DC Unveils Three New Animated Series

New projects include Krypto, Joker Laugh Riot, and an adaptation of Absolute Batman.

DC Studios has officially unveiled three brand new animated series. That suggests the company is still adding more animation projects to its list following Supergirl's release. The news comes a day after the premiere of the latest DC movie. The corporation didn't wait to let folks know what's coming next.

The most talked-about of the new projects is Absolute Batman, an animated version of the hit comic series that has rapidly become one of the most talked-about Batman stories in recent years. Fans have anxiously awaited word on the project, and this is the most intriguing surprise in DC’s new line-up.

Krypto, a film about Superman’s faithful dog, is the first project to be unveiled.

Not a massive shock, considering Krypto has been in both Superman and Supergirl recently. It looks like DC is investing more money in its family-friendly characters and expanding sections of its world focused on animals.

The technique is also similar to what has been done before, such as DC League of Super-Pets, which proved that DC's animal characters are good for producing content. Those films aren't aimed at the audience that the studio's darker superhero fare targets, but they've done well enough to support future animated features.

The other new movie is Joker Laugh Riot. It’s an animated narrative that features only the Clown Prince of Crime. Not many specifics have been officially announced, but early reports claim the movie will focus on the Joker executing what is being called his "latest master plan." The precise plot remains a secret.

There have been a few announcements, but Absolute Batman has become the obvious choice for fans. The animated film will be based on the popular comic book series that became one of the most important Batman storylines in decades and one of the biggest hits in comic book publishing history.

Initial reports suggest that the adaptation will be faithful to the source material while taking certain artistic liberties in the animation.

Many of the things that made the comic so unique will be carried over into the movie. For example, Batman won't reside at Wayne Manor or have Bruce Wayne's massive salary. But the Dark Knight will be far crueler and more determined this time. Many movie fans are already wondering whether the movie will have anything to do with DC’s wider animated universe. But those ambitions may be too high, given that DC's animated continuity has been much more flexible than its live-action counterpart.

Many of DC’s animation projects have grown organically rather than following a rigid schedule, often clashing with one another or finding new ways to depict familiar characters. The flexibility to be creative has allowed filmmakers to adapt stories without being tied to a major plot.

So far, the absolute Batman appears to be another example of this: a faithful adaptation of a popular comic book that prioritizes storytelling over being part of a wider animated universe. There are three more animated movies on the way, so it looks like DC Studios is going to be making a lot of animated movies for the foreseeable future.