Top 20 Animated Superhero TV Series
#20: “The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” (2010-13)
Top 10 Animated Superhero TV Series
Released at a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe was starting to become popular, this series focused on the chemistry between the titular team in a separate universe. The show featured a variety of superhero fight scenes that never failed to impress. These epic battles are paired with great adaptations of classic arcs from the comics. “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” fulfills every superhero fan’s dream of watching their favorite characters duke it out with the baddest out there. Loki, Ultron, Dr. Doom and so many more show up to give The Avengers grief. Despite being well-received, the series unfortunately wasn’t renewed after its second season. But its brief ride is still worth assembling friends to watch.
#19: “Super Friends” (1973-86)
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Before the genre was diversified with gritty heroes and complex stories, it was known for its lighthearted and cheesy nature. “Super Friends” is a great example of this earlier era. The premise sees the members of the Justice League and a few of their sidekicks working together to foil evil schemes. Instead of telling a season long story, the show provided a variety of one shot adventures. Their stories unapologetically embraced how silly and wacky comics can get. And it managed to bring in a lot of heroes and villains across its long run. While the show might not have the highest stakes, its wacky nature makes being a superhero look like a ton of fun.
#18: “Darkwing Duck” (1991-92)
Serving as a parody of heroes like the Green Hornet and Batman, “Darkwing Duck” brings us into a fantastic satirical world. Even the hero’s home city of St. Carrnard looks like a lighter take on Batman’s Gotham City. When Darkwing Duck wasn’t stopping no-gooders, the show focused on the interesting dynamic between the protagonist’s real identity and his alter ego. Watching him constantly evaluate why he was fighting crime was a nice running theme. Darkwing’s show also broke the mold by being one of the first Disney shows to feature lots of combat. Decades after its run, fans can recite the awesome theme song and the hero’s catchphrases by heart. Darkwing Duck definitely left a webbed footprint on the genre.
#17: “The Powerpuff Girls” (1998-2005)
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For a show that routinely features a whole lot of violence, “The Powerpuff Girls” is pretty adorable. The series follows sisters Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup as they protect the city of Townsville from numerous threats. Their hometown is full of hilarious and memorable characters. The incompetent mayor, the main trio’s father Professor Utonium and the show’s very active narrator all helped get us invested in Townsville. So, whenever it was threatened by the genius primate Mojo Jojo or the terrifying HIM, we were rooting for the girls to win. The show also had the heroes deal with minor personal problems in between their battles against kaijus. Overall, watching the trio grow up in this quirky and dangerous city was ridiculously sweet.
#16: “Todd McFarlane’s Spawn” (1997-99)
R-rated animation can be an acquired taste. Luckily, “Spawn” perfectly caters to fans who prefer their characters to be dark and disturbing. The show tells the story of former Marine Al Simmons. After a former friend sends him to hell, he returns to Earth as a Hellspawn and swears revenge on those responsible for taking his life away. The grim premise allowed the show to delve into extremely mature topics at a time where most superhero programs kept things pretty PG. As Spawn fought against terrible evils, the animation wonderfully played up the show’s horror elements. Although the main character may give you some nightmares, his stories are so well told that you’ll feel sorry for him and want him to get his vengeance.
#15: “Batman Beyond” (1999-2001)
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Set in the future of the DC Animated Universe, “Batman Beyond” brings a new dark knight into a cyberpunk setting. After Bruce Wayne is forced to retire from active duty, he lets the young Terry McGinnis put on an advanced batsuit and fight crime. “Batman Beyond” cleverly works in a few of Bruce’s former enemies throughout its run. However, it also gives Terry the chance to build his own unique rogues gallery. It’s fun watching the dynamic between the two Bat-men as they tackle new and old threats. And the show’s darker tone allowed for their adventures to be really hard-hitting and haunting. The future “Batman Beyond” depicted wasn’t always bright. However, it was always thrilling.
#14: “Transformers” (1984-87)
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Modern audiences might think of Michael Bay’s explosive live-action movies whenever they hear “Transformers”. However, they shouldn’t overlook the excellent original animated series. Like most “Transformers” stories, the long-running conflict between Optimus Prime’s Autobots and Megatron’s Decepticons is front and center. Their battles are brought to life with seamless transformation sequences and tremendous voice acting. Outside of the many clashes, there’s a deeper plot to appreciate as well. “Transformers” goes from simply being about robot battles to detailing the lore of Cybertron and the price of its war. Tragic deaths and sacrifices amp up the tension and deliver emotional arcs for fans to invest in. Thanks to great storytelling, a full length animated movie rolled out that fans also loved.
