This week...
Batman - The Animated Series
What?
Erm, an animated show about Batman, funnily enough.
Yeah, I got that, smartarse. Give me details.
Briefly then, from the combined talents of Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, Batman: The Animated Series was a series of half hour (plus ad breaks) 1990's cartoons that took a distinctive and timeless 1940's Fleischer style animation to depict the brooding badass in all his butt-kicking glory. If you want more, seek it out. This is about the why, not the what.
OK then. Why is it so great?
Firstly, it's a visual groin-tease. Gorgeously-rendered style of fluidity to our main man in the mask. All the supporting characters are faithful to their comic book origins without being needlessly slavish. The Art Deco backgrounds are heavy and imposing, just as Gotham should be (thanks to the then-unusual method of painting on black paper). Plus, brilliantly, the cowl's eyes follow Batman's expressions just like in the comics, and you don't question it. As such, he gets to "pull a Clint Eastwood" just like this.
K, so it's got the looks. What does it sound like?
Glad you've asked. Danny Elfman's Batman theme from the '89 Burton blockbuster has never been as exciting than when it's matched to the opening credits of this cartoon. Furthermore, composer Shirley Walker (who conducted said film) took this classy, thunderous anthem as her cue to underscore the rest of the show. Fittingly, there's a mournful, dangerous and not a little seedy edge to the brassy noir tone she brings. Plus, there's the voice cast...
Go on.
It's AWESOME. Kevin Conroy's playful playboy contrasts perfectly with his dangerous detective, setting the oral template for any Batman to come after. Sorry Mr Bale - still love you and all, but your Rottweiler growling is no match for our man's mean grizzling as the definitive Dark Knight. Mark Hamil's throaty menace brings a joyful sadism to his psychotic Joker, whilst Bob Hastings' grounded Gordon is a reassuringly level-headed slice of sanity amongst all the madness. And Arleen Sorkin of course.
Who did she play?
Only the character the show damn well invented - Harley Quinn!
Joker's deranged sidekick and love interest Harley Quinn? This show invented her?
Sure did. Well technically, writer Paul Dini did, but it was on this show. They even wrote an origins story spin-off comic, Mad Love, which won a shit-heap of awards and, in a snakey-tail-bite kind of circular invention, was then made into an episode of the show. As if that wasn't enough, this show gave Mr Freeze some credibility.
Yeah, I've seen the film Batman & Robin. I doubt that.
This was before that. In episode Heart of Ice, they turned him from a pun-delivering two-bit C-lister to a tragic, elegiac soul whose motivation is derived purely from seeking to cure his terminally ill beloved.
Yeah, they did that in Batman & Robin!
Badly. No, terribly. Here, it's almost Shakespearean in its tone. Sort of.
But it's still about some dude beating up fancy dress crims though, innit?
Well, yes, but that's precisely why it works. It takes the fantastical trimmings and places the absurdity centre stage yet never underplays the dramatic tension. The characters sell the lunacy wholesale no matter what, from The Scarecrow throwing sports matches by gassing athletes with fear toxin to The Joker making kidnap victims keep quiet by stuffing candy canes into their mouths (which they could spit out at any time) all the way to defeating Mr Freeze with a flask of hot chicken soup (er, spoilers). It has the courage of the comic legacy, and runs into the night with it. Surely that's worth celebrating any year?
 |
Scarecrow: deranged fear-spreader. Looks cool. |
OK then. Why is it so great?
Firstly, it's a visual groin-tease. Gorgeously-rendered style of fluidity to our main man in the mask. All the supporting characters are faithful to their comic book origins without being needlessly slavish. The Art Deco backgrounds are heavy and imposing, just as Gotham should be (thanks to the then-unusual method of painting on black paper). Plus, brilliantly, the cowl's eyes follow Batman's expressions just like in the comics, and you don't question it. As such, he gets to "pull a Clint Eastwood" just like this.
 |
| Bruce Wayne: squinting at Gotham's underworld. |
K, so it's got the looks. What does it sound like?
Glad you've asked. Danny Elfman's Batman theme from the '89 Burton blockbuster has never been as exciting than when it's matched to the opening credits of this cartoon. Furthermore, composer Shirley Walker (who conducted said film) took this classy, thunderous anthem as her cue to underscore the rest of the show. Fittingly, there's a mournful, dangerous and not a little seedy edge to the brassy noir tone she brings. Plus, there's the voice cast...
 |
| Mark Hamil as the insanely excellent Joker. |
It's AWESOME. Kevin Conroy's playful playboy contrasts perfectly with his dangerous detective, setting the oral template for any Batman to come after. Sorry Mr Bale - still love you and all, but your Rottweiler growling is no match for our man's mean grizzling as the definitive Dark Knight. Mark Hamil's throaty menace brings a joyful sadism to his psychotic Joker, whilst Bob Hastings' grounded Gordon is a reassuringly level-headed slice of sanity amongst all the madness. And Arleen Sorkin of course.
 |
| Harley: if she calls you "Puddin'", you know that she's in love with you. |
Who did she play?
Only the character the show damn well invented - Harley Quinn!
 |
| A TV show that originated from a comic which then became a comic which itself spawned an episode of the TV show. See? |
Joker's deranged sidekick and love interest Harley Quinn? This show invented her?
Sure did. Well technically, writer Paul Dini did, but it was on this show. They even wrote an origins story spin-off comic, Mad Love, which won a shit-heap of awards and, in a snakey-tail-bite kind of circular invention, was then made into an episode of the show. As if that wasn't enough, this show gave Mr Freeze some credibility.
Yeah, I've seen the film Batman & Robin. I doubt that.
This was before that. In episode Heart of Ice, they turned him from a pun-delivering two-bit C-lister to a tragic, elegiac soul whose motivation is derived purely from seeking to cure his terminally ill beloved.
Yeah, they did that in Batman & Robin!
Badly. No, terribly. Here, it's almost Shakespearean in its tone. Sort of.
 |
| Victor. Ironically named: he always loses. |
Well, yes, but that's precisely why it works. It takes the fantastical trimmings and places the absurdity centre stage yet never underplays the dramatic tension. The characters sell the lunacy wholesale no matter what, from The Scarecrow throwing sports matches by gassing athletes with fear toxin to The Joker making kidnap victims keep quiet by stuffing candy canes into their mouths (which they could spit out at any time) all the way to defeating Mr Freeze with a flask of hot chicken soup (er, spoilers). It has the courage of the comic legacy, and runs into the night with it. Surely that's worth celebrating any year?
Holy cock-tease, you're right Miles.
I know I am. I'm a god-damn Batfan.
Batfin
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