Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Batman: The Animated Series - The Complete Series!, August 2, 2008
A show inspired by the 1940s Fleischer Superman shorts and the 1989 film Batman, which in turn was primarily based on the works of Batman creator Bob Kane and comics legend Frank Miller (The Dark Knight Returns), Batman: The Animated Series (which debuted in September 1992) unintentionally became the new standard of animation with its revolutionary visuals and phenomenal storytelling.
Helmed by visionaries Bruce W. Timm, Paul Dini and Eric Radomski, the highly-acclaimed, Emmy-winning Batman: The Animated Series crafted top-notch stories ("Robin's Reckoning", "Heart of Ice") and original characters (Dini's "Harley Quinn") that appealed to viewers of all ages, cast quality voice actors (Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Adrienne Barbeau, Bob Hastings, just to name a few) and featured action that was a cut above the action shown in some of the Batman films.
After years of teasing Batfans with limited episodes "DC Comics Kids Collection" volumes, Warner Home Video eventually came correct with box sets (each containing 20+ eps and a host of special features) that pleased even the hardest of the harcore Batfans. Now for your convenience and viewing pleasure, Warner Home Video has lovingly repackaged from the four-volume box sets the complete series (all 109 episodes and respective special features) on 17 single-sided DVDs (including a new bonus disc plus exclusive packaging) for over 35 hours of dark justice, Batman style!
Special Features include:
New Bonus Disc Documentary "Shades of the Bat: Batman's Animated Evolution".
Commentaries on 12 episodes with Animation Creators: "On Leather Wings", "Heart of Ice", "Robin's Reckoning", "Heart of Steel", "Almost Got 'im", "Harley and Ivy", "Read My Lips", "House and Garden", "Harlequinade", "Over the Edge", "Critters" and "Legends of the Dark Knight".
8 In-Depth Featurettes: "Batman: The Legacy Continues" retrospective, "The Dark Knight's First Night" pilot promo (hosted by Bruce Timm), Tour of the Batcave, "Robin Rising", "Gotham's Guardians" (the supporting cast of Batman: TAS), "Voices of the Knight", "Gotham's New Knight: Batgirl", "Arkham's Finest" (Inside Batman's Rogue Gallery).
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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Definative Batman, August 6, 2008
In 1992, Bruce Timm and Paul Dini revolutionized animation and redefined what a "kids cartoon" could be by bringing their vision of Batman alive on the small screen. Though based on the foundation of the 1989 "Batman" film and it's sequel "Batman Returns" which came out the same year, the series was not an adaptation of that concept, characters, or world. It stood independent of everything that had come before or would come later. It combined only the best elements of the other incarnations, and become something else: a legend in it's own right.
It did not pander down to it's target audiences youth, but instead walked a very fine line between remaining acceptable for all ages and embracing the true mythos of the dark knight. It featured forensic science at a time before such was common place, it showcased the often overlooked detective skills and intelligence of Bruce Wayne/Batman, and did something that no other incarnation of the Batman universe has ever been able to do - before or in it's wake - it pleased everyone without compromise.
If you ask 1,000 Batman fans what the greatest incarnation of "Batman" is to them, including the comics, about 980 of them will tell you "Batman: The Animated Series" as their answer. It offered everything everyone loved about each version that had come before or has come since in perfect balance. It did things no one thought possible, either for Batman or for a "kids show". It truly changed things, and no other animated series has ever lived up to the bar it set.
Nothing before it had been ever so mature without getting into 'adult' themes. By comparison, today's "kids cartoons" are true to the definition; cartoons and caricatures of their sources and of reality. "Batman: the Animated Series" was a truly realistic show that anyone from any age from 2 to 82 could sit down and enjoy. If you are a Batman fan and you have not seen this series, or if you had but do not yet own it... this is worth every penny.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best and most complete adapation of Batman., April 10, 2009
Length:: 2:29 Mins
In the 90's, there was a serious glut of superhero cartoons including influential fan-favorites like X-Men (now available on DVD after a decade and a half wait) that helped create a whole new generation of comic book fans. "Batman- the Animated Series" came in early on the heels of Tim Burton's massively successful Batman film and has aged better then every other cartoon of it's day. In fact, it still looks as good or better than every current American cartoon show. Animation and art aside, it had a better cast, better scores, and better overall presentation and tone then almost any other show on television at all, then or now. This show is what made me realize that there is so much more to the Caped Crusader then just movies and corny 60's television. This show made the character a legend in my young mind and launched an assault from DC comics that has seen them absolutely destroy Marvel Comics on the animation front for over 15 years.
