Batman: The Animated Series: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"[[I Am the Noun|I am vengeance. I am the night]]. [[Punctuated! For! Emphasis!|I... am...]] '''[[Batman]]!'''"''}}

 

 

It drew heavily from [[Frank Miller]]'s 1986 graphic novel ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'' and the [[Batman (film)|live-action films]] directed by [[Tim Burton]] (although some of the latter's baggage, such as the mutated version of the Penguin, caused them some problems). The often-minimalist look of the show was largely influenced by the 1940s [[Superman Theatrical Cartoons]], with character designs resembling those of [[Jack Kirby]], [[Dick Tracy (comic strip)|Chester Gould,]] and Alex Toth. The resulting product, revolutionary for its time, was dubbed "dark deco"; it was also the result of co-producer Eric Radomski's standing order to the animators that all backgrounds be drawn with light colors on black paper (instead of dark colors on white paper, as is the industry standard) to ensure that the artwork stayed as dark as possible. Head producer Bruce Timm—who also took on other roles—carried his design style over into other shows, thus making ''Batman: The Animated Series'' the first entry in the fully-realized canon known as the [[DCAU]].

 

 

Most of the episodes took place entirely in [[City of Adventure|Gotham City]], although Batman and Robin occasionally ventured to other cities and even other countries. Besides the [[Rogues Gallery|familiar villains]], this series introduced other characters from the comics, such as Ra's al-Ghul, to the television audience. It even introduced a new character, Harley Quinn, who proved to be so popular that she eventually [[Canon Immigrant|made her way into the comics]]. The series also marked the first major exposure of Two-Face outside of the comics, and its revised origin for Mr. Freeze soon became the definitive version of that story.

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{{tropelist}}

== A-E ==

* [[Action Girl]]:

* [[Adam Westing]]: The star of the [[Batman (TV series)|'60s series]] appears as a washed-up actor who played "The Gray Ghost," a [[Show Within a Show|fictional superhero]] whom Bruce Wayne idolized as a child. The dramatic variant of the usual Adam-West-as-himself gag works, and this rendition is a more sincere experience for West and fans ("So it wasn't all for nothing."). Also doubles as [[Remake Cameo]] and [[Actor Allusion]].

* [[Adaptation Distillation]]: The episodic nature replicated the feel of the comics, and the various characters were streamlined into their most efficient archetype.

* [[Adult Fear]]:

** "See No Evil" is, essentially, the story of a woman dealing with her ex-con ex-husband who keeps breaking into her house and eventually kidnaps her daughter.

* [[All There in the Manual]]: In the redrawing of character designs during the revamp between ''Batman: The Animated Series'' and ''The New Batman Adventures'', Commissioner Gordon received a newer, much thinner appearance. Fans complained heavily about the new look, saying it made Gordon look sick, and DVD commentary from the producers reveals that this is what ''they'' thought as well. The theory they had was that, some time between the two series, Gordon had some debilitating disease (Prostate cancer was named as one potential candidate) that resulted in his current, gaunt look.

* [[Aloof Ally]]: Nightwing, at first in "You Scratch My Back".

* [[Amnesiac Liar]]: "The Forgotten".

* [[Anachronism Stew]]: [[Intended Audience Reaction|Intentionally invoked by the creators]] to make when the series takes place ambiguous. For instance, the clothing and cars are from the 1940s. The weapons are 1930-70-ish. The uniforms are from the 1960s. SWAT teams and Liebherr-style cranes exist already. The helicopters are from the 1980s. The social status of women and minorities is modern. The list goes on, too...

* [[Character Development]]:

** Over the course of the series Robin grows continuously more frustrated with Batman's domination of their partnership and cold, emotionless personality. It comes to a head during the revamp into ''The New Batman Adventures'', where he abandons the Robin persona and strikes out on his own as Nightwing.

* [[Cheap Costume]]: The Condiment King wears an actual pair of [[Underwear of Power]] as part of his costume.

* [[Cheated Angle]]: Commissioner Gordon's cowlick. In an audio commentary, one of the artists laments that the cowlick is always slightly to the side, even when it should have shifted with the angle.

* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]:

** Baby Doll, for [[Crack Pairing|Killer]] [[Squick|Croc]].

* [[Clock King]]: Did not invent the trope, but certainly named it.

* [[Coat, Hat, Mask]]: The Gray Ghost.

