Batman: The Animated Series: Difference between revisions

''Batman: The Animated Series'' (or ''BTAS''), which debuted in 1992 on the [[FOX]] [[Fox Kids|children's block]], restored the original vision for [[Batman (Comic Book)|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 (Animation)|Superman the Animated Series]]'' designs that were produced in between, which allowed for the inevitable [[Bat Family Crossover|Bat Family Crossovers]].

It drew heavily from [[Frank Miller]]'s 1986 graphic novel ''[[The Dark Knight Returns (Comic Book)|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 (Franchise)|DCAU]].

Three movies based on the series were produced: ''[[Batman Mask of the Phantasm]]'' (which had a limited theatrical run), ''[[Batman and Mister Freeze Sub Zero]]'' (a pseudo-tie-in to the live action movie ''[[Batman and Robin (Film)|Batman and Robin]]''), and ''[[Batman Mystery of the Batwoman]]'' (created and set after the end of the series). The movie ''[[Batman Beyond Return of the Joker]]'' also partially takes place during ''Batman: The Animated Series''.

While it's not officially part of the [[DCAU]], the 2009 video game ''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum (Video Game)|Batman Arkham Asylum]]'' is (in some ways) considered a [[Darker and Edgier]] spiritual successor; [[Paul Dini]] returned to write the script, while Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, and Arleen Sorkin (Harley Quinn) reprised their characters from the original series.

** William Sanderson's character is a guy who [[Blade Runner (Film)|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]].

* [[Adam Westing]]: The star of the [[Batman (TV)|'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]].

** 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 canon -- as well as a [[Batman and Robin (Film)|live-action film]]...

** 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 (Animation)|Batman Beyond]]'' indicates that she probably never got past this.

* [[Art Evolution]]: The "revamp" to ''The New Batman Adventures'' saw a more streamlined design applied to the character models in order to match ''[[Superman the Animated Series]]''.

* [[Author Appeal]]: The Harley/Ivy [[Ho Yay|Les Yay]]. Even [[Wikipedia (Wiki)|Wikipedia]] notes it. The [[Powers That Be]] also claim Paul Dini had a crush on Zatanna. Since he actually ''married'' a real life magician, Misty Lee (who bears a striking resemblance to Zatanna), this only furthers the evidence.

* [[Best Served Cold]]: "This is how I'll always remember you: surrounded by winter, forever young, forever beautiful... [[Talking to The Dead|Rest well, my love!]] [[Asshole Victim|The monster]] [[Kick the Dog|who took you from me]] will soon learn that [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge|revenge]] is a dish '''best served [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|cold]]'''."

** Detective Renee Montoya is an interesting conundrum; though created for the show, because it took so long to produce the episodes she actually appeared in the ''comics'' first. She guest-starred in numerous Bat-Family titles until the launch of ''[[Gotham Central (Comic Book)|Gotham Central]]'', in which she was one of the primary characters. During the events of ''[[Fifty Two]]'' she apprenticed with [[The Question]] and [[Legacy Character|took the title herself after his death]].

** The Sewer King turned up dead in one panel of ''[[Fifty Two|52]]'' when they needed some [[C List Fodder]] villains.

* [[Captain Ersatz]]: Joker has three [[Mooks]] based off the [[Three Stooges]]. Similarly, Baby Doll's henchmen to [[Gilligan's Island (TV)|Gilligan and Skipper.]]

* [[Cast As a Mask]]: Both John Rhys-Davies and Aron Kincaid had the opportunity to play Batman himself in "The Cape and Cowl Conspiracy" and "Almost Got 'Im," respectively.

** Harley Quinn went through extensive therapy and treatment for her [[Mad Love|obsession with the Joker]] and was certified legally sane by the staff of Arkham Asylum. However, on her first day out out, a series of comical misunderstandings resulted in her taking a hostage and being pursued by Bullock, the hostage's father (a general in a tank!) and a vengeful gangster, winding up right back in Arkham by the end of the day. In this case it seems that everybody involved (including Batman himself) was rooting for Harley's successful recovery and the end of the episode implied that she would make it there eventually, but that storyline was never followed up (''[[Batman Beyond Return of the Joker]]'' shows that she eventually did reform and have a normal life, but only ''after'' Joker was dead).

