5 Ways BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES Changed Pop Culture
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Batman: The Animated Series Title; Source: Warner Bros Animation |
1. Mr Freeze
Prior to his portrayal in B:TAS, Mr. Freeze was just a gimmicky mad scientist. He'd run around with what looked like a spray bottle of ice and make cold puns. He'd fallen into disuse in the DC universe.
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Mr. Freeze, originally known as Mr. Zero; Source: DC Comics |
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Left: Mr. Freeze (Arnold Swarzenegger) in Batman and Robin; Right: Mr. Freeze in Batman: The Animated Series |
2. The Dark Knight's Voice
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Batman (Christian Bale); Source: Warner Bros. |
3. The Joker's Voice
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The Joker (Jack Nicholson); Source: Batman |
There was a time when Mark Hamill was known only as "that guy who played Luke Skywalker," and the idea anyone could play the Joker better than Jack Nicholson was blasphemy. B:TAS took a chance by casting Hamill, and he knocked it out of the park. With his loopy voice and haunting laugh. Hamill has become THE voice for the villain. His voice has been so identified with the character that he's returned to voice the Joker in other shows like Birds of Prey, toys, amusement park rides, and video games like Batman: Arkham Asylum.
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The Joker (Mark Hamill); Source: Batman: The Animated Series |
4. Harley Quinn
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Harley Quinn, Source: Warner Bros Animation |
5. The Animated DC Universe
When B:TAS aired, it broke new ground in visual style, realistic action sequences, and more dramatic themes. Later TV shows followed the artistic style and theme of Batman with Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. Batman opened the door to an entire shared DC universe on television years before the Marvel shared cinematic universe.
What impact did the animated series have for you? What other ways did the animated series impact pop culture?
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Hamill's Joker was also inspired by...Hamill's Trickster from the first Flash TV series.
ReplyDeleteHarley Quinn has her own comic book series now. I hadn't realized she came from that TV series, or that the more modern Mr. Freeze originated there, though I think the original description of a guy with a spray can who makes ice puns was more in line with the Ahhh-nold version.
ReplyDeleteBTAS is the standard by which Batman will be judged for decades to come. I'd love to see Bruce Timm get to play in the Marvel sandbox for a while.
ReplyDeleteFor me, whenever I see Batman in a comic book, I hear what he says in Kevin Conroy's voice. Great article!
ReplyDeleteBTAS Freeze was the best. Though it did start DC Universe's animated shit, BTAS is still the best animated TV media DC has put out, at least, IMO. Which is just weird.
ReplyDeleteBest Batman series ever!
ReplyDelete