Since the animation is done in a vaguely Art-Deco style...the show looks either stylishly sinister or sinisterly stylish.
Tools:
Recommend review to a friend »
Although I watch and buy DVD editions of movies based on super-hero comics, I don´t follow comic books in general. However, I´m a big fan of Batman, and I occasionally buy Batman-related stuff (like my Batman-logo keychain). I guess I just identify with the guy--brooding, investigative, cynical-yet-hopeful, etc. Plus, that costume of his is some kind of wonderful.
As a child, Bruce Wayne saw his parents murdered on a cold, lonely night in Gotham City. Bruce vowed to devote his life to fighting crime, and he chose to wear a bat-inspired disguise at night so that he won´t be recognized and arrested for being a vigilante. The "Batman" narrative is careful to point out that Batman´s activities are technically illegal, even if he´s doing "the right thing".
The "Batman" universe is populated by shadows and dark-colored objects. You would think that such an environment limits options when it comes to creating a "look". Yet, "Batman: The Animated Series" is very distinctive and unique. Most animation is drawn/rendered on white backgrounds, but "Batman: TAS" was done with black backgrounds. Therefore, less-than-usual light passes through the cels, making the show feel very "dark" indeed. Since the animation is done in a vaguely Art-Deco style (sharp angles and long, sleek lines), the show looks either stylishly sinister or sinisterly stylish.
"Batman: The Animated Series" is not as dark or nihilistically violent as Tim Burton´s "Batman" (1989) and "Batman Returns". While this difference can be attributed to "TAS" appearing on TV during afternoon kid-friendly hours, it is something that improves the relationship between Batman/Bruce Wayne and Catwoman/Selena Kyle. Their courtship is playful, cute, and sweet rather than vengeful, ugly, and bitter. While you don´t lose sight of the fact that Batman and Catwoman each have deep psychological and emotional scars, the characters aren´t doomed to extreme gloom. Therefore, they get together for healthy reasons rather than because no one else understands their pain.
Truth be told you, "Batman: The Animated Series" doesn´t seem to be as good as I remember it to be. Episodes that I remembered as being entertaining or deep wound up being rather bland, and stories involving characters like the crocodile man, Clayface, and a guy who terrorizes orphans were just plain bad. I would say that the first season was split in thirds--above-average, average, and below-average outings.
The best episodes involve The Joker. The truth of the matter is that The Joker may be the best villain ever created for super-hero comic-book series. His over-the-top antics are never irritating because of the genuine menace that he exudes. Mark Hamill (yes, the guy who played Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" series) is surprisingly good as the fun- and hate-loving prankster. Hamill is hilarious when The Joker´s threatening Gotham City, and the actor´s threatening when his character´s being hilarious. There´s also Harley Quinn (get it?), The Joker´s crazy female sidekick who may be wackier than he is (after all, how can anyone be a fan of Mr. J???). Good stuff.
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]12426[/release]