| Batman: The Animated Series | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | The Adventures of Batman & Robin |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Eric Radomski Bruce W. Timm |
| Based on | Batman byBob Kane (credited) andBill Finger (uncredited) |
| Developed by |
|
| Written by |
|
| Voices of | |
| Theme music composer | Danny Elfman Shirley Walker |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 85(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jean MacCurdy Tom Ruegger |
| Producers |
|
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies | Warner Bros. Animation DC Comics |
| Original release | |
| Network | Fox Kids |
| Release | September 5, 1992 (1992-09-05) – September 15, 1995 (1995-09-15) |
| Related | |
Batman: The Animated Series (often shortened asBatman TAS orBTAS)[1] is an Americananimatedsuperhero television series based on theDC Comics superheroBatman. Developed byBruce Timm andEric Radomski, and produced byWarner Bros. Animation, it originally aired onFox Kids from September 5, 1992, to September 15, 1995, with a total of 85 episodes.[2][3] Mid-way through the series' run, it was re-titledThe Adventures of Batman & Robin.
Batman: The Animated Series has received widespread acclaim since its release and was hailed as a groundbreaking superhero show, receiving praise for its writing, art design, voice acting, orchestrated soundtrack, and modernization of its title character's source material.[4][5] Its critical success led to the show winning multipleDaytime Emmy Awards,[6] as well as thePrimetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Animated Programming.[7]
After the series ended its original run, a follow-up titledThe New Batman Adventures began airing onKids' WB in 1997 as a continuation of the series, featuring a revamped animation style. Airing for 24 episodes, it has often been included in the same syndicated re-run packages and home media releases as the final season.Batman: The Animated Series also became the first in thecontinuity of the sharedDC Animated Universe, which spawned further animated TV series, feature films, comic books, and video games helmed by much of the same creative talent, including the 1993 theatrical filmBatman: Mask of the Phantasm.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||
| 1 | 65 | September 5, 1992 (1992-09-05) | September 17, 1993 (1993-09-17) | Fox Kids | |
| 2 | 20 | May 2, 1994 (1994-05-02) | September 15, 1995 (1995-09-15) | ||
Batman: The Animated Series follows Bruce Wayne and his superhero alter egoBatman, fighting crime inGotham City while also exploring the lives of city residents impacted by crime and corruption. Although the series centers on Batman's battles with various villains, it delves into their complex backgrounds, revealing the personal struggles and thus making them more "relatable." For instance, a scientist attempts to force someone to love him, while a former star tries to relive her lost fame. While action is a major part of the show, it also addresses themes andsocial issues such asmental illness, loss,divorce,patent law,insurance fraud,homelessness,class prejudice,age discrimination,typecasting,prison abuse, andanimal testing.[8]
The series adapts classic Batman comic book stories into episodes. Notable examples include "The Laughing Fish", which broughtJoker's antics fromDetective Comics #475-476 to animation as he attempts to copyright Jokerized fish. In "The Cape & Cowl Conspiracy," Batman faced deadly traps inspired byDetective Comics #450. "Moon of the Wolf" sees Batman investigating werewolf attacks based onBatman #255. "The Demon's Quest" introducedRa's Al Ghul fromBatman #232 and #244. "Two-Face" delved intoHarvey Dent's backstory, while "A Bullet for Bullock" had detectiveHarvey Bullock teaming up with Batman to solve a dangerous case.[9]
Sixteen minutes of animated segments in the video gameThe Adventures of Batman & Robin for theSega CD are sometimes referred to as a "lost episode" of the series. These segments are intended to be interspersed between gameplay elements of an early-1990s video game, so the sound, color and story are not the same quality as the actual television program. Additionally, because Sega did not have to follow the censorship rules of the show, the fights were somewhat more violent than those in the animated series. Many of the show's voice actors reprised their roles for the game, and are thus in the lost episode. Similar cutscenes appear throughout the video gamesBatman: Vengeance andBatman: Rise of Sin Tzu.[10]
