Remember the back mask and cap guy with strong body muscles, who captivated viewers with his dark persona and thrilling adventures? If yes, we have compiled seven of the best animated Batman movies that highlight his journey from the beginning to the Dark Knight. Additionally, these films showcase his character growth as he faces different challenges, including emotional ones, all wrapped in a blend of action, adventure, and thriller, supported by a creative storyline.
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Best Animated Batman Movies
1- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
- IMDb: 7.8/10
- Release Date: December 25, 1993
- Director: Eric Radomski, and Bruce Timm
Everyone wants to know the past story of their favorite person or character, how they are evolving today, the challenges they face, and the real story behind it all. In the list of best Batman animated movies, we first highlight Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, which showcases the creativity surrounding our lovable Batman’s past happenings.
The narrative begins by exploring Batman’s origin story as Bruce Wayne and particularly focuses on his romantic relationship with Andrea Beaumont after he moves on from his past. As Gotham City grapples with a mysterious figure called Phantasm, who targets mobsters and poses a threat to Batman’s life, the series portrays Batman’s struggle when Andrea suddenly leaves him, all while showcasing amazing action and deep emotion.
2- Batman: Under the Red Hood
- IMDb: 8.0/10
- Release Date: July 27, 2010
- Director: Brandon Vietti
Move forward with Batman’s adventurous journey with Batman: Under the Red Hood filled with battle, power, and action senses. As you see Batman’s past story, we showcase a craft that depicts an encounter between Batman and a new enemy, Red Hood. This foe has just entered Gotham and has brutally eliminated all the criminals.
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Throughout this movie, the narrative emphasizes the complexities of justice and explores the dark side of Gotham City. The story also reveals Jason Todd, the second Robin, as a mysterious enemy who people believe to be dead after a tragic fight with the Joker. Additionally, Batman must confront Jason and his own former sidekick, along with their differing attitudes toward justice. With themes of loss, redemption, and moral ambiguity, this movie ranks second on the list of the best animated Batman movies.
3- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
- IMDb: 7.7/10
- Release Date: December 12, 2000
- Director: Curt Geda
After defeating a foe in battle, the hero returns to his stronger form in the next title on the list of best-animated movies, which centers around that foe’s return to Gotham City. Additionally, the narrative continues the story of the futuristic Batman, Terry McGinnis.
In the film, the Joker returns to the city with his new gang called Jokerz, shocking Terry, who believed the Joker had died years ago. As time passes, Terry uncovers the reality behind the Joker’s comeback and his connection to Tim Drake, the former Robin. This journey explores the legacy and redemption as Terry must uphold his role as Batman. While Bruce Wayne confronts the dark history of his predecessor, the film presents complex characters and a dark tone that reflects Batman’s animated universe.
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4- The Lego Batman
- IMDb: 7.3/10
- Release Date: January 29, 2017
- Director: Chris McKay
The follow-up animated story of Batman offers fun and entertainment in the colorful Lego universe. This film mainly showcases Batman’s journey as he transforms from a self-proclaimed superhero to a team builder. Everyone knows that Batman prefers to fight alone and protect Gotham City from criminals.
However, his attitude towards fighting changes to teamwork when the Joker, his greatest enemy, devises a plan to take over Gotham. As the Joker gathers a group of villains to challenge Batman, our hero realizes that he cannot defeat them by himself. He forms his own team with the help of his loyal butler Alfred and a new ally, Robin. Through this, Batman learns the importance of friendship and collaboration. This heartfelt message shines through in the best Batman animated movie, which showcases playful and enjoyable action. The film includes humor and iconic dialogues featuring power-packed superhero characters.
5- Batman vs. Dracula
- IMDb: 6.6/10
- Release Date: October 18, 2005 (DVD), and October 22, 2005 (TV)
- Director: Michael Goguen
Another battling movie, Batman vs. Dracula, is in the collection of best animated Batman movies. The story unfolds action between three powerful enemies and our hero, Batman. This iconic film demonstrates how the Joker, Penguin, and Count Dracula join forces to destroy Gotham City.
The story unfolds as the Joker and the Penguin move from Arkham Asylum, and the Penguin accidentally awakens Count Dracula from his sleep. When Dracula wakes up, he starts transforming the people of Gotham into vampires, creating significant problems in the city. Batman confronts the Joker and Penguin while also facing the newly empowered Dracula. The movie highlights the challenges and battles to save Gotham, infused with horror, action, and suspense.
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6- Batman: Gotham Knight
- IMDb: 6.6/10
- Release Date: July 8, 2008
- Director: Shōjirō Nishimi and others
If you like to watch short narratives that highlight Batman’s life’s major incident that commonly shows great action, intense battles, various emotions, and a lot more, then explore Batman: Gotham Knight, a collection of six amazing short stories. These stories reflect the unique perspectives of various characters on different conditions.
This bridge between the events of Batman and the Dark Knight showcases Batman’s journey to evolve as a hero. The various characters’ points of view—citizens of Gotham, criminals, and others—tell different stories. The film offers insight into Batman’s impact on the city and highlights more unique factors. By exploring the themes of justice, new fear, and the duality of Bruce Wayne’s life, this film captures fan’s attention.
7- The Dark Knight Return
- IMDb: 7.9/10
- Release Date: September 25, 2012
- Director: Jay Oliva
The last entry on the list of best Batman animated movies is The Dark Knight Returns, featuring an ultimate battle with a lot of challenge, excitement, and thriller. The story shows the return journey of Batman at the age of 55 to save Gotham City from an attacking violent gang called The Mutants.
This film portrays Batman as he confronts real challenges in defeating the Mutants and grapples with personal and psychological scars from his past, including the death of his former sidekick, Jason Todd. His longtime enemy, Joker, also returns. The film captivates the audience with its intense action, complex characters, and compelling storyline. Also, keeps them engaged with the amazing combination of storyline and character development.
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Complete this Cape journey!
Enjoy watching all the best Batman animated movies of all time to fully understand your favorite comic character’s story. Additionally, discovers his life challenges, struggles, and successful battles. Stay updated with our daily recommendations for more animated movies or series-related content.
