question about batman animated series dvd

[LogicDonny]

I am thinking of getting batman animated series on dvd and I need your ideas.. SHould I go ahead and get all 4 volumes of batman animated series and so on?

[Jon]

I am thinking of getting batman animated series on dvd and I need your ideas.. SHould I go ahead and get all 4 volumes of batman animated series and so on?


Of course, since the Box-Sets have the whole series (Vol. 1-3 being the Fox run, and Vol. 4 the Kids WB run).

[LogicDonny]

then what about

superman animated series
batman beyond
justice league
justice league unlimted.. never mind.

i seen jl and jlu. I'm defiently getting those. i am not getting teen titans. Lol!

[DrSpengler]

I enjoy them all, personally. Proper chronological order would go about...

Batman TAS vol. 1-3

Superman TAS vol. 1-2

Batman TAS vol. 4 (the New Batman Adventures)

Superman TAS vol. 3

Batman Beyond vol. 1-2

Justice League vol. 1-2

Justice League Unlimited vol. 1


Teen Titans season 1-2 are also out, and they are in debatable continuity with the other Timm/Dini shows.

Personally, I've enjoyed every set.

[Jon]

then what about

superman animated series
batman beyond
justice league
justice league unlimted.. never mind.

i seen jl and jlu. I'm defiently getting those. i am not getting teen titans. Lol!


So far: all of Superman TAS is out (3 Sets), Batman Beyond has 2 of it's 3 Seasons out (the 3rd due in March), Justice League's 2 Seasons are out, and Justice League Unlimited has 'Season 1' (Seasons 1 & 2 of broadcast) out, and 'Season 2' (3) coming (also in March).

But Teen Titans is also pretty good (with 2 of it's Seasons out so far, and the next to come in April). Then, also have The Batman (same as Titans -- 2 out and next one in April).

[LogicDonny]

my question is about teen titans and the batman.. are they even worth watching? the batman looks so differnet than the animated series of batman.. what is the differnece.. also why is teen titan anime-looking which is nothign wrong.. i just never seen teen titans before and that is why i said i didn't like it.

[DrSpengler]

my question is about teen titans and the batman.. are they even worth watching? the batman looks so differnet than the animated series of batman.. what is the differnece.. also why is teen titan anime-looking which is nothign wrong.. i just never seen teen titans before and that is why i said i didn't like it.

The anime-look of Teen Titans was done solely to pander to the otaku crowd and the current youth of America, who will not watch anything unless it is Japanese.

Despite the anime-look, Teen Titans is actually a really good show, with lots of over-reaching story arcs, character depth, great voice acting and some really good animation.

It loosely fits in with the Timm/Dini universe, mostly through a few Easter Eggs here and there (a lot of people reject the notion, though).


The Batman is a brand new continuity, with no connection to the Timm/Dini universe. It kind of sucks, honestly, though it has its moments from time to time.

I'd recommend The Batman vs. Dracula movie over the TV series, honestly. Much darker with better animation and a story that could have easily been worked into the Timm/Dini universe.

Here's my review (http://www.filmsy.com/reviews/the-batman-vs-dracula/).

[Jester]

I so far own all the Timm/Dini stuff, sans Teen Titans. I just finished watching vols 1-3 of Batman: TAS, and loved it. I'm probably gonna watch the rest of the series like Doc Spengler suggested. I'd recommend Batman: TAS, Superman, JL(U) and Batman: Beyond. Haven't watched TT, but I assume (since it's psudo-anime) it'd not be my cup-o-tea.

[Dr. Doom]

Teen Titans is very much an aquired taste. Many people are turned off by the anime influence that is ever so prevelant(sp) in it, but it added to the charm of the show in my opinion, and it's probably one of my favorite TV shows currently. I think everyone should give it a try before judging at the very least. Just make sure you're watching a good episode.. there were a few stinkers here and there.

[DrSpengler]

Teen Titans is...strange. It takes everything I love about America cartoon storytelling but incorporates just about evrything I hate from Japanese animation. Yet I still liked hte show.

The Japanese anime flare can be very helpful, especially during the action sequences. However, the can also make the viewing experience very painful, such as montages to gut-wrenchingly awful Pufi Ami Yumi music, or when everyone keeps morphing into midgets with giant heads running around in circles screaming at each other.

The WRITING for the show, though, as well as the stupendous voice acting, completely out-weighs the god awful anime cliches.