The cast is amazing. Kevin Conroy puts every other Batman voice to shame (I'm looking at you, Bale) and Mark Hammil's Joker is still my overall favorite incarnation. Add a very sexy-voiced Adrienne Barbeau, Ron Perlman, Ed Asner, and a ton of other voice actors perfect in their roles and you have show with serious personality. Even Adam West himself gets an episode of his own. The material consisted of both all-new stories and adaptations of classic comic adventures from all the way back to the 40's to the 80's. One of the show's original characters, Harley Quinn, became so beloved that she was written into the comics and has since become a player in the DC Universe, and bit player Renee Montoya found her way into the comics as well. Even the lesser villain found new life in this series, which handled them with respect and reinvented them in new and interesting ways. Even The Condiment King makes an appearance. Other classic lesser-known DC heroes guested in special episodes including Zatanna and Jonah Hex, which started a trend that would carry over into Superman - The Animated Series and eventually lead to the spectacularly awesome Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, effectively creating the ultimate animated comic book universe. So yeah, "Batman- The Animated Series" is quite possibly the most influential cartoon of our era and it mandatory viewing for all fans of the character.
I'm going to break down each season by listing my favorite episodes. seasons 1-3 feature amazing art and animation, but when the series came back after a hiatus to run concurrent with the Superman series, the art took a nosedive as the character designs were "streamlined" or often changed entirely and never for the better. That said, you still can't argue with the flawless storytelling which remained through all four seasons. Here we go:
Season 1
"On Leather Wings" opens the series in style. Man-Bat looks amazing and the flying sequence is masterpiece. Not bad from an old-school horror standpoint either.
"The Last Laugh" is probably my favorite episode of all. The score is unforgettable and this episode features some of the best moments in the entire series for me.
"The Cat and the Claw" was a two-parter and the first appearance of Catwoman. Adrienne Barbeau is absolutely flawless in the part and I think this is the best adaptation of the character by far.
"Feat of Clay" is another two-parter that introduces the shapeshifter Clayface's origin. There is some truly amazing animation here and a lot of homages to classic Hollywood.
"Heart of Ice" is a brilliant re-imagining of Mr. Freeze, previously a throwaway villain. The story told is fantastic and tragic.
"Joker's Favor" is one of the best episodes featuring the Clown Prince of Crime and the first appearance of his on-again-off-again girlfriend/henchwoman Harley Quinn.
Season 2
"Heart of Steel" is a great work of science fiction that pays homage to classics like Blade Runner, The Terminator, and Invasion of the Body Snatchers over two episodes.
"Day of the Samurai" has Bruce Wayne travelling to Japan to assist his former sensei against a former classmate of his, now a vengeful ninja seeking a deadly forbidden martial art.
"Almost Got 'im" features some of Batman's greatest foes trading stories about times they almost killed The Dark Knight. Massively entertaining.
"Harley and Ivy" is the beginning of a long-running friendship between two of Batman's more popular female villains. It's an idea that served this series very well indeed.
Season 3
"Shadow of the Bat" is the two-parter that gives us Batgirl. Her and Robin were used refreshingly sparsely until season four, and wound up being great characters in small doses. Here they are great together.
"The Demon's Quest" is a two-parter that has Ra's al Ghul and his daughter Talia-who shares a mutual affection with The Caped Crusader- traveling the world together with Batman before he realizes that al Ghul is a true villain who works on a much larger scale then any he has met before and gains a deadly foe.
In "Trial", a DA who hated Batman is forced to defend him from the criminals she thinks he created when the two are kidnapped and tried by the residents of Arkham Asylum. Joker is the judge, of course.
"Baby Doll" features a pint-sized sitcom star villain of the same name who should have been cartoonishly ridiculous.And for a while she is. But the episode actually wound up being touching in the end as the woman who can never grow up finally breaks character and spills her torment all over the Batman. Surprisingly powerful.
"Riddler's Reform" was one of very few episodes featuring the character in a large role. Rather than rehash his riddle-crimes, the episode chooses to examine the psychology of a genius mind capable of the perfect crime that has a self-destructive pathological impulse to give himself away. Great character study.
Season 4
"You Scratch My Back' shows us that Dick Grayson is no longer Robin, but Nightwing and he teams up with Catwoman in this one.
"The Ultimate Thrill" has The Dark Knight taking on Roxie Rocket, a stuntwoman-turned thief who gets practically-sexual thrills from Batman chasing her. Great episode.
"Over The Edge" is a pitch black nightmare from Batgirl's mind as she struggles with the possible consequences of her double life. Possibly the darkest episode in a dark series.
"Old Wounds" finally reveals the cause of the break between Batman and the original Robin. Great story.
"Legends of the Dark Knight" was remade on the Batman Gotham Knight) anime DVD. It features a group of kids trading stories of diffeent adaptations of Batman. One is a straight-out-of-the-60's Superfriends cheesefest and another is literally ripped from the pages of Frank Miller's masterpiece Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. An awesome episode for real Batfans.
"Girls Night Out" is a crossover featuring Supergirl and Batgirl taking on one of Superman's more interesting villains, Livewire plus Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Good fun.
"Mad Love" is Harley's origin story and was originally a comic released by the team after season three and was a big hit with fans. When season four came out after several years, they got a chance to animate it and the result is not disappointing.
This killer boxed set includes an extra disc of bonus features including a half-hour look at Batman's different animated incarnations, a booklet fiiled with amazing artwork, an episode list, and a history of the seires. Not too shabby. If you can find this, you must own it!
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