The Batman (TV series)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 'The Batman' | |
|---|---|
 The Batman |
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| Format | Animated television series |
| Created by | Michael Goguen Duane Capizzi (supervising producers) |
| Starring | Rino Romano Alastair Duncan Danielle Judovits Evan Sabara Mitch Pileggi |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 65 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 Minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | The WB (2004-2006) The CW (2006-2008) |
| Original run | September 11, 2004 – March 8, 2008 |
The Batman is an Emmy Award-winning American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It ran from 2004 to 2008.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Although the series borrows many elements from previous Batman storylines, it does not follow the continuity set by the comic books nor that of the previous Batman: The Animated Series or its spin-offs. Also, the animation style bears a strong resemblance to that of Jackie Chan Adventures (as both are based from designs by artist/producer Jeff Matsuda), with the designs of many characters, like the Joker, the Penguin and the Riddler, being very different from those of their comic counterparts.
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Season 1
In the first season of The Batman, Bruce Wayne (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 (Alastair Duncan), who guides both Bruce Wayne and Batman when needed. Other characters are Ethan Bennett (Steven Harris), a cop who believes Batman is needed in their city, and at odds with Chief Angel Rojas (Edward James Olmos in his initial appearance, Jesse Corti in all his subsequent appearances), who has no room for vigilantes, and Ellen Yin (Ming-Na), Bennett's partner who has a conflict between being by the book and her personal feelings toward Batman and his existence. Both Bennett and Yin are charged with capturing the Batman throughout Season 1. Adam West, who played a campy version of the Caped Crusader 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 (Victor Brandt), The Joker (Kevin Michael Richardson), The Penguin (Tom Kenny), Catwoman (Gina Gershon), Mr. Freeze (Clancy Brown), Clayface (Steve Harris), Firefly (Jason Marsden), Ventriloquist and Scarface (Dan Castellaneta), Man-Bat (Peter MacNicol), Cluemaster (Glenn Shadix), and Bane (Joaquim de Almeida in the first appearance, Ron Perlman in the second appearance).
At the end of Season 1, Ethan Bennett turned into Clayface thanks to the Joker. At that time, Yin changed her view on the Batman and from that point on the two became allies that continued in the second season.
[edit] Season 2
Season 2 introduced more villains with some being fan favorites, complete brand new origins: a sinister version of Riddler (Robert Englund), Professor Hugo Strange (Frank Gorshin, replaced by Richard Green after Gorshin's death), Rag Doll (Jeff Bennett), a more mystical oriented Spellbinder (Michael Massee), Killer Croc (Ron Perlman), and a thinner Solomon Grundy (Kevin Grevioux). At the end of this season, Ellen Yin is found out to have been working with Batman. At the same time, another main character to the Batman mythos, Commissioner James Gordon (Mitch Pileggi) is introduced in the show along with the Batsignal that is used throughout the show from that point. Gordon changes the GCPD's view of Batman and asks Batman to help him make Gotham a safe place for his daughter. The last episode of the season is the last one to feature Ellen Yin.
[edit] Season 3
Season 3 introduced a young Barbara Gordon, who becomes Batgirl (Danielle Judovits) and plays a major role along with her father. Barbara tries to be Batman's sidekick, to which Batman doesn't 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, much like the others in Batman's cast other than Batman weren't allowed to appear in Justice League Unlimited.
Several brand new villains for the series are introduced this season: Poison Ivy (Piera Coppola) (Barbara's best friend in this continuity), a different version of Gearhead (Will Friedle), a more threatening version of Maxie Zeus (Phil LaMarr), Cosmo Krank/Toymaker (Patton Oswalt), Prank (Michael Reisz) a pre-Harley Quinn sidekick to the Joker, Temblor (Jim Cummings) and D.A.V.E. (Jeff Bennett) - a H.A.R.D.A.C.-like super computer created by Hugo Strange.
Season 3 is ended with Professor Hugo Strange changing from professor to villain as part of Batman's rogues. Before the season finale, the ending to A Fistful of Felt had Batman uncovered that Strange played with Wesker from curing him to turning him 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 the Arkham. It wasn't until Season 4's Strange New World where it was revealed that Strange went to Arkham only so he could come up with new schemes.
