Top 10 Best DC Animated Films

The Crime Syndicate of Earth Three may’ve set its sights on taking over Earth One, but they’ve got to get past the Justice League first. And who wouldn’t want to watch a titanic slugfest between two super teams? By featuring some truly terrifying Crime Syndicate villains, “Crisis on Two Earths” makes us realize how scary it is that such wicked and evil versions of our beloved heroes exist – especially Owlman as voiced by James Woods. Originally, this film was envisioned as a transition tale between the “Justice League” and “Justice League Unlimited” television shows. While the project eventually evolved into something different, the results were nothing short of epic.

The legend of Gotham’s Dark Knight starts here. Returning home after more than a decade away, Bruce Wayne begins his lifelong crusade to end the corruption and crime wave infesting Gotham. Adapted from the celebrated Frank Miller storyline, “Batman: Year One” not only fleshes out the beginnings of Bruce Wayne’s crime-fighting career, but also the rise of other characters in the Batman legend. Jim Gordon, Selina Kyle, and Harvey Dent are only a few of the faces you’ll notice in this skillfully animated adaptation. It’s a gritty beginning for one of DC’s most beloved superheroes and it’s an incredible thrill to enjoy.

Following a fateful meeting with pilot Steve Trevor, Diana, Princess of Themyscira, becomes the Amazonian Ambassador to the world of Men. As Ares, God of War, sets his eyes on the conquest of this realm, Diana must transform from peacemaker to warrior princess as the mighty Wonder Woman. This movie features just about everything we could want in a Wonder Woman movie: a fast paced story, some intense action sequences of Amazonian badassery, and brilliant chemistry between Diana and Steve, thanks to voice actors Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion. In short, it’s a wonder to behold.

When a menace from beyond the stars threatens 1950s Earth, a group of individuals with special powers and abilities must come together to defend the planet. “The New Frontier” is an interesting look at comic book history and the introduction of superheroes into everyday society. From the cool 1950s atmosphere to the retro character designs of artist Darwyn Cooke, who also co-wrote the film based on his own miniseries, it’s an adventure film as well as a proper nod to the golden and silver ages of comics. If you’re a lifelong comic book fan, “The New Frontier” is a film you owe it to yourself to see.

After a 35-year absence, the Clown Prince of Crime suddenly returns to Gotham, directly targeting Bruce Wayne. The new Batman, Terry McGinnis, must learn the horrifying truth behind the final battle between Bruce and his arch nemesis. In keeping with a Batman story, “Return of the Joker” doesn’t skimp on the darkness, which actually led to two different versions of the film. The Original Uncut edition is filled to the brim with some of the most intense images ever seen in a Batman cartoon, too intense even for broadcast. Each version is worth checking out, as both have the same awesome storytelling, action, and Mark Hamill behind the mic as The Joker.

After being fatally poisoned by solar radiation, Superman prepares for his final days while Lex Luthor makes plans to speed up the Man of Steel’s demise. It’s always scary to think of a world without Superman. However, if “All-Star Superman” shows us anything, it’s that the inevitability of death never dampens the spirit of the Last Son of Krypton. The film speaks to the heart of Superman, showing us his eternal optimism and perseverance. Backed by quality animation and smart writing, this may be a more reflective film compared to the others on this list. But ultimately, it’s a heartfelt celebration of one of the greatest superheroes of all time.

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When the mysterious Red Hood begins running amok in Gotham, Batman is forced to confront one of the darkest moments of his life. Based on the “A Death in the Family” and “Under the Red Hood” story arcs, this flick presents viewers with a study of Batman never seen before. We get to see the guilt and emotional torment he’s been unable to shake after losing partner, Jason Todd, aka the second Robin. It’s a poignant tale, but also an exciting one with some of the best action in the DCAU films to date. You may come out with a whole new appreciation of the Dark Knight after checking this one out.

The world is on the brink of collapse, Atlantis and the Amazons are at war, and Barry Allen has no powers. Talk about a nightmare for the Flash. Based on Geoff John’s limited series, this adaptation takes the source material’s nail-biting intensity and manages to go one step further in some aspects. The origins of Flashpoint Batman and the coldness of Flashpoint Wonder Woman are some of the darkest moments seen in a DCAU film yet. Yeah, time paradoxes don’t get much worse than this. But what’s more, much like the comic, “The Flashpoint Paradox” also serves as a setup for the new shared universe of animated DC Films.

Unable to stand what Gotham has become since he retired, Bruce Wayne returns to the crime-fighting scene as the Batman. Joined by a new Robin, Bruce launches a new reign of terror, one that strikes fear into the heart of Gotham and raises concerns for his once-closest friends. It was the adaptation everyone had been waiting for and it was so epic that it was split into two parts. Frank Miller’s legendary miniseries got the star treatment here: the animation was faithful to his art style, and they even got RoboCop himself, Peter Weller, to voice the Dark Knight. Plus, we got the throwdown between Batman and Superman we all really wanted to see. Welcome back, Mr. Wayne.

Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions:
- “Batman: Assault on Arkham” (2014)

- “Justice League: Doom” (2012)

- “Justice League vs. Teen Titans” (2016)

Framed for the deaths of Gotham’s mob bosses, Batman must not only confront a shadowy assassin, but also his own origins, the love of his life, and the Joker. There’s so much this movie gets right that we can’t discuss everything here. In a nutshell: it’s all the amazing animation, writing, and voice acting from the people who brought you “Batman: The Animated Series” taken to the next level. It’s action-packed, but very deep. It’s adult, but can be enjoyed by all ages. Many consider “Mask of the Phantasm” to be the greatest Batman movie of all time, even more than “The Dark Knight.” How can we not award it our number one spot for that accolade alone?