Batman On Film: The Animated Series (1992-1995) - Written By Zach Frances

Batman The Animated Series: Volume One

Forget about the movies. The best film representation of the Caped Crusader is, and will always be, The Animated Series that ran from 1992 up until 1995. This show is stellar, and it not only revolutionized Saturday morning cartoons, but it redefined Batman for a new generation.

Volume One contains some of the best Bat-Stories ever spun. The best telling of Two Face's origin can be found here in a mind blowing two part episode. Neither origins for the character told by Loeb nor Nolan, respectively, can compare to the one that is found here.

The legendary Heart Of Ice can be found here as well. This is a very important episode and marks a very significant moment in Batman's history. One of his less beloved villains became an overnight fan favorite. He went from unsympathetic to incredibly heartbreaking. This character was Mr. Freeze. The episode actually went on to not only land the show its very first Emmy award, but it also affected the comic book universe. Many writers adopted the new Freeze origin that Heart Of Ice proposed.

But Heart Of Ice wasn't the last time that the Animated Series would alter and inspire the comic book universe. In one of the best episodes from Volume One, an episode called Joker's Favor, another important event would take place. Although she had but a handful of lines, Harley Quinn made her first appearance. She would go on to not only change the comic book universe but become a long-lasting part of pop culture. An inspired creation on behalf of Paul Dini, a sensation was born.

My favorite episode contained within the first volume may seem slightly controversial to some, but Mad As A Hatter is an exceptional show. Mad As A Hatter tells the story of Jervis Tetch, the man who will become the Mad Hatter. I thought this episode was so well-done, I have watched it several times. It is a true joy to see the Mad Hatter handled with such care. The best Mad Hatter story ever told, and it will make you a believer of him. A loving portrait of a madman. The show was very good at redeeming lesser liked and lesser known villains. They had already done so with Mr. Freeze by the time they would make the Mad Hatter a legitimate psychopathic threat. They would do it again with Scarface and the Ventriloquist, but I'm getting ahead of myself now.

If you're thinking about buying the first volume, do so immediately. It just might change your life.

Batman The Animated Series: Volume Two

God! Where do I even start?! The second volume is a triumph! Its superhero storytelling at its best, and absolutely essential for all Batfans young and old!

Heck, the episode called 'The Laughing Fish' is worth the money alone! Hands down the best episode of the Batman Animated Series, and honestly, one of my favorite Batman stories ever told in any medium. Whenever I get the chance to turn someone new on to this wonderful series, 'The Laughing Fish' is always the episode I pick out, and I have never had anyone tell me they were disappointed in the program I had selected. 'The Laughing Fish' is a phenomenal, stylish, disturbing, and cartoonish tour de force of superhero entertainment.

But that's not all, folks! Almost every single episode is fantastic! Sure, its got its clunkers, 'Moon Of The Wolf' and 'Cat Scratch Fever' for example are God awful, but it also includes some of the best work to ever come out of the animated series.

Along with the incredible Laughing Episode episode, volume two also boasts the Emmy Award winning two-parter 'Robin's Reckoning'. A very earnest and touching episode where the Boy Wonder's origin is completely explored, and I remember it being one of my favorites as a child. It hasn't lost its touch, the episode struck a chord with me. The darn thing works!

There is another fantastic two-parter included here and it is called 'Heart Of Steel', and it is a fan favorite. A wonderful Sci-Fi Batman story that remains one of the most exciting episodes of the Animated Series.

A few other stand-outs in volume two are the Riddler Episodes, and a Penguin episode titled 'Birds Of A Weather'. Paul Williams of Phantom Of The Paradise fame returns to give voice to the most sympathetic rendition of the beloved super villain. Penguin's best episode in the series and, most likely, the best Penguin tale there is in any medium.

As a kid I really enjoyed the two episodes featuring a villain called Kyodai Ken, a master Ninja Assassin from Bruce Wayne's past. The better of the two, an episode called 'Day Of The Samurai' is still one of my favorite episodes in the show's run. I loved the character of Kyodai Ken, and although I wish Bruce Timm and Co. did more with the character, I respect the fact that he never became old, tiresome, or non-threatening. Great character.

'Almost Got 'Im' is a Paul Dini classic, and another fan favorite. I was also quite partial to 'Perchance To Dream', it was a very bizarre and well done episode, almost like Batman does the Twilight Zone. I loved it. I think I might watch it again tonight actually, as it is a very absorbing story, and I enjoy the way they tell it.

The second volume is, in my opinion, the very best of the Animated Series. Volume One was pretty good too, and Volume Three (with the exception of a few episodes) was a rather week set. Volume Two is Batman The Animated Series at the top of its game, at full stride, and it just never lets up. The special features are short but sweet, and the commentary tracks are both informative and funny as usual. Buy the discs for the shows. I'm so happy I did, they helped to renew a love for Batman I hadn't felt so intensely since I was a kid. And as you grow up, anything that makes you feel twenty years younger is a good thing. And this, this is a good thing.

Batman The Animated Series Volume Three

Truth be told, this is where things start to go sour. There are quite a few undesirables here. But let's focus on the good stuff. And Ra's Al Ghul is always good stuff. There are are a handful of episodes that feature this legendary villain, and the rendering the Animated Series gave the Demon's Head remains the most faithful to the source material. The two-part episode called The Demon's Quest is lifted straight from Denny O'Niel's original writing. A glorious representation of one of Batman's deadliest foes.

Volume Three showcases another new villain to the Animated Series. The villain's name is Bane and the episode is named after him. I have to be somewhat harsh on this particular episode, only because Bane is my absolute favorite Batman Villain. I have always loved him, and while the Animated Series does some good things with his character, they also make an abundance of bad decisions that would later be continued by the notorious disaster that calls itself 1997's Batman & Robin. Yes, the Animated Series is partly to blame for how Bane was presented in Joel Shitmaker's franchise killing toy commercial. As a matter of fact, Joel Shitmaker lifted several ideas from the Animated Series, and used them to systematically bring the Batman down to the level of the Smurfs.

Where was I?

Oh, yeah. Volume Three has a phenomenal Poison Ivy episode. It is called House And Garden and its freakier than the freakiest twist on The Twilight Zone. Seriously, this shit is disturbed! God, I love it! I don't want to spoil anything for any of you who haven't seen this particular episode, but be warned: this one will make your skin crawl and you brain bleed. It really is that peculiar! Its another great episode written by Paul Dini. Poison Ivy at her very best!

Read My Lips is a FANTASTIC one! Scarface and The Ventriloquist seek retribution, and they receive bloody satisfaction. Honestly, a better Scarface story doesn't exist! What this show managed to do with second and third tier villains is extraordinary. They breathed new life into these damaged goods and brought them to the foreground with a vengeance. Seriously, who the hell even knew who the Clock King was before the Animated Series came around? Anyone? Didn't think so. Temple Fugate is now a name I will never forget.

All in all the Animated Series was the best thing to ever happen to a superhero. Glad it was Batman. Superman was given his own animated series as well soon after, and it was handled by the same creative forces behind Batman TAS. Superman The Animated Series is another wonderful television show I plan to explore with you in the near future. Actually, thus far, Superman TAS is the one good film representation of the character.

In closing, THANK GOD FOR BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES! My childhood would have been a nightmare without it!