If you’re planning to watch DC animated series in order, this article will guide you through it.
Since the days when there were no smartphones and only DVD players, DC animated shows have been a big source of amusement. Regardless, it was a very nostalgic sensation, recalling the days when we used to spend our weekends binge-watching episodes with our friends.
Well, depending on whether you’re familiar with DC, you might be a new watcher or a veteran, but it’s always recommended to go through the DC animated universe in a specific order in order to comprehend everything.
Since the early 1990s, these shows have consistently created new seasons, even in recent years with the debut of shows like Justice League Action. That being said, having a pointer to help you through the watch is always a good start toward fun. So, here’s the most effective approach to watching all DC animated series in order.
DC Animated Series in Release Order
In a way, numerous shows are produced under the source of DC comics, making it a tricky situation for those unaware of it. The main DC animated universe began in 1992, and to get a sense of the major plotline, you simply need to watch these movies while sometimes consuming other material, which we’ll discuss in detail below.
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1993)
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000)
- The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999)
- Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
- Static Shock (2000-2004)
- The Zeta Project (2001-2002)
- Justice League (2001-2004)
- Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)
DC Animated Series in Chronological Order
The release order is plain and simple, but here’s where things become complex. Apparently, DC not only created animated series but also a number of films throughout the 1990s and 2000s. So, you can watch a few movies between these series, but it’s not necessary unless you have the time. In any case, the films and series are listed in chronological order.
- Batman: The Animated Series (Season 1)
- Batman: Mask of the Phantom (Movie)
- Batman: The Animated Series (Seasons 2-3)
- Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero (Movie)
- Superman: The Animated Series (Season 1)
- The New Batman Adventures (All Seasons)
- Justice League (All Seasons)
- Static Shock (All Seasons)
- Justice League Unlimited (All Seasons)
- Justice League vs. The Fatal Five (Movie)
- Batman Beyond (All Seasons)
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (Movie)
- The Zeta Project (All Seasons)
In Which Order Should You Watch DC Animated Series?
Honestly, the release sequence is more than enough for most viewers because bingeing all those seasons takes a long time, but if you’re a major fan of DC comics or live-action movies in general, chronology works beautifully. For example, there are a few alterations in the chronological order where a few movies have been added.
While Batman: Mask of the Phantom takes place between the first and second seasons of Batman: The Animated Series and provides a fantastic insight into Bruce Wayne’s prior life, Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero delves deeper into Mr. Freeze’s hellish origin.
Similarly, The New Batman Adventures connects effectively if you watch it before the second and third seasons of Superman: The Animated Series, as well as Batman Beyond before the Zeta Project rather than before Static Shock.
Are the DC Animated Series Connected?
There are a lot of DC shows out there, but only a few have been merged into the main DC animated universe, and we can pretty much figure out why. In reality, if you look at the pattern of both release and chronological order, we first notice Batman, Superman, and other superheroes before coming together at Justice League.
So they’re quite related, and you’ll only notice them if you watch them in chronological order. However, if you can’t devote as much time to them, you won’t miss out on anything if you watch them in the order they were released.
How Many DC Animated Shows Are There?
Since the DC universe includes more than just the series we’ve mentioned, and you may have heard of others such as Teen Titans, Legion of Super Heroes, and Young Justice, it’s a valid question that frequently arises in the fandom.
So, none of these shows are part of the original DCAU (DC animated universe), but rather stand-alone series that may be watched in any order. So at this point, the DC animated universe consists of only eight shows and a few movies and shorts.
Where to Watch DC Animated Series?
While live-action DC movies are easy to obtain on numerous streaming providers, animated shows are more difficult to find. However, we’re in luck because several of them have been streaming in Max for quite some time. If you can’t find any, we have a solution for you. We’ll provide a streaming link below where you may watch practically all animated shows, and we hope you enjoy it.
