Best DC Movies Animated: Here Are 10 Of The Best Of DC Animated Movies You Should Watch During Coronavirus Lockdown

What could be better use of your time during coronavirus lockdown than spending it watching the best DC movies animated? Check out our top 10 list here.

There is no better way to spend the current coronavirus lockdown and quarantine than spend it watching the best DC movies animated. While Marvel might have a significant edge when it comes to live-action movies and the box office, the best of DC animated movies are the clear no-brainer choice when it comes to animation.

The animated movies from DC are the equivalent to the Marvel live-action movies when it comes to quality

Without a doubt, DC animated movies are superior to their live-action counterparts. DC have really figured out how to do animated movies the right way, to the point that DC fans are as excited about what DC animated movies are being put out as Marvel fans are about the Marvel live-action ones.

Although, the strength of DC animation lies in the comic storylines that it chooses to follow, and with the level of quality that the source materials possess, it's not difficult for the animated movies to reach a high level of excellence as well.

Thanks to the excellent source material, DC faithful animated adaptations often hit the mark

Also, the level of quality and popularity of these movies depend on what the characters are themselves and how well the writers portray them. When it comes to the best DC movies animated, it is usually the DC animated Batman movies that tend to take up the many of the top spots.

This is because while characters like Batman are sure to generate a lot of attention and quality writing, they also attract some of the best writers to construct their storylines and characters like Frank Miller or Paul Dini.

The DC animated movies are also fortunate to have great writers contributing to them

Since there are many quality DC animated movies out there for reasons stated, narrowing all of them down to just 10 best DC movies animated would not do them "justice". So take this list as a useful reference for some of the best of DC animated movies to watch during this miserable coronavirus lockdown!

Best DC Movies Animated (1/5)

10. The Death of Superman (2018)

This is one of the more recent movies that can be considered one of the best DC movies animated. This is not because the more recent movies are not good, but compared to what DC brought us before, they don't quite measure up to the classics that remain at the top to this day.

The Death Of Superman - Official Trailer

The Death of Superman is only the first half of the whole story, of which Reign of the Supermen is the other half. But the reason why the first half of the whole story is included in this list of the best of DC animated movies is because is it much more solid. And the solid half is good enough on its own, meaning you could do without the less-solid half.

Graphically, The Death of Superman doesn't hold back on portraying how devastating an extraterrestrial near divine force can be. Bodies get destroyed in many different ways. Huge destruction and violence from start to end. It seemed as though not even the Justice League could stand against Doomsday.

9. Wonder Woman (2009)

Wonder Woman occupies ninth place on this list. Before the live-action movie starring Gal Gadot became

Wonder Woman: Commemorative Edition Trailer (DC Original Movie)

There's actually a lot of parallels between the animated Wonder Woman and the box office success of 2017, especially when it comes to the romance between Diana and Steve Trevor. Both have a duel between Diana and Ares, but the details of the fight are quite different.

Best DC Movies Animated (2/5)

8. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)

Crisis on Two Earths is the first DC animated work to delve on the endlessly expanding and retconning multiverse, but managed to do so without adding to the confusion for the untrained viewer.

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Trailer

The movie is about what would happen if there was another universe in which the Justice League heroes were all supervillains who wanted to conquer our beloved DC main universe. Chaos ensues. Owl-Man being the evil counterpart to Batman is pretty fun.

7. Batman: Year One (2011)

Batman: Year One is number 7 on this list. It stands out pretty much compared to most other DC animated movies, because they usually are full of action, intense fighting and fast-moving plots, similar to DC live-action works. Year One, however, is quite slow-paced and carefully constructed.

Batman: Year One - Trailer

Based on the excellent Frank Miller's comic, Year One looks into the early career of Bruce Wayne as Batman as much as his future companion Jim Gordon. Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad fame played Gordon in this. The voice actor of Batman, Ben McKenzie, would go on to play Jim Gordon in Gotham.

Best DC Movies Animated (3/5)

6. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000)

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker is another deserving one on the best DC movies animated and best DC animated Batman movies list. The movie is an introduction to the story of the new Batman, a mantle now donned by Terry McGinnis. 35 years after the Joker committed more heinous acts to Batman's allies before being sent to an early grave, the clown found his way back to trouble the new Batman.

Batman Beyond - Return of the Joker trailer

The movie had two separate editions, one that was more "child-friendly" and the original uncut version that contained all the dark and violent scenes. Mark Hamill provided the iconic voice for the Joker, and Kevin Conroy did elderly Bruce Wayne's voice.

5. Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)

Justice League: The New Frontier is a throwback to the Golden and Silver ages of DC, and is a great introduction to the Justice League and its purpose, which is that even superheroes cannot always fight evil on their own and must band together when a great villainous force arises.

Trailer - "Justice League: The New Frontier Commemorative Edition"

The New Frontier is the second of the official "DC Universe" movies, which is a pretty big contrast to the first DC Universe movie, Superman Doomsday, in terms of quality. The movie managed to reroute the weak beginning towards what DC Universe movies are capable of in the future.

Best DC Movies Animated (4/5)

4. Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox (2013)

Justice League: Flashpoint Paradox is one of the best DC movies animated, not just as a Justice League movie, but as a Flash movie as well. The movie itself dials down the long and complex storyline in the comic, focusing on the most interesting parts of the story without confusing viewers with its time-traveling theme.

Justice League - The Flashpoint Paradox - Trailer

Out of several attempts to adapt and reference Flashpoint Paradox, like the TV show The Flash, the animated movie did its job the best.

3. The Dark Knight Returns Parts 1 & 2 (2013)

While some movies can be watched separately as different parts, The Dark Knight Returns is one story split into two and so must be considered as a two-part movie. And both parts of The Dark Knight Returns, adapted from Frank Miller's brilliant graphic novel, deserve to occupy a spot on the best DC movies animated list.

The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 Trailer [HD]

The Dark Knight Returns: Part 2 - Trailer

Being divided into two parts to faithfully adapt and tell the Frank Miller comic on the big screen, The Dark Knight Returns does not fail to impress. The story of the Batman in his twilight years and comeback is totally authentic thanks to the great voice acting work of Peter Weller.

Best DC Movies Animated (5/5)

2. Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

Another one of DC animated Batman movies occupying the top spots, proving that certain characters bring together move riveting story-telling and exciting plit development. Under the Red Hood brings together the tragic death of Jason Todd at the hands of the Joker, and his return as the Red Hood 5 years later.

Batman: Under the Red Hood Trailer

The style is smooth and gorgeous, with well-animated fighting and action. Actor Jon DiMaggio's voice for the Joker is a pleasantly good addition despite the absence of Mark Hamill's iconic Joker voice.

1. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is as close as it gets to a perfect animated superhero movie. The origin story of Batman just doesn't fail in any of its aspects, the characters, the atmosphere, the animation, the storyline, voice acting, etc. simply hit all the marks from beginning to end. MotP deserves to be at the top of the best DC movies animated list.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) - Theatrical Trailer

The two main villains, the Joker and the Phantasm, and their involvement in shaping Batman's vigilante career, are probably the best one can ask for when it comes to villain stories. Even more impressive is the Phantasm was created just for this movie alone and is one of the best among Batman's rogues gallery.

And that was the best DC movies animated list, ranked according to the author's opinion. The list no doubt left out some truly great DC animated movies and it's not that they don't deserve to be on it. It's just that the purpose of this personal list is that it can help out with your coronavirus lockdown as it's bound to last for quite a while. So sit back and enjoy these great works of animation.