DC animated universe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The DC animated universe is a series of animated television series and related spin-offs produced by Warner Bros. Animation which share the same continuity. Most of these animated series are adapted from DC Comics properties. The abbreviation "DCAU" is often used. This continuity is also sometimes referred to as the Timmverse (after Bruce Timm, the continuity's most consistent creative influence) and in the past, the Diniverse (after Paul Dini, who has mostly departed from Warner Bros. Animation). This term was first coined by The World's Finest.
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[edit] In-continuity in the DCAU
While there have been several animated series based upon DC Comics characters over the decades, what is commonly accepted as the "DC animated universe" refers to the stable of shows and films that spin off from Batman: The Animated Series, the original show in this universe. Older shows such as Super Friends and newer shows such as Teen Titans and The Batman are not part of this continuity.
[edit] TV series
The DC animated universe primarily consists of these animated series (and their related films; see below):
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995) (later renamed The Adventures of Batman & Robin)
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000) (compiled into The New Batman/Superman Adventures)
- The New Batman Adventures (1997-2000) (compiled into The New Batman/Superman Adventures)
- Batman Beyond (1999-2002)
- Static Shock (2000-2004)
- The Zeta Project (2001-2002)
- Justice League (2001-2004)
- Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)
[edit] Films
The following spin-off films, theatrical feature films and direct-to-video, also are part of the continuity:
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
- Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998)
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
- Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003)
- Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006)
[edit] Web cartoons
Gotham Girls, a Macromedia Flash web cartoon series was downloadable from the WB website, and featured DCAU versions of characters voiced by their original actors. A DC comics mini-series inspired by the series was released in 2004. Although Gotham Girls webtoons were well received they remain unavailable on DVD as of right now despite fan interest.
There was a second web cartoon series starring Lobo, but featured designs and actors different from the established DCAU versions, so it is considered out of continuity and is also unavailable on DVD at present.
[edit] Comic books
Many of the DCAU shows have also had comic books created based on the characters of the various shows. Bruce Timm has declared most of them non-canon, although they are still based on the continuity. The comics are (not counting annuals, or specials):
- The Batman Adventures (#1-36)
- Batman and Robin Adventures (#1-25)
- Superman Adventures (#1-66)
- The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years (#1-5)
- Batman: Gotham Adventures (#1-60)
- Adventures in the DC Universe (#1-19)
- Batman Beyond (#1-6)
- Batman Beyond (#1-24)
- Gotham Girls (#1-5)
- Justice League Adventures (#1-34)
- Batman Adventures (#1-17)
- Batman: Harley and Ivy (#1-3)
- Justice League Unlimited (#1-Current)
[edit] Video games
There have also been a number of DCAU tie-in video games released to correspond with the various animated television series. Some of these games have original plots, while others follow previous stories, their status in DCAU canon is unknown as of yet. The games are:
- Batman: The Animated Series
- The Adventures of Batman and Robin
- Superman 64
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
- Batman: Chaos in Gotham
- Batman: Gotham City Racer
- Batman: Vengeance
- Superman: Shadow of Apokolips
- Justice League: Injustice for All
- Superman: Countdown to Apokolips
- Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu
- Justice League: Chronicles
- Static Shock
[edit] Characters adapted from the DCAU
Though the DCAU is an off-shot of the mainstream DC comics universe, it has also impacted the DC universe in return. The following characters were originally created for their respective series' in the DCAU, but were eventually adapted into the mainstream DC comic continuity:
- Nora Fries (Batman: The Animated Series)
- Harley Quinn (Batman: The Animated Series)
- Renee Montoya (Batman: The Animated Series)
- Lock-Up (Batman: The Animated Series)
- Mercy Graves (Superman: The Animated Series)
- Livewire (Superman: The Animated Series)
- Roxy Rocket (The New Batman Adventures)
In addition, the backstory of Mr. Freeze was adapted from his portrayal in Batman: The Animated Series, and the visuals and characterization of Green Lantern, Tim Drake, Supergirl, Toyman, Two-Face, Parasite, Metallo, Clayface, and many others have been applied to their comic counterparts. On a different note, issue #22 of DC Comics' Superman/Batman series, which explores alternate realities, had a character transported to an alternate version of Gotham City patrolled by a Batman using the Batman Beyond version of the costume.
[edit] Inconsistencies within the DCAU
Most of the inconsistencies in the DCAU have been cleared up via retroactive continuity.
- In the series Static Shock, Virgil Hawkins once said that "even Clark Kent had a day job." He would later meet Superman and not be aware of his secret identity, so it is now unclear what Static meant. Static's comment once made sense, as his series was originally separate from the other shows just as the original Static comics were, until a crossover episode with Batman began to link them. However, Static co-creator Dwayne McDuffie's philosophy of comic crossover continuity is "don't worry about it."
[edit] DVD releases
The following DCAU DVD sets are currently available:
- Batman: The Animated Series, Volumes 1-4 (contains all episodes of B:TAS and The New Batman Adventures)
- Superman: The Animated Series, Volumes 1-3 (complete series)
- Batman Beyond, Seasons One and Two (complete first and second season)
- Justice League, Seasons One and Two (complete series)
- Justice League Unlimited, Season One (complete first and second season)
[edit] External links
| The Bruce Timm DC animated universe | |
|---|---|
| Television series: | Batman: The Animated Series | Superman: The Animated Series | The New Batman Adventures | The New Batman/Superman Adventures | Batman Beyond | Static Shock | The Zeta Project | Justice League | Justice League Unlimited |
| Feature-length films: | Batman: Mask of the Phantasm | Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero | Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker | Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman |
| Comic books: | Batman Adventures | Superman Adventures | Justice League Adventures | Batman Beyond | Gotham Girls |
| Web cartoons: | Gotham Girls |
| Video Games: | DCAU Video Games |
