''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' was doing well but eventually ended in 1995. As well, ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' started up in 1996 with a similar but streamlined art design and when ''The New Batman Adventures'' arrived in 1997 (explicitly a continuation of the prior series) a decision was made to simplify many character designs. This was a controversial move, although some characters were arguably improved (the Penguin, in particular, returned to his comic book look rather than the deformed one inspired by ''Batman Returns''). At the same time, the sophisticated, David Hyde Pierce-ish Riddler was transformed into Jim Carrey's decidedly less subtle version of the character from ''Batman Forever''.

With a Batman and Superman show airing simultaneously, the inevitable crossover occured with ''World's Finest'', which teamed Batman and Superman against the Joker and Lex Luthor, and the switch in art style made the cross much easier. A unified artstyle also greatly helped many of the DC Animated Universe shows later, which were either direct spinoffs of existing shows or discreetly and directly tied together.

It's generally accepted that the {{DCAU}} includes:
* ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''
** ''Batman: Mask of the Phantasm''
** ''Batman: Sub Zero''
** ''Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman''
* ''The New Batman Superman Adventures'' (The action block as advertised by TheWB)
* ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries''
* ''BatmanBeyond''
** ''Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker''
* ''TheZetaProject'' - [[SpinOff Spun off]] from ''Batman Beyond''
* ''StaticShock'' - via RetCon (Superman was a fictional character in early episodes)
* ''JusticeLeague'' and ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited''

...as well as the various movies and specials based on these.

The DCAU has ended production with the final episode of ''JusticeLeagueUnlimited'', and at this point no plans are made to do more series in it. However, there are other animated series and movies based on TheDCU that are often mistaken for being part of it.

Ironically, ''{{Freakazoid}}!'' was the first animated show to use this art style, yet does not fit into the DCAU for obvious reasons.

Standalone Animated Television Series that use DC characters:
* ''TeenTitans''- Despite its radically different art and writing style, and [[{{Understatement}} more than a few continuity issues]], has incited many a debate (or flame war) over its status as part of the 'verse. Various people on the project outright admitted it had not been written to explicitly fit into any other shows derived from TheDCU. (A particular headache-causing RedHerring was in the [=Batman/Joker=] crossover to ''StaticShock'' early in the combined continuity, where Batman says Robin's excuse for not being there is "the Titans. Don't ask.")
* ''KryptoTheSuperdog''- Another exception like Teen Titans; however Superman's character design in the first episode was taken from here, though various contradictions exclude the possibility of it having any continuity with the DCAU. For instance, Krypto & Streaky appear in ''SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', but the former is killed when Krypton explodes & the later is an ordinary housecat with no powers.
* ''TheBatman''- Explicitly a ContinuityReboot made by a different production team and significantly different art style.
* ''TheLegionOfSuperHeroes''- Was originally supposed to be a {{Spinoff}} from the DCAU (introduced via PoorlyDisguisedPilot) but later wound up with its own continuity and art-style while still maintaining AdaptationDistillation.
* ''BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold''- Explicitly a ContinuityReboot with a [[LighterAndSofter wildly different tone.]]

With the success of the ''Ultimate Avengers'' direct to video release and the failure of ''Superman: Brainiac Attacks'' (which featured a seriously derailed Lex Luthor) produced by another team, Bruce Timm's production crew was assigned to produce a number of original [=D2V=] films, adapting classic {{Story Arc}}s from TheDCU. So far these films have been praised for aiming the demographic much higher than the TV show universe. The only consistent complaint between them is the short running time of 70 minutes each.

Animated Movies
* ''Superman: Brainiac Attacks''- Uses the exact same art design and most of the same voice actors but intended as a different continuity. Meant as a promotional tie-in with ''{{Superman}} Returns''.
* ''[[SupermanDoomsday Superman: Doomsday]]''- An adaptation of ''The Death of Superman'', already been released and while it has been given mixed reviews it was a financial success.
* ''[[JusticeLeagueTheNewFrontier Justice League: The New Frontier]]''- An adaptation of the hugely successful comic series and a success both critically and financially.
* ''Batman: Gotham Knight''- A story loosely put together by individual stories each animated by a different {{anime}} production team, resulting in a wildly different ArtShift for each short. Meant as a vague prequel tie-in for ''TheDarkKnight''.
* ''WonderWoman''- A faithful and proper origin story, also successful.
* ''GreenLantern: First Flight'' - Origin story of Hal Jordan taking a "TrainingDay [[RecycledINSPACE IN SPACE]]'' spin on the material.
* ''[[SupermanBatmanPublicEnemies Superman/Batman: Public Enemies]]'' - An adaptation of the comic storyline using the DCAU's signature voice team, though not in its style or continuity.
* ''Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths'' - A forthcoming movie, scheduled for 2010 release, pitting the Justice League against their MirrorUniverse counterparts.
* A future ''TeenTitans'' movie closely adapting "The Judas Contract" storyline, apparently to be done in the standard DCAU style.

Video Games:
* Batman: Rise of Sun Tzu
* The Adventures of Batman and Robin
* [[DisContinuity Superman 64]]
* Superman: Shadows of Apokolips
* [[BatmanArkhamAsylum Batman: Arkham Asylum]]- While it doesn't have any direct connections to any prior continuity, it has strong DCAU ties being co-written by Paul Dini and uses the voices of Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill and Arleen Sorkin from ''BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''.

The DCAU is sometimes referred to as the "Timmverse" (after character designer Bruce Timm) or the "Diniverse" (after writer Paul Dini). Some purists contest "Timmverse" is more appropriate, as Bruce Timm has been the most consistent creative force in the various shows than Paul Dini, who left before the end of it. Rather more to the point, Dini is a writer, not a character designer. Timm, who ''is'' a character designer, is the one responsible for the "standard DCAU art style". On the other hand, the writing of the DCAU is as notable as the art, plus the name is catchier (having [[RuleOfThree three syllables]] and all). On the OTHER hand, Paul Dini was just the foremost of several writers and worked for Alan Burnett, who thus technically has more to do with the managing of the DCAU than Dini does.

The debate continues. Though it must be noted that "Diniverse" is a lot more fun to say.

The DCAU has [[{{NightmareFuel/DCAU}} Nightmare Fuel]] and [[{{CrowningMoment/DCAU}} Crowning Moments of Awesome.]]

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