DC Animated Universe Timeline: How to Watch Every Movie & TV Show in Order

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More than three decades after it began, the DC Animated Universe remains a landmark achievement in superhero entertainment. The different shows and movies within the DCAU—which started in the 1990s with Batman: The Animated Series and continued through the early 2000s with series like Batman Beyond and Justice League Unlimited—are still considered among the very best.

Like many large fictional universes, there isn’t one single, official way to watch the DC Animated Universe. Fans often choose their own order – some prefer to watch everything in timeline order, while others go by the original release dates, or create their own unique plan.

This guide offers a straightforward way to watch the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), prioritizing the order of events while still being easy to follow. While dedicated fans might enjoy piecing together a super-precise timeline by jumping between series, most viewers can simply watch the shows and movies in order, enjoying each season as it comes.

‘Batman: The Animated Series’ Season 1 (1992-1993)


Warner Bros. Television

Many fans consider Batman: The Animated Series to be one of the best superhero cartoons ever made, and it’s where a lot of people first discovered the character. Instead of showing Batman’s beginnings, the show immediately throws you into exciting adventures as he fights villains like Man-Bat, the Joker (famously voiced by Mark Hamill), Scarecrow, and Mr. Freeze.

It can be tricky figuring out the best way to watch Batman: The Animated Series, because different streaming services and DVD sets organize the episodes differently. To keep things simple, think of Season 1 as the first 65 episodes that originally aired from September 1992 to September 1993 – these are all included together on HBO Max. If you’re watching the DVDs, Season 1 is divided into two parts, called Volumes 1 and 2.

Several episodes are particularly memorable, like the Emmy-winning “Heart of Ice,” the festive “Christmas with the Joker,” and the highly-regarded two-part story, “Robin’s Reckoning.” Each of these works well as a standalone adventure, letting you enjoy episodes featuring your favorite characters or villains, or watch the series in order.

‘Batman: Mask of the Phantasm’ (1993)


Warner Bros.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm both advances the story of the DC Animated Universe and explores Batman’s origins. This visually stunning film features Batman chasing a new, masked enemy, which makes him confront his past as a vigilante. It’s a fantastic standalone movie and widely considered one of the greatest Batman films and DC animated features of all time.

‘Batman: The Animated Series’ Season 2 (1994-1995)

It’s time to revisit Batman: The Animated Series, starting with what’s generally considered Season 2. While different streaming services organize the episodes slightly differently – Wikipedia and HBO Max group them under “Season 2,” while IMDb divides them into more seasons – it should be easy to find if you’re watching on HBO Max. This season covers all episodes that originally aired between May 1994 and September 1995.

‘Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero’ (1998)


Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

This 1998 animated movie concludes this particular viewing order of the DCAU, and it’s the last one to feature the classic art style of the original Batman: The Animated Series. Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero continues the popular story of Mr. Freeze, offering a full-length narrative. Though it’s not the best film in the DCAU, SubZero is still a good Batman movie.

‘Superman: The Animated Series’ Season 1 (1996-1997)

The DC Animated Universe (DCAU) started to grow into a larger interconnected world with Superman: The Animated Series, though it had previously introduced characters like Zatanna. The first season of the show covers Superman’s entire origin story – from the destruction of Krypton and his upbringing in Smallville, to his first encounters with key allies like Lois Lane and iconic villains like Lex Luthor and Brainiac. While it’s not as highly praised as Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series still has a lot to offer.

“World’s Finest” (1997)


Kids’ WB

Whether you watch it as a movie or three separate TV episodes depends on where you’re watching, but World’s Finest is a great continuation of the first season. Although originally released as part of Superman: The Animated Series‘s second season, I’ve included it here because this Batman and Superman team-up heavily influenced the direction of the DC Animated Universe for the next few years, and it really solidified the connection between the two shows.

The next two entries can be watched simultaneously, or in whichever order the viewer likes.

‘The New Batman Adventures’ (1997-1999)


Kids’ WB

While often seen as a follow-up to Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures deserves attention for its different animation style. Though it’s not as widely praised as the original, episodes like “Mad Love” and “Legends of the Dark Knight” are still considered highlights of the Batman universe. The series also expanded the DC Animated Universe by introducing characters like Etrigan and featuring crossovers with Superman: The Animated Series.

‘Superman: The Animated Series Seasons’ 2-4 (1997-2000)

Fans can now finish watching Superman: The Animated Series, and meet iconic characters from the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) like The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the villain Darkseid. These episodes set the stage for Justice League and the many DCAU shows and movies that followed in the 2000s.

