Batman: The Animated Series

Top 10: Batman Animated Movies

In the endless debate over “Who is the best Batman?” a strong case can be made for someone most people have never seen: Kevin Conroy.  Conroy has been the voice of Batman since Batman: The Animated Series in the 1990s, though all subsequent appearances of the character in the various Justice League series, and in the majority of Batman’s animated films (beginning with Batman: Mask of the Phantasm in 1993).  Conroy also voiced the character in the Batman Arkham video games, without a doubt, the best comic book video games ever made.


IGN has put together a list of the best of Batman’s animated exploits (most of which have been voiced by Conroy), and his batting average in animation is at least as good (if not much better) than his success rate in live-action films.  My favorites are Phantasm, Sub-Zero, and Under the Red Hood, but which of Batman’s animated adventures are your favorites?  What did you think of IGN’s list?

Batman: The Animated Series

4 thoughts on “Top 10: Batman Animated Movies”

  1. I remember that Mask of the Phantasm was dumped in theaters by WB on Christmas Day back when it first came out, and truth be told, it was probably a wise move. Today it would be a hard sell…back in the early 90’s, parents would have been filing a class action lawsuit, if anyone had known the film existed at the time. But I wish I had been able to see it on a big screen, so, so much. As much as I adored Burton’s movies, especially the second one (I know you’re not a fan) I remember watching Phantasm and thinking, this is the way it’s done. I know it’s number one on this list, but I would place it far, far in front. I’ve never seen another Batman animated movie like it. I don’t think it’s just the memory of the shock of the first experience talking. Return of the Caped Crusaders was a blast, but for some reason I always wanted to see Adam West and Burt Ward voice those versions of the characters in a dark, modern, violent context. Would have been cool. RIP Adam.

    Year One and Dark Knight Returns were both very well done, but I have a hang-up about graphic novels translated into animation…I always feel like there isn’t enough of a point. I want to see them in glorious live action. I wish there were real fans over at WB. If I were in charge I would hire actors to play Batman, and the Joker, and Gordon, and the whole cast, and keep them consistent across the board, but I would tell all sorts of stories from the comics. I would do all the usual suspect classics, and I would turn Knightfall into a trilogy, and I would turn Batman Beyond into a sub-franchise unto itself. I’m still trying to figure out why Batman Beyond hasn’t happened yet. I used to watch it religiously. I was way too old, but the bastards had put it on, and there was nothing I could do.


    WB ought to ditch the shard universe thing. The worlds of Superman and Batman, and all the associated characters, are rich enough to sustain any number of films. Put WW in there too. Focus on the trinity. Make it cinema’s smallest shared universe. No one cares about Aquaman, the big three are so big, they can carry the DC department by themselves. I’m only suggesting this because clearly the WB guys cannot chew gum and walk at the same time. If they focused on doing just a few things correctly, maybe they would be better off.

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    1. I actually got to see Phantasm in the theater and it was amazing. I think my dad was thrown but I loved it. Under the Red Hood is must see if you havent.


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  2. I have NOT, and I WILL. RP1 at 76% on Rotten Tomatoes!!! If you can believe it. Of course the average score is just 6.1 and 76% isn’t great, but I was expecting far worse. Maybe Steve has actually done more than create empty nostalgia, maybe he’s tapped into something. A longing for a time when movies were better, perhaps? I know the plot won’t be anything like Goonies, and yet it sounds a lot like Goonies. No expectations here, just hope.

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  3. I like Phantasm, but I would have Under the Red Hood as my #1. One that I find to be missing is Gotham Knight. It’s easily the most experimental Batman movie, and gives us the time period between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight when Bruce is still learning how to be Batman. which is a huge reason I think it deserves to be on a list like this. I get that some of the odd visuals put some people off, but I really enjoy it.


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