DC has become the poster child for bad superhero (and even super villain) movies. But after the successes of movies like Wonder Woman and Shazam!, the new Joker movie, though reportedly separate from the DC Extended Universe, seems like another step in the right direction.
The trailer for Joker shows a darker, more grounded version of the Clown Prince of Crime unlike the ones portrayed by Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero. This is closer to Heath Ledger’s Joker than anything else, a performance that remains the standard for which all live-action portrayals of The Joker will be judged by. But while Ledger’s iconic take on the role is admittedly one of the best we’ve ever seen, we seem to have forgotten some of the similarly great portrayals of Batman's nemesis in other media. Here are our 5 favorite animated incarnations of The Joker:
1. Mark Hamill
Batman: The Animated Series, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City
Mark Hamill is the Heath Ledger of animated Jokers. At the risk of ruffling the feathers of some Star Wars fans, we think Hamill’s work on Batman: The Animated Series is just as iconic as his role as Luke Skywalker. His Joker laugh is unrivaled by anyone before or after and stands as one of the most memorable (and chilling) sounds from our childhood. Hamill reprised his role in the Arkham series of games for the PS3 in which he did an exemplary job (as expected).
2. Troy Baker
Batman: Arkham Origins
You might not know Troy Baker but if you play video games, you’ve most likely heard his voice multiple times. Some of his work include Persona 4, The Last of Us, Uncharted 4, Metal Gear Solid V, and Far Cry 4. Baker has played many characters in the Batman universe including the caped crusader himself, multiple Robins, Two-Face, and even Thomas Wayne. But his work as The Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins stands out as one of the best animated renditions of the character ever.
3. Kevin Michael Richardson
The Batman
Kevin Michael Richardson is no stranger to lending his voice to cartoon characters. His impressive resume includes classics such as The Mask, Dexter’s Laboratory, and The Powerpuff Girls. He has also been featured on more modern toons such as Family Guy and Spongebob Squarepants. His dreadlocked and physically imposing Joker in The Batman resulted in two Emmy Nominations and is one of the most unique Jokers we’ve ever seen.
4. Tony Hale
Batman Ninja
Just when we thought we’ve seen everything that The Joker’s character could be, Batman Ninja surprised us with a katana-wielding feudal lord Joker. Taking cues from Japanese animation and culture, Batman Ninja has an art style that stands out as one of the best animated adaptations of the Batman universe. Tony Hale’s performance was equally good and does justice to this version of The Joker.
5. John DiMaggio
Batman: Under The Red Hood
Who knew that the voice of Bender from Futurama would also be cast as The Joker? In 2010, DiMaggio took on a mature and very dark reimagining of The Joker in Batman: Under The Red Hood. His scene with Jason Todd (aka Robin) and a crowbar still haunts us to this day and remains as one of the best Joker moments of all time.