WBA Animation Showcases New DC Animated Titles

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During a massive showcase at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival, DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation officially pulled back the curtain on the future of DC animation. DC Studios Co-CEO Peter Safran and Warner Bros. Animation President Sam Register took the stage to announce a bold new wave of mature, boundary-pushing projects coming to television.

The showcase unveiled two major heavy-hitting, adult-focused series that promise to fundamentally rewrite everything fans know about Gotham’s greatest hero and villain.

Absolute Batman (In Development)

Taking a cue from DC’s massively successful comic book publishing initiative, Warner Bros. Animation is officially developing an animated adaptation of Absolute Batman.

The blockbuster comic book series, created by superstar writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta, has already sold over 6 million copies. Now, Snyder is on board as executive producer and showrunner for the animated series, with Dragotta serving as producer.

Absolute Batman strips away everything familiar about the Dark Knight. This version reimagines Bruce Wayne not as a billionaire playboy, but as a working-class hero fighting impossible odds in a Gotham built on deep-seated wealth and corruption.

“No manor, no money… all Batman. When you take away the manor, the money, the advantages, what you’re left with is something absolute.”

Joker: Laugh Riot (Officially Greenlit)

In a historic first, DC is launching its first-ever official anime series: Joker: Laugh Riot. Produced alongside SOLA Entertainment, the adult-targeted series has been given a full greenlight.

The series features an incredible creative pedigree. It is executive produced by Jim Krieg and directed by acclaimed anime director Yasuhiro Aoki (Batman: Gotham Knight, ChaO).

The premise flips the classic dynamic entirely on its head: Batman has been murdered.

Left without his favorite plaything, a distraught Joker launches a brutal, bloody crusade through Gotham’s criminal underworld to hunt down the killer who took the Dark Knight away from him. Ironically, as his violent quest for vengeance pushes him closer to becoming a vigilante than a villain, the Joker is forced to confront a terrifying psychological truth: without Batman, he has no idea who he actually is.

Both projects mark a distinct shift for DC Animation, leaning heavily into sophisticated, adult storytelling that honors the dark, complex roots of the comics while taking massive creative swings. Release dates and network placements for both series are expected to be announced in the coming months.