Batman the Animated Series

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Why the 1992 Animated Series is considered the best interpretation of Batman

An analysis on how the animated Batman (developed by Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett and Paul Dini; portrayed by Kevin Conroy) succeeds at being the most…"Batman-iest"…? What traits make him the most acclaimed and beloved version of the caped crusaders? The psychology, design and his accomplishments would all be investigated, analyzed and compared to discover how this interpretation of the character really stacks up.

  • I would state who thinks the animated series is the best interpretation of Batman. Is this just a common opinion or is it ranked somewhere? – LaRose 8 years ago
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  • There is definitely an argument to be made that Batman TAS is the best interpretation of Batman, and the series has been very influential within the wider Batman universe. That said, it should not be taken for granted: if the author wants to argue this point, he needs to back it up with clear arguments and not just take it for granted. Some may say that the Dark Knight movies are just as good or better, so while this is a legitimate point to argue, the article needs to show why it is so. – Bojan 8 years ago
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  • Here's a possible reason: Batman TAS is the first and, so far, only iteration of the character to seamlessly balance both competing tones of the character and his world - it takes the fantasy stylings of Burton's 'Batman' and 'Batman Returns', and adds a much more real-world, grounded feel. On the other hand, it doesn't go so far as Nolan's films to leave behind its comic-book/fantasy origins. It is as Batman should be - cartoonishly gritty, or indeed grittily cartoonish. Another example of this is the 'Arkham' series of video games. – J.P. Shiel 8 years ago
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  • I think plenty of people would be interested in this article, either because they believe your claim is true (like me) and want to see a thoughtful look as to why it is true, or because they think it is false and want to see if you can prove your point. Part of what makes it so successful, I think, as J.P says, is how the show does manage to be a gritty cartoon. It's dark and brooding, but it has a good sense of humor. Batman never uses guns, and the bad guys always land in water when they fall. It's child-friendly, but sophisticated enough with its themes and story lines to keep adult audiences engaged. Plus, it has a stellar cast of vocal talent (Mark Hamill is the gold standard of Jokers, and Kevin Conroy is the true voice of Batman as far as I'm concerned). – abigrayce 8 years ago
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