* [[Common Knowledge]]: "Girl's Night Out," the episode of the [[DCAU]] featuring Batgirl and Supergirl squaring off against Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Livewire is commonly thought to be a ''[[Superman: The Animated Series (Animation)|Superman the Animated Series]]'' episode, but in reality is officially a ''Batman: The Animated Series'' episode. According to both the episode list on [http://www.batman-superman.com the official website] and the fact that it was on the ''B: TAS'' Volume 4 DVD rather than Volume 3 of ''S: TAS'' (which included the last third of the series, including Supergirl's debut).

** In "Joker's Millions," the actor impersonating the Joker gives himself away when Bruce Wayne references the last time they met, stumping him on the specific events and when they happened. Namely, that the Joker threw Bruce off a rooftop only last month. This happened when they both guest-starred in the three-part ''[[Superman: The Animated Series (Animation)|Superman the Animated Series]]'' episode "World's Finest," the first [[Crossover]] between the two series and the first confirmation of [[DCAU|their]] [[Shared Universe]]. "Joker's Millions" itself is a sequel to that episode, as it first established that the Joker was short on money, which serves as the foundation for the story in this episode.

* [[Crossover]]: "Girl's Night Out" featured guest appearances by Supergirl and Livewire from ''[[Superman: The Animated Series (Animation)|Superman the Animated Series]]'', both of whom traveled to Gotham City and teamed up with Batgirl and Harley Quinn & Posion Ivy, respectively.

* [[Damn, It Feels Good to Be A Gangster!]]: Scarface.

* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: Sometimes Batman and Robin took turns in this role (With Robin sometimes giving [[Spider Man|Spidey himself]] a run for his money in the snarky battle banter department), but usually Alfred had at least one sarcastic remark per episode.

* [[Depending On the Artist]] ([[TMS Entertainment]]): Like on [[Tiny Toon Adventures (Animation)|Tiny Toon Adventures]], TMS's staff was uncredited (for the first show, there were listed on ''The New Batman Adventures''), here is the Animation Directors and outsourcing units listing for the first show.

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

** In "Harley and Ivy," Ivy loudly proclaims that "[[No Man of Woman Born|no man can take us prisoner]]." Enter, stage right: [[Gotham Central (Comic Book)|Renee]] [[Fifty Two|Montoya]].

* [[The Family for The Whole Family]]: In the Penguin's first appearance, he and his henchmen are continuously foiled by the local children who have [[Batman in My Basement|Batman in their basement]]. This is one of the reasons that the production team does not think very highly of this episode, since they were hoping the series would avoid kid heroes and bumbling villains.

** Detective Harvey Bullock, who is rude, filthy, [[Donut Mess With a Cop|in love with donuts]] and a general mess. His only saving grace is his fundamental loyalty to Commissioner Gordon.

* [[First Time in The Sun]]: In the end of the Sewer King episode, his captured orphans are brought into the sunlight at last.

* [[Freeze Frame Bonus]]: The closest thing we get to a definitive date for the series is Leslie Thompkins's yearbook in "Paging the Crime Doctor", which identifies {{spoiler|Matt Thorne's}} graduating class as 1901.

* [[A Glitch in The Matrix]]: A [[Lotus Eater Machine]] got outed by a newspaper written in gibberish.

** In "Mudslide," Clayface reveals the first name of his accomplice when he shouts... [[A Streetcar Named Desire (Theatre)|"STELLAAAAAAA!"]], and "[[Psycho (Film)|Dr. Bates once owned a motel..."]]

** "Legends of the Dark Knight." Four kids share their views of the Bat. One boy says he is a metahuman with wings. Another says he is [[Batman (TV)|a cheery guy who calls Robin "chum."]] The girl retells an iconic scene from [[The Dark Knight Returns (Comic Book)|The Dark Knight Returns]]: with [[Superman: The Animated Series (Animation)|Darkseid's voice.]]

** "It's Never Too Late" has a homage to the gangster film ''[[Angels With Dirty Faces]]''--the two boys, one of whom becomes a priest (Michael), the other a gangster (Arnold Stromwell). And the scene on the railroad tracks alludes to a similiar scene in the film.

** "Heart of Steel" has a boatload -- [[Blade Runner (Film)|Blade Runner]] (Karl Rossum, "Duplicants"), [[Metropolis (Film)|Metropolis]] (Randa Duane's jumpsuit), [[Terminator (Film)|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 (Film)|Blade Runner]], with Batman's replicant ''believing'' it was Batman.

** ''[[The Castle of Cagliostro (Anime)|The Castleof Cagliostro]]'' is given an homage with a battle in a clock tower that has many similar shots.

* [[Informed Ability]]: Apparently, Lock-Up is such a horrific guard that he has driven even the already-insane inmates of Arkham insane, paralyzing the Scarecrow, "The God of Fear," with fear. When his offenses against the patients are actually given, however, it is debatable as to whether they are extreme or standard asylum fare, apart from his mental abuse of the Ventriloquist, possibly because the show [[Never Say Die|could not portray anything worse.]]

** Although this version of the Penguin was based on Danny Devito's appearence in ''[[Batman Returns (Film)|Batman Returns]]'', he ultimately ends up looking like his voice actor, [[Paul Williams]].

** From the episode "Baby Doll." Baby's catch-phrase on the show (after causing some mayhem) was "I didn't mean to!" a la [[The Simpsons (Animation)|Bart's]] "I didn't do it." At the end, she's hugging Batman's leg and crying, saying simply "I didn't mean to..."

* [[Is That What He Told You]]: When Batman attempts to get through to Harley about the [[Mad Love|problems with her relationship with the Joker]], Harley does her best to defend herself and her love, pointing out all the trust he placed in her when he told her his true history. Oh really? Batman heard that same "true story" years ago, and several different versions of it. [[Subverted Innocence|("Like any comedian, he uses whatever material will work.")]]

* [[Kick Me Prank]]: In "The Man Who Killed Batman", the criminals hold a funeral for Batman, who is believed dead. The Joker attaches a "Kick Me" sign to Batman's empty cape and cowl before it is to be sealed in a coffin.

* [[Mecha Mooks]]: Robotic minions were thrown into the mix every once in a while, and the producers exploited this as far they could. Since [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?|the censors did not object when they destroyed robots]] they would make their destruction as violent as possible.

** There's also William Sanderson playing a near-[[Expy]] of [[Blade Runner (Film)|J.F. Sebastian]] in "Heart of Steel" and "Deep Freeze."

* [[The Movie]]: There were several DTV films, but general consensus agrees that the theatrical film "[[Batman Mask of the Phantasm]]" is the best. "[[Batman and Mister Freeze Sub Zero]]" is seen as what ''[[Batman and Robin (Film)|Batman and Robin]]'' ''should'' have been, and the [[So Okay It's Average|less well regarded]] "[[Batman Mystery of the Batwoman]]" is a competent production.

* [[Murder By Cremation]]: The Joker plans an acid bath variant for Sid the Squid.

** In multiple episodes, the Joker's alias from before his transformation is given as "Jack Napier," which was his real name in the [[Batman (Film)|Tim Burton movie]].

* [[Never Say Die]]: Averted, mostly. There is still the odd instance, like the Riddler threatening to "destroy" someone by stabbing him through the chest with a [[BFS|ten-foot sword]]. [[Word of God]] is that the Joker's Jokerizing gas was created because they initially were not allowed to kill people. It is arguably ''worse''.

* [[No Man of Woman Born]]: "No man can take us prisoner!" It is a good thing [[Gotham Central (Comic Book)|Renee]] [[Fifty Two|Montoya]] is ready to step in and take up the slack.

* [[Non Standard Character Design]]: Before her redesign Baby Doll looked suspiciously like a ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures (Animation)|Tiny Toon Adventures]]'' character (doubtless a [[Shout-Out]] by Paul Dini). Her redesign brings her more in line with other Bruce Timm characters.

* [[The Not-Secret]]: [[Playing With a Trope|It is never made explicitly clear]], but when Barbara tries to confess to her father that she is [[Batgirl (Comic Book)|Batgirl]] his dialogue heavily implies that he already knows.

* [[Pac-Man Fever]]: The Riddler's "wildly popular" video game creation has graphics and gameplay at [[Intellivision]] levels around the time the [[Super Nintendo]] was hitting its stride, though it fits considering the 1930s aesthetic and deliberate [[Anachronism Stew]] of the series. It uses sound effects from the original [[Super Mario Bros]], distorted a little bit to make them sound different.

** [[Superman: The Animated Series (Animation)|Supergirl]] gives one as well during the episode she and Batgirl team up.

* [[Product Placement]]: the Warner Bros. logo on the miniature skyscraper near the end of Mask of the Phantasm. Numerous episodes have either the Joker or one of his henchman can be seen reading ''[[Tiny Toon Adventures (Animation)|Tiny Toon Adventures]]'' comic books.

* [[Punch-Punch-Punch Uh-Oh]]: Batman vs. Rhino ([[Spider Man|no, not that one]]). Also, ''vs''. Bane.

** The 2009 ''[[Batgirl 2009 (Comic Book)|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.

** The fourth child in "Legend's of the Dark Knight" is an [[Ambiguously Gay|effeminate]] boy named [[Batman and Robin (Film)|Joel]] standing under a sign that says "Shoemaker", who talks about how Batman wears rubber armor and has a car that can drive up walls. [[Take That|The other kids dismiss his theories, and him, out of hand.]]

** In "Nothing to Fear" the security guard in the beginning is reading a comic book called [[Tiny Toon Adventures (Animation)|Tiny Toon Adventures]]. In a later episode, Bruce is discussing a ongoing case with Barbara Gordon. When he asks, "What are you doing tonight?" she replies, [[Pinky and The Brain (Animation)|"The same thing we do every night, Pinky."]] He does not get the reference.

** In "You Scratch My Back," a list of ships includes ''[[World War II|Andrea Doria]]'', ''[[Gilligan's Island (TV)|SS Minnow]]'', ''[[Mutiny On the Bounty|HMS Bounty]]'', and ''[[The Poseidon Adventure|Poseidon]]''.

** In the episode "The Laughing Fish" Joker pulls a wrench out of a box with the words "[[Home Improvement (TV)|Binford Tools]]" written on it.

** In the Creeper's debut, not only does he look similar to and act just like [[Freakazoid (Animation)|Freakazoid]], but he talks to a woman through her window and when she screams and runs...

{{quote| Creeper: [[Animaniacs (Animation)|Okay, I love you, buh-bye!]]}}

** Anyone who has seen ''[[Castle in The Sky (Anime)|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 dub -- marvelously, too. (Incidentally, there are several places where his Joker voice sneaks into his portrayal of Muska.)

** Poison Ivy's license plate in "Harley & Ivy" is "[[Citizen Kane (Film)|Rosebud]]."

** Karl Rossum, the owner of Cybertron Industries and one of the pioneers in A.I. research and robotics, is named for Capek's play ''[[RUR (Theatre)|RUR]]'' (for ''Rossum's Universal Robots''), the origin of the term "robot."

** A shot where Batman (seen only in shadow) takes apart Poison Ivy's plant monster with an axe perfectly mirrors Mickey's destruction of the broom in [[Fantasia (Disney)|The Sorceror's Apprentice]].

** The second episode of "Robin's Reckoning" has a shout out to [[Akira (Manga)|Akira]] when Dick strikes a similar pose to Kaneda on his bike

** The "Baby Doll" episode features a pair of mooks who were obviously [[Gilligan's Island (TV)|Skipper and Gilligan]] [[Expy|expies]].

* [[Stalker With a Crush]]: How the Mad Hatter was first portrayed in his obsession with his co-worker Alice, and being too shy to ask her out.

* [[Take That]]: In addition to its [[Shout-Out|Shout Outs]] to the [[Silver Age]] comics and [[Frank Miller]]'s ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'', the episode "Legends of the Dark Knight" is renowned for its blatant [[Take That]] against the [[Batman and Robin (Film)|Joel Schumacher films]]. A flamboyant kid named ''Joel'', wearing a feather boa and standing in front of a ''Shoemaker'' sign, gushes over Batman's "tight rubber armor" and "flashy car" which he's heard can "drive up walls." The other kids dismiss him out of hand. It is reported, however, that Schumacher himself apparently found this scene hilarious when he saw it.

* [[Talking to The Dead]]:

* [[Talk to The Fist]]:

* [[Tap On the Head]]: Almost [[Once an Episode]].

** An ex-security guard for Arkham becomes Lock-up. He...well [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|locks up]] who he thinks is the ''real'' source of the problems in Gotham, the lax Police Force, the pushover Doctors, and corrupt Bureaucrats. Ironically, he is probably right.

* [[What Happened to The Mouse?]]: In "Trial," Riddler is seem among the villains as a juror in their [[Kangaroo Court]]. However, he disappears during the second half of the episode and his chair in the jury is even empty.

* [[Yiddish As a Second Language]]: The Joker, oddly enough, in "The Man Who Killed Batman", says: "[Sidney]...the weaselly little ''gunsel'' sitting there in our midst. The cowardly insignificant ''gonif'' who probably got lucky when Batman slipped on the slime trail this loser left behind him."

* [[Zeppelins From Another World]]: As part and parcel of the unique society that the creators developed, the Gotham City Police Department frequently uses blimps to patrol the city and transport personnel. They were included to create an atmosphere evocative of the 1930s, even though the producers admitted that they never really existed at all, not even in the 1930s. An ''armoured'' example appears in "Showdown." In ''1883''.