Batman: The Animated Series: Difference between revisions
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{{quote|''"[[I Am the Noun|I am vengeance. I am the night]]. [[Punctuated! For! Emphasis!|I... am...]] '''[[Batman]]!'''"''}}
''Batman: The Animated Series'' (or ''BTAS''), which debuted in 1992 on the [[FOX]] [[Fox Kids|children's block]], restored the original vision for [[Batman|the character]]. The show aired from 1992 to 1995 on FOX. Towards the end, it was given a minor [[Retool]] into ''The Adventures of Batman & Robin'', promoting the latter hero from recurring role to regular star. A much more noticeable retool occurred in 1997, where a [[Channel Hop]] and an [[Uncanceled]] order led to [[The WB]]'s ''[[The New Adventures|The New Batman Adventures]]'' (also known as ''Batman: Gotham Knights''). This retool streamlined the character designs to better match the ''[[Superman: The Animated Series|Superman the Animated Series]]'' designs that were produced in between, which allowed for the inevitable [[Bat Family Crossover
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
''BTAS'' 's brief venture into primetime showed off its well-known edgier themes, pushing the limits of what had been acceptable in Western animation (notably, sparse application of [[The Hit Flash]], and overt use of
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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* [[Actor Allusion]]:
** William Sanderson's character is a guy who [[Blade Runner|is heavily involved in robotics, having built some of the most advanced models and also created a bunch of small toy-like robots to keep him company at home]]. He's also an [[Ink Suit Actor]].
** Sela Ward played Page Monroe, the eponymous "Calendar Girl" in one
** In the ''Gotham Knights'' episode "Mad Love," The Joker quips "[[Star Wars|May the floss be with you!]]"
* [[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]].
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* [[Animation Bump]]: The episodes that are done by [[TMS Entertainment]] and [[Spectrum]].
* [[Anti-Villain]]:
** Mr Freeze. His re-imagining from a one-note gimmick villain was so acclaimed that his new, tragic backstory was [[Canon Immigrant|incorporated]] into the DCU
** Catwoman, who just wants to protect the animals most of all. The first season showed her genuinely reforming, but by the second season she had fallen back into more criminal habits. A comment by Bruce in ''[[Batman Beyond]]'' indicates that she probably never got past this.
** Poison Ivy. Even Batman recognizes that all she wants is a quiet and peaceful life, the problems only arise because she wants them on ''her'' terms.
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* [[Brainwashed and Crazy]]: Most of the Mad Hatter's brainwashed victims end up becoming this.
* [[Break the Cutie]]:
** Harley Quinn is the quintessential example. As a psychiatrist working at Arkham Asylum she was a naive and reserved doctor, inexplicably drawn to the Joker and hoping to eventually cure his rampant insanity. He, in turn, [[Sanity Slippage|drives her completely mad]]. After months (years?) as his assistant, moll and emotional punching bag, she slowly drags herself back to sanity and, through a series of innocent misunderstandings, is thrown right back into Arkham after a single day of genuinely trying to reform. Her entire depressing story is encapsulated when the Joker finds out that ''she'' captured and was about to kill Batman instead of him: he punches her and throws her out of a third story window. Awful
{{quote|"My fault ... I didn't get the joke ..."}}
** In "Growing Pains," happens to Tim Drake after Clayface absorbs Annie, causing Tim to brutally attack Clayface.
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* [[Clingy Jealous Girl]]:
** Baby Doll, for [[Crack Pairing|Killer]] [[Squick|Croc]].
** Harley eventually becomes jealous of all the attention that Batman gets from the Joker, and this grows into [[:Category:Yandere
* [[Clock King]]: Did not invent the trope, but certainly named it.
* [[Coat, Hat, Mask]]: The Gray Ghost.
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** And in one hilarious scene in "Fear of Victory", Batman intercepts a telegram believing that it is a fear-toxin laced letter sent by Scarecrow to make the recipient unable to play at his best. It's just an ordinary telegram, and the delivery boy comes to the conclusion that Batman was lying in wait for him because he ''double-parked''.
* [[Distant Prologue]]: "Joker's Favor" opens with Charlie Collins accidentally cursing off the Joker, leading him to be forcibly hired by the Clown Prince of Crime to perform a favor that he has not thought of yet. It takes two years for "Mistah J." to think of something and track Collins down.
* [[Does This Remind You of Anything?]]: A non-comedic
{{quote|'''Harley:''' He might get a little rough sometimes, but he ''loves'' me, ''really''.}}
* [[Doesn't Like Guns]]: Is a plot point in several episodes.
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* [[Expy]]:
** 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
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{{quote|'''Batman''': Yes. The stuff that dreams are made of.}}
** In "Almost Got 'Im", Poison Ivy's hat and coat (and the general atmosphere of the underworld club they're in) is a shoutout to Ilsa's in ''[[Casablanca]]''. Especially the way shadows fall across her face, with that hat.
