Every Batman Animated Series, Ranked By Rotten Tomatoes Score

As a huge film and comics fan, I truly believe Batman is DC’s biggest success story – he’s brought in more money and become a bigger part of our culture than any other superhero, hands down. Sure, Superman was first, but Batman is the one who’s really proven he can change with the times. He’s starred in everything from fun, over-the-top comedies to dark and serious thrillers, and it always works. You can especially see this in animation – he’s led more of his own TV series than any other member of the Justice League. Beyond being a team player in shows like Super Friends and Justice League Unlimited, Batman’s constantly been reinventing himself with solo animated projects for decades, which is amazing to see.

With so many different Batman movies and TV shows available, it can be hard to know where to start. Rotten Tomatoes helps by giving each adaptation a “Fresh” or “Rotten” score based on what critics thought. However, Rotten Tomatoes is a newer system, and older shows don’t always have scores because reviews weren’t consistently collected in the past. This list prioritizes shows with official Rotten Tomatoes scores, ranking them by percentage and the number of reviews. Below those, we’ve ranked shows without scores based on how well they’ve been received over time and what fans think.

11) Batwheels (No Score)

Batwheels is a big change for the Batman franchise, designed specifically for very young children with bright, toy-like visuals. Instead of focusing on Batman himself (voiced by Ethan Hawke), the show follows a team of talking vehicles, led by the Batmobile named Bam (voiced by Jacob Bertrand), as they learn about working together and believing in themselves. While the animation quality is good and the action is appropriate for toddlers, it’s not comparable to Batman shows with more complex stories. It lacks the dark, mysterious tone and complicated characters that most fans expect. Batwheels does a great job of introducing babies and toddlers to the world of Gotham City, but it feels more like a way to expand the Batman brand than a true addition to the main story, making it quite different from other Batman series.

10) The New Adventures of Batman (No Score)

Filmation’s 1977 animated series, The New Adventures of Batman, is an interesting but imperfect look back at the Batman boom of the era. What makes it special is bringing back Adam West and Burt Ward to voice Batman and Robin, just like in the 1966 live-action show. However, the animation is noticeably low-budget, and the character Bat-Mite – a mischievous magical creature voiced by Lennie Weinrib – frequently interrupts the stories with silly, over-the-top humor. The show tries for a campy style, but lacks the cleverness of the original 60s series, creating a strange combination of serious action and cartoonish gags.

9) The Adventures of Batman (No Score)

Premiering in 1968, The Adventures of Batman was the first major effort to adapt the iconic hero into a Saturday morning cartoon. The show stars Batman (voiced by Olan Soule) and Robin (voiced by Casey Kasem) as serious, official law enforcers battling a gallery of vibrant villains in straightforward, gadget-filled adventures. While not as complex as later versions, the series has a genuine appeal thanks to its sincerity and its close connection to the look and feel of Silver Age Batman comics. The stories are simple and direct, filled with elaborate traps and quick conclusions – typical of superhero entertainment at the time. It doesn’t rank as highly as some other adaptations simply because it reflects the limitations of animation during that period, lacking the deeper storytelling and visual flair that would later define the franchise.

8) The Batman (No Score)

First airing in 2004, The Batman had the difficult task of following the popular DC Animated Universe. It met this challenge by establishing a unique style all its own. The show featured a visually striking, graffiti-inspired look and focused on a young, less experienced Bruce Wayne (voiced by Rino Romano) as he began his crime-fighting career. While some fans were initially surprised by the new designs of classic villains like the Joker (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) and the Penguin (voiced by Tom Kenny), the series eventually gained a loyal following thanks to its dynamic action sequences and strong stories. Over five seasons, the show broadened its scope by introducing characters like Batgirl (voiced by Danielle Judovits) and Robin (voiced by Evan Sabara), demonstrating that there was still room for new takes on the Batman legend.

7) The New Batman Adventures (No Score)

Though often discussed alongside the 1992 Batman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures was a distinct show that premiered in 1994 with a fresh look and a bigger emphasis on Batman’s allies. It starred Kevin Conroy as a grittier Batman, alongside Nightwing, Batgirl, and a new Robin named Tim Drake. While some fans didn’t love the updated character designs – especially for villains like the Joker and Catwoman – the show’s writing was consistently excellent, delivering some of the most compelling and emotionally powerful episodes ever made. Episodes like “Over the Edge” and “Mad Love” showcase the show’s storytelling strength and solidify its place as one of the best Batman adaptations. It would likely rank even higher if it had a critic score, but it’s clearly a top-quality series.

