In a big ole Batman mood after the new movie and I feel like checking out the animated movies. There's....a lot. There's a shit load. There's like 45 of them. So I turned to the internet for help and found plenty of arguments over which ones to watch and in what order. There certainly wasn't a consensus but this was the most common list and order I found

Batman: Year One 2011
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 1993
Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero 1998
Batman: Under the Red Hood 2010
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 2012
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 2013
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker 2000

So that's what I'm gonna do. Particularly looking forward to Red Hood and especially Phantasm after hearing a lot of people gushing over them. I also hear Assault on Arkham is a fun Suicide Squad featuring Batman movie so I might tack that on at the end if I dig these enough. They're all p short it seems

A lot of suggestions about starting with the animated series from the 90s but idk if I feel like committing to that rn, its about 85 eps. TBD

Has anyone seen any of these or any other ones not on my list and is the animated series worth it?

Already started!

Batman: Year One (5/10)

It was fine. Animation was nothing special and I thought Benjamin McKenzie was a pretty terrible Batman. He was so wooden

Bryan Cranston as Gordon was the clear highlight. It was basically told through Gordon’s perspective. Made me want Cranston as a live action Gordon, he would be great

Mask of The Phantasm could be my favourite Batman animated film.

I don't believe you need to watch all the episodes of the Animated Series. For example, I think The Riddler is only in one of them. They're mostly standalone stories.

the animation is good from what I remember, probably better than a lot of the newer films they've made.

never seen any of them but heard The Long Halloween from last year was one of the better ones yet

I read and watched Year One last year. Agreed that the movie was underwhelming.

id def watch the animated series

id also add the killing joke to the list bc even tho the first half was garbage the second half is really good

TheNavneet @ 7/3/2022 15:03

id def watch the animated series id also add the killing joke to the list bc even tho the first half was garbage the second half is really good

I’m confused by Killing Joke. I thought it was highly revered but then I saw nothing but horrible reviews on LB. I’m assuming it’s the comic that everyone loved and the movie version got a lot of hate? Idk, I could’ve sworn everyone loved that story

Curtis @ 7/3/2022 13:55

TheNavneet @ 7/3/2022 15:03 id def watch the animated series id also add the killing joke to the list bc even tho the first half was garbage the second half is really good I’m confused by Killing Joke. I thought it was highly revered but then I saw nothing but horrible reviews on LB. I’m assuming it’s the comic that everyone loved and the movie version got a lot of hate? Idk, I could’ve sworn everyone loved that story

the killing joke graphic novel is very highly rated yes

the movie itself is essentially 2 movies in one. the first part is so disjointed its like watching an entirely different movie. but once the second part starts its almost a page for page adaptation of the graphic novel and it has a couple of really good Joker monologues

Starting to chip away at the animated series

Curtis @ 9/3/2022 15:22

Starting to chip away at the animated series

when I read this, I started hearing the theme music. lol

Apparently just like the movies, the ideal watch order of the series is often debated and no one ever agrees. I came across a list that I'm gonna stick with, it breaks it up into four seasons with some loose themes per season and has a couple of spots where it recommends some of the movies on my list

Pasting here to make it easier for me. I'm at least gonna watch s1 to lead up to Mask of the Phantasm. Halfway through s1 now

SEASON ONE EPISODE LIST:
01-P101-P1031—The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy
02---102-P1013—I’ve Got Batman in My Basement
03---103-P1004—The Last Laugh
04---104-P1035—Night of the Ninja
05---105-P1019—Prophecy of Doom
06---106-P1006—The Underdwellers
07-B107-P1015—The Cat and the Claw
08-B108-P1016—The Cat and the Claw Part 2
09---109-P1020—Joker’s Favor
10---110-P1012—It’s Never Too Late
11---111-P1055—The Mechanic
12---112-P1008—The Forgotten
13---113-P1026—Appointment in Crime Alley
14---114-P1003—Nothing to Fear
15---115-P1001—On Leather Wings
16--F116-MOVIE: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

SEASON TWO EPISODE LIST:
17-P201-P1007—P.O.V.
18---202-P1005—Pretty Poison
19---203-P2077—The Lion and the Unicorn
20---204-P1009—Be a Clown
21---205-P1010—Two-Face Part 1
22---206-P1036—Cat Scratch Fever
23---207-P1040—“If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich?”
24---208-P1011—Two-Face Part 2
25---209-P1042—Tyger, Tyger
26-B210-P1044—Day of the Samurai
27-B211-P1024—Fear of Victory
28-B212-P1018—Beware the Gray Ghost
29---213-P1043—Moon of the Wolf
30---214-P1034—The Laughing Fish
31---215-P1023—Vendetta
32---216-P1053—Paging the Crime Doctor
33---217-P1045—Terror in the Sky
34---218-P1029—Eternal Youth
35---219-P1037—The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne
36-F220-P1032—Robin's Reckoning
37-F221-P1033—Robin’s Reckoning Part 2

SEASON THREE EPISODE LIST:
38-P301-P1002—Christmas with the Joker
39---302-P1021—Feat of Clay
40---303-P1022—Feat of Clay Part 2
41---304-P1028—Dreams in Darkness
42---305-P1027—Mad as a Hatter
43---306-P1025—The Clock King
44---307-P1051—The Man Who Killed Batman
45---308-P1014—Heart of Ice
46---309-P1056—Harley and Ivy
47---310-P1048—“What is Reality?”
48---311-P2066—Sideshow
49-B312-P1038—Heart of Steel
50-B313-P1039—Heart of Steel Part 2
51-B314-P1030—Perchance to Dream
52-B315-P2046—Almost Got ‘Im
53---316-P1054—Zatanna
54---317-P1064—Read My Lips
55---318-P1063—Fire from Olympus
56---319-P1049—I Am the Night
57---320-P2071—Terrible Trio
58---321-P1041—Joker’s Wild
59---322-P1050—Off Balance
60---323-P1062—His Silicon Soul
61---324-P1047—Birds of a Feather
62-F325-P1060—The Demon's Quest
63-F326-P1061—The Demon’s Quest Part 2

SEASON FOUR EPISODE LIST:
64-P401-P1057—Shadow of the Bat
65-P402-P1058—Shadow of the Bat Part 2
66---403-P1052—Mudslide
67---404-P2074—Catwalk
68---405-P1017—See No Evil
69---406-P2069—Avatar
70---407-P1065—The Worry Men
71---408-P2070—House and Garden
72---409-P2072—Harlequinade
73---410-P2067—A Bullet for Bullock
74---411-P1059—Blind as a Bat
75---412-P2078—Showdown
76-B413-P2068—Trial
77---414-P2084—Deep Freeze
78---415-P2079—Riddler’s Reform
79---416-P2073—Time Out of Joint
80---417-P2075—Bane
81---418-P2085—Batgirl Returns
82---419-P2081—Harley’s Holiday
83---420-P2076—Baby Doll
84---421-P2082—Lock-Up
85---422-P2083—Make ‘Em Laugh
86---423-P2080—Second Chance
87--F424-MOVIE: Batman and Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero

And what do you think so far?

They made a couple more recent animated movies voiced by some of the original 60s cast. West, Ward and Newmar. They are based on the 60s series but a little bit more modern so they aren't the same tonally as the ones you're planning on watching. :P But I love them and wanted to say that.