Batman: The Animated Series
Series, 1992, Animated, Set in Gotham City
Batman: The Animated Series is #4 of 26 in release order and #6 of 26 in chronological order in the Batman.
The story
Vowing to avenge the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne devotes his life to wiping out crime in Gotham City as the masked vigilante "Batman".
Batman: The Animated Series recap
The series is mostly standalone episodes, aired from 1992 to 1995, about Batman protecting a 1940s-style Gotham City with Alfred, Commissioner Gordon and, in some episodes, Robin. Most of the classic villains get their own stories, many of them origin stories. In "Heart of Ice", Mr. Freeze is a scientist who froze his dying wife Nora and was turned into the cold man he is by a corporate executive he now hunts. In "Two-Face", district attorney Harvey Dent, a friend of Bruce's, is scarred in an explosion and splits into a second personality. Clayface is an actor who disfigured himself with a face cream. The Joker's assistant Harley Quinn, created for the show, becomes a regular, and the Penguin, the Riddler, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Ra's al Ghul and Catwoman all return. Dick Grayson works as Robin while studying at college, and Bruce wrestles with whether Batman can ever stop.
Batman: The Animated Series ending explained
There is no single finale; the show ends after 85 episodes with its villains back in Arkham Asylum and Batman still on patrol. The same team continued in 1997 with The New Batman Adventures, which adds Batgirl, Nightwing and a new Robin, Tim Drake. Mask of the Phantasm, released in 1993, is the series' feature film, and the 1998 film SubZero continues Mr. Freeze's story. The same voice cast, led by Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, carried on into Justice League.
Where to watch Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is streaming on Prime Video and HBO Max in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 9.0/10
Where it fits
- Release order: after Batman Returns, before Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
- Chronological order: after Batman & Robin, before Batman: Mask of the Phantasm.
What to watch before Batman: The Animated Series
Nothing. Batman: The Animated Series (1992) doesn't continue an earlier version, so it stands on its own.
Cast
- Kevin Conroy as Batman (voice)
- Loren Lester as Robin (voice)
- Mari Devon as Summer Gleeson (voice)
- Robert Costanzo as Rocco (voice)
- Bob Hastings as Commissioner Gordon (voice)
- Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred (voice)
- Mark Hamill as Ferris Boyle (voice)
- Richard Moll as Computer (voice)
- John Vernon as Rupert Thorne (voice)
- Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn (voice)
- Lloyd Bochner as Mayor Hill (voice)
- Brock Peters as Lucius Fox (voice)
Created by Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski.