The DCAU is one of the most beloved facets of DC. Since its beginning with Batman: The Animated Series, it's been telling some of the best DC stories of them all, whether they be adaptations or original stories. It's introduced new characters, changed the way fans looked at existing characters and put out some great movies.
The DCAU rivals the MCU when it comes to fan appreciation and while it doesn't reach as large an audience, the argument can be made that it's superior. There are a lot of things that the DCAU does better than anyone else and sets it apart from any other non-comic superhero product.
10 It Created An Adaptation That Alan Moore Actually Allowed His Name To Be On
Alan Moore is notorious for not allowing DC or Warner Brothers to put his name on adaptations of his work. His relationship with the company has long been contentious and beyond that, he doesn't believe his work should be adapted since it was meant to be a comic. However, Justice League Unlimited adapted his Superman story, "For The Man Who Has Everything" and he was actually happy about it.
Written by comic writer J.M. DeMatteis, one of many comic writers who worked in the DCAU, it got the Moore seal of approval, which is so rare as to be nonexistent but for this one time. He even okayed all of the changes to his story for the episode. The fact Moore gave his blessing was a huge deal and proves the quality of work the DCAU put out.
9 It Introduced Fans To Esoteric Corners Of DC
One of the great parts of the DCAU is that it worked to introduce younger fans to parts of DC that weren't just Batman and Superman. For example, Static was part of the Dakotaverse comic imprint but when that was canceled, the character was in limbo. However, the character would be given his own cartoon, Static Shock, and reach a much wider audience.
Justice League and Justice League Unlimited introduced fans to all kinds of strange facets of the DC Universe, as did later series like Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series. The DCAU was amazing at shedding light on the DC Universe's most esoteric parts.
8 The Animation Encompasses A Wide Array Of Styles And Looks Amazing
From the art deco stylings of the Timmverse shows to the varied animation styles of the adaptations, the DCAU has presented viewers with some of the best animation out there. Bruce Timm's distinctive designs set BTAS, Superman: The Animated Series, and Justice League apart from any other superhero cartoons, melding past, present, and future brilliantly.
For the adaptations, the animation style changes to reflect the original work - All-Star Superman has Frank Quitely flourishes for example. For newer series like Young Justice and Harley Quinn, the animation fits the tone of the show to a tee. Top-notch animation has set the DCAU apart from its competition.
7 The Top Notch Voice Talent Made It Special
Animation is only half the battle; the other half is the voice acting and the DCAU has some amazing voice talent. For some fans, they hear the voices of VAs like Kevin Conroy or Mark Hamill in their heads when they read Batman or the Joker. The voice acting throughout the DCAU has always been top-notch, drawing from veterans in the industry.
The prettiest animation in the world is lackluster without good voice talent and the DCAU has that in spades. Whether it be the older cartoons, the animated movies, or the new projects, the voice acting of the DCAU has set it apart and made it special.
6 It's Able To Tell A Variety Of Stories For A Variety Of Fans
One of the places where the DCAU beats something like the MCU is in the variety of different stories it can tell. For fans that want something darker and noirish, there's BTAS and the various Batman adaptations. For younger fans, there are things like Static Shock and Teen Titans GO! For lovers of superheroes, there's Justice League and Young Justice. Comic fans get the best adaptations out there with the DCAU animated movies.
The DCAU has proven amazingly versatile, capturing the pathos of the characters and their stories while also giving fans lighter, sillier elements. There's something for every fan under the DCAU tent.
5 It's Caused Fans To See Characters In New Ways
Until the BTAS episode "Heart Of Ice," Mister Freeze was a silly Silver Age villain with an ice gun and a gimmick. However, the episode transformed him into a tragic character, a change that would extend to the comics. Harvey Dent also got a reevaluation because of his BTAS episodes, causing fans to see Two-Face in a different light. John Stewart and Hawkgirl both reached new levels because of Justice League.
More recently, Harley Quinn introduced audiences to the bisexuality of Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, changing the way both were perceived. The DCAU has allowed fans to look at characters in new ways and changed some forever.
4 It Created Completely New Characters
The DCAU's biggest success story is Harley Quinn. Created for the BTAS episode "Joker's Favor" and voiced by Arlene Sorkin, Harley quickly became a fan favorite and would eventually move to the comics. In recent years, she's become one of the faces of DC in comics, movies, and TV. Batman Beyond introduced Terry McGinnis, another character that would move over to the comics.
The fact that the DCAU has created original characters that have had the type of popularity of Quinn or McGinnis is unprecedented. The closest analog is Agent Coulson but even his popularity pales in comparison to Quinn and McGinnis
3 The Music In The Shows Goes Beyond Just About Any Animated Show Ever
Batman: The Animated Series used Danny Elfman's theme from the 1989 Batman movie but beyond that, it used original orchestral scoring for just about every episode of the show. This perfectly complemented the art deco style of the animation, creating a unique experience for viewers. Throughout the Timmverse shows and beyond, the DCAU's music has always been of very high quality.
Just the fact that nearly every episode of BTAS contained at least one new orchestral piece was impressive but the caliber of music the DCAU brought to projects with much smaller budgets than movies set it apart from anything else.
2 It Created The Best Comic Adaptations
From the beginning with BTAS, the DCAU was adapting stories from the comics and doing it better than anyone else. This would continue throughout the Timmverse and beyond, with the DCAU adapting major DC storylines for animated movies. These adaptations became some of the most beloved and faithful comic adaptations ever.
The DCAU behind-the-camera talent, often bolstered by comic creators, has been able to create faithful adaptations that still bring something new to the table and drive viewers to comic stores instead of just to the next movie, like the MCU.
1 Batman: The Animated Series Is The Greatest Batman Adaptation Of All Time
Fandoms can get pretty stratified but the Batman fandom can all agree on one thing - Batman: The Animated Series is the greatest Batman adaptation of all time. The show did an amazing job of capturing everything that makes the Dark Knight special, from the pulse-pounding action, the chilling villains, and the core of sadness that makes it all tick.
Batman: The Animated Series is a singular achievement. It's such a brilliant adaptation that it often overshadows the comics and has become the default version of Batman for many fans. Everything about it still holds up to this day, almost thirty years after its debut.