Ranking Every DCAU Show And Film Worst To Best

Shared universes are all the rage these days.

On the big screen, we have the MCU, the DCEU and the MonsterVerse, while on the small screen we have the Arrowverse - each of them pushing boundaries for their respective mediums as they incorporate endless supplies of superheroes and/or monstrous creatures across multiple instalments.

However, long before any of them were even an idea, Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Eric Radomski, Alan Burnett and dozens more created what may have just been the most revolutionary shared universe of them all - the DC Animated Universe.

Though they probably didn't know it at the time, their game-changing Batman: The Animated Series would spawn countless follow-ups, each introducing more and more recognisable comic book characters into the fold as it amassed what is perhaps the most impressive line-up of superheroes to ever grace the small screen.

Nearly two decades of phenomenal long-form storytelling unfolded before our eyes as all of the DCAU's content proved that, yes, animation could indeed stand toe-to-toe with, or even exceed, that which we saw on live-action productions.

As far as that content goes, some productions were better than others, but all of them were worth the time we spent watching them. That being said, which ones managed to set themselves apart from this already strong crop?

The Zeta Project centred on a Terminator-like infiltration robot who grew a conscience and decided that he no longer wanted to kill people. This, naturally, forced him to go on the run from his creators, the National Security Agency - a move which saw him cross paths with teenage runaway Ro.

Together, the pair set out to prove that Zeta meant no harm.

Airing for two seasons between 2001 and 2002, the series was a spin-off of Batman Beyond. That being said, its animation style is quite different as the objects are sharper and the colours brighter - giving it a more kid-friendly appearance. Even Zeta sports a look that is drastically different to his original Batman Beyond design.

While The Zeta Project may be the show that feels the least like the DCAU (in appearance at least), it utilises the same long-form storytelling method of its predecessors incredibly well, with Zeta and Ro's goal to find the former's creator being the focal point of the story.

Thus, it's impossible not to root for the dynamic duo which, like their more recognisable DCAU counterparts, makes their episodic adventures all the more enjoyable.