Justice League (TV series)

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Justice League
Format Animated series
Created by Bruce Timm
Paul Dini
Starring Carl Lumbly
Michael Rosenbaum
Kevin Conroy
Phil LaMarr
Susan Eisenberg
George Newbern
Maria Canals
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
No. of episodes 52 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 20-23 min.
Broadcast
Original channel Cartoon Network
Original run November 17, 2001 – May 29, 2004
Chronology
Preceded by The New Batman/Superman Adventures and (Static Shock, took place whithin episodes)
Followed by Justice League Unlimited
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Justice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. It is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics. After its second season, it became Justice League Unlimited, and ran an additional two seasons.

Contents

[edit] History

Animator Bruce Timm, having successfully adapted both Batman and Superman into animated television programs in the 1990s, took on the challenge of faithfully adapting the Justice League comic book. Ignoring the sidekicks, pets and other extraneous elements of the earlier Super Friends show, the line-up of this new JLA adaptation was created with two things in mind: to pay tribute to the original line-up of the Justice League of America while also reflecting racial and cultural diversity. Significantly, the well-known (but much-depreciated) superhero Aquaman was left out of the lineup (although he would be used on the show) in favor of a second female on the team - Hawkgirl - and the African-American Green Lantern John Stewart, who has worked with the League in the comics before, was used rather than either of the better-known modern-era Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner, even though Rayner had appeared as Green Lantern in the Superman animated series. (In the second season, Rayner is described as a Lantern in training under Stewart's old mentor, explaining his absence. Both he and Jordan make brief appearances in Justice League Unlimited.)

The show met with significant success, partially due to loyal fans already familiar with these incarnations of the characters, and partially from a new generation of viewers. The two-part nature of most episodes led Cartoon Network to choose to air the episodes back-to-back.

According to audio commentary on the DVD release of Season 2, the second season finale "Starcrossed" was expected to be the final episode of the series. However, in February 2004, Cartoon Network announced a follow-up series, Justice League Unlimited, which premiered on July 31, 2004. Justice League Unlimited features a greatly expanded roster of heroes, usually with only a few appearing in any given episode, although there are a few featuring just about the entire roster fighting against one giant enemy.

[edit] Casting and character changes

Title sequence from show opening, seasons 1-2, containing from left to right, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, The Flash and Hawkgirl. .
Title sequence from show opening, seasons 1-2, containing from left to right, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, The Flash and Hawkgirl. .

Kevin Conroy reprised his role as the voice of Batman, a part he had played since Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, The New Batman Adventures in 1997, and Batman Beyond in 1999. Because Justice League was set after the events of Batman: TAS and TNBA but before Beyond, Conroy pitched his voice to a range in between the voices he'd used in both series. It was harsher than the voice he spoke with in TAS but softer than in Beyond, it was similar in tone to the voice he used for TNBA. In addition, Batman's uniform was also redesigned. Much like the Beyond uniform, the pointy ears on his cowl were made much more prominent and heels were added to his boots. Also, a dark shade of violet replaced the blue highlights in the original TAS uniform.

Tim Daly, who voiced Superman in his previous animated series, did some early recordings, but was ultimately unable to reprise his role due to his involvement with the short-lived remake series of The Fugitive. He was replaced by George Newbern, who was criticized by fans during the first season, feeling that his Superman lacked both the everyman feel and heroic authority that Daly brought to the role. Bruce Timm has said that this was more the fault of himself and his staff than Newbern's, and has openly defended Newbern. Since then, many fans have agreed that Newbern improved significantly during the second season, with a consensus that both Newbern and his predecessor Daly had merits in their respective portrayals of Superman.

Superman was initially redesigned to have a bit of a squint to his eyes and slight wrinkles that was also meant to make him look older, in addition to having a noticeable shining streak to his hair; he was redesigned to appear larger in physical girth than in his previous series. Fans did not like the older appearance and in the second season the streak was toned down to the point of almost disappearing and the squint was removed, in essence Superman reverted to his earlier animated series look. As an in-joke, Superman's Season One facial designs are used for an older Jor-El in the Justice League Unlimited episode For the Man Who Has Everything.

Most of the characters retained their general comic book origins and continuity, with Wonder Woman being the notable exception. In the Justice League series continuity, the premiere story arc "Secret Origins" removing the plot of Diana's competition against her fellow Amazons to be the ambassador of peace to man's world, and she is referred to as a "rookie" superhero during her first encounter with the League. (Subsequent episodes touched on her attempts to adjust to her new world). Additionally, the character of The Flash was portrayed as somewhat younger and significantly more brash than his comic book counterpart, taking on a number of personality traits of Plastic Man, who provides a similar comic relief function in the Justice League of America comics. Major changes were also made to the Hawkgirl character. John Stewart's Green Lantern was also changed significantly from the civilian architect in the comic continuity to a hardnosed ex-marine for the show.

Maria Canals was cast as Hawkgirl based on her Hispanic accent, which the producers felt would make Hawkgirl appear more foreign and alien against her team mates. The character of Hawkgirl became romantically involved with the John Stewart Green Lantern as the series progressed, while a relationship between Batman and Wonder Woman was also hinted by the show's creators, who disliked the fans' insistence on pairing Wonder Woman with Superman.

