WTF Happened to Batman: The Animated Series? (1992-1995)

One of the most acclaimed on-screen depictions of Batman ever made didn't happen on the silver screen. Instead, it was a small-screen after-school cartoon, BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, which paid homage to The Caped Crusader's film noir origins and influenced many of the Batman films to come, including, arguably, Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT trilogy. It also kicked off the DC Animated Universe at Warner Bros. television, which continues to this day!

Join us on Gone But Not Forgotten as we examine the legacy of the classic TV cartoon. We dig into the fantastic voice cast, including Kevin Conroy's amazing performance as Batman, Mark Hamill's iconic Joker, Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn, and many more. We also go into how the show achieved its iconic look, the creative team behind the show (including Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Mitch Brian), and some of our very episodes!

And make sure to let us know in the comments below what your favorite episodes of this iconic TV series are!

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[JH-qyno]

It's incredible how one voice actor can become known as THE official Batman yet never wear the suit in a movie. It goes to show how important the voice is in the chareacter of Batman. Batman truly is all about the voice in my opinion. Thank you Mr. Conroy for making my childhood happier. You are more than just that celebrity we know as Batman's voice, you are a human being with many other awesome qualities too.

[Batman]

Best way to watch it: wait until it's nighttime, turn off all the lights & put it on. Really sets the mood. Also, it's crazy how this show had dark themes & imagery, had characters use real guns & would routinely punch/kick & knock each other around back in that era when censorship was heavy. The show also mentioned drug dealers & had one mobster's son going through withdrawal. In a children's cartoon! They could NEVER get away with that now!

[jarrettcoss]

The best Batman, the best Joker, and some of the best original stories ever told.

[juanpablosaenz]

RIP Kevin Conroy...this show was a love letter to Batman, comic books and Animation. I really enjoy learning about all the Talents involved in this show from the voice actors to the writers to the producers... it's a masterpiece.

[triggeredcat]

Two-Face to Joker: “Get out of my face!”
The Joker: “Which one?”
One of the funniest lines from this show. This show is a masterpiece. The animation, the writing, acting, everything. Just an all around excellent show.

[PharaohMan]

The score is so underrated. I love how each character has their own tune.

[thepeacockmaster]

This my favorite Batman cartoon series. It's dark, it urges kids to feel smarter on lessons on society (like Feat of Clay, Parts 1 and 2), Shirley Walker's music is superb, and the animation is fantastic.

[philstuf]

RIP Kevin Conroy. You filled my childhood afternoons with adventure, action and one of the most recognizable voices ever. You will be missed.

[danielrichwine]

The thing I loved most about the animated series was it perfectly balanced the adult-ish themes but kept the target audience still as kid-friendly as possible. Although there was psychological torment, some flirtation, emotional scars that had consequences for character subsequent behaviors, no one actually died, or at least practically no one. You didn't have super villains wielding machine guns mowing down innocent civilians. You figured that there were real stakes involved every time Bruce Wayne donned the cape, but it never took itself so seriously that it got depressing.

[jeremysiron]

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Was an incredibly underrated movie that came out and was made by the same team that did Batman the animated series, I still think it’s one of the best Batman movies

[Waywardpine]

This really is the best adaptation Kevin Conroy is the GOAT

[miguelcorona]

Trust me, it will never be forgotten,
It will be remember forever, just like Batman

[sebastianstraubel]

I've recently re-watched the entire series earlier this year, the first time since it aired here in Germany in the nineties, so I had mostly forgotten every episodes plot. I got a lady-friend to watch the show with me, she never knew there were cartoon adventures with Batman, but she was openminded when I told her it's not your average-kids-show. Started with 'Heart of Ice' and she was hooked, she actually was kinda sad afterwards. Since she works in coaching, she grew to like the psychological exaggerations of the series, something she had no expectations of finding in a 'kiddie show'... she mostly felt sorry for Clayface, Harvey Dent, Victor Fries, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, and especially the Ventriloquist, and she could not for the HECK of it understand why Harley Quinn kept up with her abusive relationship with that psychopathic clown... Watched the series over a course of 4 months with her, and sometimes her enthusiasm went down when Robin got involved or it got too silly, but she was surprised when the show just ended and I hadn't told her beforehand. Bought a copy of Mask of Phantasm a week later, which wasn't part of the blu ray set I had, and she loved it! :-)

[jonathans]

Batman: The Animated Series was such a huge part of my childhood. This came on tv right when I came home from school and was what I would look forward to all day. I had no idea I was watching such a legendary show until years later. I remember the stories were so amazing and deep, then 30 minutes later the show was over and the end credits would play…I can still remember feeling sad after each show because I wanted more of it. They would go so deep into a story and then wrap it up and end it quickly. Each episode delved into such amazing plots but they left so much meat on the bones. They had to wrap it up quickly bc it’s only 22minutes they had + time for commercials. Ahhh what a time of life that was. Thank you to the creators of this, y’all did a wonderful job.

[darthgoku]

Gone but not forgotten... that's how I'm feeling now that Kevin Conroy has passed. He'll never be forgotten, just like BTAS and the DCAU won't.

[omniunown]

There's also an episode where Kevin Conroy delivers his own perfect eulogy (in the context of batman at least) in Batman Beyond

[mskiara]

I definitely appreciate this series more older than I did as a child since I was 3 when The Animated Series appeared on television. I remember having mixed feelings on Batman when he appeared on Justice League and Static Shock due to his emotionally distant nature, but the first seasons of this show is what I adore about Batman: He has a balance of hope, compassion and witty humor. Watching the episodes again also helped me love Clock King, Baby Doll, Harvey Dent and Poison Ivy for a time when she wanted a family.

[tstan]

Great video! Great cartoon, too. All you animated Batman fans, don't ignore Batman Beyond. I know there was a lot of hate when it came out, but it really is a good show. Especially if you love Batman, like I do. There are old villains who have evolved, and a whole bunch of new villains who all feature excellent voice acting.

[THFLCNx]

This show, and in particular Mask of the Phantasm, was a cornerstone of my childhood. The first cartoon that really made me feel a wide range of emotions. Really kinda elevated my little kid mind a lil bit. Definitely a contender for best Batman adaptation and also one of the best cartoons in general.

[trainerredcharizard]

"Gone but not forgotten"? THIS SHOW WILL NEVER EVER be forgotten or Any better animated series will be done