Batman: the Animated Series

Episode Guide

Theme Song

After the success of Tim Burton's Batman film in 1989, Warner Bros. decided that they needed to bring back Batman to the small screen to tie in with the movie's popularity.

The film was a new, dark, serious approach to Batman, something that the mainstream audience hadn't seen before having only been exposed to the Adam West Batman of the 60s. Likewise in the animation world, Batman was known to children over the world as a card-carrying member of trhe Super Friends and not the crime-fighting detective that inspires fear in his villains.

So when Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski got together to brainstorm what this new Batman would look like, they decided to be just as serious, if not moreso, than the movie.

Each episode was treated like a 'mini movie' with the same sort of timing, staging and scripting as any major motion picture would have. The animation was also a step above the normal Saturday morning fare, with the emphasis on realism which brought the dirty, gritty world of Gotham City to life.

With character designs by Timm, the cast of characters in Batman: the Animated Series have gone on to be the difinitive versions of the characters. Everything from the reworking of Mr. Freeze's origin to the creation of new characters like Harley Quinn and Renee Montoya have made an impact on Batman comics for years to come.

The series also made its mark in the animation world as it created a bold new way of storytelling, proving that cartoons were something that could be taken seriously. Batman: the Animated Series changed the way children's programs were made from that day on.

Debuting on September 5, 1992 on the FOX Kids Network, the series ruled weekday afternoons until 1994 when it switched to Saturday mornings and retitled The Adventures of Batman and Robin.

Main Cast Batman - Kevin Conroy Robin - Loren Lester Alfred Pennyworth - Efrem Zimbalist, Jr./Clive Revill Allies Batgirl - Melissa Gilbert Commissioner Jim Gordon - Bob Hastings Grey Ghost - Adam West Harvey Bullock - Robert Constanzo Leslie Thomkins - Diana Muldaur Lucious Fox - Brock Peters Reneé Montoya - Ingrid Oliu Summer Gleeson - Mari Devon Zatanna - Julie Brown

Villains Catwoman - Adrienne Barbeau Clayface - Ron Pearlman Clock King - Alan Rachins Dr. Hugo Strange - Ray Buktenica Harley Quinn - Arleen Sorkin Joker - Mark Hamill Killer Croc - Aron Kincaid Man-Bat - Marc Singer Mr. Freeze - Michael Ansara Ninja - Bob Ito Penguin - Paul Williams Poison Ivy - Diane Pershing Ra's al Ghul - David Warner Riddler - John Glover Roland Dagget - Ed Asner Rupert Thorne - John Vernon Scarecrow - Henry Polic II Scarface/Ventriloquist - George Dzundza Talia - Helen Slater Tony Zucco - Thomas Wilson Two-Face - Richard Moll Red Claw - Kate Mulgrew