I actually prefer the cartoon's "Slade" over the comic's "Deathstroke", thanks in large part to a magnificent performance from Ron Perlman.

The pacing has a certain formula to it. There are story arcs featuring the main villain sprinkled with comedy relief episodes featuring some of the goofier villains of the comics, just to lighten things up.

The serious episodes can be very, very dark and surprisingly violent. "Haunted" is a great example of some of Teen Titans' most exceptional story-telling (though moments of Beast Boy going all anime cliche almost ruins it).

The comedy relief episodes vary in quality. I like the Mad Mod episodes, save for the PAU montage from the first one. The Mumbo Jumbo episode, however, is my all time favorite comedy relief, one, though. Probably the best performance of Tom Kenny's career, too.


It has its ups and downs, with the downs being really down, but the ups being magnificent. As mentioned, it is definately an acquired taste. It took me a while to tolerate the hackneyed anime s***. But once I got past that I could appreciate the show for the quality of the story telling.

[Duke]

The Japanese anime flare can be very helpful, especially during the action sequences. However, the can also make the viewing experience very painful, such as montages to gut-wrenchingly awful Pufi Ami Yumi music, or when everyone keeps morphing into midgets with giant heads running around in circles screaming at each other.I only gave the show a try twice and the crappy giant head stuff turned me completely off both times.

[Dr. Doom]

My point exactly. I love mosta that stuff.

[LogicDonny]

Is the batman vs dracula movie part of the batman show or a standalone movie? If so, I will go buy it tomorrow.

Also, the batman dvd doesn't seem too expensive so is it worth buying?

[DrSpengler]

Is the batman vs dracula movie part of the batman show or a standalone movie? If so, I will go buy it tomorrow.

Also, the batman dvd doesn't seem too expensive so is it worth buying?

It's a part of the series in that it takes place in that continuity, but the story is entirely standalone and doesn't even require one to have seen an episode of the TV series, just to know who characters like Batman and the Joker are.

[LogicDonny]

It's a part of the series in that it takes place in that continuity, but the story is entirely standalone and doesn't even require one to have seen an episode of the TV series, just to know who characters like Batman and the Joker are.

I have seen episodes of the batman. It can't touch teh greatness of the animated series but it's still fun to watch. I seen the episodes where the guy turns into clayface.

Thanks man.

[ZariusTwo]

You saw one of the series' best episodes, "The Clayface of Tragedy" puts every other episode in the first season to tremendous shame. Greg Wiesman, who was the creator of Gargoyles, wrote the episode. He continued to work on the second season, which was awesome. It also became evident Wiesman was story editing the series when he left to helm W.I.T.C.H, the third season was considerably weaker, and the inclusion of Batgirl only made the show suffer more.

Then Duane Capizzi left to work on the upcoming JL movies, and the rise in quality became VERY noticable. Old school Batman: TAS writers began working on it, guest VAs that include Brand Rough and Kevin Conroy etc..

As for Titans, it's first two seasons are perfect, the third however is saved by only three episodes, two of them focusing on Beast Boy and Raven's relationship, the fourth is the most violent, with an episode that I'm surprised got past obviously very sleepy censors ("Birthmark"), the fifth is the one that needs to be avoided.

[Dr. Doom]

Ooooh, Birthmark. -=Drools as he watches=- @_@

[DrSpengler]

As for Titans, it's first two seasons are perfect, the third however is saved by only three episodes, two of them focusing on Beast Boy and Raven's relationship, the fourth is the most violent, with an episode that I'm surprised got past obviously very sleepy censors ("Birthmark"), the fifth is the one that needs to be avoided.

I have a soft spot for the 5th season mostly because it was there just for fangasms.

The whole Brotherhood of Evil thing and the slew of new Titans was sort've their way of trying to "copy" JLU and it's Legion of Doom season.

Obviously, they didn't do as good a job, but I just got a kick out of seeing all those characters get a spotlight who wouldn't have if the series had ended at 4.

They dropped the ball with Jericho, though. I mean, Kole got more screentime than he did. Kole.

Seeing Beast Boy yell "Titants, Together!" got me all fanboy tingly, as did seeing Kid Flash and getting some character progression out of Jynx.

The 5th was one big "zomg" nerdfest without the character depth of the previous seasons, save for some origin work on Beast Boy and a little maturing on his part (which was completely tossed aside in that crapfest, Trouble in Tokyo).

