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Enter the DC Animated Universe universe

DC Animated Universe Shows & Movies in Watch Order

From Batman to Beyond. Keep the DCAU together.

Watch the DCAU from Batman: The Animated Series through Superman, Justice League, Batman Beyond and JLU’s Epilogue, with comic and game tie-ins clearly separated from the screen spine.

The DC Animated Universe begins with Batman: The Animated Series and expands through Superman, Static Shock, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond, with comics and games kept as clearly labelled tie-in branches.

Open the full timeline ↓
Last editorial check

Universe orientation

Gotham grows into a shared animated future.

The quick answer

Start with Batman: The Animated Series. The clean screen route then moves through Mask of the Phantasm, SubZero, Superman, The New Batman Adventures, Static Shock, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond before ending with JLU’s Epilogue.

Switch to release order or use Starter Mode for a shorter route.

Universe explored

The DC Animated Universe universe, story by story

The screen continuity is the spine. Animated tie-in comics and licensed games sit beside it as optional lanes, while unrelated DC animated universes stay outside this guide.

Route
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Story chronology · Full mapped list

Justice League Unlimited’s “Epilogue” is the final chronological screen endpoint even though it was released before some later DCAU-adjacent productions.

Showing 51 of 51 released stories.

  1. Animated seriesCanon

    Batman: The Animated Series

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementEarly Batman yearsFirst release1992Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  2. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batman Adventures

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  3. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batman Adventures Annuals

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  4. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batman Adventures Holiday Special

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  5. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batman Adventures: Mad Love

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  6. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batman and Robin Adventures

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  7. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batman and Robin Adventures Annuals

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  8. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  9. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Batman: Gotham Adventures

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  10. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    The Batgirl Adventures

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  11. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Batman: Harley and Ivy

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in. These comics are not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraBatman animated comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman animated comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  12. Animated filmCanon unclear

    Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieAdaptation continuity
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    A core animated film with a prose/comic adaptation version.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementEarly Batman yearsFirst release1993Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  13. Animated filmCanon

    Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementEarly Batman yearsFirst release1998Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  14. Animated seriesCanon

    Superman: The Animated Series

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementSuperman eraFirst release1996Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  15. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Superman Adventures

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Series-level tie-in; not automatically binding on screen canon.

    Story eraSuperman comic branchContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementSuperman comic branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
    Goodreads
  16. GameCanon unclear

    Superman — Game Boy

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    A game based on the animated shows; not a required screen-canon event.

    Story eraSuperman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementSuperman gamesFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  17. GameCanon unclear

    Superman — Nintendo 64

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    A game based on the animated shows; not a required screen-canon event.

    Story eraSuperman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementSuperman gamesFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  18. GameCanon unclear

    Superman: Shadow of Apokolips

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    A game based on the animated shows; not a required screen-canon event.

    Story eraSuperman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementSuperman gamesFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  19. GameCanon unclear

    Superman: Countdown to Apokolips

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    A game based on the animated shows; not a required screen-canon event.

    Story eraSuperman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementSuperman gamesFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  20. Animated seriesCanon

    The New Batman Adventures

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementLater GothamFirst release1997Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  21. Animated shortCanon unclear

    Chase Me

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon unclear

    Animated short associated with the DCAU.

    Story eraLater GothamContinuityDCAU adjacent / shortsIn-world placementLater GothamFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  22. Web seriesCanon

    Gotham Girls

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Web series following Gotham characters between the animated shows.

    Story eraLater GothamContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementLater GothamFirst release2000Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  23. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Gotham Girls — comics

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Tie-in comic branch.

    Story eraLater Gotham comicsContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementLater GothamFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  24. Web seriesCanon unclear

    Lobo

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon unclear

    Short-form animated spin-off associated with the era.

    Story eraWeb animationContinuityDCAU adjacent / shortsIn-world placementWeb animationFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  25. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Batman: The Adventures Continue — Season One

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Modern continuation comic using the animated-series world; kept as a tie-in lane.

    Story eraLater Gotham comicsContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementLater GothamFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  26. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Batman: The Adventures Continue — Season Two

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Modern continuation comic using the animated-series world; kept as a tie-in lane.

