DC Animated Universe

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 Superman: The Animated Series, 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 Beyond's 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:

{{Series overview

| width = 99%

| network = Network

| infoA = Showrunner(s)

| infoB = Connections

| multiseries =

{{Series overview

| series = Batman: The Animated Series

| network1 = Fox Kids

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #27282d

| link1 = Batman: The Animated Series (season 1)

| episodes1 = 65

| start1 = {{Start date|1992|9|5}}

| end1 = {{End date|1993|9|17}}

| infoA1 = Bruce Timm

| infoA1span = 9

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Starting point for the DC Animated Universe|Introductions: Zatanna ("Zatanna") and Jonah Hex ("Showdown")}}

| color2 = #AE182C

| link2 = Batman: The Animated Series (season 2)

| episodes2 = 20

| start2 = {{Start date|1994|5|2}}

| end2 = {{End date|1995|9|15}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = Superman: The Animated Series

| network1 = The WB

| network1span = 13

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #2950BB

| link1 = Superman: The Animated Series (season 1)

| episodes1 = 13

| start1 = {{Start date|1996|09|06}}

| end1 = {{End date|1997|02|15}}

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Crossovers with The New Batman Adventures: "World's Finest", "Knight Time", and "The Demon Reborn"|Introductions: Lobo ("The Main Man"), Wally West ("Speed Demons"), Doctor Fate ("The Hand of Fate"), Steel ("Heavy Metal"), Green Lantern Corps ("In Brightest Day..."), and Aquaman ("A Fish Story")}}

| color2 = #A62A2A

| link2 = Superman: The Animated Series (season 2)

| episodes2 = 28

| start2 = {{Start date|1997|09|08}}

| end2 = {{End date|1998|05|02}}

| color3 = #14663D

| link3 = Superman: The Animated Series (season 3)

| episodes3 = 13

| start3 = {{Start date|1998|09|19}}

| end3 = {{End date|2000|02|12}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = The New Batman Adventures

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #14663D

| link1 = The New Batman Adventures (season 1)

| episodes1 = 24

| start1 = {{Start date|1997|09|13}}

| end1 = {{End date|1999|01|16}}

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Crossovers

with Superman: The Animated Series: "Girl's Night Out"|Introductions: Etrigan ("The Demon Within") and Creeper ("Beware The Creeper")}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = Batman Beyond

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #48005A

| link1 = Batman Beyond (season 1)

| episodes1 = 13

| start1 = {{Start date|1999|1|10}}

| end1 = {{End date|1999|5|22}}

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Crossovers with The Zeta Project: "Countdown"|Introductions: Infiltration Unit Zeta ("Zeta") and Justice League Unlimited ("The Call")}}

| color2 = #B60000

| link2 = Batman Beyond (season 2)

| episodes2 = 26

| start2 = {{Start date|1999|9|17}}

| end2 = {{End date|2000|5|27}}

| color3 = #005B00

| link3 = Batman Beyond (season 3)

| episodes3 = 13

| start3 = {{Start date|2000|8|19}}

| end3 = {{End date|2001|12|18}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = Static Shock

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #8888FF

| link1 = Static Shock (season 1)

| episodes1 = 13

| start1 = {{Start date|2000|9|23}}

| end1 = {{End date|2001|5|12}}

| infoA1 = Dwayne McDuffie

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Integrated into the DCAU from Season 2 onwards|Crossovers with The New Batman Adventures: "The Big Leagues", "Hard as Nails"; Justice League: "A League of Their Own", "Fallen Hero"; Superman: The Animated Series: "Toys in the Hood"; The New Batman Adventures and Batman Beyond: "Future Shock"}}

| color2 = #4E4F9C

| link2 = Static Shock (season 2)

| episodes2 = 11

| start2 = {{Start date|2002|1|26}}

| end2 = {{End date|2002|5|4}}

| color3 = #f3ce0c

| link3 = Static Shock (season 3)

| episodes3 = 15

| start3 = {{Start date|2003|1|25}}

| end3 = {{End date|2003|6|21}}

| color4 = #763e41

| link4 = Static Shock (season 4)

| episodes4 = 13

| start4 = {{Start date|2004|1|17}}

| end4 = {{End date|2004|5|22}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = The Zeta Project