This season also had a change in its theme music, swapping the original theme, performed by The Edge, for a more 1960s-esque theme more than a little reminiscant of Hawaii Five-O.
[edit] Season 4
Season 4 was considered, by fans and the producers, as the show's "fan friendly" season. Season 4 featured a redesign to Bruce Wayne, with a stronger face structure, making him reminiscent of the DC Animated Universe Batman design.
Dick Grayson as Robin (Evan Sabara) was finally introduced into the show, as the Teen Titans animated series had been cancelled early in the year before this season started. Robin even bears the same resemblance to the character in the previous show. Batgirl was now part of the team and found out the secret identities of both Batman & Robin, and Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett Jr.) was introduced in the season finale.
More villains appeared such as Tony Zucco (Mark Hamill), Killer Moth (Jeff Bennett), Black Mask (James Remar), Rumor (Ron Perlman), Everywhere Man (Brandon Routh), Harley Quinn (Hynden Walch), Francis Grey (Dave Foley), and a new Clayface (Wallace Langham in the first appearance, Lex Lang in the second appearance).
One of the highlights of Season 4 was a possible future episode Artifacts, that had elements from the Frank Miller Batman: The Dark Knight Returns series. Set in the future of 2027, with the main storyline in 3027, it featured a wheelchair-bound Barbara Gordon as Oracle (Kellie Martin), Dick Grayson as Nightwing (Jerry O'Connell), with both Batman and the Batmobile resembling the versions in Miller's DKR.
The season finale featured an alien invasion by entities called The Joining and another superhero from the DC Universe; Martian Manhunter J'onn J'onnz and his alter ego Detective John Jones (Dorian Harewood). The ending of the finale had J'onn bringing Batman to a Hall of Justice Watchtower orbiting the Earth where he introduced 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 marked the departure of Jeff Matsuda and Michael Jelenic from the show.
[edit] Season 5
The fifth and final season [1] was said by producer Alan Burnett to be the show's "The Brave and the Bold season." This season primarly 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.
The opening to Season 5 has Batman team-up with Superman (George Newbern). Other team ups for the season included Green Arrow (Chris Hardwick), Flash (Charlie Schlatter), Green Lantern (Dermot Mulroney), Martian Manhunter and Hawkman (Robert Patrick). The series finale featured the entire Justice League [2].
Villains for this Season were a combination of rogues from the superheroes appearing on the show with some Batman villains. Villains included: Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown), Mercy Graves (Gwendoline Yeo), Metallo (Lex Lang), Count Vertigo (Greg Ellis), The Wrath (Christopher Gorham), Toyman (Richard Green), Shadow Thief (Diedrich Bader), Sinestro (Miguel Ferrer), Mirror Master (John Larroquette), and the Terrible Trio (David Faustino, Grey DeLisle, and Googy Gress)[3]. Also, Firefly becomes Phosphorus. The Joining returns in the finale in alliance with Hugo Strange as The Joining's leader is revealed. The final episode is a forty 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
| Character | First Appearance-Last Appearance | Info |
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"The Bat in the Belfry" - Lost Heroes Part1 & Part 2 (series finale) | Under the cape and cowl can be found a younger Bruce Wayne in his 20s. The media is more likely to catch him courtside at a Gotham Gators game or strapping on a helmet to drive his own racecar for a charity than in front of City Hall cutting a ribbon. But don't confuse the swinging bachelor persona for the real Bruce – he's intense, driven and completely focused on his life's mission to serve as the Dark Knight. Aided by technology he's secretly developed – including the operating system known as the Bat-Wave – and driven by the childhood memory of the loss of his parents, Batman takes to the streets in order to bring Gotham's new breed of super villains to justice. He is voiced by Rino Romano. |
