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The DC Animated Universe, or DCAU, is the name given to the shared continuity existing between the DC Comics-based animated series Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, Batman Beyond, The Zeta Project, Static Shock, Gotham Girls, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited.
This continuity is also sometimes referred to by fans as the Timmverse (after Bruce Timm, the continuity's most consistent creative influence) or the Diniverse (after Paul Dini, who has mostly departed from Warner Bros. Animation).
In-continuity of 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 Justice League Action are not part of this continuity.
TV series
The DC Animated Universe primarily consists of these animated series (and their related films; see below):
- Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995 on FOX Kids; later renamed The Adventures of Batman & Robin)
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996-2000 on Kids WB; later compiled into The New Batman/Superman Adventures)
- The New Batman Adventures (1997-1999 on Kids WB; compiled into The New Batman/Superman Adventures)
- Batman Beyond (1999-2001 on Kids WB)
- Static Shock (2000-2004 on Kids WB)
- The Zeta Project (2001-2002 on Kids WB)
- Justice League (2001-2004 on Cartoon Network)
- Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006 on Cartoon Network)
Films
The following animated movies are also part of the continuity:
- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993; theatrical release)
- Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998; direct-to-video)
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000; direct-to-video)
- Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003; direct-to-video)
Gotham Girls (2000-2002)
A canonical macromedia flash web series Gotham Girls was produced by Warner Bros. and was downloadable from the WB website. The web series is only available on DVD as part of the Birds of Prey complete series DVD.
Not in-continuity with the DCAU
Teen Titans
Bruce Timm stated that there would be no crossover with Justice League Unlimited and Teen Titans. Also, series producer and creator Glen Murakami has stated that the inspiration for the series is the 1980s The New Teen Titans comic book series, and not the Justice League animated series. Although Batman does refer to "the Titans" in the Static Shock episode "Hard as Nails", there is little to suggest that the mentioned Titans are those represented in this series. During the show's run, it was never established to be a part of the larger DC Animated Universe.
Legion of Super-Heroes
Despite popular belief, this series, which premiered in 2006, was not spun off "Far From Home." According to producer James Tucker, it was Kids WB's idea to cash in on Bryan Singer's movie Superman Returns.[1] Like the Titans, there is a Legion of Super-Heroes in the DCAU, but this is a different incarnation altogether. Notably, Corey Burton reprises his role as Brainiac, although the designs between the two characters are vastly different.
Other series
Several other animated television series and films based on the DC Universe were not set in the DCAU:
- The Batman (2004–2008)
- Krypto the Superdog (2005–2006)
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-2011)
- Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006)
- DC Universe Animated Original Movies (2007-present)
- Young Justice (2010-2013; 2019-present)
- Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2012-2013)
- Teen Titans Go! (2013-present)
- Beware the Batman (2013-2014)
- Lego DC Comics Super Heroes (2014-2020)
- DC Super Hero Girls (2015-2018)
- Justice League Action (2016-2018)
- Harley Quinn (2019-present)
Video games
Several video games were made based on the DCAU, featuring the same character designs and most of the same voice cast. However, because of their interactive nature and often lack of story line, these articles are on video games that are based on series in the DCAU. However, their canonicity is unknown or open-ended.
- Batman: The Animated Series (1993)
- The Adventures of Batman & Robin (1994)
- Superman 64 (1999)
- Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)
- Batman: Vengeance (2001)
- Batman: Chaos in Gotham (2001)
- Batman: Gotham City Racer (2001)
- Justice League: Injustice For All (2002)
- Superman: Shadow of Apokolips (2002)
- Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu (2003)
- Justice League: Chronicles (2003)
- Superman: Countdown to Apokolips (2003)
- View-Master Batman Animated VR (2016)