Distributor: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Episodes: 65
Duration: 21 min (per episode)
The Batman – The Complete Series (Blu-ray) – Series Review
A lot of people who are in their 30s will probably remember the very iconic Batman: The Animated Series that aired in the 90s. In terms of DC cartoons, this is often considered to be one of the best out there, because it also had a stellar voice cast backing up the project. Up until this day, Mark Hamill is still considered to be one of the best Jokers out there, even if it was only by bringing the character to life with his amazing voice acting. Almost a decade later a new animated Batman series was made, simply dubbed The Batman. This series aired on TV for five seasons.
It’s hard to describe a complete series with a few lines of text, especially when said series contains 65 episodes. In the case of The Batman, the series revolves around Bruce Wayne (Rino Romano), who has not donned the cape of the masked crusader for that long. At the beginning of the series he is still considered to be an urban legend, and only when the police finally establish visual confirmation do things truly kick off. We then see Bruce struggle with his day-to-day life and his nightly persona of The Batman. Of course, the series will show you the origins of many different villains in the DC universe, as well as introduce you to other characters that are important to the overall story. As a whole, we see Bruce evolve as a person and as a masked vigilante, while he tries to form bonds with those he cares about. The latter is not easy, as fighting crime takes a heavy toll on the so-called playboy millionaire.
The flow of the episodes is somewhat what you’d expect from a show such as this. You’ll often get a case per episode, and these all often involve one or two main villains, making sure things are not too chaotic. Some episodes do go all out by having more hectic storylines. That being said, this series does its best to have a red thread running through it all. You’ll see a clear evolution in the characters, and you’ll have to watch the series in order, as some past events are important for the show’s bigger picture. The short 20-minute episodes are often very action-packed, which will certainly please fans of the 90s animated series as well.
As a whole, the voice acting is handled superbly. We did very much enjoy this cast’s take on bringing the Batman universe to life. Rino Romano’s voice is perfect for a young Bruce Wayne. His archnemesis, the Joker, is voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson, who gives his own spin to the iconic villain. Other supporting roles are also backed by veterans such as Adam West and Ron Perlman. Detective Ellen Yin, an original character that was added to the mix, is voiced by Ming-Na Wen. Sadly, without spoiling too much, she gets semi-written off after two seasons, as the show decided to focus more on other characters. We found this a great shame, as we felt her character could have added a lot more to this anime-infused Batman universe.
In terms of extras, you’ll be getting a few features, which are all quite interesting. You’ll be able to learn more about the creative decisions that brought this show to life, as well as some opinions and thoughts from the voice cast. As a whole, these features are very pleasant to watch, and it’s fun to learn that this show had a different train of thought behind it compared to other Batman-related projects. We do have to mention that the special feature on Disc One contains mild spoilers for later episodes.
Conclusion
The Batman – The Complete Series is a great addition to the collection of a true DC fan. This somewhat forgotten gem is an absolute delight to watch, and it’s interesting to see how well the vibe of the 90s animated series blends with an anime aesthetic and vibe. We do suggest keeping an open mind when watching this series as it does differ quite a bit from certain staples in the Batman universe. That being said, if you’re able to pick up a copy of this animated series, we can wholeheartedly recommend it.
The Batman - The Complete Series (Blu-ray) - Series Review,
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