Mask of The Phantasm, Return of The Joker, Secret Origins - these are just some of the amazing storylines that formed a part of DC's extensive animated filmography. The first two especially are ranked as being not just good animated films, but as two of the greatest tales to have featured the Bat in recent memory. It's not just the films that are worthy of critical acclaim, but the shows as well. Each one managed to combine the sense of escapism and charm that DC is known for, whilst also providing very mature themes and social commentary that until that point hadn't really been tackled by children's cartoons, let alone one revolving around people dressing up and fighting crime. Pretty much everything from adult relationships, racism, to government policy, WMD's and more worked their way into Warner's programming block - something that should be commended above all else for pushing the boundaries that once limited the stories that writers could tell. Captivating the hearts and imaginations of countless fans is no easy achievement, but appealing to so many both young and old was what made these films and shows so special. They can be better, they can do more, and to let them stifle any longer would be a huge shame indeed. What are your favourite memories from DC Animation? Have you enjoyed their more recent films or shows? Sound off below!
WhatCulture's very own resident movie guy, Ewan has been working in the content creation biz for over 10 years now, having started as a freelance contributor to WhatCulture Gaming all the way back in 2015. After graduating with a First-Class Honours in History from Northumbria University in 2017 (where he won a prize for a totally killer dissertation on the Watergate years), Ewan took on the role of Comics Editor at WhatCulture and quickly developed WhatCulture Comics into one of the biggest superhero-focused channels on YouTube. He followed this with a brief hiatus at Screen Rant in 2021, where he worked across the Gaming and Film sections as a writer and editor, before returning to WhatCulture as a Senior Content Producer / Presenter in 2023. He started his own podcast, We Love Dad Movies, in 2022, and has contributed several written pieces to the Eisner-nominated comics website Shelfdust as well.
In his current role, Ewan incorporates his love of cinema, comic books, and history into written pieces and video essays for WhatCulture's Film & TV channel, as well as WhatCulture Gaming and WhatCulture Horror, with a particular focus on nineties-era Dad Movies, old school Westerns, and Golden Age Hollywood Noir. John Carpenter is his fave, and he thinks Batman Beyond should never have been cancelled. If that's your vibe, you'll probably like his stuff.
