Animated superhero shows are a driving force of popularity for the masses. From the action-packed Power Puff Girls. What's so great about these shows is they attract people from different demographics making them all-time fan favorites.
Now, these fans want to know which Animated Superhero series outweighs the rest, and they've placed their votes on Ranker. From nostalgic 90s series such as Batman: The Animated Series to newer shows like Invincible. These cartoons have become cult classics due to the enticing storylines and well-rounded characters.
Spider-Man (1994-1998)
Spider-Man followed Peter Parker as he juggled life as a superhero saving the city from evil, and as a regular college student. Along with his adventures, he found love, teamed up with some iconic Marvel superheroes, and fought against some of the biggest villains.
This cartoon attracted people of all age groups because not only did the series feature a popular superhero, but the storylines were geared to a mature audience. Some prime examples include Peter's on-again-off-again romance with Felicia Hardy and his relationship with Mary Jane Watson. Character development was also a huge driving force From Felica Harding's iconic transformation into the Black Cat, to Harry Osborne's downward spiral to the villainous Green Goblin.
X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-1997)
Fans loved this cartoon because it was a superhero series that focused on real-world issues. The mutants had to deal with discrimination from people who were afraid of them because they were different. The series also dealt with other social issues such as divorce and The Holocaust. Character development was the main factor as well for the series popularity, like the Dark Phoenix Storyline where fans saw Jean Grey slowly transform into the X-Men's biggest threat.
Invincible (2021- )
Invincible is one of the newer shows where superheroes live alongside humans. The series follows 17-year-old Mark Grayson as he slowly comes into his own when he starts to develop powers. To hone his powers, he trains with his father, the most powerful superhero on the planet who's hiding a dark secret.
This cartoon is a fan favorite because it is one of a kind. The series broke away from the traditional superhero mold where the heroes depict picture-perfect characters and delved into showcasing more well-rounded people with superpowers. Even though this is a cartoon the series asked the question, how would a person act if they had powers? Omni-Man falls into this category perfectly. on the outside, he's this Superman figure, but on the inside due to his powers, he feels everyone else, except for his son, is inferior to him.
Teen Titans (2003-2006)
fought against some of the best villains like Slade and Blackfire, while at the same time dealing with their struggles like growing up and their relationships.
The series showed the fun side of what it's like to be a superhero but, showed a serious tone as well when it came to some of the main characters and the issues they faced. Beast Boy had to deal with heartbreak when he found out Terra had betrayed the team, while Raven had to deal with father issues due to her dad being an all-powerful demon who wanted to take over the world.
Justice League Unlimited (2004-2006)
Justice League Unlimited was a sequel to the Justice League animated series. Along with the founding of the Justice League, the team was now ed by several superheroes who fought side by side together to put a stop to evil.
This was a fan-favorite series because viewers were able to see some of their favorite superheroes from the comics interact and fight side by side together. The show also connected some of the biggest DC animated shows like The New Batman Adventures and Superman: The Animated Series.
Young Justice (2010- )
Young Justice would debut more powerful heroes.
This series is a darker version of Teen Titans where viewers see young superheroes coming into their own and taking the spotlight. But what fans love about this cartoon is that it not only shows the success of these characters coming into their own as heroes but, also the trials and tribulations they face when they don't have their mentors to back them up. Fans also got to see the main characters grow from teenagers to adults which keeps their storylines progressing.
Batman Beyond (1999-2001)
Batman Beyond took place in a futuristic Gotham City where Bruce Wayne is no longer able to carry the mantle as Batman. He es the torch to Terry McGinnis who takes on the role of Batman and fights a whole new horde of villains.
This was a great series because it showed viewers what happened to some of these iconic heroes once they got older. Bruce Wayne became even more of a stubborn character, while Barbara Gordon gave up the role of Batgirl and became the commissioner of Gotham City. Fans also loved the futuristic upgrade the series received from its predecessor The New Batman Adventures. The series is so popular that many fans have also argued that Batman Beyond is the best Batman in the DCEU.
The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008-2009)
The Spectacular Spider-Man followed Peter Parker's adventures of being a new superhero while in high school. Throughout its 2 season run, Peter faced major villains like Tombstone, The Green Goblin, and Venom.
What fans loved about this new animated take on Spider-Man, was they were able to see a younger Peter Parker and how he dealt with adolescents and being a superhero at the same time. Fans also appreciated that Gwen Stacy received a larger role in this series as Peter's love interest, who would later get in a love triangle with Liz Allan, a character who also had feelings for Peter.
Justice League (2001-2004)
Justice League was the seventh series in the DC Animated Universe and followed Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman, and other heroes as they teamed up to fight against evil. They would later create the iconic team known as The Justice League.
Justice League was a special treat for viewers of all ages. For fans who grew up watching Super Friends in the 70s, they were able to see their favorite characters on the screen once again, but this time with deeper and continuing storylines. Newer fans were introduced to heroes like The Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl.
Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995)
Batman: The Animated Series paved the way for other DC cartoons making it the first series in the DC animated Universe. The show followed Batman as he fought against some of Gotham's most dangerous criminals like the Joker, Poison Ivy, and Scarecrow.
This series stood out because even though it was a cartoon it was more adult-oriented like Bruce Wayne's romance with Selina Kyle. One character, Harley Quinn, became so popular in the series that she was later added to the Batman comic books, and has since become an all-time fan favorite.