In 1992, the Dark Knight returned to TV, and changed both animation and comic books. “Batman: The Animated Series” revolutionized the way superheroes were portrayed on the little screen. Producers Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski banished the “Biff-Bam-Pow” style of TV superheroes and schooled a new generation in how it should be done. Using a drawer full of influences that included Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” graphic novel, the stylized comic book art of Alex Toth, anime, black-and-white film noir movies, Tim Burton’s “Batman” films, Art Deco design and their own tremendous talents, they created a dark and complex superhero cartoon show.
In a sinister Gotham City of sharp-edged buildings and bleak, artfully-shadowed streets, an equally dark and brooding Batman fights a rogue’s gallery of his classic villains, including The Joker (a deliciously evil Mark Hamill), The Penguin, Mr. Freeze and a whole lot more. Each villain has been retooled from their prior appearances with stronger motivations and present real threats to the caped crusader. “Batman: The Animated Series” redefined comic book superheroes for animation and the look and feel of the series then influenced the comic books that inspired it.
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