* [[Doesn't Like Guns]]: Is a plot point in several episodes.

* [[Domestic Abuse]]: The Joker and Harley have what is, beneath the make-up, a classic abusive relationship filled with emotional trauma and physical violence.

* [[Donut Mess with a Cop]]: Bullock.

* [[The Dragon]]:

** Summer Gleeson was a recreation of Vicki Vale, a reporter and love interest from the comics.

** Josiah Wormwood of "The Cape & Cowl Conspiracy" is essentially a prototype Riddler for the show—a deathtrap specialist who uses riddles in his crimes and has an obsession with knowing secrets and matching wits. A few episodes later, the legit Riddler made his debut.

 

== F-J ==

** Everyman Charlie Collins, protagonist of the episode "Joker's Favor", had a very upbeat, grating leitmotif consisting of unusually cheery whistling and trombones blowing in a manner reminiscent of ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]''-esque, 1950's family sitcom background music.

* [[Limited Wardrobe]]: Honestly, you would think a rich guy like Bruce Wayne could afford more than one suit. In "Harley's Holiday" Bruce actually goes suit shopping with Veronica Vreeland, who points out that Bruce needs a better sense of style. Even one of the DVD commentaries joked about it.

* [[Little Black Dress]]: Loads of the socialites wore them.

* [["London, England" Syndrome]]: When Alfred visits London and tells Bruce where he is, he explains there is only one London after Bruce exclaims "In England?"

* [[Out-of-Character Moment]]: When Harley captures Batman, hanging him upside down over a tank of piranhas, she lavishes at how the Joker will be pleased with her for capturing his greatest enemy. Next thing she knows, Batman was LAUGHING. Not just laughing, but laughing HARD. Harley notes that Batman NEVER laughs, and that it creeped her out. Batman stops and stoicly tells her why he's laughing and proceeds to reveal the truth about Joker to her (See "Is That What He Told You?" above).

* [[Out of Focus]]: Dick Grayson was originally a [[Recurring Character]], but after the first [[Retool]], he earned [[Regular Character]] status. The second Re Tool, however, made Batgirl a regular as well and added Tim Drake, so Grayson as Nightwing was [[Demoted to Extra|seen far less often]]. Regardless, he was still considered a Regular Character and treated as such by production. (Voice actor Loren Lester was consistently credited in the main cast, as opposed to with - say - recurring guest star [[Mark Hamill]]). [[Word of God]] flat-out admitted this trope as a blunder on their part.

 

== P-T ==

* [[Panty Shot]]:

** The DCAU-only villainess Baby Doll herself shows this in the Episode "Baby Doll".

* [[Shapeshifter Swan Song]]: Clayface.

* [[Shipped in Shackles]]: One episode opened with Killer Croc being transported to prison with his arms and legs in shackles. He escapes by biting through the chains. After Batman recaptures him he is taken away chained, straight jacketed and muzzled.

* [[Shirtless Scene]]: Both Batman and Robin get in on this, and in ''The New Batman Aventures'' season [[Fan Service|Nightwing has a completely gratuitous one]].

* [[Shoot the Television]]: The episode "Joker's Millions" has the Joker shooting the [[Video Will]] in which his benefactor reveals {{spoiler|most of the money is fake}}.

* [[Vaudeville Hook]]: Joker gets dragged offstage by one of these in "Make 'Em Laugh". He is outraged by the thought of being disqualified from Gotham's annual stand-up comedy competition on the flimsy grounds that ''he never entered'' that a year later he seeks [[Disproportionate Retribution]] on the judges.

* [[Vignette Episode]]: "Holiday Knights," "Almost Got 'Im"

* [[Villainous Breakdown]]:

** When Charlie, the timid accountant that the Joker has been tormenting for the entire episode, decides to stand up he grabs a bomb out of the Joker's vehicle and threatens to kill him. When he points out that ''this'' is how the Joker will die, killed by some schlub instead of some grande battle with Batman, Joker begins to actualy scream for Batman's help to come and save him.

** Riddler has one just because Batman will not tell him how he survived a seemingly perfect deathtrap.

** Ivy has several in her first appearance. The first is what led to her trying to kill Harvey Dent and the second was when her greenhouse burned down, just driving her deeper into madness.

* [[Visual Gag]]:

{{quote|'''Pamela Eisley:''' Shouldn't we wait for your friend?

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[[Category:Western Animation of the 1990s]]