History Franchise / DCAnimatedUniverse

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths'': originated as a {{midquel}} between Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, but decided to turn it into an original story with original character designs. The overall script was unchanged, though, and the story connections are obvious.

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanBrainiacAttacks'': a tie-in work for ''Film/SupermanReturns''. The production team used the Superman TAS character designs and many of the same voice actors, but otherwise has no connection to the series story arc (Brainiac is treated as his first appearance).
* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanDoomsday'': The TimmStyle was used in this film, but the specific character designs are different (Lois Lane, most obviously) and has a darker color palette.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueGodsAndMonsters'' was personally overseen by Bruce Timm and uses his art style, but it's an AlternateUniverse-style story with re-imagined characters, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman are all different people, for instance.

''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' began first, intended as something of a tie-in with ''Film/BatmanReturns'' but with its own distinct canon and take on the mythos and airing on the Fox Kids network. The high quality animation, scripting and voice work received near instant praise, helping to redefine Batman to the general public as neither the campy Creator/AdamWest ''Series/{{Batman}}'' or the ultra dark Creator/MichaelKeaton ''Film/{{Batman}}'', but as someone who often has to protect his RoguesGallery from themselves. The specific character design is referred to as TimmStyle, and has been very influential with elements based on it seen in many western animation action shows. After 85 episodes over 3 seasons ([[SixtyFiveEpisodeCartoon 65 episodes in the first season]] alone, generally unheard of) the show ended in 1995. Soon afterward, the same creators went on to make ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' for the Kids WB network, featuring a similar but more streamlined art style. When the license to BTAS on Fox Kids expired, they went on to make a SequelSeries called ''The New Batman Adventures'', which in practice was more of a {{revival}} and featured a massive art redesign to match up with STAS.

The inevitable crossover occurred with ''World's Finest'', which teamed Batman and Superman against the Joker and ComicBook/LexLuthor and firmly placed them in a SharedUniverse. After several more crossovers, both shows ended about the same time in 1999, when ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' came on to take their place. While initially diversive for its premise as a teenage Batman in the future mentored by an elderly Bruce Wayne, ''Beyond'' was able to continue the legacy of the prior shows and had many standout moments of its own. In fact, an episode featuring a future version of the ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague'' proved popular enough that Cartoon Network made an order for the production to create ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' in 2001. For this new show Justice League introduces what can be considered a third TimmStyle revamp, an attempt to include more individuality between characters that was lost with the streamlined design. With two seasons showcasing seven core members of the league, the production staff made a massive retool for the following season to include dozens of characters never before seen in the DCAU, rebranding itself ''Justice League Unlimited''. After another couple of seasons, reaching the absolute height of ambition to showcase the entire DC Comics roster, the DCAU officially ended in 2006.

The DC Animated Universe ended production with the final episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited''. However, its influence continues to this day both in Comics and WesternAnimation, and due to the distinct art style of the 'verse (aka TimmStyle) being applied to later animated adaptations of Franchise/TheDCU, other properties are frequently and incorrectly cited as part of the DCAU. It is also partially responsible for most of Warner Bros. Animation's production having a Latin American Dub produced in Venezuela. The WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies is something of a SpiritualSuccessor, featuring many of the same production staff with a similar design aesthetic and story tone, but are mostly in their own self-contained universes. Some of these works are extremely close to the DCAU in some fashion, but ultimately in an AlternateContinuity all the same:

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndHarleyQuinn'' was personally overseen by Bruce Timm and uses the same character designs, although the tone of the film is much more adult. Timm himself has said that for all intents it IS a part of the DCAU.

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See also:
+ WesternAnimation/DCComicsAnimated
+ WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies
]

The ''DC Animated Universe'' (''DCAU'' for short) is a group of animated series based on Creator/DCComics characters and, unlike [[WesternAnimation/DCComicsAnimated other DC adaptations]], all sharing the same continuity.

** ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndHarleyQuinn'' was personally overseen by Bruce Timm and uses the same character designs, although the tone of the film is much more adult. Timm himself has said that for all intents it IS a part of the DCAU.

