History WesternAnimation / DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies

* ''WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseKamandi''(included with ''WesternAnimation/JusticeSocietyWorldWarII''): Kamandi and his friends Prince Tuftan of the Tiger Kingdom and humanoid mutant Ben Boxer are kidnapped by a gorilla cult dedicated to finding the reincarnation of their god, The Mighty One. Golgan, the cult’s leader, puts Kamandi’s team through a series of deadly tests to find if any of them know the secret of … The Mighty One.
* ''DC Showcase: The Losers''(included with ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheLongHalloween'' Part One): Captain Storm, Johnny Cloud, “Mile-a Minute” Jones, rookie Gunner and Sarge – find themselves marooned on an uncharted island in the South Pacific that is completely overrun with dinosaurs.
* ''DC Showcase: Blue Beetle''(included with ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheLongHalloween'' Part Two): Starring Jaime Reyes.

Another notable aspect of the films is that some are more DarkerAndEdgier than any preceding animation. PG-13 ratings for violence are common and sensuality is ramped up as well. Several films have come close to being rated R before edits, [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke but]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark only]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight five]] [[WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay films]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar and]] [[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseBatmanDeathInTheFamily one short]] have gotten the R rating so far.

* ''Batman: The Long Halloween'' (2021): A two-parter adapting [[ComicBook/TheLongHalloween the comic of the same name]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanManOfTomorrow'' (2020): An Superman origin story.

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanManOfTomorrow'' (2020): An original story featuring a young Superman early in his career.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeSociety:WorldWarII'' (2021): A movie about the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica getting involved in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeSocietyWorldWarII'' (2021): A movie about the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica getting involved in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.

* ''Justice Society: World War II'' (2021): A movie about the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica getting involved in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII.

* ''WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman'' (2014): omicBook/RasAlGhul's daughter, ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul, appears to Batman to reveal that she and Batman have had a child named Damian, and leaves him in his care. An adaptation of ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman & Son]]'' and the second movie in the New 52 AU.

* ''WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman'' (2014): Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia, appears to Batman to reveal that she and Batman have had a child named Damian, and leaves him in his care. An adaptation of ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman & Son]]'' and the second movie in the New 52 AU.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanVsRobin'': (2015) Sequel to ''WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman''. While investigating a crime, Robin runs into a mysterious figure, Talon, who takes him down a rabbithole leading to a secret society known as the Court of Owls. A very loose adaptation of ''ComicBook/NightOfTheOwls''. The fourth movie in the New 52 AU.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansTheJudasContract'' (2017): An adaptation of the [[ComicBook/TheJudasContract comic of the same name]]. After languishing in develpment hell, it has been reworked into the New 52 AU continuity, making it the eighth movie of the line.

* ''Anime/BatmanNinja'' (2018): An original story about a time displaced Batman and co in feudal Japan. First movie to be animated in CGI and made specifically for the Japanese audience.

* ''WesternAnimation/ReignOfTheSupermen'' (2019): Followup to the former and adapts [[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman the story arc of the same name]]. Like its predecessor, it works the original story-line into the New 52 animated unvierse.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanSoulOfTheDragon'' (2021): An original story set in TheSeventies where Batman must join up with three martial arts experts to combat an enemy from his past.

* WesternAnimation/DeathstrokeKnightsAndDragons: Another [[Creator/TheCW CW Seed]] series, focusing on the [[ComicBook/{{Deathstroke}} eponymous mercenary]]. Later compiled into full length R rated movie.

* ''Batman: Soul of the Dragon'' (2021): An original story set in TheSeventies where Batman must join up with three martial arts experts to combat an enemy from his past.

Many of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies[[note]]Later installments since around 2015 or so have dropped "Animated" from the series title[[/note]] have the advantage of having [[AlternateContinuity independent continuities,]] allowing the creative team of each to experiment with new voice actors, art styles, and so forth. This approach has been criticized, particularly if a certain portrayal of a character is popular with viewers, only for it never to be seen again. While several of the films are adapted from notable storylines from the "main" (at the time) ''ComicBook/PostCrisis'' comics continuity with several liberties taken, others feature an original premise such as origin stories for Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, and relatively recent films are based on iconic standalone graphic novels and miniseries like ''ComicBook/DCTheNewFrontier'' and ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' - which themselves often existed in independent continuities. However, starting with ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar'', a significant number of films have shared continuity, adapting material from DC's "main" (at the time) ComicBook/New52 universe.[[note]]The end of the previous film ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox'' is supposed to be the reason why, like in [[ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} its comics source]]. But ''Flashpoint Paradox'' barely hints at it, and the New 52-based films have their own different character designs.[[/note]] This continuity, which we'll call the WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse, also combines the ''New 52'' with ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' and ''Post-Crisis'' elements in order to become its own thing.

Another notable aspect of the films is many of them are DarkerAndEdgier than the television cartoons. PG-13 ratings for violence are common and sensuality is ramped up as well. Several films have come close to being rated R before edits, [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke but]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark only]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight five]] [[WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay films]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar and]] [[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseBatmanDeathInTheFamily one short]] have gotten the R rating so far.

