History WesternAnimation / DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies

In the beginning, there were DCComics heroes, and it was good. Then there were the ''SuperFriends'' and [[DCComicsAnimated similar shows]], and the public was exposed to some of their favorite heroes in animation for the first time. In TheNineties we were introduced to them all over again with the DCAnimatedUniverse. Now we have the next era of animated excitement for Batman, Superman, and company. The DC Universe Animated Original Movies have the advantage of having 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 as continuity reboots once more with the next film. But considering most of the DCU films are based upon standalone graphic novels and miniseries - which themselves often existed in independent continuities - this is perhaps unavoidable.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueThroneOfAtlantis'': The Justice League must contend with an invasion led by Ocean Master, and get help from Aquaman and Mera. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/ThroneOfAtlantis'' and sequel to ''Justice League: War''.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'' (2014): A film set in the ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries Batman: Arkham]]'' universe. Several incarcerated supervillains are recruited into a unit named [[ComicBook/SuicideSquad Task Force X]] by Amanda Waller and tasked with getting back information that the Riddler stole, only for thing to go downhill when the Joker escapes and gets his hands on a dirty bomb.

* ''Justice League: Gods And Monsters'' (2015)

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueThroneOfAtlantis'': The Justice Leaguemust contend with an invasion led by Ocean Master, and get help from Aquaman and Mera. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/ThroneOfAtlantis'' and sequel to ''Justice League: War''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseTheSpectre DC Showcase: The Spectre]]'' (included with ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths]]''): Police detective Jim Corrigan investigates a mysterious murder in the '70s, intervening as the Spectre when the legal system fails.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseJonahHex DC Showcase: Jonah Hex]]'' (included with ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnderTheRedHood Batman: Under the Red Hood]]''): Wild West bounty hunter Jonah Hex investigates a potential bounty and contends with a murderous madame instead.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseGreenArrow DC Showcase: Green Arrow]]'' (included with ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanBatmanApocalypse Superman/Batman: Apocalypse]]''): Green Arrow defends Perdita, the child queen of Vlatava, from his rival Merlyn and hopeful usurper Count Vertigo.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanShazamTheReturnOfBlackAdam Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam]]'' (released as its own DVD along with extended versions of the above): Plucky orphan Billy Batson becomes Captain Marvel, champion of the wizard Shazam, just in time to team up with Superman to stop the previous champion turned evil, Black Adam.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseCatwoman DC Showcase: Catwoman]]'' (included with ''[[ComicBook/BatmanYearOne Batman: Year One]]''): Catwoman cruises around Gotham and takes down a diamond smuggling ring, but not before taking a detour to impersonate a stripper.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanDoomsday Superman: Doomsday]]'' (2007): Superman has a fatal encounter with a mysterious monster known as Doomsday. An adaptation of ''[[ComicBook/TheDeathOfSuperman The Death and Return of Superman]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamKnight Batman: Gotham Knight]]'' (2008): Batman takes on several supervillains in a series of vignettes set in the [[Film/TheDarkKnightSaga Nolan film universe]].