In 1990, following the success of theTiny Toons series, Warner Bros. Animation president Jean MacCurdy announced to the animation team that Warner wanted to develop several of its licenses, including Batman.[11][12][13] Following this news,Bruce Timm was tasked with designing Batman, andEric Radomski was assigned to design the sets.[12] Radomski, who knew Batman primarily from the1966 series and the1989 Tim Burton film, was particularly inspired by the latter.[13] At the request of MacCurdy, Timm and Radomski, who had never worked together before, produced a silent short film calledThe Dark Knight's First Night in about six weeks to pitch the series toFox. They decided to draw inspiration from the 1940Superman series and received assistance from the studio Lightbox Animation. Fox greenlit the project before they saw the short, but this led to Timm and Radomski taking charge of the project, despite having no prior experience producing a series.[12][13] Since the series had no writers at this stage, MacCurdy recruitedAlan Burnett, who was considering leaving animation due to his frustration with the restrictions imposed by theBroadcast Standards and Practices department. It was the short film, along with MacCurdy's assertion that the series would feature guns and fighting, that convinced Burnett to participate. At the time, animated series were generally not very diverse, being mainly aimed at children and constrained by numerous restrictions, especially concerning violence.[11][13] The production had to navigate these censorship guidelines; although weapons could be shown and characters could shoot, the series was not allowed to depict bullet holes or show characters dying, for example.[13]
Unlike most other animated series, the artists, directors, and writers worked closely together to ensure effective communication. Each writer received a "scripture bible" written by Timm, along with writersPaul Dini andMitch Brian, to outline the overall vision of the series and its characters.[14][15]
Originally, the series was partly inspired byTim Burton's blockbusterBatman (1989), which portrayed Batman's universe as darker than in previous adaptations.[16][13] The series also took influence from Burton's sequel film,Batman Returns (1992).[17] The creators abandoned some of thegothic aspects of the film, instead incorporating moreArt Deco elements inspired by 1940s-era New York, coining this unique aesthetic "Dark Deco." Without a precise temporal setting, the city features a blend of 1940s cars, police "blimps," andfuturistic helicopters, alongside Batman's advanced vehicles, while television broadcasts are shown in black and white. The backgrounds were drawn on black paper to create darker settings, whereas white paper is typically used.[13][11][12] Radomski issued a standing order to the animation department that all backgrounds be painted using light colors on black paper as opposed to the industry standard of dark colors on white paper.[18]
The series employs "vintage" colors, partly inspired by the 1940sSuperman cartoons, as well asfilm noir classics likeThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1921),Citizen Kane (1941), andMetropolis (1927).[13] Background designerTed Blackman citedEyvind Earle andBruce McCall as influences, particularly for their ability to depict "cartoonish settings."[19] The distinctive visual combination of "noir" imagery and Art Deco design was dubbed "Dark Deco" by the producers.[20]
The show depicts outright physical violence against antagonists, including realistic firearms (though only one character,Commissioner Gordon, was ever depicted as having been shot, in the episode "I Am the Night"). First-time producers Timm and Radomski reportedly encountered resistance from studio executives, but the success of Burton's first film allowed the embryonic series to survive long enough to produce a pilot episode, "On Leather Wings", which, according to Timm, "got a lot of people off our backs".[18]
For the first 65 episodes,Warner Bros. Animation outsourced the series to several animation studios around the globe. These studios includedSpectrum Animation,Sunrise, Studio Junio, andTokyo Movie Shinsha in Japan;Dong Yang Animation,Koko Enterprises Ltd., andAKOM in South Korea; Jade Animation in Hong Kong; Blue Pencil in Spain; and Network of Animation (NOA) in Canada. Tokyo Movie Shinsha (TMS) also animated the opening credits for the first season. However, AKOM was fired due to inconsistent animation quality in several episodes, such as "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Moon of the Wolf."[21]
