DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation revealed three new animated series during the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The upcoming projects include "Absolute Batman," "Joker: Laugh Riot," and an untitled series centered on Krypto the Superdog. While "Joker: Laugh Riot" has been officially greenlit, the other two series are currently in development, and none have a confirmed network home.
"Absolute Batman" is an adult animated series based on the DC comic book of the same name, written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta. Snyder is set to executive produce and showrun the series, with Dragotta serving as producer. The show aims to reimagine Batman as a working-class hero confronting immense challenges and corruption, exploring the core of the character without his usual wealth and resources. The official description highlights a version of Batman "on a mission to prove that even in an era of wealth, power and corruption, one good person can change the world."
"Joker: Laugh Riot" is distinguished as DC's first-ever anime series. Jim Krieg is attached as executive producer, with Yasuhiro Aoki directing. The series is a collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation, DC Studios, and SOLA Entertainment. Its plot centers on the Joker embarking on a violent quest to find Batman's killer, only to discover that his identity is intrinsically linked to his greatest adversary. The description suggests the Joker may find himself closer to being a vigilante than a villain as he grapples with his own sense of self without Batman.
The untitled Krypto the Superdog series is executive produced by C.H. Greenblatt. This children's show will follow Krypto as he joins a group of aspiring criminals, whose misadventures are inevitably impacted by the super-dog's energetic and pure nature. The show's premise suggests Krypto's inherent goodness will influence and perhaps redeem his companions.
The announcements were made during the "World's Finest Animation: DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation Showcase" at Annecy, featuring DC Studios Co-Chairman and Co-CEO Peter Safran and Warner Bros. Animation President Sam Register.