DC has also produced ''DC Showcase'', a companion series of shorts featuring often lesser-known characters such as ComicBook/TheSpectre, ComicBook/GreenArrow, and ComicBook/JonahHex, as well as some better-known characters like ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}. The shorts are usually included as bonus items on the DVD and Blu-ray releases.

Several of these animated works more or less reflect the individual artists of their comic book sources, like Darwyn Cooke for ''The New Frontier'' and Creator/FrankMiller for ''The Dark Knight Returns'', and an AnthologyFilm, ''Batman: Gotham Knight'', was even made by multiple anime studios for DC. Many other works show strong [[TimmStyle influence]] from Creator/BruceTimm, the main artist behind the DCAU who maintains a supervisor/producer role and returns to art duties for a few of them. In particular, the New 52-based films and the DC Showcase shorts have a consistent blend of TimmStyle and {{Animesque}} mainly from artist Phil Bourassa, who also did the DC TV series ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', often paired with the animation of companies like Creator/DrMovie, Creator/MoiAnimation, Creator/Studio4C and Creator/TheAnswerStudio. This may not be immediately apparent, as the box art for the movies tends to have a completely different art style from the movies themselves, especially in recent years.

Another notable aspect of the films is many of them are DarkerAndEdgier than the television cartoons. PG-13 ratings for violence are common and sensuality is ramped up as well. Several films have come close to being rated R before edits, [[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke but]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDark only]] [[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamByGaslight five]] [[WesternAnimation/SuicideSquadHellToPay films]] [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar have]] gotten the R rating so far.

* ''[[ComicBook/DCTheNewFrontier Justice League: The New Frontier]]'' (2008): Amid the political backdrop of the RedScare, Korean War veteran Hal Jordan becomes the superhero Green Lantern and cooperates with several other heroes to take down a colossal monster. An mostly faithful adaptation of ''[[Comicbook/DCTheNewFrontier DC: The New Frontier]]''.

* ''WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseAdamStrange'' (included with ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDarkApokolipsWar''): A man who's lost anything finds himself on another world, where he's dismissed by the people who work in the mines -- until the miners accidentally unleash monsters.

Many of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies[[note]]Later installments since around 2015 or so have dropped "Animated" from the series title[[/note]] have the advantage of having [[AlternateContinuity independent continuities,]] allowing the creative team of each to experiment with new voice actors, art styles, and so forth. This approach has been criticized, particularly if a certain portrayal of a character is popular with viewers, only for it never to be seen again. While several of the films were adapted from notable storylines from the ''ComicBook/PostCrisis'' comics continuity with several liberties taken, others featuring an original premise, such as origin stories for Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, and relatively recent films are based on iconic standalone graphic novels and miniseries like ''ComicBook/DCTheNewFrontier'' and ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' - which themselves often existed in independent continuities. However, starting with ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar'', a significant number of films have shared continuity, adapting material from DC's ComicBook/New52 universe.[[note]]The end of the previous film ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox'' is supposed to be the reason why, like in [[ComicBook/{{Flashpoint}} its comics source]]. But ''Flashpoint Paradox'' barely hints at it, and the New 52-based films have their own different character designs.[[/note]] This continuity, which we'll call the WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse, also combines the ''New 52'' with ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' and ''Post-Crisis'' elements in order to become its own thing.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanReturnOfTheCapedCrusaders'' (2016): A [[MilestoneCelebration 50th anniversary homage]] to the [[Series/Batman1966 1960s series]] starring Creator/AdamWest, with some of its cast reprising their roles, West, Creator/BurtWard, and Creator/JulieNewmar included.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansTheJudasContract'' (2017): An adaptation of the [[ComicBook/TheJudasContract comic of the same name]]. After languishing in DevelopmentHell, it has been reworked into the New 52 AU continuity, making it the eighth movie of the line.

* ''Batman: The Long Halloween'' (2021): A two-parter adapting [[ComicBook/BatmanTheLongHalloween the comic of the same name]].

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite'' (2012): Superman is forced to question his methods when a team of superheroes who are willing to kill makes their debut to worldwide approval. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Superman: What's So Funny About Truth, Justice & the American Way?]]''

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueVsTheFatalFive'' (2019): An original movie involving [[ExactlywhatItSaysOnTheTin the Justice League]] [[RoguesGalleryTransplant taking on]] [[ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes the Fatal Five]]. It is the second film in the line to use the DCAU animation and Bruce Timm's involvement, and it is confirmed canon to that universe, albeit set sometime after ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' and before ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', introducing the ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes, [[ComicBook/GreenLanterns Jessica Cruz]], and [[ComicBook/MartianManhunter Miss Martian]] into that series.

* ''Batman: Death in the Family'' (2020): An adaptation of ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'', this release will mark the studios first dive into interactive film, [[MythologyGag probably as a nod to how Jason's fate was originally decided]].