Best Batman TV series currently on DVD?

[emo17]

I've heard great things about Batman: The Animated Series, as well as Batman Beyond.

Which is better in terms of darkness, characters (if you can't get emotionally involved with them then the show will be dead, in my opinion), and action?

OR, is there a BETTER series out there for batman than either of these two?

What's the Best Batman TV series currently on DVD?

 

[Dark Guardian]

Batman the Animated Series without a doubt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_the_animated_series
Note where it says:
"It is widely regarded by fans as the most iconic modern representation of the Batman character and mythology, and also as the best animated series based on a comic book..."
That pretty much nails it right there.
Not only is it the best adaptation of the Batman ever, it never failed to deliver great plots that weren't simplistic like some other Animated shows *cough* 'The Batman' *cough*. The music was tailor fit for every episode, giving it almost a movie-like soundtrack for every episode, and the art was beautifully rendered, smoothly animated and utilized great artistic shots.
The voices were expertly cast, Kevin Conroy's Batman is just simply amazing in his ability to become the Dark Knight and deliver some really perfect Batman lines with a deep, dark voice that sounds completely natural. Mark Hammill (Yes, Luke Skywalker) is simply magnificent as the Joker, creating in my opinion the best version of the Joker we will ever see. His laugh was dynamic and could be used in a variety of ways, from sinister to joyous to wild.
I could go on forever about this show, because I grew up on it, and for me, this IS Batman. The live action films are great, but nothing has captured the essence of Batman like The Animated Series.
Buy it, you will not regret it.

Batman Beyond is a continuation of Batman the Animated Series, so you can't really compare the two. Its sort of like the next series after B:TAS.

If you're thinking 'The Batman', please stay away. That series is directed by the same animator who did "Jackie Chan Adventures", which should tell you something. The animation is ridiculously simple, the voices sound forced more often than not and the plotlines rarely reach the level of complexity and true artwork I'd come to expect after The Animated Series.

 

[emo17]

Thanks so much for your input. I've already added batman: tas to my shopping cart on amazon. (the first volume... it's 15 bucks more than a lot of the other complete seasons of stuff they have on amazon).

would ylou say that they did as good a job with batman beyond as they did with batman: tas? I mean are all the things you described as so remarkable in batman: tas done just as well in batman beyond, or not?

Thanks

 

[RobC]

Beyond is cool, but more of a continuation of the themes in The Animated Series. Get B:TAS, it's the best representation of Batman we'll ever see IMO.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Trust me, make sure you get all of Batman: TAS as you won't regret it. Even after all these years it still stands proud as one of the best and most successful animated shows ever produced.

The animation, while at times weak (considering its age this is highly forgivable), is fantastically atmospheric and dark. Plus i love each and every one of the character designs. The voices, the music etc are all amazing.

I won't ramble, but you need to witness every episode of this show now. lol


I'll give you a chance to absorb the greatnes that is B:TAS... then we can talk how much of an aquired taste Batman Beyond is. But i love it

 

[Doctor Baywatch]

Batman: The Animated Series.

Best.
Batman.
Ever.

 

[RobC]

^ Ditto.

 

[ThreeActRomance]

its fairly unanimous. TAS owns all.

I really enjoyed Beyond also, they could of done so much more with it.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

All Batman is good Batman.

But yes, TAS is king.

 

[dolfan55aj]

Batman: The Animated Series

I bow to you...


I can't believe how amazing that show is...It rivals the movies in my opinion in a true representation of the Batman universe. I hated Batman Beyond and The Batman, mostly because they never stood up to the standards set by TAS. If you want Batman, you want Batman: The Animated Series

 

[emo17]

Alright. thanks very much you guys. very helpful. So, my second question - are there any other TV series based on graphic novels that rival Batman: The Animated Series in terms of entertainment, meaning, dialogue, just overall quality. That is to say, is there an Xmen TV series that rivals the best batman one? What about spiderman? What about... anything? Are there anymore tv series based on superheroes that rival the quality of Batman: The Animated Series, or even series that surpass it? I'm talking animated or non-animated, along the lines of Smallville, Heroes, Batman: The Animated Series, Xmen Evolution (IF it qualifies - i've never seen it. Or, if there's a better xmen. Or, maybe there just isnt an xmen series that's as good as the batman one. Is there ANY other series based on comics or graphic novels that rival or surpass batman: the animated series though?)

