Every DCAU Show That's Officially Part Of Batman: The Animated Series' Canon (In Release Order)
By Dan Bibby
August 30th, 2026
Long before James Gunn's DCU, and even the Snyderverse, we had the surprisingly complex animated leviathan that was the DC Animated Universe. While sprawling superhero projects all unfolding on-screen within the same continuity might seem run-of-the-mill now, there was a time when it was something of a groundbreaking endeavor. Sure, it had already been going on in comics for a long time before the '90s, but seeing it play out in animated form was something else entirely. Built almost entirely around Batman, the DCAU also shone a spotlight on other franchise icons, including Superman and the Justice League.
Still, it's undeniable that Bruce Wayne (and his successor) remained at the heart of everything. At this point, I feel like it's important to bear in mind that even though something might look and feel like it belongs to the DCAU, that doesn't necessarily make it canon. For instance, 2016's Batman: The Killing Joke adaptation recalled members of the DCAU cast, and even replicated the animation style. It's not part of the DCAU timeline, though. Below, I've assembled a comprehensive list of the official DCAU TV shows (and movies). They're not listed in chronological order, because they weren't released that way. It remains an option to watch them in chronological order, but do it on your own time.
Still, it's undeniable that Bruce Wayne (and his successor) remained at the heart of everything. At this point, I feel like it's important to bear in mind that even though something might look and feel like it belongs to the DCAU, that doesn't necessarily make it canon. For instance, 2016's Batman: The Killing Joke adaptation recalled members of the DCAU cast, and even replicated the animation style. It's not part of the DCAU timeline, though. Below, I've assembled a comprehensive list of the official DCAU TV shows (and movies). They're not listed in chronological order, because they weren't released that way. It remains an option to watch them in chronological order, but do it on your own time.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995)
This is the show that kick-started the DCAU. Not only did it establish a strong baseline tone for the animated franchise it would eventually become, but it also introduced an iteration of Batman who would become the definitive version for generations of fans. If you only ever watch one DCAU project, I would advise it to be this one. If you still want more after you're done – you're in luck. There is plenty more to come from the same universe.
- Tie-In Movie: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000)
The end of Batman: The Animated Series left DC fans both old and new feeling a little empty. It had quickly become a tradition to check in with Kevin Conroy's Bruce Wayne to see what was going on in Gotham that week. Even though Superman: The Animated Series shifts focus from Batman and his hometown to Tim Daly's Clark Kent swooping through Metropolis, it's still a really good show. Besides, Batman occasionally makes the jump over to Superman: The Animated series for some seriously underrated crossover adventures.
The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999)
In what was one of the most predictable moves in TV history, the cancellation of Batman: The Animated Series turned out to create a hole that Superman couldn't fill alone. As such, the Dark Knight returned in what was essentially a revival of his original DCAU project. The updated animation style ruffled some feathers at the time, but it doesn't actually look that bad in retrospect. People just hate change, I guess.
- Tie-In Movie: Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998)
Batman Beyond (1999–2001)
A multi-decade time jump allowed Batman Beyond to adopt a startingly different identity from its predecessors. It proudly wore its sci-fi hat as Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle) served as Gotham's protector while a retired Bruce Wayne moved into a mentor role. Even though it was only the fourth DCAU series, it broke the mold by heading so far into the franchise's future. Batman Beyond established a new narrative playground that other additions to the saga also started to favor.
- Tie-In Movie: Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
Static Shock (2000–2004)
Static Shock follows its title character, voiced by Futurama's Phil LaMarr, in another series set during the Batman Beyond era. Although Terry McGinnis' character does appear in a handful of Static Shock episodes, it's largely its own project that doesn't rely all that heavily on past DCAU endeavors. It hasn't stood the test of time in the same way that Batman Beyond has, but it's still worth checking out.
The Zeta Project (2001–2002)
If you're going to skip any DCAU project, this is probably the one to avoid. It's not inherently bad, and Season 2 is a huge improvement on Season 1, but it feels especially disconnected from the rest of the saga, despite appearances from Batman and other attempts to tie The Zeta Project into the broader universe. Plus, its cancellation leaves Season 2 with a pretty unsatisfying ending that's never resolved in later DCAU projects. Still, if you're a completionist and want to watch the entire DCAU saga, it's a run ride while it lasts.
Justice League (2001–2004)
Although the Beyond era certainly had its successes, the demand for the return of Bruce Wayne back in action was too much to ignore, as was Superman's comeback. Justice League also introduced and/or fleshed out other DC icons like the Flash (Michael Rosenbaum) and Wonder Woman (Susan Eisenberg). The team-up series raised the stakes of the older storylines, which makes sense given how much more powerful the heroes where when united. Years before superhero team-up movies like The Avengers, Justice League was making key contributions to the blueprint.
- Tie-In Movie: Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)
Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006)
As much as Justice League broadened the scope of the DCAU, Unlimited took things even further than that. The sequel series didn't just focus on the original seven members of the team, but allowed for countless characters to come and go from the lineup as they continued to take down huge threats. The show also tied everything together nicely by using time-travel to bring Terry McGinnis' Batman into action during the "present-day." It was a cool show to go out on, and it makes sense that the DCAU ended here. There was essentially no room left to expand.
- Tie-In Movies: Batman and Harley Quinn (2017), Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019)
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