Season 1 - 65 episodes (1992-93)
Season 2 - 20 episodes (1994-95)
Season 3 - 24 episodes (1997-99)
Rent Batman: The Animated Series on Amazon Video (paid link)
Creatted by: Eric Radomski, Bruce Timm, Bob Kane and Bill Finger (based on)
Starring: Kevin Conroy, Loren Lester, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings, Mark Hamill
Rated: TV-PG
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Plot
The Dark Knight battles crime in Gotham City with occasional help from Robin and Batgirl.
Verdict
I really enjoyed the first season. While it feels aimed at teens, there's a lot of depth to Batman as he juggles two personalities. The topics and palette is dark, and the animation looks great. The first season introduces the villains, and most of them have compelling origins. Most episodes introduce a new character, while the second season seems like it's aimed for younger kids, and the third season has even less nuance. It's a great first season, though I don't think it's a show to be binged. With simpler episodes and standard plot for most episodes, it became a grind during season two. The later seasons don't have the heartbreaking origin stories of the first season.
It depends.
Review
The series won numerous Emmy awards, lauded for story lines and visuals, taking inspiration from Batman (1989) and classic Superman cartoons. I loved this show as a kid. The stories had more depth than other cartoons, often being quite dark. The series created the character Harley Quinn who was later adapted into the mainstream comic books. It also created the backstory for Mr. Freeze. The look of the show was based on using black paper and light colors for the backgrounds instead of the typical white paper. Season 3 aired as The New Batman Adventures, a continuation of the original series though season three streamlined the art style and the episodes focused on Batman's supporting characters.
Seeing the names of the crew at the beginning of each episode gave this show an air of importance and creativity even if I couldn't verbalize it when I first watched the series. The first two episodes of season one focus on Batman versus Bruce Wayne as seen through Catwoman and Selena Kyle. Batman can't separate his vigilante night life from his entrepreneur day job. It complicates every relationship.
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| S1E29: Bruce Wayne, Commissioner Gordon, Dr. Strange, Batman |
Episode four is the origin of Dr. Freeze. It's a tragic story that won an Emmy for writing. The first several episodes set up the cast of Batman's enemies. There's a great mix of villains, with the episodes offering insight into what happened to these characters. The villains' actions aren't justified, but their grief is understandable. Mr. Freeze is distraught at the loss of his wife. Poison Ivy goes to great lengths to protect nature. You get why these characters react, but you also understand why it's the wrong course. Still, Batman subverts the law as well.
For a cartoon adaptation aimed at pre-teens and teens, this is really good. It was never silly or pandering; always grounded and realistic though episodes do end with Batman always getting the villain. Throughout each episode, there's the subtext of Bruce Wayne and Batman. He's two people and that affects everything in his life. In episode 34, Batman wonders if it's worth it when a friend is in danger.
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| S1E35: Killer Croc, Penguin, Joker, Two-Face |
There are also fun episode like episode 49 where a guy thinks he killed Batman, but that brings nothing but trouble. In episode 46, the Rogue's Gallery have a poker night, sharing stories about how they "almost" got Batman.
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| Season 2: Batman and Robin |
Season two rebranded as The Adventures of Batman and Robin. Robin is in all the episode and because of that it doesn't seem as grim. We also don't see as many new villains. It's not bad, it just doesn't feel as deep and engrossing as the fist season. This season opts for simpler story lines and less nuance. It's more of a typical good guy versus bad guy plot.
Season three feels more like a kids' cartoon. Instead of the lone Batman fighting crime, it's a roster of his young friends. That takes away from his mystique and the loneliness that is intrinsic to the character. With the changes to animation for season three, this doesn't look anywhere near as charming. It looks like a standard cartoon. Episode 11 was wild, with Batman exposed as Bruce Wayne and Gordon out for revenge. It ends up being a dream which feels cheap. The third season drops what made season one fascinating. It's now a kids' show. The first season offered something deeper with nuance.
I enjoyed season one the most even with the sheer number of episodes. While part of it might be nostalgia, there really is a lot of depth to the character. Later seasons lost that or instead were forced to make a more generic cartoon.
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