* ''[[WesternAnimation/GreenLanternFirstFlight Green Lantern: First Flight]]'' (2009): An alternate telling of Hal Jordan's origin as Green Lantern, depicting his induction into the Corps as he and his mentor Sinestro are embroiled in a conspiracy to take down Oa using the Yellow Element.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanBatmanPublicEnemies Superman/Batman: Public Enemies]]'' (2009): Lex Luthor becomes President of the United States and puts a bounty on Superman's head after framing him for the murder of Secret Service agent Metallo. An adaptation of ''[[ComicBook/SupermanBatman Superman/Batman: Public Enemies]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths]]'' (2010): Upon the discovery of a MirrorUniverse where Lex Luthor leads a band of freedom fighters and the world cowers in fear of the superpowered Crime Syndicate, the Justice League of America must venture across the dimensional barrier to save both worlds from the Crime Syndicate's machinations.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanUnderTheRedHood Batman: Under the Red Hood]]'' (2010): A mysterious figure claiming the Joker's original ''nom de guerre'' from before his chemical bath emerges in Gotham and attempts to take down the city's underworld from the inside out, taunting Batman all the while. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/{{Batman}} Batman: Under the Hood]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanBatmanApocalypse Superman/Batman: Apocalypse]]'' (2010): Superman's teenage cousin from Krypton arrives and is taught the ways of Earth by Superman. Darkseid, seeing an opportunity, attempts to acquire her as a pawn. An adaptation of ''[[Comicbook/SupermanBatman Superman/Batman: Supergirl]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/AllStarSuperman All-Star Superman]]'' (2011): When overexposure to the sun spells Superman's imminent death, he takes time to set his affairs in order while Luthor continues to scheme. An adaptation of ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/GreenLanternEmeraldKnights Green Lantern: Emerald Knights]]'' (2011): A new recruit to the Green Lantern Corps is told of the history of the Corps through a series of vignettes telling the tales of various notable Green Lanterns across time and space.
* ''[[ComicBook/BatmanYearOne Batman: Year One]]'' (2011): Bruce Wayne returns from his life of training to attempt to solve the problem of crime in Gotham while Jim Gordon contends with deep corruption in the police department. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/BatmanYearOne''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom Justice League: Doom]]'' (2012): Contingency plans developed by Batman, designed to disable every member of the Justice League of America, are stolen and given a fatal twist by a cabal of supervillains. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA: Tower of Babel]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanVsTheElite Superman vs. The Elite]]'' (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/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]]'' ([[MovieMultipack 2012, 2013]]): An elderly Batman must come out of retirement when an enormous street gang threatens to tear Gotham apart. A two-part adaptation of ''[[Comicbook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanUnbound Superman: Unbound]]'' (2013): An alien cyborg known as Brainiac appears and attempts to shrink and steal the entire city of Metropolis in a repeat of what occurred to Kandor on Krypton. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Superman: Brainiac]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]]'' (2013): One morning, the Flash wakes up to find himself in an alternate timeline where he is powerless, Batman freely uses lethal force, Superman is nowhere to be found, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman threaten the world with an all-out war between their nations. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar Justice League: War]]'' (2014): Batman and Green Lantern discover an impending invasion of Earth by Apokolips and put together a team of superheroes to stop it. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]]: [[ComicBook/{{New 52}} Origin]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman Son of Batman]]'' (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]]''.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'' (2014): A film set in the ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries Batman: Arkham]]'' universe. Several incarcerated supervillains are recruited into a unit named [[ComicBook/SuicideSquad Task Force X]] by Amanda Waller and tasked with preventing the Joker from detonating a dirty bomb in Gotham.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham'' (2014): A film set in the ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries Batman: Arkham]]'' universe.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar Justice League: War]]'' (2014): Batman and Green Lantern discover an impending invasion of Earth by Apokolips and put together a team of superheroes to stop it. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League: Origin]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham Batman: Assault on Arkham]]'' (2014): A film set in the ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries Batman: Arkham]]'' universe.

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

In the beginning, there were DCComics heroes, and it was good. Then there were the ''SuperFriends'' and [[DCComicsAnimated similar shows]], and the public was exposed to some of their favorite heroes in animation for the first time. In TheNineties we were introduced to them all over again with the DCAnimatedUniverse. Now we have the next era of animated excitement for Batman, Superman, and company. The DC Universe Animated Original Movies have the advantage of having independent continuities, allowing the creative team of each to experiment with new voice actors, art styles, and so forth.

Several films also come with an installment of ''DC Showcase'', a companion series of shorts featuring lesser-known characters such as TheSpectre, GreenArrow, and ComicBook/JonahHex.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseCatwoman DC Showcase: Catwoman]]'' (included with ''[[ComicBook/BatmanYearOne Batman: Year One]]''): Catwoman cruises around Gotham and takes down a diamond smuggling ring.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamKnight Batman: Gotham Knight]]'' (2008): Batman takes on several supervillains in a series of vignettes inspired by the [[Film/TheDarkKnightSaga Nolan film universe]].

* ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamKnight Batman: Gotham Knight]]'' (2008): Batman takes on several supervillains in a series of vignettes set in the [[Film/TheDarkKnightSaga Nolan film universe]].