    Story eraLater Gotham comicsContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementLater GothamFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  27. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Batman: The Adventures Continue — Season Three

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Modern continuation comic using the animated-series world; kept as a tie-in lane.

    Story eraLater Gotham comicsContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementLater GothamFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  28. GameCanon unclear

    Batman: The Animated Series — game

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the DCAU designs and world; screen-canon status is not assumed.

    Story eraBatman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman game branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  29. GameCanon unclear

    The Adventures of Batman & Robin

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the DCAU designs and world; screen-canon status is not assumed.

    Story eraBatman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman game branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  30. GameCanon unclear

    Batman: Chaos in Gotham

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the DCAU designs and world; screen-canon status is not assumed.

    Story eraBatman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman game branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  31. GameCanon unclear

    Batman: Gotham City Racer

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the DCAU designs and world; screen-canon status is not assumed.

    Story eraBatman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman game branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  32. GameCanon unclear

    Batman: Vengeance

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the DCAU designs and world; screen-canon status is not assumed.

    Story eraBatman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman game branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  33. GameCanon unclear

    Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the DCAU designs and world; screen-canon status is not assumed.

    Story eraBatman gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementBatman game branchFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceApproximate
  34. Animated seriesCanon

    Static Shock

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementJustice League eraFirst release2000Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  35. Animated seriesCanon

    Justice League

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementJustice League eraFirst release2001Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  36. Animated filmCanon

    Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon

    Core DCAU film placed around the Justice League era.

    Story eraJustice League eraContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementJustice League eraFirst release2003Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  37. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Justice League Adventures

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Tie-in comics based on the animated Justice League.

    Story eraJustice League comicsContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementJustice League eraFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  38. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Justice League Unlimited — comics

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Tie-in comics; screen canon is not automatically assumed.

    Story eraJustice League comicsContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementJustice League Unlimited eraFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  39. GameCanon unclear

    Justice League: Injustice for All

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the animated continuity.

    Story eraJustice League gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementJustice League eraFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  40. GameCanon unclear

    Justice League: Chronicles

    Direct link to this story
    PlayGameCanon unclear

    Licensed game story based on the animated continuity.

    Story eraJustice League gamesContinuityDCAU-based games / non-bindingIn-world placementJustice League eraFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  41. Animated seriesCanon

    Justice League Unlimited

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementJustice League Unlimited eraFirst release2004Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  42. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Justice League Infinity

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    A later comic continuation of the animated continuity.

    Story eraJustice League comicsContinuityAnimated comics / continuationIn-world placementAfter Justice League UnlimitedFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
    Goodreads
  43. Animated filmCanon unclear

    Batman and Harley Quinn

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon unclear

    Later animated film generally presented as DCAU-connected; kept visibly disputed.

    Story eraLate DCAUContinuityDCAU screen / disputedIn-world placementLate DCAUFirst release2017Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  44. Animated filmCanon unclear

    Justice League vs. the Fatal Five

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon unclear

    Later animated Justice League film connected to the DCAU style and continuity.

    Story eraLate DCAUContinuityDCAU screen / late continuationIn-world placementLate DCAUFirst release2019Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  45. Animated film segmentCanon

    Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker — flashback

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon

    A key flashback from Return of the Joker, shown here at its in-universe point.

    Story eraBatman BeyondContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementBefore Batman BeyondFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  46. Animated seriesCanon

    Batman Beyond

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementFuture GothamFirst release1999Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  47. Animated seriesCanon

    The Zeta Project

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    Placed within the DCAU route; tie-ins stay clearly labelled when screen canon is not binding.

    Story eraDCAU screenContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementFuture GothamFirst release2001Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  48. Comic seriesCanon unclear

    Batman Beyond comics

    Direct link to this story
    ReadBook / comicCanon unclear

    Comic continuations and tie-ins are grouped as a publishing lane.

    Story eraFuture Gotham comicsContinuityAnimated comics / non-bindingIn-world placementFuture GothamFirst releaseRelease year not listed in supplied chronologyPlacement confidenceStrong
  49. Animated filmCanon

    Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon

    The main Return of the Joker story belongs after Batman Beyond is established.