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #FC7309

| link1 = The Zeta Project (season 1)

| episodes1 = 12

| start1 = {{Start date|2001|1|27}}

| end1 = {{End date|2001|8|11}}

| infoA1 = Robert Goodman

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Crossovers with Batman Beyond: "Shadows" and "Ro's Gift"}}

| color2 = #2A54A9

| link2 = The Zeta Project (season 2)

| episodes2 = 14

| start2 = {{Start date|2002|3|23}}

| end2 = {{End date|2002|8|17}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = Justice League

| network1 = Cartoon Network

| network1span = 5

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #B30713

| link1 = Justice League (season 1)

| episodes1 = 26

| start1 = {{Start date|2001|11|17}}

| end1 = {{End date|2002|11|9}}

| infoA1 = Bruce Timm

| infoA1span = 5

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Introductions: Metamorpho ("Metamorphosis")}}

| color2 = #005E80

| link2 = Justice League (season 2)

| episodes2 = 26

| start2 = {{Start date|2003|7|5}}

| end2 = {{End date|2004|5|29}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = Justice League Unlimited

| infoA = y

| infoB = y

| color1 = #FFBA00

| link1 = Justice League Unlimited (season 1)

| episodes1 = 13

| start1 = {{Start date|2004|7|31}}

| end1 = {{End date|2005|1|29}}

| infoB1 = {{Bulleted list|Crossovers with Static Shock and Batman Beyond: "The Once and Future Thing"; Batman Beyond: "Epilogue"}}

| color2 = #3FFF00

| link2 = Justice League Unlimited (season 2)

| episodes2 = 13

| start2 = {{Start date|2005|2|5}}

| end2 = {{End date|2005|7|23}}

| color3 = #689CCF

| link3 = Justice League Unlimited (season 3)

| episodes3 = 13

| start3 = {{Start date|2005|9|17}}

| end3 = {{End date|2006|5|13}}

}}

}}

The DCAU continuity also includes the following feature films:

{{Series overview

| width = 99%

| network = Network

| multiseries =

{{Series overview

| series = Lobo

| network1 = warnerbros.com

| color1 = #27282d

| episodes1 = 14

| start1 = {{Start date|2000|6|15}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-bros-online-joins-forces-dc-comics-and-warner-bros-animation-create-original/|title=Warner Bros. Online Joins Forces With DC Comics And Warner Bros. Animation To Create Original Animation For Debut Of Redesigned Warner Bros. Online June 15|website=Warner Bros.|access-date=2020-06-24|archive-date=2020-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626094616/https://www.warnerbros.com/news/press-releases/warner-bros-online-joins-forces-dc-comics-and-warner-bros-animation-create-original/|url-status=live}}

| end1 = {{End date|2000|9|14}}

}}

{{Series overview

| series = Gotham Girls

| network1 = warnerbros.com

| color1 = #27282d

| link1 = Gotham Girls (season 1)

| episodes1 = 11

| start1 = {{Start date|2000|7|27}}

| end1 = {{End date|2000|12|14}}

| color2 = #27282d

| link2 = Gotham Girls (season 2)

| episodes2 = 10

| start2 = {{Start date|2001|6|5}}

| end2 = {{End date|2001|10|9}}

| color3 = #27282d

| link3 = Gotham Girls (season 3)

| episodes3 = 10

| start3 = {{Start date|2002|7|16}}

| end3 = {{End date|2002|11|19}}

}}

}}

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 continuity 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 Batman: The Adventures Continue comics were written by the animated series writers, Paul Dini and Alan Burnett. Per the opinion of Bruce Timm, who has commented about the continuity 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."{{cite web | url=https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=1292 | title=Back Issue! 99 : TwoMorrows Publishing, the Future of Comics and LEGO Publications | access-date=2023-03-24 | archive-date=2023-03-24 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324194904/https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_54&products_id=1292 | url-status=live }}

In terms of feature films, the 2006 feature film Superman: Brainiac Attacks 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 Superman: The Animated Series.{{Cite web|url = https://www.animationmagazine.net/people/director-talks-superman-brainiac-attacks/|title = Director Talks Superman: Brainiac Attacks|date = 5 July 2006|access-date = 14 April 2023|archive-date = 16 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231216014141/https://www.animationmagazine.net/people/director-talks-superman-brainiac-attacks/|url-status = live}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/sections/backstage/abandoned/ |work=The World's Finest|title=Backstage - Rejected/Unproduced Series & Movie Pitches |access-date=2016-07-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521063619/http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/sections/backstage/abandoned/ |archive-date=May 21, 2016 |df=mdy }} 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.