* ''[[WesternAnimation/GreenLanternEmeraldKnights Green Lantern: Emerald Knights]]'' (2011): A series of vignettes telling the tales of various notable Green Lanterns across time and space.
* ''[[ComicBook/BatmanYearOne Batman: Year One]]'' (2011): Bruce Wayne attempts to solve the problem of crime in Gotham while Jim Gordon contends with deep corruption in the police department. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/BatmanYearOne''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]]'' ([[MovieMultipack 2012, 2013]]): An elderly Batman must come out of retirement when an enormous street gang threatens to tear Gotham apart. An adaptation of ''[[Comicbook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns Batman: The Dark Knight Returns]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar Justice League: War]]'' (2014): Batman discovers an impending invasion of Earth by Apokolips and puts together a team of superheroes to stop it. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League: Origin]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueWar Justice League: War]]'' (TBA): Batman discovers an impending invasion of Earth by Apokolips and puts together a team of superheroes to stop it. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League: Origin]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman Son of Batman]]'' (TBA): 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]]''.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanAssaultOnArkham Batman: Assault on Arkham]]'' (TBA): A film set in the ''[[VideoGame/BatmanArkhamSeries Batman: Arkham]]'' universe.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom Justice League: Doom]]'' (2012): Contingency plans developed by Batman and designed to disable every member of the Justice League of America are stolen and given a fatal twist by a cabal of supervillains. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA: Tower of Babel]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/AllStarSuperman All-Star Superman]]'' (2011): When overexposure to the sun spells Superman's imminent death, he takes time to set his affairs in order while Luthor continues to scheme. An adaptation of ''AllStarSuperman''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman Son of Batman]]'' (TBA): Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia, appears to Batman to leave in his care their unrevealed child, Damian Wayne. An adaptation of ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman & Son]]''.

Several films also come with an installment of ''DC Showcase'', a companion series of shorts featuring lesser-known characters such as {{Catwoman}}, TheSpectre, GreenArrow, ComicBook/JonahHex, and [[{{Shazam}} Captain Marvel]].

* ''[[WesternAnimation/SonOfBatman Son of Batman]]'' (TBA): Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia, reveals to Batman that they have had a child, Damian Wawyne, whom she has been training with the League of Assassins, and leaves the boy in Batman's care. An adaptation of ''[[ComicBook/GrantMorrisonsBatman Batman & Son]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanUnbound Superman: Unbound]]'' (2013): An alien cyborg known as Brainiac appears and attempts to shrink and steal the entire city of Metropolis in a repeat of what occurred to Kandor on Kyypton. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Superman: Brainiac]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanUnbound Superman: Unbound]]'' (2013): An alien cyborg known as Brainiac appears and attempts to shrink and steal the entire city of Metropolis in a repeat of what occurred to Supergirl's hometown of Kandor. An adaptation of ''[[Franchise/{{Superman}} Superman: Brainiac]]''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]]'' (2013): The Flash attempts to go back in time to save his mother's life, only to find himself in an alternate timeline where Batman freely uses lethal force, Superman is nowhere to be found, and Wonder Woman and Aquaman threaten the world with an all-out war between their nations. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/DCShowcaseTheSpectre DC Showcase: The Spectre]]'' (included with ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths]]''): Police detective Jim Corrigan investigates a mysterious murder in the '70s.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]]'' (2013): The Flash attempts to go back in time to save his mother's life, only to find himself in an alternate timeline where Cyborg is the world's most beloved hero, Superman is nowhere to be found, and the world is on the brink of destruction thanks to an all-out war between Atlantis and the Amazons. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}''.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/SupermanShazamTheReturnOfBlackAdam Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam]]'' (released as its own DVD along with extended versions of the above): Plucky orphan Billy Batson becomes Captain Marvel, champion of the wizard Shazam, just in time to stop the previous champion turned evil, Black Adam, with the help of Superman.

* ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox]]'' (July 2013): The Flash attempts to go back in time to save his mother's life, only to find himself in an alternate timeline where Cyborg is the world's most beloved hero, Superman is nowhere to be found, and the world is on the brink of destruction thanks to an all-out war between Atlantis and the Amazons. An adaptation of ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}''.