There are two other shows that take place in the same universe but are considered more of on the fringe than being a core series. The first is ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'', based on the comics character ''ComicBook/{{Static}}'' and initially taking place in its own continuity (there is a reference to Superman as a fictional character in an early episode) but eventually having modern day Batman, modern day Justice League and Batman Beyond via TimeTravel appearances, and he appears in ''Justice League Unlimited'' in another time travel story. The second is ''WesternAnimation/TheZetaProject'', which was a SpinOff inspired by [[PoorlyDisguisedPilot a standalone episode]] of ''Beyond'' about a shapeshifting android assassin gaining a conscience and his struggles to avoid his handlers who want to reprogram him, unique in that it features entirely original characters and stories, excepting a later ''Batman Beyond'' crossover. Neither show was as successful as the primary shows, but had its fans.

The DC Animated Universe ended production with the final episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited''. However, its influence continues to this day both in Comics and WesternAnimation, and due to the distinct art style of the 'verse (aka TimmStyle) being applied to later animated adaptations of Franchise/TheDCU, other properties are frequently and incorrectly cited as part of the DCAU. It is also partially responsible for most of Warner Bros. Animation's production having a Latin American Dub produced in Venezuela. The WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies is something of a SpiritualSuccessor, featuring many of the same production staff with a similar design aesthetic and story tone, but are mostly in their own self-contained universes.

Timm has [[http://comicbook.com/dc/2017/07/30/batman-and-harley-quinn-dc-animated-universe-continuity/ stated]] the 2017 movie ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndHarleyQuinn'' might be part of the continuity as well. It certainly uses the same designs.

** In ''Batman:The Animated Series'', Bruce was on the whole quite humanistic, friendly, and while still a serious detective was not above cracking some quips, sharing smiles and bonding with Alfred and Robin, and being a BigBrotherMentor to Robin. By the time of ''The New Batman Adventures'' he has become DrillSergeantNasty to the Bat-Family (to Batgirl and Tim Drake), very standoffish and rude (as in the case of his first meeting with Superman), and becomes a colder, and more driven hero.
** Superman in ''The Animated Series'' began as a smart, affable, somewhat smug superhero who was more or less confident and happy in both his civilian and superhero identity. However the invasion of Apokolips by Darkseid which leads to Dan Turpin's death, and much later his brainwashing by Darkseid, leads him to loose his naivete, his idealism, and even his reputation, becoming a little more cautious, jaded, irritable, even paranoid in the later seasons, with his HotBlooded nature making him a target for {{Gaslighting}} by Luthor and Cadmus, and his hatred for Darkseid nearly leading him to [[spoiler:kill himself on Brainiac's asteroid before Batman comes and teleports both of them away]].

* LooseCanon: The animated series are really the only "definitive" part of the DCAU. Any [[RecursiveAdaptation comics]] set in the universe have very little importance to the larger story, and when they do, they can be overwritten if the author sees it fit. If you count them, then fine, if you don't, fine too.

** The villain arcs include AMAZO who disappeared after ''Wake the Dead'' [[spoiler:he was planned to appear in a BrickJoke late in Season 5, but the writers couldn't find a way to include him, likewise the Batman villains were not allowed to appear in ''Justice League'' owing to an embargo, as such we don't see what happened with Dick Grayson (aside from a sly cameo), the NoodleIncident of the "Near Apocalypse of '09", which was Ra's Al Ghul's FinalBattle with the Dark Knight and a few others]].

* NotHisSled: [[spoiler:Hawkgirl is a spy and a soldier, not a space cop.]] Likewise, Bane and Doomsday don't do [[HeroicRROD what they're best]] [[HeroKiller known for]].

** The Joker in ''Batman:TAS'' started off kidnapping and murdering people, but he was still solidly LaughablyEvil, with schemes like tormenting stand-up comics to trying to copyright Joker-poisoned fish. However, he becomes more obsessive and vindictive over time as Batman successively shuts him down--in ''The New Batman Adventures'', he was still willing to make a play at "going legit" in "Joker's Millions" but eventually he is forced to leave for Metropolis (for "World's Finest"), then to Dakota (the Batman-WesternAnimation/StaticShock era), and later Las Vegas (''Justice League'') and each time he is thwarted, ultimately leaving him with such hatred for Batman that he crosses all kinds of lines in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker''.
** Lex Luthor in ''Superman:TAS'' was TheManBehindTheMan and GreaterScopeVillain--instead of fighting Supes one-on-one, he would instead fund supervillains through Lexcorp, and often Superman had to show up and rescue him from his own stupidity. By the end of the series, Luthor was overshadowed by Darkseid, Joker, and Brainiac in terms of menace and personal feud, and in ''Justice League'' he loses his company and wealth and goes to jail. He gradually becomes a more desperate, dangerous and impressive villain than he was in his earlier days, and finally becomes the VillainProtagonist for the final season of ''Justice League''.

