12 Best Animated Superhero TV Shows Of All Time

Without a doubt one of the most underrated animated shows of all time, The Batman constantly finds itself on the wrong end of criticism just because it wasn't Batman: The Animated Series, but why should we overlook the great beauty of what something is just because of what it's not. It's sheer lunacy to expect it to emulate something so closely linked to it - especially when the 1992 series broke animation boundaries - so it didn't try, and it was all the better for it.

Centering on the early days of Bruce Wayne's crime-fighting career, the show documents The Batman's journey from urban legend to vigilante and, finally, his ascension to Gotham City's hero. And through it all, he forms unique friendships, makes formidable enemies and takes part in some of the most innovative storylines in Batman history.

It was edgier than its predecessors - reinforced by the exaggerated animation and funky music - and it attempted to put its own spin on the Batman mythology, bringing along unique technological advances such as the Batwave and making slight adjustments to the well-known Bat-mythology such as the fact that Batgirl joined the fray before Robin. And, to its credit, it also contained some of the best written Batman adventures in any medium (such as 'The Clayface of Tragedy' and 'Strange New World').