Batman: The Animated Series

Batman: The Animated Series (often shortened as Batman TAS or BTAS) is an American superhero animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. Developed by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Mitch Brian, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation, it originally aired on Fox Kids from September 5, 1992, to September 15, 1995, with a total of 85 episodes. In 1994, the series began airing under the on-screen title The Adventures of Batman & Robin, which was also used for Fox Kids' re-runs of earlier episodes. In 1997, The New Batman Adventures began airing on Kids' WB as a continuation of the series, lasting 24 episodes. It featured a drastically different animation style and character redesigns, as well as a few voice cast changes. Despite these differences, it has often been included in the same syndicated re-run packages, home video releases, and (more recently) streaming service releases under the original title.

Batman: The Animated Series was praised for its darker tone, mature writing, and thematic complexity compared to previous superhero cartoon shows, in addition to its artistic presentation, film noir aesthetics, voice acting, orchestrated soundtrack, and modernization of its title character. IGN.com listed the series as the best adaptation of Batman anywhere outside of comics, the best comic book television show of all time and the second-best animated series of all time (after The Simpsons). Wizard magazine also ranked it No. 2 of the greatest animated television shows of all time (again after The Simpsons). TV Guide ranked it the seventh-greatest cartoon of all time. The widespread acclaim led the series to win four Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Animated Program.

The series became the first in the continuity of the shared DC Animated Universe, spawning further animated TV series, feature films, comic books and video games with most of the same creative talent. These include Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), Batman Beyond (1999–2001), Static Shock (2000–2004), Justice League (2001–2004), Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006), the theatrical film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), and the direct-to-video films Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998), Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000) and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003). Another continuation of the series is in development in the form of an audio podcast drama, with most of the cast returning along with writer Alan Burnett.

International versions

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