Warner Bros. Animation is the successor to the very studio behind Looney Tunes and its companion series, Merrie Melodies. Founded in 1980 after the success of The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie from Chuck Jones, Warner Bros. decided to reopen their own animation division in response to that and reintroduce Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and many of its animated characters to the general public, eventually branching out to non-Looney Tunes productions in 1992 starting with Batman: The Animated Series (which in turn opened the floodgates for WBA to produce a series of DC Comics adaptations colloquially known as the DC Animated Universe). WBA also produces material based on programs from Hanna-Barbera (including a long-running revival of Scooby-Doo as multiple series and direct-to-video films) as well as later incarnations of Tom and Jerry. In 2022, the development and production teams of WBA were merged with those of Cartoon Network Studios; the companies retain separate on-air identities as the CNS brand is used for original programs and adaptions of their legacy programs.
Warner Bros. also produces animated feature films, which are currently released under the label of "Warner Bros. Pictures Animation" (formerly known as Warner Animation Group), which reports to the studio's feature film group seperately from WBA. After a series of mostly unsuccessful films in the 1990s and early 2000s, Warner Bros. closed down its in-house feature animation division (resulting in the Television Animation arm becoming WB Animation as it's known today), only to reopen it in the 2010s after the success of The LEGO Movie. WBPA has since produced original films as well as adaptations of Hanna-Barbera, Looney Tunes, and DC Comics characters.
In addition to producing works itself, Warner Bros. Animation is also responsible for managing the vast animation back catalog of its parent studio, which among others includes the original Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies catalog, the cartoons of the original Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer animation studio and works derived from them, most of the Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears libraries, and the Popeye theatrical cartoons originally released by Paramount. It also manages WB's rights to films produced by third-party animation studios but nonetheless released by WB.
List of properties created by Warner Bros. Animation:
Animated Shows
- Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-95)
- Taz-Mania (1991-95)
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-95)
- Animaniacs (1993-98)
- The Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries (1995)
- Pinky and the Brain (1995-98)
- Freakazoid! (1995-97)
- Road Rovers (1996-97)
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996-00)
- Waynehead (1996-97, co-production with Nelvana)
- The New Batman Adventures (1997-99; broadcast as The New Batman/Superman Adventures)
- Histeria! (1998-00)
- Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain (1998-99)
- Batman Beyond (1999-01)
- Detention (1999-00)
- Lobo (Webseries) (2000)
- Gotham Girls (2000-2002)
- Static Shock (2000-04)
- The Zeta Project (2001-02)
- Justice League (2001-03)
- Justice League Unlimited (2004-06)
- ¡Mucha Lucha! (2002-05)
- Baby Looney Tunes (2002-05)
- What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2002-05)
- Ozzy & Drix (2002-04)
- Cartoon Monsoon (2003-04)
- Teen Titans (2003-06)
- Duck Dodgers (2003-05)
- Xiaolin Showdown (2003-06)
- The Batman (2004-08)
- Krypto the Superdog (2005-06)
- Firehouse Tales (2005)
- Johnny Test (2005; first two seasons only, Cookie Jar Entertainment took over afterwards)
- Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island (2005-06)
- Loonatics Unleashed (2005-06)
- Tom and Jerry Tales (2006-08)
- Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue! (2006-08)
- Legion of Super Heroes (2006-08)
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-11)
- Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010-13)
- MAD (2010-13)
- Young Justice (2010) (2010-13; 2019; 2021-22)
- The Looney Tunes Show (2011-13)
- Thunder Cats 2011 (2011-12; co-production with Studio 4°C)
- Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2012-13)
- DC Nation Shorts (2012-13)
- Plastic Man (2013)
- Teen Titans Go! (2013-)
- Beware the Batman (2013-14)
- The Tom and Jerry Show (2014) (2014-21; co-production with Renegade Animation)
- Mike Tyson Mysteries (2014-20)
- Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Production (2015-20; renamed New Looney Tunes for season two)
- DC Super Hero Girls (2015)
- Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! (2015-18)
- Bunnicula (2016-18)
- Right Now Kapow (2016-17)
- Justice League Action (2016-18)
- Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (2017-20)
- Wacky Races (2017) (2017-19)
- Unikitty! (2017-20; co-production with The Lego Group)
