DC Animated Universe
DC Animated Universe
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This article is written from the Real World perspective Bruce Timm

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):

Films

The following animated movies are also part of the continuity:

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:

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.

References

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