In the comic books, the Martian Manhunter / J'onn J'onzz has a power called "Martian Vision" which has been shown both as a beam of pure force (an extension of the telekinesis that allows him to fly), and essentially the same as Superman's heat vision. Neither power was ever shown in the series, dropped presumably in favor of his phasing power, shapeshifting and telepathy. The Martian Manhunter was only referred to by that name in one episode and otherwise called simply J'onn.

Although the series itself is animated in traditional 2-dimensional style, the opening credits are rendered in 3D with toon shading.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Main cast

Cover art for Justice League Adventures #1.Art by Bruce Timm and Alex Ross.
Cover art for Justice League Adventures #1.
Art by Bruce Timm and Alex Ross.
Actor Role
George Newbern Clark Kent / Superman
Kevin Conroy Bruce Wayne / Batman
Susan Eisenberg Diana / Wonder Woman
Carl Lumbly J'onn J'onzz / Martian Manhunter
Michael Rosenbaum Wally West / The Flash
Phil LaMarr John Stewart / Green Lantern
Maria Canals Shayera Hol / Hawkgirl

[edit] The 8th Justice League Member

Prior to the premiere of Justice League Season 2, interviews stated that the team was to have a temporary addition. The episode Hereafter, in which Superman was supposedly killed, would prompt the rest of the team to recruit a new member. Originally, the new member was to be Captain Marvel. However, legal rights prevented that appearance and Lobo was chosen instead as the least likely suspect. [1] The team eventually settled on Aquaman (or, rather would have, had Superman not returned); in part two of Hereafter, Aquaman is listed with the seven founding members when Superman investigates the fallen Watchtower.

[edit] 8th member Candidates

Before Lobo shows up, the following suggest who could join the League:

  • Aquaman is brought up by The Flash.
  • Metamorpho is considered by Green Lantern.
  • Hawkgirl asks if Supergirl is old enough to join.
  • Wonder Woman calls Batman, asking him if he wants to join the League full time, although technically Batman is already included in the original 7.

[edit] Other recurring characters

[edit] Episodes

See List of Justice League episodes

[edit] DVD releases

Season Releases

DVD Name Release Date Ep # Additional Information
Season One March 21, 2006 26 Contains a set of 4 DVDs with all of the episodes from the first season as well as audio commentaries, interviews, and other special features.
Season One August 19, 2008 26 Due to the success of Justice League: A New Frontier in early 2008, Season One is being re-mastered and re-issued as a set of 3 Blu-ray hi-def DVDs (in full 1080p and with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound) with everything included on the prior release, as well as other special features. The episodes will also apparently be shown in a 1.78:1 "director-preferred" widescreen presentation.
Season Two June 20, 2006 26 Contains a set of 4 DVDs with all of the episodes from the second season as well as audio commentaries and a panel discussion involving the production team of the series (although the set packaging indicates a featurette hosted by voice actor Phil LaMarr, it is misprinted, the featurette is on Disc One instead of Disc Four).

Individual Releases

DVD Name Release Date Additional Information
Justice League April 23, 2002 Contains all three parts of "Secret Origins". A mini-DVD version of this disc has also been released.
Justice on Trial April 23, 2002 Contains "In Blackest Night" and "The Enemy Below".
Paradise Lost July 22, 2003 Contains "Paradise Lost" and "War World".
The Justice League Collection April 13, 2004 Contains previous "Secret Origins," "Paradise Lost," and "Justice on Trial" DVDs in a three-pack with a slipcase.
Starcrossed The Movie July 13, 2004 Contains "Starcrossed" in both widescreen and fullscreen. A mini-DVD version of this disc has also been released with only fullscreen.
The Brave and the Bold October 19, 2004 Contains episodes "The Brave and the Bold" and "Injustice for All".
Challenge of the Super Friends to Justice League: Contains the previously released "Justice League" (Secret Origins) DVD along with two Super Friends discs in a slip-case.

Aspect Ratio Issues Aspect ratios were altered between seasons one and two. In season one, the show was boarded and produced in full-screen, but the top and bottom parts of the frame would be cropped for widescreen airings. The cropped versions are referred to as the 'producer preferred' versions. For the series' second season, the show was produced in a true widescreen format, meaning that the widescreen airings would give the viewer more footage on the left and right sides of the frames and the full-screen airings would crop the image. When Warner Home Video announced the arrival of DVD season sets, fans were upset about the DVD's aspect ratio. Both seasons one and two would be given full-screen releases. After the release of season one, Warner Home Video announced that season two and all of the sequel series 'Justice League Unlimited' would be given widescreen releases. Though season two was released widescreen, fans were divided over their choice to release it in a non-anamorphic format(meaning that people with widescreen TVs would have to zoom in on the picture in order for it to fill the screen, causing it to blur). Though on the first season release of Justice League Unlimited, the video was anamorphic.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


v • d • e
The Bruce Timm DC animated universe
Television series
Feature-length films
Comic books
Other media