- DC Super Hero Girls (2019-21)
- Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? (2019-21)
- Green Eggs and Ham (2019-22)
- Harley Quinn (2019) (2019-)
- Looney Tunes Cartoons (2020-23)
- ThunderCats Roar (2020)
- Animaniacs (2020) (2020-23)
- Tom and Jerry in New York (2021)
- Yabba Dabba Dinosaurs (2021)
- Jellystone! (2021-)
- Little Ellen (2021)
- Batwheels (2022-)
- Bugs Bunny Builders (2022-)
- Velma (2023-)
- Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai (2023-)
- My Adventures with Superman (2023-)
- Tiny Toons Looniversity (2023-)
- Tooned Out (TBA)
- Tom and Jerry Junior (TBA)
- Tweety Mysteries (TBA)
- Untitled The Night Begins to Shine series (TBA)
- Unlimited Squirrels (TBA)
- Wings of Fire (TBA) — Co-production with Netflix
- Bedrock (TBA)
- Batman: Caped Crusader (TBA)
Animated Films
- Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (1992)
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
- Space Jam (1996)
- Cats Don't Dance (1997; inherited from Turner Feature Animation)
- Quest for Camelot (1998)
- The Iron Giant (1999)
- Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998)
- Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island (1998)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost (1999)
- Wakko's Wish (1999)
- Tweety's High Flying Adventure (2000)
- Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders (2000)
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
- Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase (2001)
- Tom and Jerry: The Magic Ring (2001)
- Osmosis Jones (2001)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Legend of the Vampire (2003)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Monster of Mexico (2003)
- Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)
- Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Loch Ness Monster (2004)
- Kangaroo Jack: G'Day U.S.A.! (2004)
- Mucha Lucha: The Return Of El Malefico (2004)
- Tom and Jerry: Blast Off to Mars (2005)
- Aloha, Scooby-Doo! (2005)
- Tom and Jerry: The Fast and the Furry (2005)
- The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)
- Scooby-Doo in Where’s My Mummy? (2005)
- Scooby Doo! Pirates Ahoy! (2006)
- Tom and Jerry: Shiver Me Whiskers (2006)
- Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006)
- Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006)
- Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas (2006)
- Chill Out, Scooby-Doo! (2007)
- Superman: Doomsday (2007)
- Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale (2007)
- Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
- Batman: Gotham Knight (2008)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King (2008)
- Wonder Woman (2009)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Samurai Sword (2009)
- Green Lantern: First Flight (2009)
- Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)
- Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo (2010)
- Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
- Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)
- Tom and Jerry Meet Sherlock Holmes (2010)
- Scooby-Doo: Camp Scare (2010)
- Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010)
- All-Star Superman (2011)
- Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011)
- Tom and Jerry and the Wizard of Oz (2011)
- Scooby-Doo! Legend of the Phantosaur (2011)
- Batman: Year One (2011)
- Justice League: Doom (2012)
- Scooby-Doo! Music of the Vampire (2012)
- Superman vs. the Elite (2012)
- Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2012/2013) — Film was released in two-parts
- Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse (2012)
- Big Top Scooby-Doo! (2012)
- Scooby-Doo! Mask of the Blue Falcon (2013)
- Superman Unbound (2013)
- LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes (2013-present)
- Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map (2013) — Currently the studio's only production to mainly use puppetry
- Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox (2013)
- Tom and Jerry's Giant Adventure (2013)
- Scooby-Doo! Stage Fright (2013)
- The LEGO Movie (2014) (as Warner Animation Group)
- JLA Adventures: Trapped In Time (2014)
- Justice League: War (2014)
- Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery (2014)
- Son of Batman (2014)
- Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)
- Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy (2014)
- Tom and Jerry: The Lost Dragon (2014)
- Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (2015)
- Scooby-Doo! Moon Monster Madness (2015)
- The Flintstones: Stone Age SmackDown! (2015)
- Batman vs. Robin (2015)
- Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts (2015)
- Tom and Jerry: Spy Quest (2015)
- Scooby-Doo! and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery (2015)
- Justice League: Gods and Monsters (2015)
- Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run (2015)
- Batman Unlimited: Monster Mayhem (2015)
- Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
- Justice League vs. Teen Titans (2016)
- LEGO Scooby-Doo! Haunted Hollywood (2016)
- Tom and Jerry: Back to Oz (2016)
- Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
- Scooby-Doo! and the WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon (2016)
- DC Super Hero Girls Hero Of The Year (2016)
- Batman Unlimited: Mechs Vs. Mutants (2016)
- Storks (2016) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016)
- The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Justice League Dark (2017)
- Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown (2017)
- The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania! (2017)
- Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017)
- DC Super Hero Girls Inter Galactic Games (2017)
- Tom and Jerry: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (2017)
- LEGO Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash (2017)
- Lego DC Super Hero Girls Brain Drain (2017)
- Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
- The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
- Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018)
- Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018)
- Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay (2018)
- Batman Ninja (2018)
- Lego DC Super Hero Girls Super Villain High (2018)
- The Death of Superman (2018)
- Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Gourmet Ghost (2018)
- DC Super Hero Girls Legends Of Atlantis (2018)
- Smallfoot (2018) (as Warner Animation Group)
- The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Reign of the Supermen (2019)
- Scooby-Doo! and the Curse of the 13th Ghost (2019)
- Justice League vs. The Fatal Five (2019)
- Batman vs. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019) — Co-production with Nickelodeon
- Batman: Hush (2019)
- Scooby-Doo: Return to Zombie Island (2019)
- Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans (2019)
- Wonder Woman: Bloodlines (2019)
- Superman: Red Son (2020)
- Mortal Kombat Legends:
- Scorpion's Revenge (2020)
- Battle of the Realms (2021)
- Snow Blind (2022)
- Cage Match (2023)
- Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)
- SCOOB! (2020) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons (2020)
- Superman: Man of Tomorrow (2020)
- Happy Halloween, Scooby-Doo! (2020)
- DC Showcase – Batman: Death in the Family (2020)
- Batman: Soul of the Dragon (2021)
- Scooby-Doo! The Sword and the Scoob (2021)
- Tom & Jerry (2021) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Justice Society: World War II (2021)
- Batman: The Long Halloween (2021) — Film was released in two-parts
- Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Teen Titans Go! See Space Jam (2021)
- Straight Outta Nowhere: Scooby-Doo! meets Courage the Cowardly Dog (2021)
- Injustice (2021)
- Catwoman: Hunted (2022)
- Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022)
- Teen Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse (2022)
- King Tweety (2022)
- DC League of Super-Pets (2022) (as Warner Animation Group)
- Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo! (2022)
- Batman And Superman Battle Of The Super Sons (2022)
- Legion of Super-Heroes (2023)
- Justice League × RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen (2023)
- Babylon 5: The Road Home (2023)
- Justice League: Warworld (2023)
- Urkel Saves Santa: The Movie! (2023)
- Merry Little Batman (2023)
- Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths (2024)
- Coyote vs. ACME (TBA)
- The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (2024)
- The Cat in the Hat (2026)
- Bye Bye Bunny: A Looney Tunes Musical (TBA)
Subcontracting work:
- After the Sunset (visual effects)
- The Astronaut Farmer (visual effects)
- Baby Blues (produced animation on 8 episodes of animated series from WB Television)
- Birds of Prey (2020) (opening titles)
- Curious George (digital production services; with Yowza! Animation, Wang Film Productions, Sunwoo Entertainment, Toon City, Mercury Filmworks, Project Firefly, James Baxter Animation, July Films, Neomis Animation and FatCat Animation)
- The Dukes of Hazzard (visual effects)
- Eight Crazy Nights (digital production services; with Bardel Entertainment, A. Film, Golden Bell, Y.R. Studio, Tama Productions, Anvil Animation, Yowza!, Time Lapse Studios, Marina Motion Animation and Spaff Animation Incorporated)
- Fat Albert (animation sequence; with Yeson Entertainment, Yowza!, Mercury Filmworks and FatCat)
- Four Brothers (visual effects)
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch (Looney Tunes sequence)
- Rumor Has It... (visual effects)
- Scooby-Doo (animation for creatures and Scrappy-Rex)
- Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed (visual effects)
- The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (digital production services; with Rough Draft Studios)
- The Suicide Squad (opening titles)