The Batman(TV series)

This article is about the 2000s animated TV series. For other television adaptations, seeBatman in television.

The Batmanis an Americananimated television seriesbased on theDC ComicssuperheroBatman.Developed by Michael Goguen andDuane Capizzi,and produced byWarner Bros. AnimationandDC Comicsfor seasons 3–5, the series first aired onKids' WBon September 11, 2004, thenCartoon Networkon April 2, 2005. The show would become exclusive to the former network for its third, fourth, and fifth seasons in early 2006.The Batmanwon sixDaytime Emmy Awardsover the course of its run. Many elements from previous Batman storylines were borrowed and adapted, such as those from thecomic books,film seriesand the animated shows likeBatman: The Animated Seriesfrom theDC Animated Universe,but it remained within its own continuity.Jackie Chan AdventuresartistJeff Matsudaserved as art director and provided the character designs. The production team altered the appearances of many of the comic books'supervillainsfor the show, such as theJoker,thePenguin,Mr. Freeze,Bane,and theRiddler.

The Batman
Title card
Genre	Action Adventure Superhero Science fiction Detective
Based on	Batman by Bob Kane Bill Finger(uncredited)
Developed by	Michael Goguen Duane Capizzi
Voices of	Rino Romano Danielle Judovits Eve Sabara Alastair Duncan Piera Coppola Ming-Na Wen Steve Harris Kevin Michael Richardson Tom Kenny Mitch Pileggi Adam West
Theme music composer	The Edge(seasons 1 and 2) Andy Sturmer(seasons 3–5)
Composer	Thomas Chase
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No.of seasons	5
No.of episodes	65(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Sander Schwartz(seasons 1–5) Duane Capizzi(season 4)
Producers	Linda M. Steiner Jeff Matsuda(seasons 1–4) Glen Murakami(seasons 1–3)
Running time	21–23 minutes
Production companies	Warner Bros. Family Entertainment Warner Bros. Animation DC Comics(seasons 3–5)
Original release
Network	Kids' WB(The WB/The CW) Cartoon Network(2005–2006)
Release	September 11, 2004(2004-09-11)– March 8, 2008(2008-03-08)
Related
Batman Beyond(1999–2001) Batman: The Brave and the Bold(2008–2011)

All five seasons are available onDVDandBlu-ray.In 2005, a direct-to-DVD film titledThe Batman vs. Draculawas released.The Batmanalso received a spin-off comic,The Batman Strikes!.

Synopsis

Main article:List of The Batman characters

Billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne (voiced byRino Romano) is secretly The Batman, the costumed protector ofGotham City.The series focuses on Batman's earlier years of his crime-fighting career, as he began fighting crime three years prior to the start of the series, and the Gotham City police do not publicly acknowledge the vigilante's existence. Operating out of a secret lair underneath Bruce Wayne's mansion—known as the Batcave—Batman and his butler,Alfred Pennyworth(voiced byAlastair Duncan), stop crime with the assistance of high-tech gadgets and a supercomputer.

Season 1

At the start of the first season, crime in Gotham is in decline, but Gotham Chief of Police Angel Rojas (voiced in the pilot byEdward James Olmosand later byJesse Corti), orders his officers to hunt down Batman. This marks the first acknowledgement of Batman's existence in the series. Despite Rojas' orders, one of his detectives, Ethan Bennett (voiced bySteve Harris), believes the city needs Batman. At the start of the series, Bennett is assisted by a new partner fromMetropolis,Ellen Yin (voiced byMing-Na Wen), who becomes torn between her commitment tolaw and orderand her feelings toward Batman.

Throughout season 1, both Bennett and Yin are tasked with capturing Batman. During this first season, Bruce Wayne finds himself torn between his responsibilities as Batman and his regular life, though the latter is supported by Gotham's mayor, Marion Grange (voiced byAdam West). By the end of the season, Bennett is exposed to the Joker's mutagenic Joker Putty and transformed intoClayface.As Clayface, he is forced into hiding, while his partner Yin finally realizes she was wrong about Batman and forms an alliance with him.

Among the villains introduced this season are theJoker(voiced byKevin Michael Richardson), thePenguin(voiced byTom Kenny),Catwoman(voiced byGina Gershon),Mr. Freeze(voiced byClancy Brown),Firefly(voiced byJason Marsden), theVentriloquist(voiced byDan Castellaneta),Man-Bat(voiced byPeter MacNicol),Cluemaster(voiced byGlenn Shadix), andBane(voiced byJoaquim de Almeidain the first appearance,Ron Perlmanin the second, andClancy Brownin the third).

Season 2

Throughout the second season, Batman continues to act outside of the law even though he has Detective Yin as an ally. Batman begins making a name for himself as a force for good when he saves a group of policemen from certain doom. In this season, his heroic act prompts the officers to support him rather than pursue him as a criminal. In the season finale, Police Chief Rojas uncovers Yin's involvement with Batman, forcing her to go on the run. Around this time,James Gordon(voiced byMitch Pileggi), becomes the police commissioner of Gotham. Unlike most of Gotham's police, Gordon is an ally of Batman.

