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Justice League: 5 Animated Movies to Watch First


Director Zack Snyder's Justice League will soon be in theaters - the wait is almost over! There are plenty of fun ways to get even more excited for the live-action comic book movie, like reading literally hundreds of relevant comics, enjoying some of your favorite DC shows, or even just gazing at your DC collectibles. There is one way of celebrating that should not be overlooked: DC animated movies!


The DC Universe Original Movies 10th Anniversary Collection went on sale today. From Superman: Doomsday to Batman and Harley Quinn, this set includes 30 animated films on Blu-ray, several special features, and a few other goodies. The impressive release made me reflect on the three decades worth of movies - Batman: Under the Red Hood is still my favorite - and it made me realize that if you're truly going "all in" for Justice League, watching some of these animated films is the perfect way to build your anticipation for Warner Bros. and DC's upcoming blockbuster.

There are a lot of good animated options to choose from, but since this article is about celebrating an upcoming DC Extended Universe movie, I narrowed the list down to the most relevant options and I've provided a few more recommendations at the end, too. If you've already watched all of these movies, great! Now go watch 'em again. If you haven't seen them yet, it's your duty as a DC fan to check 'em out. Enjoy!

Superman: Doomsday
Directed by Lauren Montgomery, Bruce Timm, and Brandon Vietti
You've witnessed the death and return of Superman in the comics as the Man of Steel slugged it out with the devastating creature Doomsday. You've watched Kal-El save the world as he defeated Doomsday in Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. We're obviously going to see the hero's return in Justice League and hopefully it'll be great. Now, feast your eyes on the animated version of this epic slugfest between DC's iconic inspiration and the fearsome fiend in a story that also features Lex Luthor and Lois Lane. If you're left wanting to watch more animated Superman goodness, I strongly recommend one of my favorite DC Universe Original Movies: Superman vs The Elite.

Wonder Woman
Directed by Lauren Montgomery
Before Diana dominated the box office, she duked it out with Ares in an absolutely amazing animated movie. Wonder Woman's animated origin film is action-packed and incredibly entertaining - it's easily one of my favorites. This is undoubtedly a must-watch if you're a new fan of the character or if you've been following her adventures for years. Oh, and Nathan Fillion voices Steve Trevor, so there's that, too. Once you're done watching Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman movie for the millionth time, enjoy this animated movie! A commemorative edition was recently released as well.

Justice League: War
Directed by Jay Oliva
Based on Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's debut New 52 Justice League story, Justice League: War is a movie that's all about delivering massive action and a ton of banter. It may not have the most elaborate story around and Darkseid's just there to be the big boss battle (to be fair, that's his role in the comic as well), but it's a really good time watching the team come together to battle Parademons and DC's biggest villain. It's pure popcorn fun, people. 

Superman & Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos
Now that we know who's playing Billy Batson, Shazam, and Black Adam, I likely won't be the only one thinking about them appearing on the big screen with the heroes in Justice League. While Billy Batson and Black Adam probably won't be spotted in Justice League, we do know Shazam's film will be the next one to start production! Thankfully, there's so much to love about DC Showcase's Superman & Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam. It's exciting, character-driven, and full of heart. I always find myself wanting to rewatch this one - it's just so lovable.

            
Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Directed by Jay Oliva
This one isn't for the younglings, DC fans. Based on Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert's DC event, Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox is a brutal, thrilling, and emotional ride. Only time will tell how much of the source material makes it into the upcoming live-action version of this story, but the animated version contains a lot of great material despite only having a runtime of 81 minutes. Many fans consider this to be one of the best DC animated films and you definitely won't find me disagreeing with that.

If you're excited about the future of the DCEU, I also recommend watching these animated films:
  • Batman: Assault on Arkham (features the Suicide Squad)
  • Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (features Nightwing & Deathstroke)
  • Batman: Under the Red Hood (in case Matt Reeves follows-up on that Robin costume in BvS)
  • Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (more of Apokolips and features Supergirl and Darkseid)
  • Justice League: Throne of Atlantis (focuses on Aquaman and his world)
  • Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (revisit the conflict in BvS)
  • Justice League Dark (who knows if this will happen but it's a good animated film!)

Justice League arrives in theaters on November 17 and you can already get your tickets for showings on the evening of November 16. The DC Universe 10th Anniversary Collection is currently on sale and it's a mandatory addition to any DC fan's holiday gift list.


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