6) Batman: The Animated Series (No Score)

It feels wrong to rank Batman: The Animated Series this low, but because of how the review scoring works, it doesn’t have an official score. However, many fans consider this 1992 series the best Batman adaptation ever created. It changed animated storytelling with its unique “Dark Deco” style and its serious, character-driven stories. The show introduced Harley Quinn (voiced by Arleen Sorkin), gave Mr. Freeze (voiced by Michael Ansara) a surprisingly sympathetic backstory, and cemented Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as the iconic voices of Batman and the Joker. Its impact on superhero animation is huge – it truly set the standard for quality. Although it can’t reach the top spot due to a technicality – a lack of enough reviews – it remains the most beloved on-screen portrayal of Batman for fans around the world.

5) Beware the Batman (82%)

“Beware the Batman” was a unique take on the classic superhero story. This animated series dared to move away from Batman’s most famous enemies, instead featuring lesser-known villains like Professor Pyg, Magpie, and Anarky. It also refreshed the supporting characters, swapping Robin for the skilled swordswoman Katana and presenting Alfred Pennyworth as a more action-oriented, former spy. While critics praised the show’s fresh approach to Batman and its exciting action, giving it an 82% rating, many viewers were turned off by the computer-generated animation and the lack of familiar villains like the Joker, ultimately leading to its cancellation.

4) Batman: Caped Crusader (94%)

The new animated series Batman: Caped Crusader, produced by Bruce Timm, revisits the character’s origins with a strong 1940s aesthetic. Available on Prime Video, the show simplifies Batman’s world, removing high-tech gadgets and a large supporting cast to portray him as a brooding, intimidating figure operating in a crime-ridden Gotham. Critics are impressed with the show’s dark mood and old-fashioned detective style, giving it a 94% approval rating. The series also surprises viewers with reimagined villains and a more distant, hardened Bruce Wayne, demonstrating that even a well-known story can feel innovative.

3) Batman: The Brave and the Bold (96%)

As a huge DC fan, I absolutely loved Batman: The Brave and the Bold! It was such a refreshing take on the universe, totally embracing the fun, classic Silver Age style instead of all the dark and serious stuff we’d been getting. Each episode was a blast because Batman – voiced perfectly by Diedrich Bader, by the way – would team up with a different hero. Sometimes it was big names like Green Arrow (James Arnold Taylor nailed that role!), and other times it was some really obscure characters, like B’wana Beast (Kevin Michael Richardson was fantastic!). Everyone loved how energetic and positive it was, and it struck a great balance between being silly and actually respecting the comics. It even proved Batman could be funny without being a total goof, and it all built up to a series finale that was genuinely one of the most moving I’ve ever seen in a comic book show. It earned a whopping 96% rating, and deserved every bit of it!

2) Bat-Fam (100%, 7 Reviews)

Following the animated film Merry Little Batman, the new series Bat-Fam has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, praised for its unique and charming style. The show centers on Bruce Wayne (voiced by Luke Wilson) and his son Damian (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) as they deal with the everyday challenges of family life alongside the craziness of being superheroes. Its art style is intentionally rough and feels like classic comic books, perfectly complementing the show’s funny and heartwarming moments. Critics especially appreciate how the series focuses on the loving relationship between father and son, offering a refreshing and lighthearted take on the typically dark world of Gotham City. By emphasizing family and humor over the usual brooding, Bat-Fam stands out as something truly different within the Batman universe.

1) Batman Beyond (100%, 16 Reviews)

Topping the list with a perfect score and lots of positive reviews is Batman Beyond, the 1999 series that boldly introduced a new Batman. Set in a futuristic 2039, the show centers on teenager Terry McGinnis (voiced by Will Friedle) who becomes the new Batman, trained by an older, retired Bruce Wayne (voiced by Kevin Conroy). Batman Beyond is celebrated for its fantastic storytelling, seamlessly combining teen drama with exciting sci-fi action while staying true to the spirit of the original series. The relationship between the energetic new hero and his grumpy mentor created a compelling emotional center, and the show’s creation of a fresh and frightening group of villains proved that Batman could thrive even with a new lead.

Some fans are saying Batman Beyond is even better than the original animated series. What do you think? Share your thoughts in the ComicBook Forum and join the discussion!

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2025-12-03 23:18