Much of the short filmThe Dark Knight's First Night was reused for the series introduction. Its final shot, showing Batman overlooking Gotham City with a lightning bolt behind him, evokes both the cover of Frank Miller'sBatman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986) and the closing scene of the 1989Batman film.[12] The credits omit the series title, as Bruce Timm and Tom Ruegger believed Batman's iconic nature made it unnecessary. This decision reflects the creators' intent to tell a story through visuals alone, avoiding expositional dialogue. Similarly, each episode features a unique intertitle, typically designed by Radomski, which conveys themes or significant events without the use of words, staying true to the series' visual storytelling approach.[12][13]
For season 2, titledThe Adventures of Batman & Robin, the twenty episodes were primarily animated by Dong Yang, with exceptions including "A Bullet for Bullock," "Avatar," and "Baby Doll," animated by Studio Junio, and "The Terrible Trio," animated by Jade Animation. The opening credits initially display the season's name before showing several scenes from season one, retaining only the bank explosion from the original credits.[22]
Timm described feeling frustrated by having to realistically draw animated characters in his previous projects: "I knew that at twenty-four drawings per second, each little line had to be drawn thousands of times; the more lines on a character, the less time an animator has to draw those lines correctly, especially on a television budget and schedule. The result: bad animation."[19] As a result, the characters were simplified to facilitate animation—everything had to be reduced to the essentials.[23][19] For example, instead of Two-Face's plaid shirt, he wears a suit with one side white and the other black to emphasize his internal conflict.[13][24] Poison Ivy does not wear a leaf-covered costume; instead, she dons a simple one-piece outfit.[25]
During pre-production, character designerKevin Nowlan stated that his challenge was to convey as much as possible with as few lines as possible.[26] He also mentioned that real people served as inspirations, such asRhea Perlman for Jesse and George Will forThe Ventriloquist. Initially, Nowlan designedThe Penguin andThe Riddler based on the 1966Batman series, but his designs were ultimately rejected. Instead, The Penguin's appearance was modeled after his depiction in the filmBatman Returns, featuring deformities and slicked-back black hair. Similarly, Catwoman adoptedMichelle Pfeiffer's blonde hair.[27][28][29] Bruce Wayne's design was inspired byWalter M. Baumhofer'sDoc Savage andDick Tracy, created byChester Gould.[19] The appearance of the Gray Ghost was largely inspired by the heroThe Shadow.[30] Other character inspirations include theMad Bomber, who was based on Timm, while Charlie Collins was based on Burnett.[31] Harvey Bullock's appearance was inspired by one of the criminals Batman fights in the short filmThe Dark Knight's First Night.[22]Mr. Freeze was designed by comic concept artistMike Mignola. In an interview withBack Issue! magazine, Mignola related, "I doubt I spent more than 20 minutes on that. As I recall, I had some old book on the history of DC Comics and there was an old drawing of Mr. Freeze there (that) looked very simple (could have been from the '50s or early '60s), and I just pretty much copied it. I might have done something with the goggles or eyebrows, but that's probably it."[32]
The series is notable for its voice cast, with numerous well-known actors providing voices for a variety of recognizable villains. Most notable wasMark Hamill, previously famous for his role asLuke Skywalker in the originalStar Wars trilogy, whose prominence as a voice actor was heightened through his "cheerfully deranged" portrayal of theJoker.[33] The role was originally given toTim Curry, but he developedbronchitis during the initial recording sessions.