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For the 1960s live-action series, see Batman (TV series). For the 1990s animated series, see Batman: The Animated Series.
The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It ran from 2004 to 2008, on the Saturday morning television block Kids WB. Reruns of the first two seasons air on the Boomerang channel as of 2009. Although the series borrows many elements from previous Batman storylines, it does not follow the continuity set by the comic books, the film series, nor that of Batman: The Animated Series or its spin-offs.[citation needed] The character designs were provided by Jackie Chan Adventures artist Jeff Matsuda (He also directed the ending). The series won two Emmy Awards and one Annie Award.
[edit] Synopsis[edit] Season 1In the first season of The Batman, Bruce Wayne (voiced by Rino Romano) is 26 years old and in his third year as the Batman, protector of Gotham City. Along with a secret Batcave, high tech Batmobile, and a new technology he created called the Bat-Wave, he has his trusty butler Alfred Pennyworth (voiced by Alastair Duncan), who guides both Bruce Wayne and Batman when needed. Other characters include Ethan Bennett (voiced by Steven Harris), a cop who believes Batman is needed in Gotham, and at odds with Chief Angel Rojas (voiced by Edward James Olmos in his initial appearance, Jesse Corti in all his subsequent appearances), who has no room for vigilantes, and Ellen Yin (voiced by Ming-Na), Bennett's partner who is torn between her belief in law and order and her personal feelings toward Batman. Both Bennett and Yin are charged with capturing the Batman throughout Season 1. Adam West, who played Batman in the 1960s Batman TV series, provides the voice for Gotham’s Mayor, Marion Grange, for the first four seasons. While crime in Gotham is at an all time low, new foes emerge and Batman confronts his rogues gallery for the first time. The first season featured new interpretations of Batman's villains such as Rupert Thorne (voiced by Victor Brandt), The Joker (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson), The Penguin (voiced by Tom Kenny), Catwoman (voiced by Gina Gershon), Mr. Freeze (voiced by Clancy Brown), Firefly (voiced by Jason Marsden), Ventriloquist and Scarface (voiced by Dan Castellaneta), Man-Bat (voiced by Peter MacNicol), Cluemaster (voiced by Glenn Shadix), and Bane (voiced by Joaquim de Almeida in the first appearance, Ron Perlman in the second). At the end of Season 1, Ethan Bennett turned into Clayface after being tortured and mutated by the Joker. At that time, Yin changes her view on the Batman and, from that point on, the two become allies. [edit] Season 2Season 2 introduced more villains: Riddler (voiced by Robert Englund), Hugo Strange (voiced by Frank Gorshin, replaced by Richard Green after Gorshin's death), Rag Doll (voiced by Jeff Bennett), Spellbinder (voiced by Michael Massee), Killer Croc (voiced by Ron Perlman), and Solomon Grundy (voiced by Kevin Grevioux). At the end of this season, Yin is found out to have been working with Batman. At the same time, another main character to the Batman mythos, Commissioner James Gordon (voiced by Mitch Pileggi) is introduced, along with the Bat-Signal. Yin and Chief Angel Rojas make their final appearances in the season finale. [edit] Season 3Season 3 introduced a young Barbara Gordon, who becomes Batgirl (voiced by Danielle Judovits) and plays a major role along with her father. Barbara tries to be Batman's sidekick, but he refuses to accept the need for a partner until the end of the Season. This differed from the comics, in which Robin was Batman's sidekick. This was due to Teen Titans animated series having the character in that show, and was off limits in appearing in other shows. Several villains are introduced this season: Poison Ivy (voiced by Piera Coppola), a different version of Gearhead (voiced by Will Friedle), Maxie Zeus (voiced by Phil LaMarr), Toymaker (voiced by Patton Oswalt), Prank (voiced by Michael Reisz), Temblor (voiced by Jim Cummings) and D.A.V.E. (voiced Jeff Bennett). Season 3 is ended with Strange becoming one of Batman's enemies. In "A Fistful of Felt", Batman discovers that Strange had turned the Ventriloquist, who had been cured of his multiple personality disorder, back into a criminal. In "Gotham's Ultimate Criminal Mastermind", the season finale to Season 3, Strange is brought to justice and becomes a patient in Arkham Asylum. In Season 4's "Strange New World", it is revealed that Strange went to Arkham only so he could come up with new schemes. This season changed the series' theme music, swapping the original theme, performed by The Edge, for a lighter, 1960s-esque theme. [edit] Season 4Season 4 featured a redesign to Bruce Wayne, with a stronger facial and chin structure, making him reminiscent of the DC Animated Universe Batman design. Dick Grayson as Robin (voiced by Evan Sabara) was introduced into the show, as the Teen Titans animated series had been cancelled early in the year before this season started. Batgirl is now part of the team and found out the secret identities of both Batman and Robin, and Lucius Fox (voiced by Louis Gossett Jr.) is introduced in the season finale. More villains appeared such as Tony Zucco (voiced by Mark Hamill), Killer Moth (voiced by Jeff Bennett), Black Mask (voiced by James Remar), Rumor (voiced by Ron Perlman), Everywhere Man (voiced by Brandon Routh), Harley Quinn (voiced by Hynden Walch), Francis