The Best DC UNIVERSE ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIES

Da'Mon Guy counts down the best DC Universe Animated Original Movies...

Comic book based commodities are in demand now more than ever. In the last decade and a half the public has fallen in love and has developed an unrelenting thirst for these stories and their characters, and nearly every year more and more of them make their way to the big and small screens.

Back in 2007 DC Comics began to translate some of the stories from the pages of their comics. As its chief competitor, Marvel Comics, has focused on the big screen, DC has used the time delivering over two dozen direct to video features. In less than a decade they have redefined animated comic book movies, delivered great quality, adult focused stories, and raised the bar for films of this nature.

Collectively known as DC Universe Animated Original Movies, the range includes a number of titles that are essential purchases for any fan of the comic book genre. With the latest release, Justice League: Gods and Monsters, once again arriving to much acclaim, I thought it would be a good time to rank the movies. So here is a list of all the films to date, in my personal order of best to worse (and links to all our reviews for each title):

1. Batman: Under the Red Hood
2. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
3. Wonder Woman
4. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part 1
5. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns - Part 2
6. Justice League: Gods and Monsters
7. All-Star Superman
8. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
9. Justice League: Doom
10. Batman: Assault on Arkham
11. Green Lantern: Emerald Knights
12. Batman: Year One
13. Justice League: Throne of Atlantis
14. Justice League: War
15. Green Lantern: First Flight
16. Batman vs. Robin
17. Son of Batman
18. Justice League: The New Frontier
19. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
20. Superman: Doomsday
21. Superman: Unbound
22. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies
23. Batman: Gotham Knight
24. Superman vs. The Elite

In addition to the aforementioned films, there are five animated shorts that really give life to some of the lesser known DC characters. Released under the title of DC Showcase, they have featured Jonah Hex, Catwoman, The Spectre, Green Arrow, and Shazam. Each one is a must see.

The DC Universe Animated Original Movies is a great collection of films that will satisfy comic book fans of all degrees. Whether you are the hardcore, devout geek or the fan who is just starting out, the majority of titles in this list are essential viewing, and include some of the best stories the DC universe has ever shared.

So, you've seen the list, and my order of choice. Do you agree? What’s your favorite DC Universe Animated Original Movie?

Da’Mon is a writer and artist, a graduate of Coppin State University and an avid, life-long lover of film. Da'Mon has been actively writing movie reviews since 2011. Check out more of his work at Examiner.com, where he has published over 400 reviews. Visit his Blog and follow him on Twitter.