[34]John Glover, who later voiced the Riddler, also auditioned for the Joker role. Hamill, who found himself to be the biggest fan of the Batman comics among the cast, credited the laughs he had honed on stage inAmadeus with landing him the role. The recording sessions, under the supervision of voice directorAndrea Romano, were recorded with the actors together in one studio instead of undergoing separate recordings, as is typical. This method would later be employed for all subsequent series in theDC Animated Universe.Al Pacino was considered to voiceTwo-Face in the series, but he declined the offer;[35]Richard Moll was instead cast in the role. Other actors includedRon Perlman asClayface,Roddy McDowall as theMad Hatter,David Warner asRa's al Ghul,Michael York asCount Vertigo,Kate Mulgrew as Red Claw,George Murdock as Boss Biggis,Ed Asner as Roland Daggett andGeorge Dzundza as theVentriloquist. Romano initially wantedChristopher Lee to voice Ra's al Ghul, but since he could not work out his schedule to voice the character, Warner was cast instead.[36]
One of the intentions of the series was to make the audience feel empathy for Batman's enemies, so even if Batman were to win, the episode was not necessarily a happy ending.[13] Some characters notably had their stories reworked, while others were created for the series. Supposed to appear in a single episode,Harley Quinn remains one of the most successful and impactful characters created in the Batman mythos. First appearing in the episode "Joker's Favor," she serves as the Joker's assistant and sidekick. The character is partly based on the one played by Arleen Sorkin, a friend of Paul Dini, during a dream sequence in an episode ofDays of Our Lives. Paul Dini wanted to put a henchwoman with the Joker, similar to what was seen in the 1966 Batman series. Her real name is Harleen Quinzel, and she is named Harley Quinn in reference to the character Harlequin from thecommedia dell'arte, whose costume shape she is modeled after. Her black and red colors are inspired by the character Daredevil from the 1940s.[37][38]
The series initially took a variation of music written byDanny Elfman for the Burton films as its theme; later episodes of the series used a new theme with a similar style byShirley Walker, an occasional collaborator of Elfman. The score of the series was influenced by Elfman's work on the Burton films, as well as the music of 1940s film noir.[39] Walker's work onThe Flash series (1990) caught the attention of Timm. Although initially hesitant, she joined the project after being impressed by the show's art and character depth. While collaborating with Elfman to incorporate his Batman film score, she also created her own "memorable" theme for the series.[40]
Walker's approach to composing was notably sophisticated. She crafted character-specific themes based on traits, voice acting, and design, mirroring the techniques of composers likeJohn Williams andHoward Shore. BeyondBatman: The Animated Series, she went on to contribute toSuperman: The Animated Series andBatman Beyond, helping to define the sound of theDC Animated Universe.[40]
Produced byWarner Bros,Batman: The Animated Series features episodes that are typically 22 minutes long, fitting into half-hourtime slots.[41] The first season consisted of 65 episodes,[11] and initially premiered inprimetime on theFox network. It began with a special broadcast of the first episode, "On Leather Wings," on September 6, 1992, to promote its upcoming debut onFox Kids, and to elevate its appeal to a wider audience beyond children. The regular primetime schedule started on December 13, 1992, with the episode "I Am the Night," airing Sundays at 7 PM ET, and the final airing of the series in this primetime block concluding with the episode "Perchance to Dream" on March 14, 1993.[42] The season concluded on September 16, 1993.[11]
Before all 65 episodes of the first season had aired, Fox renewed the show for a second run of 20 episodes. Seeking to attract younger audiences, particularly boys, the studio requiredRobin to appear in every episode, leading to changes in the show’s visual style, storylines, and title. The series was rebranded asThe Adventures of Batman & Robin and later spawnedThe New Batman Adventures (1997–1999). This shift also influenced planned storylines, including a scrapped episode featuringCatwoman andBlack Canary due to Robin’s absence.[43][44]
The Hub Network aired the series from September 6, 2011, to November 29, 2013. The channel aired a 10-episode marathon of the series on July 20, 2012, to coincide with the theatrical release ofThe Dark Knight Rises and even created an animated version of one of the film's trailers, featuringKevin Conroy andAdrienne Barbeau re-dubbing Batman andCatwoman's dialogue from the trailer.[45]
