Animation has been undermined and overlooked for far too long in the grand scheme of cinema. An innovative, imaginative, and unapologetically creative form of entertainment, animation is at the disposal of its artists. The beginnings of two-dimensional animation are considered to be the roots of the art form and have inspired triumphs for future generations of animators. Animation has represented itself across broad reaches of entertainment media and has spanned across the spectrum of pop culture. Video games, film, television, and other media have utilized animation to the most of its power.

Superheroes and superheroism have left an indelible impact on today’s most popular and sought-after industries. The comic book industry has excelled since its inception and has promised that it will continue to flourish as time carries on. Prominent publishing houses have dominated the genre both in print and in live-action as the DC Extended Universe and the Marvel Cinematic Universe have possessed the box office for decades. Indeed, animation and superhero-centric media were destined to complement one another as superheroism did not solely pertain to comic books.

The endless possibilities that came with new heroic tales — or dreaming up villains to take them on — were not inherently required to stick to what was circulating in print. Animated superhero movies rapidly began to take new shape as studios knew there would be an evergreen interest at play. They bound artistry with inspiration from the world around them to understand the elasticity of who or what a hero could be. While animated superhero movies are finally being given the recognition they deserve, these select few remain to be the best.

Update December 30, 2023, by Soniya Hinduja: With the release of some incredible animated superhero movies in 2023; this list has been updated with more exceptionally entertaining titles and information about where to stream them.

10 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1 & 2 (2012, 2013)

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1
PG-13
Release Date
August 21, 2012
Director
Jay Oliva
Cast
Peter Weller , Ariel Winter , David Selby , Wade Williams , Carlos Alazraqui , Dee Bradley Baker
Main Genre
Animation

DC Comics has insisted that Batman be the main driving focus of the brand. The Dark Knight’s iconic reputation refuses to take a step back from the pages of the books as the power he holds over superhero media remains to be unshakable. Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns two-parter, based on his own comics, finds a fitting conclusion for Bruce Wayne’s career. As a set, the animated pair displays great respect for their source material. They exemplify Miller's gravelly take on morality and internalize it to be as personal as possible. The Dark Knight Returns doublet white-knuckles what noir comics can convey when executed with care. Warner Bros.

Not for a younger demographic, The Dark Knight Returns saga spoke to a more seasoned crowd who craved a grittier Caped Crusader, grizzled and weary in his old age. Noir themes and mature concepts shift their weight into The Dark Knight Returns saga as it seeks out an appropriate conclusion to the Batman mythos. Animation goes beyond the typical Batman story for an exemplary feat of artistry in the DC Animated Universe. Christopher Drake’s musical score dials into the tone of The Dark Knight Returns Part 1, and that anticipation for The Dark Knight Returns Part 2 seeps through the soundtrack. Above all, the animated The Dark Knight Returns duo proves that there is no need to rely on live-action to capture Batman’s moral conflict. Stream on Max

9 TMNT (2007)

TMNT
TMNT
PG
Release Date
March 23, 2007
Director
Kevin Munroe
Cast
Nolan North , james arnold taylor , Mitchell Whitfield , Mikey Kelley , Mako , Sarah Michelle Gellar
Main Genre
Animation

Despite only being a small commercial success, the fourth film in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise kick-started a brand new trend of computer-animated superhero movies. The film was produced during a renaissance for all things turtle-powered, which means that the mixed reviews from critics didn’t prevent creators from bringing the teen mutants into the modern age, this time with a new original story and moving the heroes beyond their traditional antagonist to mythical monster.

As you’d expect, the movie sees the four beloved turtles fighting an evil industrialist’s army of monsters with their signature humor and heart. A risky move, but a move nonetheless, TMNT pushed boundaries with its visual flair and intricately designed action sequences, which were highly praised. The movie acts as both a standalone adventure but also a loose continuation of the live-action films. TMNT may not have achieved the same level of status as the 1990 original, but it endures for catering to a new generation of viewers. Stream on Paramount+.