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"A Matter of Family" - "Lost Heroes" Part1 & Part 2 (series finale) | After the tragic loss of Dick's parents, Bruce Wayne took young Dick under his wing. To bring justice to the criminal’s responsible for his parents' death, Dick joined The Batman's side as Robin. A young but highly skilled and energetic acrobat, Robin has become an asset to the fight alongside The Batman and Batgirl. In the year 2027, he is seen still aiding Batman and Barbara Gordon, though he now goes under the identity of Nightwing. He is voiced by Evan Sabara. |
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"Batgirl Begins: Part 1" - "Lost Heroes" Part 2 (series finale) | Batgirl, real name Barbara Gordon, the teenage daughter of Gotham's Commissioner Gordon, is a strong-willed, stubborn teen with an ironic wit. Inspired by her first contact with The Batman, she dons the cape and cowl to become Batgirl to help save her father from the hands of former friend and now villain - Poison Ivy. She eventually gains The Batman's trust and he reveals his secret identity to her. In the year 2027, she is seen in her "Oracle" persona as it appears in the comics: confined to a wheelchair, and using a vast satellite network to advise both Batman and Nightwing. She is voiced by Danielle Judovits. |
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"The Bat in the Belfry" - "The End of The Batman" (speaking), "What Goes Up..." (nonspeaking) | Within the confines of his role as butler to the Wayne estate, Alfred raised Bruce and, on occasion, continues to provide him with veiled wisdom. The cape and cowl are new enough that Alfred is still growing accustomed to them. Thus, we witness his genuine concern for Bruce’s safety when Bruce goes up against the likes of Joker, Penguin, Mr. Freeze and the will of the Rogues Gallery. He is voiced by Alastair Duncan. |
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"Night and the City" - "Joker Express" (speaking), "What Goes Up..." (nonspeaking) | The new Commissioner Jim Gordon believes that The Batman is truly a force for good in Gotham City. Unlike Chief Rojas, Gordon will gladly allow The Batman to apprehend criminals that are considered highly dangerous and extremely difficult to apprehend.
According to former producer Jeff Matsuda, Gordon is the young officer seen in the flashback in the episode, Traction. He is voiced by Mitch Pileggi. |
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"The Bat in the Belfry" - "Night and the City" | For Chief Rojas, The Batman is nothing less than a black eye to his police force. Believing there is no room for vigilante justice in Gotham, Rojas has made capturing the Dark Knight a top priority. He was voiced by Edward James Olmos in his initial appearance, Jesse Corti in all his subsequent appearances. |
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"The Bat in the Belfry" - "Clayface of Tragedy: Part 2", "Meltdown", "Grundy's Night", "Clayfaces" | If Bruce Wayne could call anyone his best friend, Ethan Bennett is it. They've been friends since high school. Whereas his partner, Detective Ellen Yin, sees things in black and white, Ethan sees the grey in almost everything – and is more willing to allow The Batman to co-exist with the Gotham P.D. After being subjected to a gas from The Joker, Ethan was left physically altered - becoming The Clayface. Bennet became more and more corrupted by his power, making him one of Batman's most unpredictable and tragic adversaries, though he did show remorse and was cured of his condition in Clayfaces. It was implied he becomes Police Chief in the near future during the fourth season episode "Artifacts." He is voiced by Steve Harris. |
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"The Bat in the Belfry" - "Night and the City" | Detective Ellen Yin is as physically adept as any male cop she knows. Ellen may be new to the Gotham beat, but she's no rookie. Previously head of her department in Metropolis, she transferred to Gotham looking for new challenges. She’s a career cop at the top of her game, true blue and by the book. Not warming to Bruce Wayne so easily, Ellen doesn't have it out personally for The Batman. Yin no longer appeared after Season 2, though it is implied she becomes Police Commissioner in the near future during the fourth season episode "Artifacts." She is voiced by Ming-Na. |
[edit] Justice League of America
At 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.