[Dr. Doom]

Season Five had a lot of highs as well as lows, I'll agree. Highs such as the climactic "Calling All Titans" and "Titans Together", as well as the introduction of many characters such as Kid Flash (which ended up being one of my favorite episodes of the series), and lows such as the confusing final episode, the disappointing origin episode, and several loose ends left untied, namely the identity of Red X.

[DrSpengler]

Yeah, what bugged me most was the loose ends. They shouldn't have even bothered with that epilogue episode. Just created a slew of new questions that will never be resolved.

Shouldn't have even bothered with Trouble in Tokyo, either. What an exercise in pointlessness, that was.

I can't remember what the comedy relief episodes in season 5, were. Was the Mother May-Eye episode in season 5? Because that one was genuinely awful.

[Dr. Doom]

No, I think that was season 4.

And yeah, Trouble In Tokyo was luke warm at best (especially for what was supposed to be a movie), though it did make me laugh at several points.

[DrSpengler]

It would've been alright if it hadn't been the "grand finale" since it wasn't final in any way at all.

The plot was thin-enough that it probably could have just been a normal half hour episode and nothing would have been lost in the translation.

As it stands, it's just "ZOMG Japan is kewl because that's where anime comes frum!!1!!"

Oh, and hooray, Starfire kissed Robin.

[LogicDonny]

So wait .. from what i am reading from you guys, teen titans and The Batman have finished for good?

and I can't believe that from you said that episode of the batman was good, i can't believe I was lucky to see a great one. In fact it was great.. Seeing the guy who worked on the show was from Gargoyles I was shocked..

Gargoyles rules.

[DrSpengler]

Teen Titans is kaput, though the Teen Titans Go comic is still moving along. I don't read it, though, so I don't know if it's tying up any of the loose ends from the TV series (the Go comic is canon with the cartoon).

The Batman is still on the air and has yet to be cancelled.

[ZariusTwo]

Unfrotunatly, the "Go" comic does'nt really continue the series in a really good way, they HAVE introduced Wonder Girl, but the comic is ten times more childish than the cartoon, so don't expect anything darker. It really pales in contrast to some of the interesting things Bongo comics have done with Futurama, which had this really good arc bringing back Farnsworth's original Planet Express crew.

[Spawn Guy]

The Batman is an okay show. It picked its self up after the first season, and what I've seen of season four makes up for everything wrong with season three. Even Batgirl surprisingly enough, but that is still the worst outfit ever designed. I really think people should stop comparing it to BTAS though; it can't reach those kinds of heights given how and when its made. Its just fun, not particularly thought provoking.

Teen Titans made up for everything wrong with its design by having an overall plot for the seasons to follow. Although it did try to follow JLU a little too closely and wound up giving itself more unresolved stuff by the end, which is a pity because the previous arcs always wrapped everything up and moved on. The Terra thing...it's worse than Batman shooting Black Manta really. Why do it if you can't build on it? I get that the point of the episode was letting go but do the questions have to be that big? As for Red X's identity, I don't actually mind. You know enough about the comics, he's either the Ravenger trying to get Daddy's attention or Jason Todd playing Red Hood. He's the anti Robin; everything bad about Robin without actually being Robin. Not a lot more explanation needed. And given how much depth the show goes into about the identity of the villains it's really not that much of a loss if the mask doesn't come off. One less charecter for Scott Menville to do anyway, I just can't stand the sound of his voice

But yeah, like everyone says, buy the BTAS stuff.

That is what we were talking about right?

[LogicDonny]

Yep that what I was askign about. However talking about the other cartoons is ok as well. It will give me idea. I will defiently be buying beyond and justice league. I still want to get mask of the phatasm.. Excellent batman cartoon movie.

[AquaParade]

I can vouch for BTAS season 1, which i picked up about a year ago. Real good stuff. How do the rest of the season sets compare to that one?

[Jon]

I can vouch for BTAS season 1, which i picked up about a year ago. Real good stuff. How do the rest of the season sets compare to that one?


Pretty much on-par. Though Volume 4 (the Kids WB run) does have a change in animation style, but still has some great episodes.

[Spawn Guy]

The story quality in the last season...I wouldn't say it goes down, but the older seasons are a lot deeper. Its not bad, it actually resembles some of the better plots from The Batman.