8 Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010)

Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman: Under the Red Hood
PG-13
Release Date
July 27, 2010
Director
Brandon Vietti
Main Genre
Animation

Batman: Death in the Family grounded itself as the inspiration for Batman: Under the Red Hood, a highly-praised contribution to Batman’s omnipresence across the DC Comics universe. The animation used to bring Batman: Under the Red Hood to small screens was striking, though it was the costume design that was more memorable in the comic adaptation. Costume designs in animated media are not often considered as a key component of the medium. It was this animated feature that called attention to how details in animation must be taken into account for a successful work of art.

Batman: Under the Red Hood was successful in introducing multiple villains while keeping each afloat. Strong writing and voice-acting direction contributed to the impact of Batman’s guilt, and he was finally able to return to his role as a detective. Dark yet brisk, Batman: Under the Red Hood is eager to dive head-first into the brutality that haunts Gotham City. Sharply choreographed fights heighten the intensity that is reinforced as the groundwork of the film and redouble the odds of contesting moral codes. Outstanding voice performances from an impressive cast reassure that Batman: Under the Red Hood is strikingly unforgettable. Stream on Max

Related: Best Batman Animated Movies, Ranked

7 The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

lego batman
lego batman
PG
Release Date
February 8, 2017
Director
Chris McKay
Main Genre
Superhero

A comedic love letter to Batman fans, The Lego Batman Movie became a critical and commercial blockbuster. Even though the spin-off was a jump from the regular Batman films, and there were chances it would alienate fans with its hilarious parody-like take on the DC Comics superhero, the risk was one worth taking. Fortunately, its bright animation, subversive humor, immense amount of heart, playful poking at Batman tropes, and exploration of more familial themes made it an instant blockbuster.

Referencing the current Batman films, the critics praised The Lego Batman Movie for straying away from “all the doom and gloom” with its block-built aesthetic. That said, the movie remains an endlessly rewatchable one in the genre. While fans are upset that the sequel with the Justice League never materialized, The Lego Batman Movie remains not only a great animated superhero film but also a great Batman movie. Stream on Max

6 Big Hero 6 (2014)

big hero 6
Big Hero 6
PG
Release Date
October 24, 2014
Director
Don Hall , Chris Williams
Main Genre
Animation

Big Hero 6 was the product inspired by Marvel Comics, and was adorned with dazzling animation and genuinely appealing characters atop a heartfelt plotline that ensured that there was an emotional investment from audiences. The animated superhero defies stereotypes of the genre and challenges the binaries of media genres. Big Hero 6 forcefully squelches assumptions made about it and proudly ignites itself with an exceptional sense of verve. Big Hero 6 was also eager to pick up high energy and intense action as it wedded Western and Eastern popular culture influences. The city of San Fransokyo honors the cultural and social habitats of Tokyo and San Francisco.

Marvel and Disney's innovative, collaborative piece breathes new life into what superhero stories hold in store. Big Hero 6 was a risk taken by Disney as it strayed away from the typical standards found in the company’s infinitely amassed animated features. Themes of grief, loss, and mental health sat at the forefront of the film. As an animated feature, Big Hero 6 has a sense of heart that awards it with a greater sense of being, not just another marketable product ripe for Disney's picking. Stream on Disney+

5 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

batman: mask of the phantasm
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
PG
Release Date
December 25, 1993
Director
eric radomski , Bruce W. Timm
Main Genre
Animation

Based on and produced between the first and second season of the Batman: The Animated Series, this film is the first big screen theatrical animated adaptation of the DC Comics iconic superhero. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm arrived when cartoons were still seen as kid stuff, and because Warner Bros. was focused on their live-action Batman films they put little marketing and attention behind this animated film hhich is probably why it went on to become one of the best Batman films ever. Fans were craving a mature take on the Caped Crusader, desperately wanting for creators to dive deep into the backstories and parallels between Batman and Joker, and this 1993 movie does just that.

The film brought back Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, who once again lent their amazing voices for the role. At its core, the story is about Bruce Wayne’s reflecting on his early years when Andrea, a former love who he almost married, returns to Gotham. The movie dove deep into Batman's origin in a way audiences had never really gotten before and would not see until Batman Begins twelve years later. It is gothic, romantic, and tragic, which tend to make for some of the best Batman stories. While a box office flop, the film has since gone on to become a cult classic. Stream on Max.

Related: Will The Comic Book Superhero Movie Genre Be Popular in the Next Few Decades?

