Batman: The Animated Series might very well be the greatest superhero series of all time. Batman: TAS features Batman at his very best, and depicts the Caped Crusader in a beautifully nuanced manner. The series' idea of Batman is incredibly unique, yet still one of the most accurate to the comic source material. Several films have come out before and after the series was fully released, but none hold a candle to Batman: The Animated Series.
There are several good live-action Batman films, there are even a few great ones. Yet, they all lack at least one crucial aspect of DC's Dark Knight. It isn't impossible for a movie to nail an adaptation of the World's Greatest Detectives, but as of now, there are several things Batman: The Animated Series does better than any film.
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DC has shown a few different iterations of the Caped Crusader. Here are the ones that were undoubtedly the strongest Batmans in the franchise.
10 The Bat-Family is Incredibly Large and Diverse in TAS
Batman Doesn't Fight Crime Alone, All the Time
Based on the movies alone, it would seem like Batman always works alone. That might be how the caped crusader prefers to function, but he very rarely gets what he wants. Over the years, Batman has had many wards and allies, but Dick Greyson's Robin is likely the most important. Robin is the other half of what the comics consider The Dynamic Duo, but is largely absent from Batman's films.
Robin plays a huge part in Batman: The Animated Series, with later episodes even retroactively renamed Batman and Robin: The Animated Series. Their partnership isn't the only one depicted in the show and provides a not so subtle reminder that Batman's allies are almost as many as his rogues' gallery. The animated series might not have had ever Bat-Family member from the comics, but it certainly comes close.
9 Batman Has a Wide Arsenal of Tools At His Disposal
Batman's Fists Are Only Half of His Impressive Armory
When it comes to fisticuffs, Batman has it covered. The Dark Knight is familiar with every fighting style known to man. Yet, his martial arts prowess is only half of the caped crusaders' formidability. Batman has a plethora of tools and gadgets in his arsenal that few films have really capitalized on. Ironically, the best adaptation of The Dark Knight's arsenal, aside from the animated series, comes from Adam West-era Batman.
In an effort to appear more grounded, several series right-out refuse to use Batman's more outlandish gadgets. This is somewhat understandable, but it severely limits one of Batman's greatest assets. Obviously, Batman shouldn't pull a Batmobile out of his utility belt, but Batman: The Animated Series nails the balance between genius gadgets and fantastic fighting.
8 Bruce Wayne Is More of a Mask Than Batman
Batman Wouldn't Take Off The Mask If He Didn't Have To
Obviously, The Batman is a faux identity the character Bruce Wayne puts on to fight crime without penalty. However, that isn't how the caped crusader sees things. At this point, Bruce Wayne is more of a mask than Batman ever was. The animated series beautifully nails the duology of The Dark Knight and demonstrates that he probably wouldn't become Bruce Wayne, if he didn't have to.
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More often than not, the series only shows Batman donning the identity of Bruce Wayne to garner information, or do things Batman can't. The caped crime fighter is extremely capable, but he typically only operates at night. Acting as Bruce Wayne lets Batman act in the daytime, albeit extremely subtly. No film has demonstrated that balance better than Batman: The Animated Series.
7 Jim Gordon Is One of Batman's Greatest and Most Trusted Allies
Gordon's Favor Is What Allows Batman to Operate Smoothly
Jim Gordon is likely the only law-abiding cop in all of Gotham City. He does everything by the book, and does his best to be the best man he can be. His relationship with Batman is unique, he respects what the caped crusader is doing, but he can't cross the line himself. Gordon's faith in Batman is tested several times throughout the series, but the police commissioner knows to always bet on Batman.
So far, the only movie to come close to the animated series' depiction of their relationship is Robert Pattinson's The Batman. Gordon regularly lets Batman in on crime scenes, and even shares evidence with him like in the animated show and comics. The show does provide their relationship with more depth, but that could just be because it had more time.
6 Alfred Is Just As Important to Batman's Story As Any Sidekick
Without Alfred, Batman's Quest Would've Failed Many Times
Many less serious Batman fans think that his origin story left him without a parental figure, when that isn't exactly the case. Alfred is one of the most important characters in The Dark Knight's history. He might not be around in the comics at the moment, but that doesn't mean his impact isn't felt to this day. Of all the Batman media, the best depiction of Batman's relationship with his beloved butler is Batman: The Animated Series.