thanks

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Alright. thanks very much you guys. very helpful. So, my second question - are there any other TV series based on graphic novels that rival Batman: The Animated Series in terms of entertainment, meaning, dialogue, just overall quality. That is to say, is there an Xmen TV series that rivals the best batman one? What about spiderman? What about... anything? Are there anymore tv series based on superheroes that rival the quality of Batman: The Animated Series, or even series that surpass it? I'm talking animated or non-animated, along the lines of Smallville, Heroes, Batman: The Animated Series, Xmen Evolution (IF it qualifies - i've never seen it. Or, if there's a better xmen. Or, maybe there just isnt an xmen series that's as good as the batman one. Is there ANY other series based on comics or graphic novels that rival or surpass batman: the animated series though?)

thanks

For me its NO... but apparently if your a Spawn fan, the animated series based on that was very good.


Spider-man: TAS - not very good at all IMO - just good voices.

X-men: TAS - better, but below par to the DCAU in general.



Honestly, i think you should continue watching the DCAU in order :

Batman: TAS
Superman: TAS
The New Batman Adventures
Batman Beyond
Justice League
Justice League Unlimted

then watch the movies can't get better than that line up!!

 

[Doctor Baywatch]

IMO Superman TAS was weak.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

IMO Superman TAS was weak.

IMO, better than the movies, serials or any other cartoons starring the man of steel. I even feel its better than Superman: The Movie!!!

But to each their own

 

[GPbatfan]

I think Superman TAS started getting better towards the third season. They introduced Darkseid and created a cool story arc that kinda echoed in Justice League.
But ya Batman: TAS rules all! I still watch The Batman, but I can only watch an eposide once. With TAS I've rewatched episodes tons of times.

 

[JonnyQ]

B:TAS is amazing simple as. Even the bad episodes (if there were any?!) were better than a lot of shows at their best.
But Beyond is a completely different show, great in it's own right. But you can't really compare them.

 

[RobC]

Yeah TAS is awsome in terms of what it did for the mythos of the characters. Freeze and Harley for easy starters.

Beyond is more about giving the writers a different environment I think. They can be more fantastical with their writing.

But, Return Of The Joker is one of my favourite Batman stories ever.

 

[GPbatfan]

Beyond was something fresh. It wasn't TAS, but it was still good. I wish it would have lasted a little longer tho.
And ya Return of the Joker was awesome. Everything about it was good. i loved the flash back with Batman's and Joker's final battle, Uncut version tho, not the babyfied version.

 

[Paste Pot Pete]

Beyond is a pretty good show in its own right, though I only own Volume 1 and ROTJ. But it's a lot of original invention, if that's your thing. There are some familiar faces, but it's mostly new characters and villains - some of which were good, others not so good.

BTAS is still tops. The vintage style animation, the old-timey sensibilities, the music (one of the only shows you'll ever find that had an original score written for EVERY SINGLE EPISODE by the late, great Shirley Walker), the mature storytelling and methodical pacing, the voice acting, the rich characterization; everything is wonderful.

They did some great adaptations (Laughing Fish) and made some historic additions to the mythos (Freeze's reinvention, Harley Quinn).

I cannot praise it enough; my favorite television show of all time.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

B:TAS is amazing simple as. Even the bad episodes (if there were any?!)

Oh Yeah... A little episode called 'I've got batman in my basement'!!!

t: (that screwdriver fight is classic)

Minus that, the show is THE example of how a superhero should be adapted into any medium.

 

[RobC]

Exactly.

 

[GPbatfan]

Everytime i think of that episode, i get an image of an empty living room in my head :s.

 

[RobC]

lol, why?

That's probably the worst episode, and even then it's not that bad, it's lame compared to other TAS episodes, but compared to other TV? It's still a cut above.

 

[tomstoyz2]

I like both the Animated Series AND Batman Beyond but if I had to pick I would say "The Animated Series". Just because it's such high-quality: great stories, great animation, great voice acting, art direction, characters, etc...

 

[GPbatfan]

i think the reason i think of an empty living room is cuz that's where most of the episode took place. I can't really remember it, but i remember the penguin and an empty living room lol. Maybe it's also cuz it took place in the day, Batman isn't supposed to be out playing at that time. daytime is Bruce Wayne's turn go out and play.