The home media releases of the series began withVHS tapes distributed byWarner Home Video in the mid-1990s.[46][47] These VHS releases were primarily episodic compilations, including titles likeThe Legend Begins (1992),[48]The Penguin,[49] andJoker's Return (1997), each featuring a selection of episodes centered around specific villains.[50]DVD releases of the series began in the early 2000s, starting with Volume One, which included the first 28 episodes. This was followed by Volume Two, Volume Three, and Volume Four, all subtitledThe New Batman Adventures. A complete seriesbox set, featuring all 109 episodes along with commentaries, featurettes, and behind-the-scenes content, was released in 2008.[51][52]
On October 30, 2018, Warner Bros. released aremastered–Blu-ray edition to celebrate the show's 25th anniversary. This set included all episodes in high-definition, as well as the animated filmsBatman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) andBatman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998) as bonus features. The Blu-ray collection also offered digital copies, new featurettes, and collectible art cards.[53][54][55][56]
On September 15, 2018, the series was added to theDC Universe streaming service, featuring both standard-definition and high-definition options.[57] After DC Universe transitioned to a comics-exclusive platform, the series moved toHBO Max on January 1, 2021, as part ofWarnerMedia's library.[58]
Batman: The Animated Series holds a perfect score onRotten Tomatoes, with all 21 critics giving it a positive review.The Animated Series is hailed as a landmark in animated television, particularly in thesuperhero genre, reimaginingGotham City through afilm noir lens, and modernizing Batman into a contemporary animated format. The decision to paint animation cels on blackboards to enhance its dark and nocturnal atmosphere was lauded as a groundbreaking visual choice that distinguished it from conventional animated shows.[59] Critics unanimously praised the series for its mature tone, storyline, voice acting, visual aesthetic, and fidelity to thesource material; Kevin Conroy's performance as Batman was repeatedly singled out for praise.[59][5][60] Scott Mendelson ofForbes praised the series as the best superhero TV show, highlighting its grounded, life-sized drama and realistic portrayal of villains with relatable motivations. Mendelson also discussed how the series addresses real-life issues such as divorce and homelessness, showcasing its maturity and intelligence. Its emphasis on character-driven stories and adult themes has solidified its enduring appeal and established it as the quintessential Batman portrayal.[8] Maya Phillips' ofThe New York Times highlighted the series' impact on how Batman was portrayed in future media; much like the 1989 filmBatman, the series departed from previouscampy versions, embracing a darker, more mature narrative influenced byFrank Miller's comics while balancing serious themes with humor. The review applauded the series for revitalizing classic villains and introducing memorable characters likeHarley Quinn, cementing its influence on subsequent Batman adaptations, and foreseeing the franchise's enduring popularity across different media platforms.[61]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Program | Nominated | ||
| 1993 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program | Jean MacCurdy,Tom Ruegger,Alan Burnett, Eric Radomski,Bruce W. Timm,Boyd Kirkland, Kevin Altieri, andFrank Paur | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program | Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, Michael Reaves, and Sean Catherine Derek | Won | |||
| Outstanding Film Sound Editing | Thomas Milano, Bob Lacivita, Mark Keatts, Matthew A. Thorne, Aaron L. King, Robert Hargreaves, Jeff M. Sliney, Mike Dickeson, and Russell Brower | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Music Direction and Composition | Harvey Cohen(for "Cat Scratch Fever") | Nominated | |||
| Shirley Walker(for "Feat of Clay: Part 2") | Nominated | ||||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming One Hour or Less) | Jean MacCurdy, Tom Ruegger, Alan Burnett, Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm, Randy Rogel, andDick Sebast(for "Robin's Reckoning: Part 1") | Won | ||
| Saturn Awards | Best Genre Television Series | Nominated | |||
| 1994 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Program | Nominated | ||