[DrSpengler]

Animation-wise, volume 4 is MUCH more consistent than 1-3. All the episodes for the New Batman Adventures were done by TMS (Tokyo Movie Shinsha), while Batman TAS was done by a combination of TMS and various Chinese and Korean studios of lesser quality. Ther esult was violently fluctuating animation quality, with TMS always at the lead.

Well, all of TNBA was done by TMS, and as a matter of fact, TMS had gotten SO good at animating the show, that Timm and Dini gave them free reign to storyboard and direct the animation. They basically just handed the scripts over to Japan and let them do their thing, something that rarely EVER happens with American animation using a Japanese studio. The result is really very good.

The stories aren't as dark as TAS and the character models are a bit more stylized and "sillier", but the series has some of the strongest episodes of the entire show. I mean "Legends of the Dark Knight" was a work of genius, "Mad Love" is one of the strongest and darkest character pieces in the series and "Over the Edge" is one of the most violent episodes of any American cartoon I've ever seen (given the time period, anyhow).

TNBA also introduced a few comedy relief episodes to the series, something TAS rarely had. "Joker's Millions" is hilarious and "Beware the Creeper" wins solely for Jeff Bennet's performance as the title character.

TNBA, while the animation style was a bit less dark than TAS, the overall direction for most of the characters was down a darker path. Dick Grayson turned into Angsty McEmo as Nightwing, with "Old Wounds" covering that pretty well. Batman-himself almost completely shed his happy Bruce Wayne facade, being dark and brooding in both identities. He even crosses the "do not kill" line in the episode "Cold Comfort", where he willingly tries to kill Mr. Freeze.

I really liked TNBA, even if it was different. Some great animation and many of the best episodes of the series. If you have volumes 1-3 then you would be doing yourself a disservice to skip this one.

[ZariusTwo]

If you want the award for "disturbing s*it", I could also recommend the episode of NBA where Clayface produces a "scout" from his body that takes the form of an eight year old girl who falls in love with Robin

[DrSpengler]

That was gross. Sad ending, too.

I'm also quite fond of "No Fear". At first I didn't think it was fair that they recast the voice of the Scarecrow, but when I discovered they recast him with Jeffrey Combs I was all for it. A version of the Scarecrow that was actually SCARY! Holy crap! A shame Combs only played the character in that one episode and the video game.


There were a few character developments in TNBA I wasn't very fond of. I really liked the happy ending they gave Mr. Freeze in "Sub-Zero". I mean, did he really deserve to have his life get THAT MUCH worse in "Cold Comfort"? And then "Meltdown" happened in Batman Beyond and CRAP! Mr. Freeze is Paul Dini's whipping boy.

The aforementioned episode "Growing Pains", with the return of Clayface was really good...but I kinda felt that it took away the sympathetic nature of Clayface's character and turned him into just another psychotic thug.

The underuse of the Riddler was a crime, too.


That's about the extent of my complaints.

[LogicDonny]

Well I will still buy it despite the not so good of vol 4..

Now since you discuss alot about vol 4 let's talk about the movies..

besides mask of teh phantasm, are all the other ones good?

[DrSpengler]

My reviews for:

Mask of the Phantasm (http://www.filmsy.com/reviews/batman-mask-of-the-phantasm/)

Sub-Zero (http://www.filmsy.com/reviews/batman-mr-freeze-subzero/)

Return of the Joker (http://www.filmsy.com/reviews/batman-beyond-return-of-the-joker/)


As for Mystery of the Batwoman: it sucks, provides no closure, has underwhelming animation, BAD music and several different voice actors for established characters. The only Batman animated movie I truly dislike.

[Spitfire]

I just got the Batman Beyond DVD box sets. There's a 3rd one coming out to I guess. Anyways I like it so far. I haven't seen these in years.

[ZariusTwo]

As for Mystery of the Batwoman: it sucks, provides no closure, has underwhelming animation, BAD music and several different voice actors for established characters. The only Batman animated movie I truly dislike.

...And the hilarious note is that there's a five minute jazz based musical short on the MOTB DVD that's far superior to the movie

By the way Speng, Mr. Freeze's treatment is'nt just confined to him, in one of the last issues of Dark Knight Adventures it's implied Nora Fries spent her entire life searching for his head...(this was set after "Cold Comfort")

[DrSpengler]

I really ought to read the Adventures comics. So much good stuff apparently happened in there (like Joe Chill or Zod in Superman Adventures).