4 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Release Date
August 4, 2023
Director
Jeff Rowe , Kyler Spears
Main Genre
Animation

Read Our Review

Taking inspiration from various coming-of-age films, screenwriters Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, along with director Jeff Rowe decided to revitalize the TMNT franchise by giving it a fresh and fun take and making Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem a resonant tale of the Turtle brothers as they come to their own. While the premise sees them fight off an army of mutants to take down a crime syndicate, it is the colorful concepts and visual treatment that make the project an absolute delight.

Clearly, the creators wanted to make the property more accessible to newer audiences. And in doing so, the 40-year-long franchise throws pop culture references a little too often. However, from the animation to the action-packed moments, every scene finds heart and that signature feeling of brotherhood. As for its critical reception, the movie “oozes" confidence and energy and proves that the franchise is here to stay. And that it can engage viewers of all ages because of its exuberant vibe. Stream on Paramount+

3 The Incredibles (2004)

the incredibles
The Incredibles
PG
Release Date
October 27, 2004
Director
Brad Bird
Cast
Craig T. Nelson , Holly Hunter , Samuel L. Jackson , Jason Lee , Dominique Louis , Teddy Newton
Main Genre
Animation

Pixar and the Walt Disney Company joined the superhero game before the acquisition of Marvel Studios and broke ground for non-comic book features during the early dawn of the 2000s. The Incredibles tightly grasps every element of a superhero story while landing it in suburbia. It pulls familiar concepts from graphic novels yet incorporates them so that there is still a strike of originality that courses through the film. High-intensity action is coupled with everyday family quarreling as there is a sense of relatability assigned to The Incredibles.

Perhaps not every typical family is toeing a fine line between saving the world and planning for their children's futures, but these beats of the mundane give a more commonplace approach to what could be a complex story. The Incredibles celebrates the victories of family life while nourishing a hunger for new superhero stories being told as the craving begins to emerge. In his debut movie, Brad Bird keeps in stride with Pixar's appeal to an entire family without having to speak down to an audience. Poignant storytelling is embellished by restless and kinetic action. The Incredibles insist that anyone has the power to be incredible. Stream on Disney+

2 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a saving grace from Sony Pictures take on Spider-Man without Marvel Studios invovlement. Sony Pictures Animation has truly declared the animated breakout phenomenon as their most victorious work yet as they, per Vulture, developed a new form of animation specifically for the title. Its visually compelling storytelling sharply snaps attention and demands its hold with unwavering strength. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse follows a similar origin path with a more intriguing spin; an origin story given to Miles Morales in live-action could not be more flattering or rightfully deserved than the narrative penned by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman.

Exhilarating in every sense of the word, hyper-pop action paired with the genuine sense of excitement associated with Spider-Man refuses to permit the animated feature to lose momentum for a moment. Moreover, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse illustrates the power of hope in oneself and the power of seeking the good in others. Its one-of-a-kind aesthetic honors the comics that it pulls its inspiration from, though adds an unforgettable punch to pop art. With its uplifting spirit carried by a renewed air of self-confidence, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse remains to be an undisputed champion in the superhero genre. Sony Pictures Animation’s bombastic break into the Spider-Man multiverse is an unparalleled sensation. Stream on Fubo TV

1 Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
PG
Animation
Superhero
Action
Adventure
Release Date
June 2, 2023
Director
Joaquim Dos Santos , Kemp Powers , Justin K. Thompson

Read Our Review

The widely-anticipated sequel to Into the Spiderverse soared even higher than its acclaimed predecessor in terms of thrill and adventure. In the movie, Miles Morales becomes integral to the Multiverse… or let’s say, the dysfunction within it. Apparently, the radioactive spider that bit him was from a different Earth, making him the original anomaly. Even though the revelation comes later in the movie, there are not-so-subtle hints suggesting the movie is more than its breathtaking animation, where the vivid colors pop bright and the action scenes land perfectly. Instead, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is all about character work.

As a coming-of-age tale, it dives into Miles’ refusal to give into his scripted narrative and Gwen’s courage to embrace her identity. Of course, all of this wouldn’t have been possible without the elements of action honoring the comic roots while expanding the potential for storytelling within the animated superhero film genre. Critics lauded the film for its extravagant energy and the different Spidey incarnations. Overall, the movie is nothing short of a cinematic marvel. Stream on Netflix