    Story eraBatman BeyondContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementFuture GothamFirst release2000Placement confidenceStrong
    IMDb
  50. Animated shortCanon unclear

    Batman Beyond — 75th Anniversary Short

    Direct link to this story
    WatchMovieCanon unclear

    Anniversary short kept as adjacent material rather than a required chronology event.

    Story eraFuture GothamContinuityDCAU adjacent / shortsIn-world placementFuture GothamFirst release2014Placement confidenceStrong
  51. EpisodeCanon

    Justice League Unlimited — Epilogue

    Direct link to this story
    WatchTV / streamingCanon

    The DCAU chronology ends with the Justice League Unlimited episode “Epilogue,” set in the Batman Beyond future.

    Story eraDCAU endingContinuityDCAU screenIn-world placementFinal chronological endpointFirst release2005Placement confidenceStrong

Find your route

DC Animated Universe order guide

Use one authoritative timeline, then choose the view that matches how you want to experience the universe.

DC Animated Universe / DCAU Watch Order

Use the chronology for story sequence, then switch to release order when you want the original viewing experience.

DC Animated Universe / DCAU Games in Order

Game entries stay in the same researched timeline, with adaptations and side stories labelled so they do not distort the play sequence.

DC Animated Universe / DCAU Books in Order

Books, comics and other reading material are placed by story chronology while publication order remains available as a separate view.

DC Animated Universe / DCAU Release Order

Release order re-sorts the same mapped stories by first publication or release instead of creating a duplicate guide page.

What Order Should You Watch the DC Animated Universe?

Start with the guide’s recommended route if this is your first time. Use the full chronology when you want the complete cross-media timeline.

Quick answers

Common DC Animated Universe order questions

Direct answers based on the same chronology, continuity labels and coverage notes used in the guide.

What Order Should You Watch the DC Animated Universe?

Start with Batman: The Animated Series. The clean screen route then moves through Mask of the Phantasm, SubZero, Superman, The New Batman Adventures, Static Shock, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond before ending with JLU’s Epilogue.

Should you use chronological or release order for DC Animated Universe?

Use chronological order to follow events as they happen. Use release order when you want to preserve the sequence of the original reveals. Both views use the same researched stories.

What does this DC Animated Universe order guide include?

All-media guide: 51 mapped DCAU screen, comic and game records. Tie-ins remain visible without being treated as binding screen canon. Coverage is current through released DCAU material mapped by 8 September 2026.

Suggested routes

Choose a way in.

Use the full chronology or follow a shorter route.

01 · Core screen route

Batman → Superman → Justice League → Beyond

Use the Main path filter for the clean shared-screen chronology.

02 · Comics

Tie-ins are optional

They expand the animated world but are not automatically binding on screen canon.

03 · Ending

Finish with JLU: Epilogue

That episode sits at the far end of the DCAU chronology.

Abstract branching map representing separate story continuities

Story versions

Choose how to experience it.

Researched editions and adaptations stay together under one story.

See how stories are organised

Sources

What anchors this order.

Official franchise, creator and publisher sources anchor the chronology. Conflicts and uncertain placements are labelled.

DC official site ↗Batman animated movies order ↗Mask of the Phantasm — DC ↗

Explore more DC worlds

The DC timelines connect here, not inside one continuity.

Move between the wider DC map and its animated and Arkham game universes without mixing their timelines.

22 mapped records

Batman: Arkham

Explore nine principal Arkhamverse stories plus DLC, VR, film and optional comic and novel tie-ins.

Open this DC guide
154 mapped records

Wider DC universe guide

Explore the DCU, DCEU and the wider screen continuities tracked across Story Order.

Open this DC guide
15 connected films

DC Animated Movie Universe

Watch the Flashpoint-to-Apokolips movie continuity in order. One optional expanded aftermath record is kept separately.

Open this DC guide

Continue exploring

Similar themes, different worlds.

Missing something?

Help expand DC Animated Universe.

Request a title or correction.

Send a request
Story Order

Every story has a place.

Story Order is an independent editorial guide to watching, reading and playing fictional universes in chronological or release order across film, television, books, comics, games and audio.

Find your next universe.

Story Order is an independent editorial guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the rights holders referenced on this site. Franchise names, characters and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Story Order’s universe artwork is original; separately sourced material is identified on the artwork and sources page.