Batman the animated series

       Over the ages there have been several re-imaginings of Batman in animation. There's Batman from the Brave and the Bold that subtly hints at the original Adam West Batman. There's the edgy teen centric Batman Beyond with Terry McGinnis as the protector of Gotham city instead of Billionaire Bruce Wayne. Yet with all these there is one Batman that comes to mind when people think of Batman cartoons. The one that heavily influenced the live action DC movies. The one and only Batman the animated series.

      Batman the animated series first aired in 1992. With Kevin Conroy doing the voice of Bruce Wayne and Batman. With the low gravely tone Conroy gives Batman to keep his identity a secret it's clear where Christian Bale grew inspiration from for his "Batman" voice in the Dark Knight rises. Where Bale went for the full he swallowed a full bag of gravel Conroy keeps it a bit more subtle.

      Batman in the animated series has something that The Dark Knight rises doesn't have, a sense of humor. Bruce Wayne has a dry sense of humor that sometimes makes it hard for others to determine if he's being serious or sarcastic. As Batman he even has a joke at his opponent's expense. As Bruce Wayne the bunt of his dry humor is often the loyal Wayne family Butler Alfred Pennywise. Batman the animated series does what I wish the Christopher Nolan movies went with, they made Batman human.

 (He has the same outfit in a very dark grey)

       
      Heroes  are great and all, but a hero is not a hero unless there is a villain. Batman the animated share has its fair share of villains. Mark Hamill is my favorite Joker. He doesn't commit crime for revenge or for some giant scheme to get back at the man, he simply does it because it entertains him. He keeps Batman on his feet and is Batman's arch nemesis through out the series.

    Arleen Sorkin is the original voice of Harley Quinn. Paul Dini the series writer was given the inspiration to create a sidekick for the Joker while sick at home watching Days of Our lives and seeing Arleen Sorkin on the show in a harlequin costume. Harley Quinn is childlike and impulsive the opposite of the psychiatrist of Arkham asylum Harleen Quinzel. Harley's one side infatuation with the Joker began when Harleen worked at the Arkham Asylum. The Joker took advantage of her caring personality and she empathized with and fell in love with the Joker. Still the relationship is very one sided and he has no trouble putting her in harms way.

Poison Ivy or Pamela Isley as we're first introduced to her as has little interest in money. Diane Pershing provides the voice of Poison Ivy as she give the botanist a sultry and stern voice. Pamela cares for two things. Her plants who she will kill for and her friend Harley who she often shelters and cares for after Joker's tirades.

Selena Kyle/Catwoman voiced by Adrienne Barbeau is Batman's on an off again love interest, well I wouldn't call it love, but there is interest. She is practically Bruce and Batman's equal. They're both rich and have a difficulty breaking from their personal code. Though the cat burglary and being the saviour of Gotham are where their similarities ends, but hey nothing is perfect.

There are some episodes with less well known characters such as the Pied Piper who kidnaps children and holds them in the sewers for a burglary rings and a foreman who overworks the elderly he kidnaps and forces to mine gold ore. Both left such a little impression that I practically forgot them within a few episodes.

 I liked the show and wished it was still on, but it did give a base to branch out further with the DC Universe as Kevin Conroy continues his role as Batman in Justice League.