Last Week, Warner Bros. Home Video released Batman: Gotham Knight, which features top Anime-style directors/artists taking a crack at portraying the Dark Knight – the connected short tales co-written by some of the top scribes in comics. It’s the latest in a string of impressive animated Batman projects that go back to the landmark Batman: The Animated Series (BTAS) back in the early ’90s, also launchiing what fans have come to call the DC Animated Universe.

Here’s a look at what’s available – some of it working on adult and children’s levels, some of it just kids’ stuff, or nostalgia from prior eras for us older folks:

Batman: Gotham Knight
Two-Disc Special Edition and Blu-Ray

The six 12-minute anime shorts here don’t feature the best animated storytelling ever for the Batman; you’ll have to check out the ’90s collection named below for that. With the tales written by Jordan Goldberg (Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan’s assistant and Associate Producer on Nolan’s The Prestige and The Dark Knight) working with various writers, including top names from comics, there are still some riveting pieces here. The lead-off tale, “Have I Got A Story For You,” features skateboard kids sharing their encounters with the Bat, similar to an older animated Batman episode from the late ’90s and found on the second disc. Much better is “Crossfire,” screenplay by Greg Rucka – a comics writer who is a master of crime thrillers. Another standout is “Working Through Pain,” with a flashback story of a young Bruce Wayne, still en route around the world to train his mind and body, with a screenplay by another fine comics scribe – Brian Azzarello. And then there’s Deadshot- the only costumed villain to appear in any of these shorts; the screenplay by Alan Burnett, whose credits include comics and work on BTAS as the future-set Batman Beyond. It’s the most comic-like of all the stories. The smartest thing in the whole project: Using Kevin Conroy, the voice of animated Bruce Wayne/Batman from BTAS through Justice League Unlimited.

The two-disc edition’s second disc includes commentary features, a sneak peak at an upcoming Wonder Woman animated direct-to-DVD release, and four episodes from BTAS that show what the fuss is all about: “Legends of the Dark Knight,” which salutes the ’50s Batman & ’60s TV series and Frank Miller’s The Dark Night Returns; “Heart of Ice” is a Mr. Greeze origin tale (far superior to the dreadful live-action Batman and Robin film with Clooney and Arnold); “Over the Edge” where the Batman’s world falls apart; and finally “I Am the Night,” which is Batman as good as it gets in comics, films, or cartoons – questioning his mission and the life he’s chosen.

Batman: The Animated Series:

The most definitive Batman ever, outside of the comics. Inspired, in part, by the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons of the 1940s – the noir tone and look (police dirigibles, ’30s-style autos – except for a sleek Batmobile – the best one since the 1960s TV show) and overall feel, despite the presence of much modern technology, makes it very timeless. With Kevin Conroy as the lead, the rest of the voice cast is also spot-on, in particular Mark Hamill’s Joker. With four discs per box set, it’s a treasure trove for the Batman fan of any age. The fourth season volume (really one-half of the Superman-Batman hour in the late ’90s) features the new look (less retro), the introduction of Tim Drake as Robin, the backstory on Dick Grayson becoming Nightwing, and crossovers with Superman and other DC Comics Characters – all overseen by Bruce Timm, along with Paul Dini and others, leading to the Superman and Justice League series. Four Stars. Heck, Five Stars on a scale of four. Also recommended: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman: Sub-Zero (again, far superior to that awful Ahnuld Batman and Robin film) and the sleek and smart Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.

Batman Beyond

There are three volumes of Batman Beyond, set some 50 years in a high-tech sci-fish future – Bruce Wayne in his 80s – cantankerous and medication-needing, walks-with-a-cane curmudgeon, and a teen named Terry McGinnis picks up the mantle of the Bat in a new suit, one Wayne had worn in his 50s before he retired. The stories are hit and miss but have their moments. The Bruce-Terry interaction is the best stuff, and their special connection was revealed after Batman Beyond was gone, in a terrific Justice League Unlimited Episode that tied up the loose ends. Also quite good (and somewhat dark as well) is the special Batman Beyond movie Return of the Joker.

Justice League/Justice League Unlimited

With four discs each, there’s plenty of Batman (again, voiced by the great Conroy) in the first two seasons of Justice League, and he’s all over the four-disc JLU Season One and two-disc Season Two as well. Don’t miss the sparks with Wonder Woman – something the comics should still follow up on, rather than any Superman-WW hook-up (c’mon, he’s married to Lois now and it works). Memorable moments include a galactic adventure in the second season set of Justice League, Wonder Woman, and Batman on the “fourth world” (created by the legendary Jack Kirby) of New Genesis to find Orion of the New Gods. Bruce tells Diana, “Next time Superman wants to be in charge, just kick me.”

The Batman

The most recent Batman animated series wrapped up last year, and all five seasons are now out in two-disc sets. The show was aimed right at younger kids, though adults could enjoy it. Looking at the first years of a young Bruce Wayne as Batman, villains’ looks are revamped, especially a dreadlocked (still green, though) and barefoot Joker, an emo-ish costumed Riddler, plus the Penguin. Batgirl appears first a young teen Barbara Gordon (yeah, the Commissioner’s daughter), then Robin eventually turns up too – the origin close to the comic book sources. The final season was best, as it turned in an animated version of the DC Comics series The Brave and the Bold, Batman teaming up with Superman, The Flash (the slassic Silver Age version Barry Allen, not the Justice League’s Wally West), Green Lantern, (ditto, it’s Hal Jordan, THE Green Lantern, of course), Hawkman, John Jones the Martian Manhunter, and Green Arrow. That final season was so popular, the next planned animated series may be called “Batman: The Brave and the Bold” and feature all sorts of team-ups.

Scooby Doo Meet Batman
The New Adventures of Batman and Robin

The Scooby Doo tales – there are two – pit Mystery, Inc. and the Dynamic Duo against a pretty much unthreatening Joker and Penguin. Kids will love it, though it’s mighty wince-inducing and even full of art errors on Batman’s cowl. The New Adventures featured Adam West and Burt Ward from the ’60s live action (well, sorta action) TV show reunited to voice Batman and Robin. The annoying interdimensional sprite Batmite appears in the episodes making it, again, kiddie stuff, and even they may eventually get annoyed by the bugger.