Batman : Animated Series (Batman)

Member Name: martial_loh

Product:	Batman
Date:	04/08/01 (91 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Its Batman but so cool!

Disadvantages: None

For some reason, the kids link for Batman led me to the Sci-fi section, so I'll just carry on ok?
Batman : The Animated Series started in 1992. It was a fresh look for Batman. Having graced our TV screens in the 60s as a happy-go-lucky hero with his POWS and WHAMS, Batman was seen as quite a camp character...... The Tim Burton Movies brought the Dark Knight back to his brooding gothic self.
Fortunately, the animated series was closer to the great movies, rather than the rather sadder television series. A very cool,shady-looking batman is portrayed to us. As described in the accompanying book (Batman Animated- about £30) the animation team decided to use minimum lines for maximum movement. This is something that is very easily noticed. The characters all look very simple, but move around very smoothly. A great sense of volume is generated by the characters (the general shapes used are very effective). The music is very atmospheric, and this is especially experienced in the dramatic opening sequence.
Everything looks good - nothing looks a smidge out of place in Gotham City. The batmobile has a great design - very close to beating the live-action film version in terms of coolness!! All your favourite villains are present - Joker, Penguin, Two-Face, Catwoman, Killer Croc...the list is so long! Would you believe that they got Mark Hamill to do the voice of the Joker?!!!!! Yep! Good ol' Luke Skywalker is the green haired villain of the series - I never knew this until reading the aforementioned book!!
Hmm...what haven't I mentioned yet?... well, the storylines are all very solid. Most stories finish up in one episode, but there are the odd 2-parters thrown in here and there - and if a story requires two episodes......you know they must be good.
Many villains have been created exclusively from this animation - Harley Quinn being one of the most famous. Lesser known enemies like Rhas Al Ghul were shown to have played major roles in the serie
s - a very fresh approach, since I had become accustomed to the usual Joker, Penguin, Catwoman.....
Its a pity that they didnt make Al Ghul a bit more evil..to me he was just ambitious and well, rich!
Im starting to ramble now.. but what the hey! - I'll finish up now. The animated series of Batman is undoubtedly the most memorable incarnation of the Dark Knight on TV (not including Batman of the Future - I consider him to be a whole different character). Its incredible style and stories easily beat the stupid 60s show and the most recent lame excuses for movies.

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