Grey (voiced by Dave Foley), and the Basil Karlo version of Clayface (voiced by Wallace Langham in the first appearance, Lex Lang in the second appearance). In his final appearance, Ethan Bennett, the first Clayface, is redeemed and cured of his condition. One of the highlights of Season 4 was a possible future episode "Artifacts", that had elements from Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. Set in 2027, with the main storyline in 3027, it features a wheelchair-using Barbara Gordon as Oracle (voiced by Kellie Martin), Dick Grayson as Nightwing (voiced by Jerry O'Connell), with both Batman and the Batmobile resembling the versions in Miller's series. The season finale featured an alien invasion by entities called "The Joining", and another superhero from the DC Universe; Martian Manhunter/John Jones (voiced by Dorian Harewood). In this episode, J'onn brings Batman to a Hall of Justice Watchtower orbiting the Earth where he introduces him to Hawkman, Green Arrow, Flash and Green Lantern, in the character's cameos, as part of the Justice League of America. This season also marks the departure of Jeff Matsuda and Michael Jelenic from the show. [edit] Season 5The fifth and final season was said by producer Alan Burnett to be the show's "The Brave and the Bold season."[1] This season primarily focused on the Dynamic Duo (Batman and Robin) teaming up with members of the Justice League. Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon were dropped from the show as main characters, and only appeared rarely as guests or cameos. In Batgirl's case, this is because she has graduated from high school and is attending college ("Attack of the Terrible Trio"). In the season's first episode, Batman teams up with Superman (voiced by George Newbern). Besides Martian Manhunter, other team-ups for the season included Green Arrow (voiced by Chris Hardwick), Flash (voiced by Charlie Schlatter), Green Lantern (voiced by Dermot Mulroney), and Hawkman (voiced by Robert Patrick). The series finale features the entire Justice League.[2] Villains for this particular season were a combination of rogues from the superheroes appearing on the show with some of the Batman villains. Villains include Lex Luthor (voiced by Clancy Brown), Mercy Graves (voiced by Gwendoline Yeo), Metallo (voiced by Lex Lang), Count Vertigo (voiced by Greg Ellis), The Wrath (voiced by Christopher Gorham), Toyman (voiced by Richard Green), Shadow Thief (voiced by Diedrich Bader), Sinestro (voiced by Miguel Ferrer), Mirror Master (voiced by John Larroquette), and the Terrible Trio (voiced by David Faustino, Grey DeLisle, and Googy Gress)[3]. Also, Firefly becomes Phosphorus. The Joining returns in the finale in alliance with Hugo Strange. The final episode is a 40-minute movie, featuring all the members of the Justice League who have made an appearance in the show. The two final episodes were aired on March 8, 2008. [edit] Main characters
[edit] Justice League of AmericaAt the conclusion of Season 4's finale "The Joining", Batman is taken to an orbiting satellite (resembling the Hall of Justice from Super Friends) where he meets members of the Justice League of America. Season 5 features the JLA in crossover episodes. In addition, Superman makes his first The Batman appearance in Season 5.
[edit] VillainsMain article: List of villains in The Batman Batman, Robin and Batgirl have faced a slew of evil doers from the classic Batman Rogue's Gallery. Using some of the comic's most famous villains, The Batman's writers have created a unique spin on some classic characters (Poison Ivy’s origins, for instance), while introducing some of their own non-comic-book-based baddies. Some main villains of the comic book, such as Two-Face, are not included in the show. This was due to an agreement with Warner Brothers not to use them because of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. [edit] The Batman Strikes!The Batman Strikes! is a DC comic book series featuring Batman and is a spin-off comic book series of The Batman. Part of the DC's younger reader line, the series survived for 50 issues in total, with the last issue shipping in October 2008 [4]. [edit] Additional CharactersWhile many characters from the mainstream Batman (and other DC Characters) comics appear, some of them only appeared in The Batman Strikes. Characters that were planned for a guest appearance were Wonder Woman [5], Bizarro [5], Vigilante [6], and Owlman. [7]
[edit] Reprints
[edit] DVD releasesMain article: List of The Batman episodes All of the DVD releases are in 4:3 aspect ratio. However, the first two seasons and The Batman vs. Dracula movie are available on iTunes in 16:9. [edit] Crew
[edit] AwardsThe Batman received the Annie Award nomination for Best New Animated Television Show 2004.[9] In 2006, The Batman won two Daytime Emmy awards: one for Outstanding Achievement In Sound Editing and another for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program.[9] [edit] References
[edit] External links
Categories: 2004 American television series debuts | 2008 American television series endings | 2000s American animated television series | Batman television series | Superman television series | Justice League television series | Superhero television programs | Kids WB original programs | DC animation | The Batman (TV series) | CW4Kids original programs | Warner Bros. Cartoons | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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