This season introduces more villains, includingRag Doll(voiced byJeff Bennett), theRiddler(voiced byRobert Englund),Killer Croc(voiced byRon Perlman),Spellbinder(voiced byMichael Massee), andSolomon Grundy(voiced byKevin Grevioux). Another new villain,Hugo Strange(initially voiced byFrank Gorshin,who is later replaced byRichard Greenafter Gorshin's death), is portrayed as a secondary character in the season. The characters Yin and Police Chief Rojas make their final appearances at the end of the season.

Season 3

The third season introducesBarbara Gordon(voiced by Danielle Judovits), Jim Gordon's daughter, who later becomesBatgirl.The opening title sequence is altered and features a new theme performed byAndy Sturmer.

Batgirl appears beforeDick Grayson,Batman's first sidekick in the comics, due to copyright issues regarding his simultaneous appearances inTeen Titans.This season also sees the destruction of Batman's originalBatmobile,which is replaced by an updated version for the remainder of the series.

Several more new villains from the Batman mythos are introduced this season, includingPoison Ivy(voiced byPiera Coppola),Gearhead(voiced byWill Friedle),Maxie Zeus(voiced byPhil LaMarr), the Toymaker (voiced byPatton Oswalt), Prank (voiced byMichael Reisz), Temblor (voiced byJim Cummings), and D.A.V.E. (voicedJeff Bennett). Hugo Strange becomes a villain this season, and is later imprisoned atArkham Asylum.

Season 4

TheBatman Family(Robin, Batman, and Batgirl) as they appeared in the season 4 and season 5 intro.

With the conclusion ofTeen Titansin 2006, the fourth season introducesDick Grayson(voiced by Eve Sabara). The opening episode of the season focuses on Dick Grayson's origins as Robin, with Batman adopting him after hisparentsare murdered. The second episode in the season leads to Batgirl officially becoming part of the team, with each member revealing their secret identity to the others. In a potential future depicted in the episode "Artifacts", Dick and Barbara respectively becomeNightwing(voiced byJerry O'Connell) and Oracle (voiced byKellie Martin).

More villains with new interpretations are once again introduced, includingTony Zucco(voiced byMark Hamill),Killer Moth(voiced byJeff Bennett),Black Mask(voiced byJames Remar), Rumor (voiced byRon Perlman), the Everywhere Man (voiced byBrandon Routh),Harley Quinn(voiced byHynden Walch), and Francis Grey (voiced byDave Foley). Additionally, Ethan Bennett is cured, withBasil Karlo(voiced byWallace Langhamin the first appearance, andLex Langin the second appearance) succeeding him as Clayface. This season also introduces the Justice League, though onlyMartian Manhunter(voiced byDorian Harewood) has a speaking appearance.

This was the final season worked on byJeff MatsudaandMichael Jelenic,with both leaving the show after the season finale.

Season 5

The final season onThe Batman,season 5, focused primarily on Batman and Robin, with the pair teaming up with some of the DC Universe's characters to battle different villains. The League consists of Martian Manhunter,Superman(voiced byGeorge Newbern),Green Arrow(voiced byChris Hardwick), theFlash(voiced byCharlie Schlatter),Green Lantern(voiced byDermot Mulroney), andHawkman(voiced byRobert Patrick). ProducerAlan Burnettdescribed the season as the show's "The Brave and the Boldseason ".Both Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon were relegated to either guest or cameo appearances during the season, with Barbara moving to attend college. The two-part series finale, "Lost Heroes", has Batman and the League battle a second invasion by the Joining.

Most of the villains featured in the season are enemies of other heroes. They includeLex Luthor(voiced byClancy Brown),Mercy Graves(voiced byGwendoline Yeo),Metallo(voiced byLex Lang),Count Vertigo(voiced byGreg Ellis),Toyman(voiced byRichard Green),Shadow Thief(voiced byDiedrich Bader),Sinestro(voiced byMiguel Ferrer), andMirror Master(voiced byJohn Larroquette). Only theTerrible Trio(voiced byDavid Faustino,Grey DeLisle,and Googy Gress),Wrath(voiced byChristopher Gorham), and Firefly'sPhosphorusform are reinterpretations of Batman villains.

Cast

Main

• Rino RomanoasBruce Wayne/Batman
• Alastair DuncanasAlfred Pennyworth
• Eve SabaraasDick Grayson/Robin
• Danielle Judovits asBarbara Gordon/Batgirl

Episodes

Main article:List of The Batman episodes

Season	Episodes		Originally released
			First released	Last released	Network
1	13		September 11, 2004	May 7, 2005	Cartoon Network/Kids' WB
2	13		May 14, 2005	September 10, 2005
Movie			October 18, 2005		Cartoon Network
3	13		September 17, 2005	May 13, 2006	Kids' WB
4	13		September 23, 2006	May 5, 2007
5	13		September 22, 2007	March 8, 2008

Home media

All of theDVDreleases ofThe Batmanare released byWarner Home Video(via DC Entertainment andWarner Bros. Family Entertainment) and presented in its original broadcast version and in story continuity order. The DVD releases ofThe Batmanare also presented in a 4:3 fullscreenaspect ratio,but the entire series is available in its original 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio onAmazon Video,Blu-ray,Google Play,Max,Netflix,and theXbox VideoStore. The first two seasons andThe Batman vs. Draculafilm are available oniTunesin 16:9. In March 2022, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment released the series onBlu-ray,withThe Batman vs. Draculafilm being left out.

