Howdy hi, folks. This one is not gonna be nearly as lengthy as the last one…what can I say, sometimes I talk too much…heh
Today I wanna talk about Batman, The Animated Series. There have been several animated variants of the Batman Legend, starting way back to the 50s and 60s, and including everything from the Superfriends to Scooby Doo. This particular series aired originally from 1992 to 1995. This was the first in what is known as the Dini-verse, so named for series co-creator Paul Dini. (Also called the Timm-iverse, for the other series creator Bruce Timm)
There are numerous things that set this show apart from other cartoons. First of all, there is the styling of the shows themselves. Filmed and edited in a very film noir style, it relies heavily on shadows and light, and quite often the shadows can be almost considered a character in the show. The pacing and cuts are reminiscent of old school Hollywood, and the style reflects it as well. This show, while originating on network TV for kids, eventually ended up on prime time for a while, showcasing that kids and adults could both enjoy this series.
The character acting in this series is also above board, featuring Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman, and my personal favorite, Mark Hamill as the Joker. The characterizations are perfect and realistic; unlike most other cartoons, there is a real sense of character development. One of the more remarkable things is that unlike most comic book shows, which feature characters from the series, this show introduced several characters who grew so popular that they were later introduced into the comics series. Characters such as Harley Quinn, the Joker's psychopathic gun moll, and Detective Renee Montoya, who is now filling the role of The Question in DC Comics continuity. [Maybe insert the such as Harley Quinn...continuity part into the previous sentence - "...several characters, such as Harley Quinn...continuity, grew so popular..."]
Beyond all of this, however, this show also won a Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Sound Editing, and it won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program. This series spawned other award winning and popular series such as Batman Beyond, the adventures of Batman in the future, Superman The Animated Series, following the Man of Steel, and The Justice League.
All in all, this is one of my favorite animated shows of all time, and on the top 5 list of favorite TV shows in general. Cartoons today don't have nearly the scope of acting talent, editing and storytelling, and flat out fun that this series embodied. They just don't make 'em like this anymore…
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