20 TV Shows That Are Practically Flawless

20. Batman: The Animated Series

Despite not being live-action, Batman: The Animated Series' visual appeal and innovative experimentation didn't just bring the Caped Crusader's tale to life with wonderfully refreshing style, but it actually made his story feel darker, grittier and more real than any other Batman adaptation on offer.

Thanks in equal measure to the show's slick noir style and striking maturity, The Animated Series revelled in its darkness, but still allowed itself to have twisted fun with its characters - particularly Mark Hamill's deranged Joker - and musical score, which alternated between ominous and playful in a single scene.

Add to these technical flourishes a sense of scope Gotham has never seen before and its expansive, pitch-perfect cast - as led by Kevin Conroy as the titular vigilante - and what you have is a series that transcended its animated medium at every turn, and remains one of the finest and most faithful comic book adaptations ever made.