• The Complete First SeasonDVD (2 discs, episodes 1–13) (release date: February 7, 2006)
• The Complete Second Season DVD(2 discs, episodes 14–26) (release date: September 12, 2006)
• The Complete Third SeasonDVD (2 discs, episodes 27–39) (release date: April 10, 2007)
• The Complete Fourth SeasonDVD (2 discs, episodes 40–52) (release date: November 20, 2007)
• The Complete Fifth SeasonDVD (2 discs, episodes 53–65) (release date: July 8, 2008)
• The Complete SeriesBlu-ray (6 discs, release date: March 1, 2022),Batman vs Draculafilm is not included.
• The Batman vs. DraculaDVD (1 disc, feature-length animated film) (release date: October 18, 2005)

The Batmanofficial games

The BatmanPlug and Play TV video game

The BatmanPlug and Play TV Video Game (a.k.a. Plug 'n Play) was released in 2004 byJakks Pacific.It featuresThe Batmantracking down notable villains from the show, includingThe Joker,Firefly,Mr. Freeze,Bane,andPenguin.The game comes with a custom controller which connects to a TV via RCA connectors.

The Batman: The CobbleBot Caper

The Batman: The CobbleBot Caperis aMacromediaFlashToonamigame released on theCartoon Networkwebsite in 2005. It has similar gameplay to the Plug and Play game and features Penguin and the Kabuki Twins.

The Batman Strikes!

The Batman Strikes!is aDCcomic bookseries featuringBatmanand is a spin-off comic book series ofThe Batman.Part of DC's line for young readers, the series lasted 50 issues in total, with the last issue shipping in October 2008.

Collected editions

Title	Material collected	ISBN
The Batman Strikes! Volume 1: Crime Time	#1–5	SC: 978-1-4012-0509-6
The Batman Strikes! Volume 2: In Darkest Night	#6–10	SC: 978-1-4012-0510-2
The Batman Strikes! Volume 3: Duty Calls	#11–14, 16–18	SC: 978-1-4012-1548-4

Crew

• Michael Goguen – Supervising producer
• Duane Capizzi– Supervising producer
• Glen Murakami– Producer
• Jeff Matsuda– Producer
• Linda M. Steiner – Producer
• Sander Schwartz– Executive producer
• Alan Burnett– Executive producer
• Kimberly A. Smith – Associate producer
• Sam Liu– Director
• Brandon Vietti – Director
• Seung Eun Kim– Director
• Michael Hack – Casting director
• Ginny McSwain– Casting director
• Andrea Romano– Casting director (seasons 4–5)
• Ginny McSwain– Voice director (seasons 1–3)
• Andrea Romano– Voice director (seasons 4–5)
• The Edge– Theme music creator

Awards

The BatmanreceivedAnnie Awardnominations for Best Animated Television Production in 2005 and 2006, and for Best Music in a Television Production in 2006.

The Batmanwas nominated for 12 Daytime Emmy Awards during its five-year run, with a total of six wins.

In 2005, it was nominated for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program, an Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (Kevin Michael Richardsonas the Joker), Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition, and Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Live Action and Animation (for which it won).

In 2006, it was nominated and won Outstanding Special Class Animated Program and Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Live Action and Animation.

In 2007, it was nominated for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program and won Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Live Action and Animation.

In 2008, it was nominated for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program and Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program (Kevin Michael Richardson as the Joker), and won Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Live Action and Animation, and Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mi xing – Live Action and Animation.

The Batmanwas also nominated for Motion Picture Sound Editors "Golden Reel Awards" for Sound Effects Editing in 2005, 2008, and 2009, winning in 2008.

Reception

IGNwrote that the series failed to win over diehard Batman fans the wayBatman: The Animated Seriesdid, but noted that it remained popular enough to last for five seasons.

UnrealizedSupermanspin-off

In June 2006, during an interview aboutSuperman: Brainiac Attacks,writerDuane Capizzimentioned aSupermanseries set in the same universe ofThe Batman,a possibility supported by Superman's revealed existence during the show's fifth season.Despite this, the expansion was never realized, and Capizzi never again mentioned the spin-off.

See also

• The Batman vs. Dracula
• Batman: The Animated Series
• The New Batman Adventures
• Batman Beyond
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold
• Beware the Batman

External links

• DC page:TV series,comic
• The BatmanatIMDb
• The Batmanat WarnerBros
• The Batmanat The World's Finest
• The Batmanat Legions of Gotham
• The Batmanat Batman: Yesterday, Today & Beyond
• The Batmanat BATMAN-ON-FILM.COMArchived2007-02-08 at theWayback Machine
• The Batman(TV Series)from DC Wikia