| Best Individual Achievement for Creative Supervision in the Field of Animation | Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski | Nominated | |||
| Best Individual Achievement for Story Contribution in the Field of Animation | Paul Dini | Nominated | |||
| Best Achievement for Voice Acting | Mark Hamill | Nominated | |||
| Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Program | Jean MacCurdy, Tom Ruegger, Alan Burnett, Eric Radomski, Bruce W. Timm, Frank Paur, and Dan Riba | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program | Alan Burnett, Laren Bright, Michael Reaves, Paul Dini, Brynne Stephens, Randy Rogel, and Martin Pasko | Nominated | |||
| Young Artist Awards | Best Youth Actor in a Voice-Over Role: TV or Movie | Scott McAfee | Nominated | ||
| 1995 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Television Program | Nominated | ||
| Best Individual Achievement for Music in the Field of Animation | Shirley Walker | Nominated | |||
| Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Film Sound Editing | Mark Keatts, Tom Maydeck,Russell Brower, Robert Hargreaves, Matthew A. Thorne, John Hegedes, Daryl B. Kell, J.J. George, and Mike Dickeson | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Music Direction and Composition | Shirley Walker | Nominated | |||
| 1996 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Harvey Cohen and Shirley Walker(for "A Bullet for Bullock") | Won | ||
| Outstanding Sound Editing – Special Class | Robert Hargreaves, Matthew A. Thorne, Russell Brower, Mike Dickeson, Bob Lacivita, Tom Maydeck, Mark Keatts, John Hegedes, Patrick Rodman, and Kelly Ann Foley | Won | |||
| Outstanding Sound Mixing – Special Class | Harry Andronis, Matthew A. Thorne, and Tom Maydeck | Nominated | |||
| 2019 | Online Film & Television Association Awards | Television Hall of Fame: Productions | Inducted | ||
Batman: The Animated Series is often regarded as one of the greatest animated television shows of all time.[69][70][71] In 1992,Entertainment Weekly ranked the series as one of the top television series of the year.[72]IGN listed the series as the best adaptation of Batman anywhere outside of comics, the best comic book television show of all time,[73] and the second-best animated series of all time (afterThe Simpsons).[74][75]Wizard magazine also ranked it No. 2 of the greatest animated television shows of all time (again afterThe Simpsons).TV Guide ranked it the seventh-greatest cartoon of all time.[76]
In his reference book,Batman: The Complete History,Les Daniels describedThe Animated Series as coming "as close as any artistic statement has to defining the look of Batman for the 1990s."[77] Animation historian Charles Solomon gave the series a somewhat mixed assessment, commenting that "the dark, Art Deco-influenced backgrounds tended to eclipse the stiff animation and pedestrian storytelling" and concluding that the series "looked better in stills than it did on the screen."[78]
Several new characters and other revamped backstories introduced in the series later made their way into comics and other media. Most notable was Harley Quinn, who was initially introduced in theBatman: The Animated Series episode "Joker's Favor", with the character being inspired and voiced by Arleen Sorkin. The character made her canonical comic book appearance in 1999 and is now one of the most popular characters in DC universe.[79] The show is also known the reinvention ofMr. Freeze in the episode "Heart of Ice" , where he was changed from a laughing stock to a tragic villain.
The dark atmosphere, mature themes, and even some of the voice cast from the series are employed in theBatman: Arkham video game series.[80]Kevin Conroy,Mark Hamill,Arleen Sorkin, andRobert Costanzo reprise their character roles. Furthermore, the first two games are co-written by series veteranPaul Dini. Also, Batman's design andcostume inThe Animated Series are featured as an alternate skin inBatman: Arkham City. These skins are available asdownloadable content; they were also available in pre-orders atGameStop and a valid membership to Power-Up Rewards.[81] There are alsoAnimated-inspired alternate skins forCatwoman,Nightwing, andRobin. ActorRobert Pattinson, who portrays Batman inThe Batman (2022), has citedBatman: Mask of the Phantasm as an example of Batman media that effectively captured the character's psyche in a fashion he hoped his interpretation would emulate.[82] The series is a key inspiration for the 2024 animated seriesBatman: Caped Crusader, again developed by Bruce Timm.
