| 2012 | Justice League Beyond |
| |
| Batman Beyond Unlimited |
| ||
| 2013 | Batman Beyond 2.0 |
| |
| Justice League Beyond 2.0 |
| ||
| Batman Beyond Universe |
| ||
| 2015 | Batman Beyond (vol. 5) |
| |
| Scooby Doo Team Up[24] |
| ||
| 2016 | Batman/TMNT Adventures |
| |
| Batman Beyond (vol. 6) |
| ||
| Love is Love[25] | Harley and Ivy story by Paul Dini | ||
| Harley Quinn[26] |
| ||
| 2017 | Harley Quinn and Batman |
| |
| 2017 | Batman and Harley Quinn |
| |
| 2018 | Harley loves Joker |
| |
| 2020 | Season One |
| |
| 2021 | Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Two |
| |
| 2021 | Justice League: Infinity |
| |
| 2023 | Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Three |
|
The Batman Beyond comic series is a loose adaptation of the Batman Beyond franchise, intended to fit the character and storylines from the series into the mainstream DC continuity. The miniseries began in June 2010, under the title Future Evil. In August 2010, the series was announced to continue following the completion of the first arc as an ongoing series.[27] That series concluded alongside the entire line of ongoing monthly DC Comics superhero books during the 2011 revamp and relaunch, titled The New 52.
Superman Beyond, a one-shot comic set in the same universe as Batman Beyond, was released in 2011.
Batman Beyond Unlimited, a title chronicling the adventures of the future Justice League introduced in the DCAU, was released in February 2012.[28] This series published monthly triple-sized issues, containing three stories of Terry McGinnis, Clark "Cal" Kent, and the future Justice League Unlimited, respectively.[29]
Batman Beyond Universe succeeded Unlimited in August 2013, condensing to double-monthly issues upon the elderly Superman's rejoining the future Justice League.[30]
Terry McGinnis was the central figure in weekly series.[31]
In 2015–2016, DC Comics and IDW Publishing released a jointly produced, six-issue miniseries comic titled Batman/TMNT, where the New 52 Batman encounters the IDW incarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The success of this miniseries inspired a similar crossover story, with Batman's DCAU incarnation meeting the Amazing Adventures comic version of the 2012 CGI series' Turtles. Titled Batman/TMNT Adventures, the concept was first announced in late July 2016[32] and scheduled for a six-issue release starting November 9, 2016.[33]
A comic book continuation of seven-issues of Justice League Unlimited, called Justice League Infinity, was released monthly between July 2021 and January 2022; the series is set after the show's finale and explores the consequences of Darkseid's disappearance and the League clashing with alternate versions of themselves within the Multiverse.
There have also been a number of DCAU tie-in video games released to correspond with the various animated television series and films. Some of these games have original plots, while others follow previous stories; their status in DCAU canon is unknown. The games are:
| Year | Title | Platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Batman: The Animated Series | Game Boy | |
| 1994 | The Adventures of Batman & Robin | Super NES, Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega CD/Mega-CD, Game Gear | |
| 1997 | Superman[34] | Game Boy | |
| 1999 | Superman | Nintendo 64 | |
| 2000 | Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker | Game Boy Color, PlayStation, Nintendo 64 | |
| 2001 | Game Boy Color | ||
| PlayStation | |||
| PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Xbox, Microsoft Windows | |||
| 2002 | Game Boy Advance | ||
| Static Shock (canceled game)[35] | |||
| PlayStation 2, GameCube | |||
| 2003 | Xbox, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Advance, GameCube | ||
| Game Boy Advance | |||
| 2016 | View-Master Batman Animated VR | iOS, Android |
Six of these games feature voice acting from the casts of the original shows. These are: The Adventures of Batman and Robin (SEGA CD/Mega CD version), Superman, Batman Vengeance, Superman: Shadow of Apokolips, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, and View-Master Batman Animated VR. The SEGA CD/Mega CD game, The Adventures of Batman and Robin, also features animation from one of the studios that worked on Batman: The Animated Series.
A 90-minute documentary film was released on October 16, 2018, as part of the Batman: The Complete Animated Series Deluxe Limited Edition[36] and Batman: The Complete Animated Series Blu-ray/Digital box set,[37] [38] and was later made available on the official Warner Bros. Entertainment YouTube channel.[38] [39] [40]
| Year | Series | Episode | DCAU Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Freakazoid | Dance of Doom | Batman appears, but is unable to help due to being on a different network[41] | |
| 1995 | Animaniacs | A Hard Day's Warners | Paul Dini and Bruce Timm can be seen at the Batman booth in episode #73 with a Mask of the Phantasm poster[42] | |
| 2011 | Night of the Batmen | Batman's TNBA design shows up among the Batmen of other worlds along with Batman Beyond[43] | ||
| 2013 | Teen Titans Go! | multiple | Meta-gags referencing the DCAU have been made[44] |
| Year | Title | Issue | DCAU Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Man of Steel |
| Batman appears in his BTAS design on the front cover[45] | |
| 1999 | Fan Boy |
| Bruce Timm was a featured artist, lending his Batman to the issue[46] | |
| 1999 | Superman/Fantastic Four | One-Shot | Superman's DCAU counterpart makes a cameo | |
| 2001 | Catwoman |
| Harleen Quinzel pitches a TV series in the same style of The New Batman Adventures[47] | |
| 2005 | Krypto the Super Dog |
| Artist Min S Ku draws many characters in their DCAU style. | |
| 2007 | Teen Titans Go! |
| The Justice League is presented in their DCAU style | |
| 2008 | Legion of Superheroes in the 31st Century |
| The Justice League appears in their DCAU versions | |
| 2013 | Green Lantern: The Animated Series |
| Lobo shows up in his DCAU design | |
| 2014 | Adventures of Superman |
| The Joker shows up in multiple styles, including his TNBA look.[48] | |
| 2017 | Action Comics |
| Mr. Mxyzptlk and Superman appear in their STAS style.[49] |
See also: List of DC animated universe characters.
Though the DCAU is an offshoot of the mainstream DC comics universe, it has also affected the DC universe in return. The following characters were originally created for their respective series in the DCAU, but were eventually adapted via retroactive continuity into the mainstream DC comic continuity:
In addition, the backstory of Mr. Freeze was adapted from his portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series, and the visuals and/or characterization of Green Lantern, Supergirl, Toyman, Two-Face, Parasite, Metallo, Clayface, and many others have been applied to their comic counterparts. On a different note, issue #22 of DC Comics' Superman/Batman series, which explores alternate realities, had Bizarro transported to an alternate version of Gotham City that was patrolled by a Batman using the Batman Beyond version of the costume. A version of the future of Batman Beyond made an appearance in Countdown to Final Crisis #21, as part of the new Multiverse in the wake of the Infinite Crisis and 52 series, and a Batman Beyond series had been planned. In January 2015, DC published The Multiversity Guidebook which revealed a universe inspired by the DCAU is Earth-12 in the DC Multiverse, and currently in the Batman Beyond era, while the Justice Lords Earth from those Batman Beyond comics has also been added to the canon as Earth-50.[50]