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)

Released in 2003, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman feels like another adventure set in the same world as Justice League or Static Shock. However, the story is mostly self-contained and works well as a conclusion to The New Batman Adventures. Unfortunately, this version of Batwoman doesn’t appear in any future DC animated projects.

‘Justice League’ (2001-2004)


Warner Bros. Animation
 

For a lot of fans, the animated Justice League series from the early 2000s is the best take on the superhero team, so it makes sense that James Gunn is drawing from it for his new DC Universe. The show features two complete seasons—52 episodes total—and follows the League as they battle alien invaders like Darkseid and his forces from Apokolips, fight against threats from the Thanagarians and Martians, and deal with problems in underwater cities like Atlantis and the Amazonian realm of Themyscira.

Justice League tells its stories in arcs of two to three episodes, giving the DC Universe’s heroes and villains the detailed narratives they deserve. While the show is enjoyable on its own, watching Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series first will deepen your connection to the main characters as the world of the show grows.

‘Static Shock (2000-2004)


Warner Bros. Family Entertainment

Following the large-scale events of Justice League, the more down-to-earth beginning of Static Shock offers a refreshing change within the DC Animated Universe. The show initially had a different creative style because it wasn’t originally planned to be connected to the other series. However, starting with the second season, it began to include familiar faces like Batman, Robin, members of the Justice League, and even characters from Batman Beyond. Later, Static himself would appear in Justice League Unlimited.

‘Batman and Harley Quinn’ (2017)


Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Though it’s a somewhat controversial addition, Batman and Harley Quinn deserves mention because it was created by Bruce Timm for the DC Animated Universe. This film is rated PG-13 and features a more mature, often crude, sense of humor that not all fans of Batman: The Animated Series enjoyed. The story is thought to take place around the time Justice League Unlimited begins.

‘Justice League Unlimited’ (2004-2006)


Warner Bros.

Justice League Unlimited effectively wraps up the DC Animated Universe, bringing back the original seven League members and introducing a host of new heroes like Green Arrow, Black Canary, Question, and Supergirl, giving them a chance to shine.

The second season focuses on the League facing off against Amanda Waller, the organization Cadmus, and Lex Luthor, who is campaigning for president while attempting to turn public opinion against the heroes. In season three, Luthor fully embraces his villainous side, battling Gorilla Grodd for leadership of the Secret Society, which ultimately paves the way for the return of Darkseid and a massive final battle. This series represents the pinnacle of DC animated storytelling, bringing together many fan-favorite characters.

Hold onto episode 26, titled “Epilogue,” and watch it last to complete the DCAU. See the section below for details.

‘Justice League vs. the Fatal Five’ (2019)


Warner Bros. Home Entertainment

Though it didn’t reach the same heights as the classic Justice League series, Justice League vs. the Fatal Five was better received by fans than Batman and Harley Quinn, and marked a welcome return to the DC Animated Universe. The film brought back the original voice actors from Justice League, and while the story isn’t groundbreaking, it filled the gap left by the lack of a new Justice League animated movie.

‘Batman Beyond’ (1999-2001)


Warner Bross Discovery

Even though Batman Beyond came out before Justice League, it makes more sense to watch it later. The show is set years in the future and introduces Terry McGinnis, a new character who later appeared in DC Comics. It also offers a look at an older Bruce Wayne and continues the story from Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures.

‘The Zeta Project’ (2001-2002)


Kids’ WB

I’m a big fan of The Zeta Project, even though it doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It’s a spin-off from Batman Beyond, and honestly, it’s got some really great stories. Plus, seeing Batman show up is always a treat! It’s a shame more people haven’t discovered it, since it doesn’t have a big-name hero like Batman to draw viewers in.

‘Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker’ (2000)


Warner Home Video

Just as crucial to the DC Animated Universe as Kevin Conroy’s iconic Batman, Mark Hamill’s Joker deserves a final confrontation before the series ends. This showdown features Terry McGinnis, the Batman of the future, battling the Joker in a story that draws from both The New Batman Adventures and Batman Beyond, ultimately revealing a tragic destiny for a beloved character from the DCAU.

This is a fantastic conclusion and a great launching pad for future stories in the DC Animated Universe. It cleverly brings together themes and ideas from both Batman Beyond and the original Batman: The Animated Series, bringing the saga full circle.

‘Justice League Unlimited’ — “Epilogue”


Warner Bros. Animation

It’s perfectly fine to watch “Epilogue” as part of a Justice League Unlimited rewatch, especially since it connects well with the Cadmus story from season two. But “Epilogue” also works brilliantly as a final episode for the whole DC Animated Universe. It centers on Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne’s lasting impact, and it’s one of the best episodes in the entire series, bringing the whole story full circle.

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2025-10-22 05:13