#13: “The Spectacular Spider-Man” (2008-09)
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The “Spectacular Spider-Man” gave us one of the most beloved versions of the wallcrawler on tv. Since it's set during Peter’s time at high school, the audience has time to watch him slowly grow into a more mature webhead. At the same time, viewers see other iconic franchise characters develop too. Everyone is depicted in a slick art style that makes it look like the comic book stories have come alive. While audiences marveled at the animation, they also got to see new dramatic takes on classic “Spider-Man” stories. But that doesn’t mean there wasn’t great humor as well. Heroes, villains and everyone in between had witty dialogue and hilarious moments. This webhead show has something for every “Spider-Man” aficionado.
#12: “Superman: The Animated Series” (1996-2000)
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Few DCAU series have as many hard-hitting villains as this show did. Fortunately, the man of steel was ready to take them all on. The show provided layered and intimidating versions of the blue boy’s scout fiercest foes. Rogues like Metallo, Brainiac and Darkseid pushed Superman to his absolute limits. As fun as it was to watch the hero punch bad guys, it really shone when it focused on his inner conflicts and societal issues that powers alone couldn’t solve. This animated series also notably brought in other heroes for memorable team-up stories. Whether Superman is in a team up or literally flying solo, his adventures always have a hopeful and optimistic tone. His uplifting series deserves to be considered as a classic.
#11: “Static Shock” (2000-04)
There’s a certain charm about young heroes carrying a sense of humor and fun into their crime-fighting exploits. “Static Shock” is unquestionably one of the best examples of that kind of hero. After a wisecracking teenager named Virgil Hawkins gains electromagnetic powers during a harrowing incident, he decides to use his abilities to protect his hometown. His strong connections with his complex family members and friends make it clear who he’s fighting for. “Static Shock” balanced high-flying superhero fun with serious and grounded topics. Issues like poverty, racial discrimination and mental health were all discussed in nuanced and powerful stories. “Static Shock’s “willingness to shine a light on tough topics while providing superb superhero action made it a fun and meaningful series.
#10: “What If...?” (2021-)
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After the multiverse was introduced in “Loki,” “What If?” gave us a glimpse of the limitless potential of multiple Marvel realities. A being known as The Watcher shows us how small changes can create entirely new timelines and heroes. During the first season, we saw Peggy Carter get superpowers, Dr. Strange turned fully evil and we met tons of Avenger zombies. Since a good number of live-action MCU actors return to voice their characters, the series also feels like a natural part of the bigger universe. The show’s first season spawned a zombie spinoff and saw one of its characters appear in live-action. This imaginative series has clearly had an impact on an entire shared universe.
#9: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1987-96)
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Filled with wackiness, martial arts, and enough pizza to fill the audience’s stomach, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” is certainly a wild ride. As the title suggests, it’s about young turtles who protect New York from various threats. The distinctive and vibrant personalities of the main four heroes had fans struggling to pick their favorite. Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael had unique fighting styles and quirks that each brought something interesting to their sewer. And when they came together, even fearsome villains like Shredder had to watch their backs. The show’s massive success spawned everything from action figures to breakfast cereals to many animated and live-action adventures. This series made legions of fans believe in turtle power.
#8: “Harley Quinn” (2019-)
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Filled with profanity, violence and pitch black humor, this series traces a supervillain’s journey to becoming a slightly less terrible anti-hero. Harley’s quest to build her own legacy after stepping out of her ex-boyfriend’s Joker shadow makes for a genuinely compelling story. The series fully dives into everything from her shifting moral code to her budding relationship with Poison Ivy. However, don’t let that fool you into thinking this is a completely serious series. It’s filled to the brim with brilliant jokes and shots at DC heroes and villains. And Harley’s quirky crew members are also incredibly fun to laugh at. Since there’s no telling what the title characters and her friends will do next, this witty series constantly surprises us.