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Alfred's relationship with Batman on the show is nothing short of beautiful. It is readily apparent that Alfred is a man who has taken care of Bruce for years only to watch him jump headfirst into an endless crusade. Alfred helps where he can, but always somewhat begrudgingly. Alfred sees Bruce's potential, and he often thinks about what the world's greatest detective would do if he weren't trying to rid the world of crime.
5 Batman Begins As a "Boot's-On-The-Ground" Type of Superhero
Batman Usually Shouldn't Start On the Front Lines in an Alien Invasion
Batman might be able to create a game plan for anything, but he's just a man. No martial arts technique in history could give him the ability of flight or let him lift several tonnes. This is why Batman does his best work on the ground. He doesn't need to be on the front lines during alien invasions, at least not all at once.
Batman: The Animated Series expertly demonstrates the transition from caped crime fighter, to defender of humanity. The first season has Batman fighting mostly organized crime, with a good number of his most popular rogues thrown in. However, many movies have the audience believe that Batman wouldn't think twice about flying headfirst into a world-ending threat. Batman is always ready to make the ultimate sacrifice, but only when it's necessary.
4 Batman's Greatest Trauma Represents Itself in Unexpected Ways
The Dark Knight Never Had a Proper Childhood
Bruce Wayne's childhood was ripped away from him the moment Joe Chill fired the bullet that killed his parents. Yet, his trauma often manifests itself in rather unusual ways. Some films, like The Dark Knight Trilogy, depict Batman as the picture of mental health when that couldn't be further from the truth.
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Batman: The Animated Series depicts Batman's trauma in many incredibly clever ways. His parents come back to haunt him in more ways than one. Even though he does his best to honor his parents, he still has doubts, and because he was never taught how to properly regulate his emotions, his doubts consume him.
3 Batman's Villains Are Incredibly Nuanced and are Treated As Such
Most of Batman's Villains Have Tragic Backstories
One of the most important aspects of the World's Greatest Detective is his rogues' gallery. Every villain is profoundly important and provides a caricature of what "one bad day" can really do to someone. Most of Batman's villains aren't traditionally evil and are only trying to accomplish some grandiose goal despite how it might affect the world around them. Obviously, that can't be said for lunatics like The Joker, but some of Batman's villains are functionally good but misunderstood people.
One of the best examples of this is the series' depiction of Mr. Freeze. He is willing to do whatever he needs to so that he can restore his wife to life. He does commit some heinous actions in the process, but he's just trying to save the woman he loves. Batman understands this and ultimately makes just as strong of an effort to cure Freeze's wife.
2 Above All Else, Batman Wants To Rehabilitate His Villains
Batman Doesn't Just Beat Them and Throw Them in Arkham
Most films depict Batman as an unthinking punching machine. They show Batman callously throwing his enemies into Arkham without a second thought about their future or wellbeing. This goes against one of the most important aspects of The Dark Knight: his ultimate goal is to rehabilitate his enemies. He might injure them in the process of preventing them from causing massive destruction, but he truly cares for his villains in a somewhat twisted way.
In Batman's dream world, most of his villains would learn the error of their ways and turn to the light. That isn't possible for The Joker, but some of Batman's villains could genuinely be redeemed. Clayface was genuinely a member of the Bat Family after the New 52, so it's not completely out of the question. Harley Quinn started as a villain from Batman: The Animated Series, and has now reverted to mostly anti-hero status.
1 Batman Isn't a Completely Stoic Figure Incapable of Emotion
The Caped Crusader Cries More Than Once in the Series
Batman is a superhero, but being super doesn't mean you lack any emotion. Most films cannot find an appropriate middle between having Batman be an overemotional nutcase or depicting him as a stoic sociopath. Ultimately, the only Batman media to truly understand The Dark Knight appears to be Batman: The Animated Series.
Throughout the animated show, Batman regularly gets hurt, and not just physically. He is allowed to experience and witness things that other versions of the character just simply aren't allowed. All future iterations of the character should at least keep in mind that it's OK for Batman to smile. He obviously wouldn't go around smiling at criminals, but his childhood trauma doesn't make him incapable of having a good time.
Batman: The Animated Series
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1992 - 1995-00-00
- Network
- FOX, Fox Kids
Cast
-
Kevin ConroyBatman (voice) -
Efrem Zimbalist Jr.Alfred Pennyworth (voice) -
Bob HastingsCommissioner Gordon (voice)
-
Loren LesterRobin (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Showrunner
- Bruce Timm
