Batman: The Animated Series User Reviews

It’s been a long journey for superheroes to come to the animated screen. When they do, they’re often trivialized, santized, and a term that I use often, “kid-ified” in that the sharp and hard edges of superheroes are sanded off and rendered harmless and impotent. It is probably what continues their reputation as comic book superheroes are merely for children and their ilk and what we, the adult fans have to live down.

While I have made biting remarks about Bruce Timm in the past and undoubtedly in the future; I will admit without reservation that his vision on Batman: TAS was definitely a change from what superheroes once were. His gothic background designs were eye opening as were his character designs of the hugely muscular, over-developed upper body was something that fans had never seen before. All and all, this series was perhaps the most faithful and best animated adaptations of the Dark Knight ever seen.

And it did it by taking the character seriously; not trivializing him, not making him a joke or a Boy Scout dressed up in a funny suit, but giving him real emotions of being a tortured and driven soul. He fought, he bled, and he even got hurt. I still get chills when I remember the episode “Nothing To Fear” where Batman bellows, “I am Vengeance. I am the Night! I—AM—BATMAN!”

His array of enemies weren’t one-dimensional characters but often people who had been deeply wounded psychologically such as Mr. Freeze, who I thought was one of the best reinterpretations of the character I had ever seen and were to be more pitied than despised.

The voice actors for Batman: TAS were definitely spectacular at their job and the music was moody and rich. In addition, the animation was high quality as was the storytelling.

It had a huge impact; influencing The New Batman & Robin Adventures, Superman: TAS, Batman Beyond, and the Justice League animated series afterwards. Which I think was one of the biggest mistakes that they did for these series as they were trying to ape and imitate the original and didn’t do it quite as well in those areas of storytelling, animation, and music just weren't quite as the same quality as Batman: TAS. They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore. Pity too otherwise I would be watching it.