Here's Literally 16 Animated DC Movies You Should Just Go Watch Right Now

    In the lead-up to the release of The Killing Joke, we take a look at some highlights of the lesser-known DC movies.

    Mat Whitehead
    by Mat Whitehead

    BuzzFeed Staff, Australia

    1. Batman: The Killing Joke

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: The latest in DC's animated slate, The Killing Joke, is set for release later this month. Based on the graphic novel of the same name, the film follows Batman as he tries to understand the past of his greatest foe: the Joker. The Killing Joke sees Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reunite as the voices behind Batman and the Joker respectively, as well as marks the first time a DC animated original and animated Batman film has ever received an R-rating. As the Joker says, "All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy." Or in my case, slow-walking pedestrians.

    Watch the trailer here.

    2. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: By changing a single event in the past, the lives of all the heroes we know and love are turned on their heads. After a run-in with the Reverse-Flash, Barry Allen wakes up in a radically altered timeline. His mother is alive, the Justice League doesn't exist (in fact they're practically at war with each other), and he no longer has his powers that made him the Flash. In order to set things right, Barry must find allies in this new world before it's too late. Neat fact: the first episode of the upcoming season of The Flash was revealed to be titled "Flashpoint", and will be a new take on this epic story. Fingers crossed it includes Aquaman and Wonder Woman using earth as a battleground to air out their relationship issues.

    Watch the trailer here.

    3. Justice League: Doom

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: Vandal Savage discovers Batman's files on the other members of the Justice League - including how to take each of them down in the event that they go rogue. Stealing the files, Savage rounds up some of the Justice League's greatest enemies to take them down one hero at a time. Hey Batman, install some cyber-security or something bro.

    Watch the trailer here.

    4. Justice League: The New Frontier

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: The New Frontier works as an origin story for the formation of the Justice League, set against the backdrop of the Cold War. A mysterious entity sees the years of violence, destruction, and war humanity has wrought, and decides to eradicate mankind. It's up to a handful of heroes to band together and save the Earth from impending doom. The film has a brilliant Golden Age aesthetic that sees your favourite heroes redesigned in a classic fashion.

    Watch the trailer here.

    5. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: An absolute classic, Mask of the Phantasm sees Gotham haunted by a mysterious figure known only as the Phantasm, whose link to Batman is shrouded in mystery. But can Batman unravel his past and discover the Phantasm's true identity before it's too late? Probably. Mask of the Phantasm featured cast members like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles from The Animated Series. Thankfully, they do that a lot.

    Watch the trailer here.

    6. Superman / Batman: Public Enemies

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: No *YOU'RE* imagining a homoerotic subtext to that image. OK maybe it's me. Anyway, Public Enemies sees two of DC's greatest heroes teaming up to prevent a Kryptonite meteor hitting Earth. But all is not as it seems as the two are framed by Lex Luthor, who has been elected PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and puts a bounty on their heads.

    Watch the trailer here.

    7. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: There are several reasons to love Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, and not JUST because the character design makes Superman a legit cartoon babe. A sequel to Public Enemies, Apocalypse actually focuses less on Superman and Batman, and acts as an introduction of Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl. Crash-landing on Earth much like her cousin, the film follows Kara as she learns to cope with her superpowers, while Darkseid launches an attack to lure Kara to Apokolips. But mainly Supercheekbones.

    Watch the trailer here.

    8. Batman: Assault on Arkham

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: Don't let the title fool you, Assault on Arkham is actually a Suicide Squad story, with Batman playing a supporting role. Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, Black Spider, King Shark, and Killer Frost are recruited (against their will) by Amanda Waller. The team are tasked with breaking into Arkham to recover a thumbdrive hidden in the Riddler's cane. But with Batman circling the case, the squad will need to put everything on the line to get the job done. A great watch in the lead-up to the Suicide Squad movie.

    Watch the trailer here.

    9. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Parts 1 and 2

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel by the same name, The Dark Knight Returns follows Batman 10 years after the death of his protégé Jason Todd. Batman, now 55 years old, is forced to don the cape once more when the city is overrun by a vicious gang. Without going into any spoilers, part two sees Superman arriving on the scene, who is asked by the president to end Batman's vigilante ways. This film is the answer for fans who may have been a bit let-down by Batman v Superman.

    Watch the trailers here and here.

    10. Wonder Woman

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: One of the few true "origin story" films on the list, the 2009 Wonder Woman is a great look at one version of Diana's beginnings as Wonder Woman. When betrayal seeps in the Amazon sisterhood of Themyscira, Aries the god of war escapes and forces Diana to track him all the way to the United States. With the help of a plucky fighter pilot, Diana must defeat Aries' armies and capture him before he can unleash absolute chaos onto mankind.

    Watch the trailer here.

    11. Batman: Under the Red Hood

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What's it about: A vigilante, criminal kingpin by the name of "Red Hood" begins to rise to power in Gotham. But in order to discover the man underneath the mask, Batman must first face ugly truths of his own past.

    Watch the trailer here.

    12. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What's it about: The Justice League are visited by a familiar face, Lex Luthor, but one who travelled from a parallel universe where he is the leader of the Justice League. Upon arrival, this Luthor begs the Justice League to assist him in stopping a group known as the "Crime Syndicate", the abilities of Justice League. In order to defeat the Crime Syndicate, the Justice League basically has to battle their own selves to not only save the alternate Earth, but their own as well.

    Watch the trailer here.

    13. Justice League: War

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: OK, OK, this is another one where Superman is just hot as balls. Like, I KNOW it's a cartoon but hot darn those blue eyes. Anyway, remember Batman's weird fever dream in Batman v Superman where he basically saw the coming of Darkseid? Justice League: War tells another formation of the Justice League, through this exact story. When Darkseid's Parademons begin abducting citizens from cities like Gotham and Metropolis, heroes begin to realise there's a pattern behind the crimes. Banding together, Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Shazam, and Cyborg must work together before Darkseid has the chance to wipe humanity out of existence. War also acts as a really great mini-origin story for Cyborg.

    Watch the trailer here.

    14. Batman: Year One

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: Another adaptation of a Frank Miller graphic novel, Batman: Year One heads back to, you guessed it, Bruce Wayne's first year as Batman. As Wayne begins his vigilante life, Lieutenant James Gordon moves to Gotham, intent on cleaning up the streets. The two men clash in their opposing tactics of crimefighting, and soon Batman isn't just fighting crime, he's fighting off the law.

    Watch the trailer here.

    15. Green Lantern: First Flight

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What it's about: I KNOW what some of you are thinking, you've been burned by a Green Lantern film before, we all have, but First Flight is a really great film - especially if you're not a stickler for comic-to-film adaptations. After Hal Jordan crash lands, he discovers the dying body of an alien being who offers him a powerful ring. The ring transforms Hal into a Green Lantern, a group of heroes who patrol and protect the universe. But soon after accepting his new role, Hal is thrown into the fight of a lifetime, and one that may very well destroy the Lanterns altogether.

    Watch the trailer here.

    16. Justice League: Gods and Monsters

    Warner Bros. Animation

    What's it about: In an alternate universe, our heroes are drastically different. Superman's father is General Zod, Batman is a scientist who unwillingly transformed himself into a superhuman vampire, and Wonder Woman is the widow of Darkseid's son Orion. In fact, the Justice League in this universe is better known for its stranglehold of terror. Yeah. This ain't the gang we're used to. But when a new threat comes to Earth and begins framing the Justice League, these anti-heroes must decide if they want to rule the planet, or see it destroyed.

    Watch the trailer here.