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 Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, 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 Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, 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.{{cite web |url=http://jl.toonzone.net/episode50/episode50.htm |title=Epilogue |access-date=2010-01-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516063839/http://jl.toonzone.net/episode50/episode50.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2016 |df=mdy }} Around 2003, during the production of Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman, 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.{{cite web |url=https://dcanimated.com//WF/batman/btas/backstage/interviews/kirkland.php |title=Boyd Kirkland|author=Stu Hamilton |access-date=2016-11-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530010942/http://worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/backstage/interviews/kirkland.php |archive-date=May 30, 2015 |df=mdy }}

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 Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, removing all connections to the DCAU.{{cite web |url=http://jl.toonzone.net/episodeC/episodeC.htm |title=Worlds Collide |access-date=2010-09-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303182731/http://jl.toonzone.net/episodeC/episodeC.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |df=mdy }}{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/news.php?action%3Dfullnews%26id%3D222 |title=More "DC Universe Animated Original Movie" Titles Planned For 2009

|access-date=2016-08-31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920221050/http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=222 |archive-date=September 20, 2016 |df=mdy }}

In the early 2020s, Warner Bros. Animation approached Bruce Timm with the idea of producing a revival of Batman: The Animated Series set after the events of The New Batman Adventures, but Timm refused to develop a Batman show that was a continuation to The Animated Series, only being interested in a revival of Justice League that Warner wasn't interested in, with Timm opting to develop instead a new Batman series, that being Batman: Caped Crusader.{{Cite web |last=Spry |first=Jeff |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Holy Noirish Comeback, Batman! Bruce Timm and James Tucker Lift the Cowl Over Batman: Caped Crusader |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2024/07/holy-noirish-comeback-batman-bruce-timm-and-james-tucker-lift-the-cowl-over-batman-caped-crusader/ |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=Animation Magazine}}{{Cite web |first=Jesse |last=Schedeen |date=June 26, 2024 |title=Batman: Caped Crusader Exclusive Trailer |url=https://za.ign.com/batman-caped-crusader/196875/feature/batman-caped-crusader-exclusive-trailer |access-date=July 20, 2024 |website=IGN Africa |language=en-za}}

{{Main|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 continuity is disputable. The comics are:

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.{{cite web |url=http://insidepulse.com/2010/08/28/batman-beyond-to-receive-an-ongoing-series/ |title=Batman Beyond To Receive An Ongoing Series |publisher=Inside Pulse |date=August 28, 2010 |access-date=2011-01-03 |archive-date=2010-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901004330/http://insidepulse.com/2010/08/28/batman-beyond-to-receive-an-ongoing-series/ |url-status=live }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2011/11/14/dc-comics-launches-batman-beyond-unlimited |title=DC Comics Launches Batman Beyond Unlimited |publisher=DC Comics |date=November 14, 2011 |access-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-date=May 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510041347/https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2011/11/14/dc-comics-launches-batman-beyond-unlimited |url-status=live }} This series published monthly triple-sized issues, containing three stories of Terry McGinnis, Clark "Cal" Kent, and the future Justice League Unlimited, respectively.{{cite web|title=DC Comics' FULL June 2013 Solicitations|url=http://www.newsarama.com/11080-dc-comics-full-june-2013-solicitations.html|publisher=Newsarama|access-date=July 14, 2013|quote=...don't miss the epic conclusion of Superman Beyond!|archive-date=June 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610193308/http://www.newsarama.com/11080-dc-comics-full-june-2013-solicitations.html|url-status=live}}

Batman Beyond Universe succeeded Unlimited in August 2013, condensing to double-monthly issues upon the elderly Superman's rejoining the future Justice League.{{cite web|title=DC Comics' FULL August 2013 Solicitations|url=http://www.newsarama.com/17794-dc-comics-full-august-2013-solicitations.html|publisher=Newsarama|access-date=July 14, 2013|archive-date=June 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607160218/http://www.newsarama.com/17794-dc-comics-full-august-2013-solicitations.html|url-status=live}}

Terry McGinnis was the central figure in The New 52: Futures End weekly series.{{cite web|url=http://w.newsarama.com/21147-dc-reveals-creative-line-ups-for-september-s-futures-end-titles.html|title=DC Reveals Creative Line-Ups For September's Futures End Titles|last=Arrant|first=Chris|publisher=Newsarama|date=May 16, 2014|access-date=May 16, 2014}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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{{cite web |last=Press |first=Official |url=https://gizmodo.com/the-classic-90s-cartoon-batman-is-teaming-up-with-the-n-1784128183 |title=The Classic '90s Cartoon Batman Is Teaming Up With the Ninja Turtles for a New Comic |publisher=Gizmodo |date=2016-07-22 |access-date=2022-05-10 |archive-date=2022-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220211122723/https://gizmodo.com/the-classic-90s-cartoon-batman-is-teaming-up-with-the-n-1784128183 |url-status=live }} and scheduled for a six-issue release starting November 9, 2016.{{cite web |last=Press |first=Official |url=http://batman-news.com/2016/07/22/animated-style-batmanteenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-crossover-announced/ |title=Animated-style Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover announced |publisher=Batman-news.com |date=2016-07-22 |access-date=2016-07-23 |archive-date=2016-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727022929/http://batman-news.com/2016/07/22/animated-style-batmanteenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-crossover-announced/ |url-status=live }}

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 their alternate universe counterparts.

