As many Batman interpretations have been released, there have been an equal number of Joker interpretations. In animation, actors like Mark Hamill and John DiMaggio have given definitive performances as the Clown Prince of Crime. While Kevin Conroy has become the Batman of a generation, the Joker has had many actors give justice.
This ranking evaluates each animated interpretation using five criteria: faithfulness to the Joker’s core mythology, quality of writing, vocal performance, narrative impact, originality, and lasting influence on DC animation.
These entries celebrate the portrayals that best capture the Joker’s unpredictable nature while bringing something unique to one of comics’ most enduring villains.
7. Alan Tudyk – Harley Quinn
Alan Tudyk has become a staple in DC, especially with his latest performance in Creature Commandos and Superman. While he has portrayed other villains from the Rogues Gallery, one of his best performances is in Harley Quinn as the Joker. The show sees the noted villain move beyond her relationship with him, but Tudyk’s craziness makes it so relevant.
His impeccable comedic timing perfectly matches the show’s irreverent tone while still reminding viewers why the character remains dangerous. He ranks seventh because comedy is the primary objective, making him less psychologically complex than the darker portrayals higher on this list.
6. Jeff Bennett – The Brave and the Bold
Batman: The Brave and the Bold embraces the colorful Silver Age of comics, and Jeff Bennett expertly balances theatrical showmanship with genuine menace. His energetic performance captures the Joker’s love of elaborate schemes, twisted jokes, and larger-than-life personality without turning him into a harmless caricature.
Whether facing Batman alone or joining forces with other villains, this version always feels entertaining and unpredictable. He ranks sixth because he brilliantly embodies the classic comic book Joker, even if the series’ lighter tone limits his darker potential.
5. Kevin Michael Richardson – The Batman
The Batman was quite popular for its time, though it did not reach the heights of Batman: The Animated Series. Rino Romano’s version of Batman was pretty good, but Kevin Michael Richardson’s Joker was the highlight. Barefoot, acrobatic, and sporting wild green dreadlock-like hair, this redesign initially divided fans before earning appreciation.
His Joker was quite original, as Richardson made it different from Mark Hamill’s version, which was the definitive version till then. While he lacks the emotional complexity of higher-ranked versions, his willingness to reinvent both the character’s appearance and behavior makes him one of animation’s boldest interpretations.
4. Michael Emerson – The Dark Knight Returns
The animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s iconic graphic novel gets almost everything right, from its casting to the visuals to the sound design. Michael Emerson appears only at the end of the first part, but Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – Part 2 sees him in full swing, back to his manipulation games. For years, he is stuck in a catatonic state, and then he finally awakens.
Emerson’s restrained performance makes every smile and every act of violence feel meticulously calculated rather than explosively manic. Instead of overwhelming scenes with theatrical laughter, he exudes quiet confidence and terrifying control. He has limited screen time, which puts him in fourth place.
3. John DiMaggio – Batman: Under the Red Hood
Batman: Under the Red Hood is one of the best DCAU films, adapting the iconic Death in the Family arc from the comics. John DiMaggio’s performance as the Joker is vile, making us seethe in anger as he beats Robin to death in the opening sequence. His laugh is all forms of menacing. His general indifference to the most brutal moments is chilling.
His confrontations with Batman and the Red Hood expose a warped philosophy in which chaos matters more than personal victory. He ranks third because every scene reinforces the Joker as an unstoppable force of destruction, elevating one of DC’s finest animated films.
2. Matthew Needham – Batman: Caped Crusader
More than eighty years after the Joker’s comic debut, Batman: Caped Crusader proves the character can still be reinvented in compelling ways. Matthew Needham delivers a hauntingly restrained performance that rejects the familiar image of a constantly laughing showman.
Every word feels deliberate, every murder carefully orchestrated, and every smile unnervingly controlled. He dominates scenes through quiet menace rather than explosive theatrics. He earns second place because the reinvention feels both refreshingly original and unmistakably faithful to the Joker’s earliest roots.
1. Mark Hamill – Multiple
No animated actor has owned the Joker like Mark Hamill. From Batman: The Animated Series to the Justice League shows, Hamill became the definitive version of the character, and everyone who has come after has had to measure up to his performance, even thirty years later.
His performance seamlessly blends theatrical comedy, childlike pettiness, razor-sharp intelligence, and genuine menace, allowing the Joker to be hilarious one moment and terrifying the next. Whether tormenting Batman, manipulating the Justice League, or delivering one of animation’s darkest stories in Return of the Joker, Hamill consistently elevated every appearance.
| Rank | Joker Actor | Appearance |
| 1 | Mark Hamill | Batman: TAS, Justice League, Justice League Unlimited, and more |
| 2 | Matthew Needham | Batman: Caped Crusader |
| 3 | John DiMaggio | Batman: Under the Red Hood |
| 4 | Michael Emerson | The Dark Knight Returns |
| 5 | Kevin Michael Richardson | The Batman |
| 6 | Jeff Bennett | The Brave and the Bold |
| 7 | Alan Tudyk | Harley Quinn |
Which animated Joker is your favorite? Comment below.
