DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation dropped one of the biggest animation announcements in years at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival this week. The World's Finest Animation: DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation Showcase panel — hosted by DC Studios co-chairman and co-CEO Peter Safran and Warner Bros. Animation president Sam Register — revealed a full slate of eight animated DC series currently in development or production, including three brand-new greenlit projects. Here is the complete breakdown. Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, Bleeding Cool, GamesRadar+, Animation World Network (Annecy 2026 coverage, June 25–26, 2026).
New: Absolute Batman — adult animated series
The headline announcement. Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's Absolute Batman is being adapted into an adult animated series by WB Animation and DC Studios. Snyder will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Dragotta joins as producer. Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Variety, Annecy 2026.
For those who don't know the comic: Absolute Batman launched in October 2024 and completely reimagined Bruce Wayne from the ground up. This Bruce is not the billionaire heir of Wayne Manor. He is a massive, blue-collar, working-class fighter raised in Crime Alley, who lost only one parent rather than both. Alfred Pennyworth in this version is an MI6 agent who narrates the story. The Joker is a billionaire. Villains like Catwoman, Riddler, and Killer Croc grew up alongside Bruce as childhood friends from the same neighbourhood. This is Batman as a physical force of nature from the projects — not a man in a cave with infinite resources. Source: DC Comics official, Bleeding Cool, Epicstream.
The comic has sold over 6 million copies across its 21 issues, with Absolute Batman #1 reaching an 11th printing and becoming the best-selling comic of 2024. Dragotta has become one of the most prominent artists in comics as a result. Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Movieweb (June 25 2026).
No episode count, release date, or network home has been confirmed. The adaptation is described as adult animation faithful to the comic's working-class, gritty tone. Source: Deadline, June 25 2026.
The comic source material is in store now at superheroempire.com. The announcement window is historically when back-issue values for the source comic begin moving.
New: Joker: Laugh Riot — DC's first-ever anime series
DC Studios has greenlit its first anime, Joker: Laugh Riot. No further creative details — showrunner, studio partnership, network, or episode count — were confirmed at Annecy. Source: GamesRadar+, Geek Culture, Annecy 2026.
The Joker has a deep catalogue of collected editions and key issues with strong secondary market history independent of any single adaptation. Notable reading: Batman: The Killing Joke (Moore / Bolland), Joker (Brian Azzarello / Lee Bermejo), and bronze age Joker back issues. All available at superheroempire.com.
New: Krypto animated series
A new animated series centred on Krypto the Superdog is in development at WB Animation and DC Studios. The title is not finalised. No further details confirmed. Source: GamesRadar+, Bleeding Cool, Annecy 2026.
In production: Mister Miracle
Executive producer and showrunner: Tom King — the comic's co-creator alongside artist Mitch Gerads. King confirmed at Annecy that every episode has been written and the pilot is already in edit. Concept art shown at the panel depicted Scott Free, Big Barda, Orion, Highfather, Granny Goodness, and Darkseid in a style closely reflecting Gerads' artwork. No casting was announced, but it was confirmed that voice actors will portray their live-action DCU counterparts. King described the project as his entire focus. Source: Bleeding Cool (Annecy panel report, June 25 2026), Popverse.
Mister Miracle #1 (Tom King / Mitch Gerads, DC Black Label, 2017) remains one of the most acclaimed superhero comics of the decade. Collected edition and individual issues available at superheroempire.com.
In production: Starfire!
Executive producer: Josie Campbell. Hynden Walch returns as the voice of Starfire. The series is set across both the Vega Galaxy and Gotham City. A clip shown at Annecy featured Starfire and Blackfire in a one-on-one confrontation. Puffy AmiYumi — who composed the original Teen Titans animated theme — have been tapped to write the Starfire! theme song. Source: Bleeding Cool (Annecy panel report, June 25 2026).
In production: My Adventures with Green Lantern
Showrunner: Jake Wyatt (also showrunner of My Adventures with Superman). The series focuses on Jessica Cruz as lead Green Lantern, set in Los Angeles at Hal Jordan Memorial High. Auli'i Cravalho voices Jessica Cruz. Kyle Rayner plays a major role. A clip of Cravalho reciting the Green Lantern oath was shown at Annecy. Direct spinoff of My Adventures with Superman, currently airing Season 3 on Adult Swim. Source: Bleeding Cool (Annecy panel report, June 25 2026).
In production: Creature Commandos — Season 2
Executive producer: Rick Morales. Season 2 was previewed at Annecy with a major G.I. Robot arc, a new team assembled around The Bride, and Nosferata friction. Creature Commandos remains the only DC animated series confirmed as canon to the DCU live-action continuity. Source: Bleeding Cool (Annecy panel report, June 25 2026).
In production: Batman: Caped Crusader — Season 2
Season 2 premieres July 31 on Amazon Prime Video. Source: Movieweb (June 25 2026), Amazon Prime Video official.
World premiere at Annecy: Batman: Knightfall Part 1
Batman: Knightfall — a multi-part direct-to-video animated film event adapting the classic 1993 storyline — received its world premiere screening at Annecy on June 25, 2026. From WB Animation, DC Studios, and Warner Home Entertainment. No home release date confirmed. Source: Animation World Network, The Wrap, Popverse (Annecy 2026 coverage).
What this means for collectors
Eight animated DC projects represents the most ambitious DC animation slate since the DCAU era of the 1990s. For collectors, the Absolute Batman announcement is the most significant signal: the source comic is 21 issues deep and actively published. Absolute Batman #1 has printed 11 times — issues #2 through #5 are the ones most likely to see secondary market movement on an announcement of this scale. Mister Miracle #1 (2017) is also worth tracking — the 12-issue limited series is finite, collected, and King's direct animated involvement gives it renewed profile. Source: CovrPrice.com, Key Collector Comics.
All source comics available at superheroempire.com. In store and shipping across Canada.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter (June 25, 2026) · Deadline (June 25, 2026) · Variety (June 25, 2026) · Bleeding Cool (Annecy panel report, June 25, 2026) · GamesRadar+ (June 25, 2026) · Animation World Network (May 11 and June 25, 2026) · The Wrap (May 11, 2026) · Popverse (May 11, 2026) · Movieweb (June 25, 2026) · Epicstream (June 25, 2026) · Geek Culture (June 26, 2026) · DC Comics official