#7: “Young Justice” (2010-13)
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Instead of building stories exclusively around veteran DC characters, “Young Justice” puts the spotlight on up-and-coming heroes and sidekicks. After introducing a small core of teenage protagonists, the series slowly builds out their backstories and has them meet new allies. This gave audiences plenty of time to watch the characters develop and become more complex. It also makes it easier to fall in love with the cast. As the series went on, it deeply explored grounded issues like PTSD and prejudice. These impactful episodes impressively managed to contribute to larger story arcs without disrupting the flow of the season. “Young Justice” is a brilliantly constructed series that never loses sight of the up-and-coming heroes and the challenges they overcome.
#6: “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” (1994-98)
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In the very first episode, “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” throws audiences right into the webhead’s fast-paced adventures. Fortunately, the series never takes its foot off the gas. The show follows a college-aged Peter Parker confronting villains and personal issues. Spider-Man voice actor Christopher Daniel Barnes leads an incredible cast full of strong performers. He also effortlessly goes between throwing out quips to portraying the hero’s inner turmoil. During the series, his Spider-Man teamed up with some heavy Marvel mainstays. Everyone from the X-Men to the Beyonder show up to fight or help the webhead out. Peter Parker even teams up with multiversal versions of himself! Packed with wild storylines and web-slinging action, this beloved show set the standard for what a Spider-Man series should be.
#5: “Invincible” (2021-)
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“Invincible’s” extreme violence, realistic approach to heroics and grim tone could’ve turned viewers off. But the show’s commitment to its heavier themes drew audiences in. After teenager Mark Grayson develops powers, he tries to be a shining beacon like his father Omni-Man. However, the young man is initially unaware that his father is hiding a darkness that threatens the fate of the entire planet. Mark eventually realizes that being a hero might mean turning against his own dad. The series forces its hero to make tons of hard choices like this throughout the story. It often means that Mark and his friends get into some brutal yet beautifully animated fights. Between the gripping plot, graphic battles and shocking turns, “Invincible” is a must see.
#4: “Justice League” (2001-04) & “Justice League Unlimited” (2004-06)
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Since both series exist in the same universe and feel like two parts of the same story, both deserved a shout out here. This pair of shows had the daunting task of bringing in legions of characters from the DC Universe to life. Fortunately, it accomplished its task with flying colors. Popular heroes like the fast-talking Flash and stoic Batman get time to team up with allies like Jon Stewart’s Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter. But the show also lets underrated heroes like Hawkgirl shine in dedicated storylines. If the sheer variety of plots and characters isn’t enough to impress, the presence of legendary villains like Darkseid will definitely win audiences over. Both “Justice League” shows made showcasing tons of heroes and villains look easy.
#3: “Teen Titans” (2003-06)
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The Justice League isn’t the only popular DC team. Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven made a big impact when they led “Teen Titans”. The anime-inspired animation instantly made it visually stand out in the genre. But audiences truly stayed to get to know the five layered main heroes. Every hero had their own inner struggles, limitations and tragedies in their pasts. But they always put their issues aside to work with the teammates that had become like family. While the show excelled at telling heavy and emotional stories, it could also have lots of fun with comedic adventures. “Teen Titans” could make us laugh, cry and feel energized in the same episode. These young heroes always kept us entertained.
#2: “X-Men: The Animated Series” (1992-97)
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When fans are asked to name the best Marvel animated series, this“X-Men” show immediately comes to mind. Popular mutants like Wolverine, Gambit, Magneto and more all star in this landmark series. The show is full of complex social commentary about prejudice and other topical issues. It also fully delivers on the mutant action and storylines that fans were hungry for. While movies may have failed to do famous arcs like the “Dark Phoenix Saga” justice, the series has the time to flesh out these plots and characters. Oh, and did we mention the awesome theme song? The series was so beloved that it was revived nearly 30 years after it ended. This mutant show certainly stood the test of time.
#1: “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-95)
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Complex, dark, and filled with a neo-noir aesthetic, “Batman: The Animated Series” is the peak of animated superhero perfection. Every episode takes time to dive into the psyches of the heroes and villains. Thanks to detailed writing, audiences often end up feeling sympathy for the antagonists. Throughout the series, voice acting talents of Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as The Joker shine in a cast full of exceptional talent. Their brilliant battles ensured the duo would go on to voice the characters for decades. Not only did the series kick off the DC animated universe, but it also spawned several films and shows like “The New Batman Adventures.” Batman’s pivotal series ultimately paved a way for numerous superhero stories.
