Justice League Unlimited (2004 — 2006)

Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) is an American superhero animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Boasting a diverse cast of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, it serves as a direct sequel to the previous Justice League series, picking up two years later. As the eighth and final installment of the DC Animated Universe, it brings this shared universe to a close, which began with Batman: The Animated Series. Impressively, JLU is the most continuity-heavy show in this universe, seamlessly combining characters and storylines from previous series. Similar to its second season counterpart, Justice League Unlimited is presented in widescreen format and features a brand new theme song and intro (even earning an Emmy nomination).

According to producer Bruce Timm, the series finale of Justice League, Starcrossed, was initially intended to be the final episode. However, Cartoon Network ordered the production of two additional seasons and requested a rebranding of the show. This included changing the episode format from two-part stories to a standard half an hour format. The revamped series featured a larger roster of superheroes from the DC Universe, with over 50 characters appearing in the first episode. While some were recurring characters from Justice League, many made their animated debut in this series. Originally, this expansion of the team was intended to be explained in a direct-to-video film that was ultimately not produced. Each episode follows a similar format, with a small team coming together to tackle a specific situation while showcasing both action and character interactions.