First let me say I am not considering the direct to DVD movies. This is strickly animated TV shows and not movies. So Ultimate Avengers or Superman/Doomsday wouldn't even be considered while putting together this list. Yes they are animated but they are NOT TV shows. Those can be for another list.
Runner Up: The Avengers Earths Mightest Heroes
5.Spider-Man
This was actually the show that cemented Spidey as my favorite superhero. While the show started out amazing, it really started to drag in the later episodes. That doesn't change the fact the the episodes introducing the Lizard, Venom, the Green Goblin, Morbius and all the other classic Spidey villians were great.
4. X-Men
Great characters, great stories. And all taken straight from the comics. If the Spidey show in the 90's made me love Spider-Man, this show is what really got me into comics. I was just a casual fan of super heroes until this show. Man I loved this shows Wolverine when I was a kid. It did a great job of retelling all the classic X-Men stories that made these characters so popular.
3. Spider-Man the new animated series
Alright, I know I'm gonna get a bunch of crap for this pick, but hear me out. The reason this show only lasted one season is simple: IT WAS ON MTV! I don't know what they were thinking. A Spider-Man show on MTV?! That doesn't change the fact that it had some great characters and stories. Plus the animation was just fantastic. The action in this show was top notch. I really enjoyed Neil Patrick Harris as Spidey. I love the dark tone the show had when dealing with the Lizard. It felt very McFarlane, which is ok by me. Don't believe me? Go watch a few and see if your mind changes. Youtube has the complete series up for viewing:
The Lizard episode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0lEuY65l50
Another great episode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fBwaOUkLOk
2. Batman the animated series
Anyone that didn't see this coming is obviously on the wrong website. If anything I'm going to need to justify why this isn't number 1. Kevin Conroy is considered by most the definitive Batman and Bruce Wayne. While Mark Hamill is considered the definitive Joker. Everything from the atmosphere to the music makes this one of the best if not the best comicbook animated show ever. I mean, it's so obvious this is a great show I feel like I'm preaching to the choir on this one. Go watch the opening and tell me you don't get goosebumps watching it again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5nB2OJnCko
I own the entire series and find myself sitting down and watching them still. The one with The Ventriloquist and Scar Face is still one of my favorite TV episodes of all time. That's right, OF. ALL. TIME. I really wish Nolan had done a Ventriloquist/Scar Face movie. But whatever. I can always dream.
and the number 1 comicbook animated TV show of all time is...
1. The Spectacular Spider-Man
This show got everything perfect. The characters and stories were straight from the comics. I found myself really caring about Gwen and Peter. They even did Flash justice. He was more than a two dimensional jock. Aunt May, J Jonah Jameson, even Betty Brant were all given a fair amount of character development. And the action was bar none the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U79stJ-gzL0
The move he does when the Rhino throws Spidey and that giant chunk of the street is so freaken awesome! That to me is how Spidey should fight! They could not have done the action better.
And Josh Keaton is to Spidey, what Kevin Conroy is to Batman. And even then I feel like I'm selling Josh Keaton short. And the quips! Oh the Spidey quips that came from this show were the greatest! Want to see for yourself?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmJn4AXKivc
also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FDT6r-R0Vs
It makes me cry inside when I think about the fact we gave up this show to only get the crap that is Ultimate Spider-Man (ok so some parts aren't terrible, but most of it is) People are always crying for Marvel to get back the rights to the film version of Spider-Man. Well they did in the animation department. Sony did The Spectacular Spider-Man, which most fans consider the best Spider-Man cartoon of all time. Some even consider this the definitive Spider-Man period. And when Marvel got the rights back to the TV show, they immediately give us what many consider to be the worst Spider-Man cartoon series ever. So, I think people should keep this in mind whenever they cry for Marvel to get the film rights back.
But anyway, those are my top 5. Thanks for reading.