Several DCAU tie-in video games were 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 continuity is unknown. The games are:

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{{Cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/batman-the-animated-series-complete-bluray-october/|title='Batman: The Complete Animated Series' Swings Onto Blu-Ray This October|date=August 9, 2018|website=Movieweb|access-date=May 31, 2022|archive-date=May 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531211849/https://movieweb.com/batman-the-animated-series-complete-bluray-october/|url-status=live}} and Batman: The Complete Animated Series Blu-ray/Digital box set,{{Cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/batman-animated-series-blu-ray-documentary-clip/|title='Batman: The Animated Series' Blu-Ray Clip Explores 'The Heart of Batman'|date=November 28, 2018|website=MovieWeb|access-date=May 31, 2022|archive-date=May 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531211851/https://movieweb.com/batman-animated-series-blu-ray-documentary-clip/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/how-paul-dini-and-mike-mignola-changed-mr-freeze-forever-plus-other-revelations-from-the|title=How Paul Dini and Mike Mignola changed Mr. Freeze forever, plus other revelations from the Batman: The Animated Series documentary|first=Brian|last=Silliman|date=November 2, 2018|website=SYFY WIRE|access-date=June 26, 2020|archive-date=June 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628213119/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/how-paul-dini-and-mike-mignola-changed-mr-freeze-forever-plus-other-revelations-from-the|url-status=dead}} and was later made available on the official Warner Bros. Entertainment YouTube channel.{{cite AV media| url-status = live| archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/dZLpDvQ6vFI| archive-date = 2021-12-11| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZLpDvQ6vFI| title = Batman The Animated Series {{!}} The Heart of Batman Documentary Livestream|author=Warner Bros. Entertainment | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|url=https://animatedviews.com/2020/watch-the-feature-length-documentary-batman-the-animated-series-the-heart-of-batman/|title=Watch the feature-length Batman: The Animated Series documentary The Heart of Batman – Animated Views|accessdate=5 March 2023|archive-date=27 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127232552/https://animatedviews.com/2020/watch-the-feature-length-documentary-batman-the-animated-series-the-heart-of-batman/|url-status=live}}

Movie:

| 2021

| Space Jam: A New Legacy

| Many DCAU characters appear throughout the movie

{{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 into the mainstream comics continuity:

• Nora Fries (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Harley Quinn (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Renee Montoya (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Lock-Up (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Sewer King (Batman: The Animated Series)
• The Condiment King (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Summer Gleeson (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Kyodai Ken (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Red Claw (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Veronica Vreeland (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Baby-Doll (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Emile Dorian (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Roland Daggett (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Mercy Graves (Superman: The Animated Series)
• Livewire (Superman: The Animated Series)
• Roxy Rocket (The New Batman Adventures)
• Terry McGinnis/Batman (Batman Beyond)
• Gray Ghost (Batman: The Animated Series)
• Phantasm (Batman: Mask of the Phantasm)
• Blight (Batman Beyond)

In addition, the backstory of Mr. Freeze was adapted from his portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series, and the visuals 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 Beyond comics has also been added to the continuity as Earth-50.{{cite comic|writer=Morrison, Grant|penciller=Wyatt, Jake|title=Maps and Legends|volume=1|issue=1|date=January 28, 2015|publisher=DC Comics|location=New York City|page=35|panel=1}}

In the three part movie series Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, the end of part three saw the end of Earth-12 which represented a universe animated in the same style of the DC Animated Universe. In this scene, Batman was fighting Joker on the roof of a building in Gotham City in his original BTAS costume. It was unclear whether or not the events of that scene took place after the events of Justice League Unlimited and the events in the era of Batman Beyond.

• Arrowverse (2012–2023)
• DC Extended Universe (2013–23)
• DC Animated Movie Universe (2013–24)
• DC Universe (2024–present)

{{Reflist}}

• [https://dcanimated.com/ World's Finest]

{{DC Animated Universe}}

{{DC Comics animated films}}

{{Kids' WB}}

{{Cartoon Network original programming}}

{{Warner Bros. animation and comics}}

{{Warner Bros. Discovery franchises}}

Category:DC Comics franchises

Category:Television franchises

Category:Fictional universes

Category:Shared universes

Category:Continuity (fiction)

Category:Mass media franchises introduced in 1992

Category:Mythopoeia