A Catwomanspin-off series based onBatman: The Animated Series was briefly considered by the Fox network in the early 1990s. Despite some initial production work, the project was eventually canceled.[83] Another continuation of the series was in development as anaudio podcast drama, with most of the original cast returning along with writerAlan Burnett, but the project was put on hold followingKevin Conroy's passing.[84]
TheDC Animated Universe (DCAU) began withBatman: The Animated Series in 1992, which became a critical and fan favorite. Its success led toSuperman: The Animated Series (1996), followed byThe New Batman Adventures, which debuted in 1997 as a directsequel toBTAS with a revamped animation style to align withSuperman: The Animated Series. The sequel also featuredseveral crossovers with Batman's world.[88]
This sequel served as a bridge between the Fox-era Batman and later DCAU spinoffs on The WB and Cartoon Network. Though initially a distinct series, it is now regarded as the third season ofBatman: The Animated Series, bringing the Batman storyline into alignment with the broader universe and paving the way for future series likeJustice League andBatman Beyond. The DCAU continued to expand with the kid-friendlyStatic Shock andZeta Project, further expanding its world. In 2001,Justice League united Superman, Batman, and five other heroes, leading toJustice League Unlimited—a sprawling series that celebratedDC Comics by introducing a vast array of characters and storylines.[88][89][90]
Batman: The Animated Series was accompanied by atie-in comic book,The Batman Adventures, which followed the art style andcontinuity of the show rather than otherBatman comic books.[91] This comic series, through various format changes reflecting the evolving world of the show and its spin-offs, outlasted the series itself by nearly a decade. It was ultimately canceled in 2004 as part of a broader effort to conclude theDC Animated Universe.[91][92] One notable milestone ofThe Batman Adventures was the first official comic appearance of the characterHarley Quinn in issue No. 12, which has since become highly sought after by collectors and fans.[93] DC announced in February 2020 thatPaul Dini,Alan Burnett and artistTy Templeton would be leading a newminiseries titledBatman: The Adventures Continue, set to be published in April 2020. This new series is based on the animated series and follows shortly after its conclusion, featuringTim Drake as he adjusts to his role as the newRobin alongside Batman.[94]
There was also a short-lived series of tie-in novels, adapted from episodes of the series by science fiction authorGeary Gravel. To achieve novel length, Gravel combined several related episodes into a single storyline in each novel. The novels included:
Several video games based on the animated continuity were released during the16-bit game-machine era, usingThe Adventures of Batman & Robin second season branding.Konami developed a game for theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), whileSega released versions of the game for theGenesis/Mega Drive,Mega-CD, andGame Gear. The SNES, Genesis/Mega Drive, and Game Gear versions were side-scrolling action games, while the Mega-CD version featured a 3-D driving adventure. All the games had art true to the series, while Sega's versions featured art elements directly from the show's creators.[95] The CD version has over 20 minutes of original animated footage comparable to the most well-crafted episodes,[96] with the principal voice actors reprising their roles.
There was also a game made for theGame Boy based on the series and created around the same time. Developed and published by Konami, this game was distinctive in the fact that it still used the earlierBatman: The Animated Series moniker instead ofThe Adventures of Batman & Robin second season title given to the other games.[97]
InLego DC Super-Villains, adownloadable content level was released, based on theBatman: Mask of the Phantasm film, and contained some characters from the show, including theBatman: The Animated Series version of Batman,The Joker,Harley Quinn,Two-Face,Andrea Beaumont as The Phantasm,The Mad Hatter,Man-Bat, and Captain Clown.[98] Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprise their roles as Batman and Joker respectively.
In the 1990s, toy manufacturer Kenner released a range of action figures and vehicles inspired by the television series. Aimed primarily at children, these toys have become realcollector's items twenty years later. To commemorate Batman's 75th anniversary,DC Collectibles released a line of articulated figurines in October 2014, featuring the characters from the series. These are not toys but rather collectible figurines. 22 characters were released by the end of 2015.[99]
| Supporting characters | |
|---|---|
| Teams | |
| Antagonists | |
| Publications | |
| In other media | |
| Related articles | |
