[.ca] Batman - The Animated Series, Vol. 1

Best animated show ever made!!!:
Shame to even refer to this as a cartoon...more like an animated superhero Shakespear. This animated show is over 10 years old and it holds up today as it will 100 years from now. It took everything that was right about the movies 10% and everything great from the comics 90% and melded it into its own universe. Allowed others to see what I love about Batman. It is rare that a grown man can enjoy something with a 5 year old and both enjoy it immensely. I can't wait for the rest of the seasons to be released

Can't Forget a Classic:
This dvd set is a solid set for any fan of the Batman franchise, young and old. It has great classic episodes from one of the best crime solvers ever created. There are some problems with this dvd transfer. The video quality is not that well done. While viewing the episodes, you can see a lot grain on the film stock. The quality could have been bumped up for a dvd set like this. The sound quality is not that great as it is only two channel dolby. Again could have been improved on for the dvd set. All in all this dvd set is a great buy if you want to watch Batman: The Animated Series. I do recommend it to any fan.

The best animated series on DVD, with scratches unfortunately:
Batman: the animated series was the best comic book based series, and still is. It isn't dumbed dumb or made too "kid friendly" like many other comic book series turned cartoon series. It's dark, moody, suspenseful, and action packed. It's perfect for kids and adults, with great voice acting and excellent art direction. However, I took one star off for the DVD itself. Barely any added features and a horrible video transfer. It looks like a VHS version was just copied onto DVD, scratches and all. Though, it does make Batman look like an old cartoon, which kind of adds to the ambience of the animated series. It's not a cartoon, it's an animated series, and it puts the "dark" back into the Dark Knight.

It's no Justice League.:
I'd pass on this one. I found the action very dry, stories very lame, most of the episodes have no music in the background. The fight scenes are weak and make Batman look even weaker, by comparison of Batman beyond, Justice League or The Batman. Maybe the newer shows are better, I know that this was a first effort, had to start somewhere. I'd pass on this, or try another season, this one's just not very good.

Into the Bat Cave:
A classic animated series from the 90s, based on the stories from the comics and the autmosphere of the Batman films featuring Michael Keaton. It was was an adult-themed show that tried to keep its details suitable for children. It was one of the last hand-painted animated shows, and its style has been copied and based on ever since (but never coming close to mataching its quality (although the animation isn't pheonominal or anything.) But the show really captured the true feel of Gotham city and the true character of Batman, his villains and supporting cast, better than any other film or television take has. For these reasons it remains a favorite among Batman fans. Also perhaps because it finds a wonderful balance between the campy Batman of the 60s and the dark, gritty realism of the darker Batman comic books and films. Volume 1 has a beautiful set, housing four disks and a total of 28 episodes (a portion of the show's first season.) Here we are re-introduced to most of the familiar villains, including The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, The Scarecrow, Killer Croc, Clayface, The Riddler and more. The extra features are pretty nice, which include a look into the show's conception and design, as well as the pitch wheel. Another feature allows you to pick options from the Bat Cave and learn about his vehicles and utility belt gadgets. It's a pretty nice design and leaves you to wonder what the extras for the proceeding volumes might include. A must-have for any Batman fan, young or old, and an enjoyable series for fans of superhero stories.