** "It's Never Too Late" has a homage to the gangster film ''[[Angels with Dirty Faces]]''
** "Heart of Steel" has a boatload -- [[Blade Runner]] (Karl Rossum, "Duplicants"), [[Metropolis]] (Randa Duane's jumpsuit), [[Terminator (franchise)|Terminator]] (Randa Duane's eventual fate), and [[The Killing Joke]] (The scene at Commissioner Gordon's house). "His Silicon Soul" was the premise of [[Blade Runner]], with Batman's replicant ''believing'' it was Batman.
** ''[[The Castle of Cagliostro|The Castleof Cagliostro]]'' is given an homage with a battle in a clock tower that has many similar shots.
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** "Robin's Reckoning": Batman purposely forces Robin out of an investigation that leads to Tony Zucco, the man who engineered the death of Robin's parents, and stonewalls him when he tries to interfere. At the end of the 2nd episode, Robin tells Batman that he understands now why Batman kept him out: because he knew Robin would make matters personal and try to kill Zucco. Batman replies, with palpable sorrow in his voice that his reason was completely different: that Zucco had already taken so much away from Robin, and he was afraid that he would take Robin's life as well.
*** Another moment in that episode has Batman doggedly pursuing Zucco after the Grayson's deaths, almost to the exclusion of anything else. Dialogue makes it obvious that he's working out his own frustration and rage over his own parent's murder and projecting his revenge onto Zucco.
** Charles Collins' revenge on Joker in "Joker's Favor" gets a brief chuckle out of
** Mr. Freeze gets several of these moments as well, since part of his MO is that he is supposedly frozen to emotion. The end of "Heart of Ice" is the most notable of these. {{spoiler|With his helmet shattered by Batman he is helpless as a kitten and sadly claws at Boyle while crying out for vengeance with the little breath he has. Once in Arkham he admits he failed to avenge his wife, begs her for forgiveness and prays that she can somehow hear him in a place where a warm hand waits for his. While ''crying''.}}
* [[Offhand Backhand]]: To the point that a mook's chances of hitting Batman actually ''decrease'' if he attacks from behind. Also played hilariously with the Creeper, who uses it on Joker's mooks and Batman himself.
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** The 2009 ''[[Batgirl 2009]]'' series reveals that "The Gray Ghost" is now [[Show Within a Show|an old TV show within the DCU proper]], and [[Stalker with a Crush|an ardent fan of hers]] assumes the "Gr'''''e'''''y Ghost" identity, complete with hat and mask, in an attempt be her sidekick. Batgirl herself, Stephanie Brown, explains that she never watched the show, but she knows that the main character ''must'' have been smarter and saner than this guy.
* [[Retired Badass]]: "The Lion and the Unicorn" reveals that Alfred spent time as a British government operative many years ago and, even though his primary duties were behind a desk, he amassed quite a few skills.
* [[Retro Universe]]: It is shown in "Cold Comfort" that that episode is set in August
* [[Reverse Mole]]: Nightwing to Catwoman in "You Scratch My Back".
* [[Revolvers Are Just Better]]: Most criminals use semi-automatic pistols, but whenever Commissioner Gordon and Detective Harvey Bullock draw their weapons they are are traditional revolvers.
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** In the Creeper's debut, not only does he look similar to and act just like [[Freakazoid]], but he talks to a woman through her window and when she screams and runs...
{{quote|Creeper: [[Animaniacs|Okay, I love you, buh-bye!]]}}
** Anyone who has seen ''[[Laputa: Castle in the Sky|Castle in The Sky]]'' will immediately recognize similarities between the film's memorable robots and the one in the opener of "Deep Freeze." And [[Mark Hamill]] gets to play the main antagonist in Disney's
** [[Transformers Generation 1|Cybertron]] Industries.
** Poison Ivy's license plate in "Harley & Ivy" is "[[Citizen Kane|Rosebud]]."
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* [[Time Is Dangerous]]: Clock King uses a time-altering device to trap Batman and Robin in a "bubble" of slowed time, where seconds for them pass as hours on the outside. Batman points out that objects "outside" the bubble are moving relatively at tens of thousands of miles an hour while they are comparatively "standing still". Meaning there will be an enormous (think asteroid impact or nuclear weapon) explosion if anything collides with them in their "frozen" state. Fortunately Batman defuses the trap before it can happen.
* [[Time Skip]]: As well as having a bit of an [[Art Shift]], ''The New Batman Adventures'' takes place about roughly three years after the prior seasons of the series.
* [[Tin Man]]: Mr. Freeze. Despite claiming that he can no longer feel any emotion, his despair at losing his
* [[Tomato Surprise]]: The Judge in "Judgement Day" is {{spoiler|Harvey Dent, repressed by Big Bad Harv for so long that he developed into a ''third'' personality.}}
* [[Tom Hanks Syndrome]]: In-universe example with Baby Doll, whose failure at a straight acting career led to her [[Start of Darkness]].
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