| Character | First Appearance-Last Appearance | Info |
|---|---|---|
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"The Joining: Pt. 1 & Pt.2", "Lost Heroes: Pt.1 & Pt.2" | The last of the Martians, J'onn J'onzz came to Earth in an attempt to prevent the alien race, known only as "the Joining", from destroying it. While undercover for the majority of his stay, he eventually joined forces with Batman to destroy the Joining once and for all. It was he who, in the months following the invasion, found other superheroes and created the Justice League, and offered Batman to join. He is voiced by Dorian Harewood. |
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"The Joining: Pt. 2" (nonspeaking), "Ring Toss" (speaking), "Lost Heroes: Pt.1 & Pt.2" | In the comics, the Green Lantern is a member of the Green Lantern Corps. The Green Lantern (this incarnation being Hal Jordan) uses his power ring to fly or generate hard light constructs out of his imagination, such as various weapons or defensive shields. He is voiced by Dermot Mulroney. |
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"The Joining: Pt. 2" (nonspeaking),"What Goes Up..." (Speaking), "Lost Heroes: Pt.2" | In the comics, Hawkman is a Thanagarian warrior who uses alien Nth metal to attain super strength and flight and uses a Nth metal mace as his main weapon. Alan Burnett stated this version will be based on the Silver Age Hawkman Katar Hol. Although Carter Hall is retroactively considered to be Hawkman in this period in modern comics, it was confirmed to be Katar Hol when he commented that the Batcave reminded him of police headquarters on Thanagar. He is voiced by Robert Patrick. His design is slightly changed from season 4 to season 5. |
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"The Joining: Pt. 2" (nonspeaking), "Vertigo" (speaking), "Lost Heroes: Pt.1 & Pt.2" | Billionaire playboy and orphan Oliver Queen is Green Arrow, armed with an arsenal of arrows including trick arrows which can serve a variety of purposes, such as grappling hook arrows or explosive arrows. Like Batman, the Green Arrow possesses no inherent superpowers but commands a vast personal wealth, fighting skills and an accuracy with a bow and arrow that is unmatched. His first speaking role was season 5's "Vertigo", in which he battled and took down former employee and old nemesis Count Vertigo. He is voiced by Chris Hardwick. |
| "The Joining: Pt. 2" (nonspeaking), "A Mirror Darkly" (speaking), "Lost Heroes: Pt.1 & Pt.2" | In the comics, the Flash is a mantle used by four superheroes who protect the cities of Central and Keystone City. The Flash is hailed as "the fastest man alive", faster than Superman, derived from the extradimensional "Speed Force", from a which a variety of speed-applied powers originate. When asked about which incarnation of the Flash would be appearing in The Batman, Alan Burnett said that he sees Flash as Barry Allen, though they're leaving it up to the viewer. He is voiced by Charlie Schlatter, who voiced a Flash from Superman: The Animated Series, though the Flash on S:TAS is later revealed in the series spin-off JLU to be Wally West. | |
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"The Batman/Superman Story: Part 1", "The Batman/Superman Story, Part 2", "Lost Heroes: Pt.1 & Pt.2" | Bumbling Daily Planet reporter Clark Kent is the Man of Steel: Superman. An alien from a destroyed planet called Krypton, he has superpowers from strength, speed to flight thanks to the yellow sun. As he went to Gotham to present a check from Metropolis, Metallo attacked him and this was when he first met Batman. Wanting nothing to do with another superhero, nor the new Justice League, he ended up fighting three of Batman's rogues before falling under the control of his foe Lex Luthor. After a fight against Batman, which spanned from Metropolis to Gotham, Superman was eventually freed from the control and stopped Luthor's evil plot. Later, he found a trust with Batman and decided to join the League after all. He is voiced by George Newbern, reprising the role from Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. |
[edit] Villains
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.
[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] DVD releases
[edit] Crew
- Michael Goguen supervising producer
- Duane Capizzi supervising producer
- Glen Murakami producer
- Jeff Matsuda producer
- Linda M. Steiner producer
- Sander Schwartz executive producer
- Alan Burnett executive producer
- Kimberly A. Smith associate producer
- The Edge theme music creator
[edit] Awards
The Batman received the Annie Award for Best New Animated Television Show 2004.[5]
In 2006, The Batman won two Daytime Emmy awards. One for Outstanding Achievement In Sound Editing and another for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ The World's Finest - "The Batman" Series Finale To Air March 8th, 2008
- ^ http://www.justiceleagueonfilm.com/2007/09/the-batman-the-.html
- ^ Comic Book Resources - CBR News - The Comic Reel
- ^ "The Batman Strikes" Concludes With Issue #50
- ^ a b The Batman Awards. Worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
[edit] External links
- The Batman at Cartoon Network
- The Batman at the Internet Movie Database
- The Batman at TV.com
- The Batman at WarnerBros.com
- The Batman at The World's Finest
- The Batman at Legions of Gotham
- The Batman at Batman: Yesterday, Today, & Beyond
- The Batman at BATMAN-ON-FILM.COM
- "Batmanimation" The home for all things animated Batman...I Am A Man Of My Word
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