** The Joker in ''Batman:TAS'' wavered from being a trickster with harmless gags, given to tormenting stand-up comics, or trying to copyright his Laughing Fish, to gradually becoming a more dangerous, obsessive, and murderous figure over the DCAU. In ''The New Batman Adventures'', Joker was still willing to make a play at "going legit" in "Joker's Millions" but eventually his operations get shut down in Gotham, being chased first to Metropolis (for "World's Finest"), then to Dakota (the Batman-WesternAnimation/StaticShock era), and later Las Vegas (''Justice League'') and each time he is thwarted, ultimately leaves him with such hatred for Batman that he crosses all kinds of lines and boundaries in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyondReturnOfTheJoker''.
** Lex Luthor in ''Superman:TAS'' was TheManBehindTheMan and GreaterScopeVillain who rarely fought Superman one-on-one and used his company Lexcorp to fund the creation of supervillains to hunt down Superman, and often Superman had to show up and rescue him from his own stupidity. By the end of the series, Luthor was overshadowed by Darkseid, Joker, and Brainiac in terms of menace and personal feud, but in ''Justice League'' he loses his company, his wealth and goes to jail, and gradually levels up becoming a more desperate, dangerous and impressive villain than he was in his earlier days, and finally becomes the VillainProtagonist for the final season of ''Justice League''.

** ''Batman TAS'' had a few story arc, namely Selina Kyle's obsession with Batman but dislike for Bruce, her ChronicVillainy and finally her RedemptionRejection by the end of the series. Other arcs also dealt with corrupt businessman Roland Daggett and the final episode of the series, ''Batgirl Returns'' had him finally arrested for his crimes.

* {{Leitmotif}}: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6x9YTh173o A constant element of the universe's musical scores]] - WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries famously had motifs for every major character, including full themes for every member of his rogues gallery. Superman had them less often, but most villains and heroes still had their own themes. The most famous themes from both of these shows remained with the characters for the entirety of the DCAU, and this practice continued on to Justice League and Unlimited, which gave several of the most important heroes themes.

The DC Animated Universe (DCAU for short) is a group of animated series based on Creator/DCComics characters and, unlike [[WesternAnimation/DCComicsAnimated other DC adaptations]], all sharing the same continuity.

* StoryArc: ''Superman TAS'' and ''Justice League (Unlimited)'' were very arc-based in structure.

The DC Animated Universe ended production with the final episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited''. However, its influence continues to this day both in Comics and WesternAnimation, and due to the distinct art style of the 'verse (aka TimmStyle) being applied to later animated adaptations of Franchise/TheDCU, other properties are frequently and incorrectly cited as part of the DCAU. The WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies is something of a SpiritualSuccessor, featuring many of the same production staff with a similar design aesthetic and story tone, but are mostly in their own self-contained universes.

** The final scene in the ''Justice League Unlimited'' episode "Epiologue" mirrored the first shot of the very first ''Batman: The Animated Series'' episode, with the episode being written before the series was renewed for its third & final season. Whilst it didn't end up book ending the DCAU (at least, not by ''our'' chronology), it did book end the first shot of ''BTAS'' with the final shot of the future Batman.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' / ''The Adventures of Batman and Robin'' / ''The New Batman Adventures'' (1992-1999)

* ContinuitySnarl: The tie-in comics are canon...at least until an actual episode of one of the series contradicts them. This has resulted in discrepancies in characterization and origin for several characters, including Superman, Catman, and Huntress.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' / ''The Adventures of Batman and Robin'' / ''The New Batman Adventures'' (1992-1995, 1997-1999)

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' / ''The Adventures of Batman and Robin'' / ''The New Batman Adventures'' (1992-1999)

+ DCComicsAnimated

The DC Animated Universe (DCAU for short) is a group of animated series based on Creator/DCComics characters and, unlike [[DCComicsAnimated other DC adaptations]], all sharing the same continuity.