The creations of Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett among numerous others shall remain unparalleled in history due to the weight of the legacy of Batman: The Animated Series. The 90s show taught the world more about the Caped Crusader than all the Batman movies combined and remains one of the most beloved series due to reasons far beyond simple human understanding.
Batman: The Animated Series [Credit: Warner Bros. Animation]However, before changing the world one animation at a time, the comic book legend Alan Burnett’s commitment to the art form began with one childhood obsession, one random college schedule, and one chance meeting.
In its culmination, the pay-off for creating Batman: The Animated Series was an inadvertent insult to the reputation of the show that changed millions of lives around the world.
Alan Burnett and the Legacy of Batman: The Animated Series
Although Batman: The Animated Series might...
Batman: The Animated Series [Credit: Warner Bros. Animation]However, before changing the world one animation at a time, the comic book legend Alan Burnett’s commitment to the art form began with one childhood obsession, one random college schedule, and one chance meeting.
In its culmination, the pay-off for creating Batman: The Animated Series was an inadvertent insult to the reputation of the show that changed millions of lives around the world.
Alan Burnett and the Legacy of Batman: The Animated Series
Although Batman: The Animated Series might...
- 4/22/2024
- by Diya Majumdar
- FandomWire
Batman Beyond successfully builds upon Batman: The Animated Series while standing on its own in the DC Animated Universe. The show moves into the future without losing its creative edge.
A still from Batman Beyond
But fans of the acclaimed animated series might be surprised to learn that the iconic villain, Mr. Freeze, almost had a very different depiction than the one showed in the series.
While the episode featuring Freeze, Heart of Ice, went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing, the initial plan for the character in Batman Beyond could have deviated from that well-established legacy.
Batman Beyond‘s Mr. Freeze Arc Could Have Taken a Wrong Turn
According to the initial script of Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis (the new Batman), would have stumbled upon a gruesome scene while grabbing a drink from the Batcave refrigerator: the severed head of Mr. Freeze.
Mr. Freeze in Batman Beyond...
A still from Batman Beyond
But fans of the acclaimed animated series might be surprised to learn that the iconic villain, Mr. Freeze, almost had a very different depiction than the one showed in the series.
While the episode featuring Freeze, Heart of Ice, went on to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing, the initial plan for the character in Batman Beyond could have deviated from that well-established legacy.
Batman Beyond‘s Mr. Freeze Arc Could Have Taken a Wrong Turn
According to the initial script of Batman Beyond, Terry McGinnis (the new Batman), would have stumbled upon a gruesome scene while grabbing a drink from the Batcave refrigerator: the severed head of Mr. Freeze.
Mr. Freeze in Batman Beyond...
- 3/18/2024
- by Shreya Jha
- FandomWire
For all you "Saltburn" fans out there (we at /Film consider it the best "Wtf Movie" of 2023), you may have to wait a bit longer for director Emerald Fennell's next project. In an interview on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Fennell confirmed her film with DC Studios — an adaptation of the magical comic book hero Zatanna — is not moving forward.
Fennell was announced as the writer of the "Zatanna" movie in March 2021, fresh off her directorial debut "Promising Young Woman" the previous year. She was not confirmed to be the director of "Zatanna" and from these recent comments, it sounds like that was never the plan. As Fennell explained, J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions, was set to produce "Zatanna," but Abrams' vision has been scrapped.
"No, it's not happening. This was before 'Promising Young Woman,' actually. It was when JJ Abrams had just arrived at Warner Bros....
Fennell was announced as the writer of the "Zatanna" movie in March 2021, fresh off her directorial debut "Promising Young Woman" the previous year. She was not confirmed to be the director of "Zatanna" and from these recent comments, it sounds like that was never the plan. As Fennell explained, J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions, was set to produce "Zatanna," but Abrams' vision has been scrapped.
"No, it's not happening. This was before 'Promising Young Woman,' actually. It was when JJ Abrams had just arrived at Warner Bros....
- 12/22/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
The Javaian phrase Sewu Dino means a thousand days. The latest Indonesian horror film is titled the same, and it is the story of a thousand days worth of damnation for one ill-fated character. It has all the usual tropes of any Indonesian horror, and if you are a fan of this particular sub-genre, then you would probably have a pretty great time watching it. However, while I thought Kimo Stamboel’s horror film was cool enough, at least forty percent of it seems quite confusing and utterly pointless. While the film manages to resolve the central conflict, a lot of other things are left up to your own interpretation. Unfortunately, there aren’t many breadcrumbs to follow. We are still going to make an attempt at dissecting the film, especially the ending, which I thought was strangely abrupt.
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Movie?
Sewu Dino...
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Movie?
Sewu Dino...
- 10/27/2023
- by Rohitavra Majumdar
- Film Fugitives
The Scarecrow, aka Dr. Jonathan Crane, is my favorite Batman villain. I've always been drawn to his eponymous motif, his horror-twinged stories, and how he contests Batman for the title "The Master of Fear." Hence, though "Batman: The Animated Series" holds a special place in my heart, I've always been disappointed that Scarecrow wasn't an A-list player.
Crane is the antagonist in only three episodes and in each one is mostly an obstacle for Batman to develop against. In his villainous debut, "Nothing to Fear," Batman is dosed with Scarecrow's Fear Toxin and haunted by an apparition of his father, leading to the Dark Knight's most famous line. In "Dreams in Darkness," the Fear Toxin drives Batman temporarily insane and he's locked in Arkham Asylum. He must escape both his physical and mental prison before Scarecrow can poison Gotham City.
"Batman: The Animated Series" has many superlative takes on...
Crane is the antagonist in only three episodes and in each one is mostly an obstacle for Batman to develop against. In his villainous debut, "Nothing to Fear," Batman is dosed with Scarecrow's Fear Toxin and haunted by an apparition of his father, leading to the Dark Knight's most famous line. In "Dreams in Darkness," the Fear Toxin drives Batman temporarily insane and he's locked in Arkham Asylum. He must escape both his physical and mental prison before Scarecrow can poison Gotham City.
"Batman: The Animated Series" has many superlative takes on...
- 10/7/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Arleen Sorkin, the original voice and inspiration behind Batman villain Harley Quinn, has died at the age of 67, TheWrap has learned. The news broke on social media Saturday, with numerous fans and colleagues sharing their memories of the actress and the character she helped bring to the screen.
Unlike most characters in the world of Batman, Harley Quinn did not make her debut in the DC comic books, but rather in the acclaimed ’90s animated show “Batman: The Animated Series.” Sorkin first played Quinn on the show’s seventh episode “Joker’s Favor,” with the character initially set to only appear in a single episode. But she became a recurring part of the main cast after a rough cut of the episode was met well by the producers.
Prior to “Batman: The Animated Series,” Sorkin was best known for playing dressmaker Calliope Jones on “Days of Our Lives” from 1984-...
Unlike most characters in the world of Batman, Harley Quinn did not make her debut in the DC comic books, but rather in the acclaimed ’90s animated show “Batman: The Animated Series.” Sorkin first played Quinn on the show’s seventh episode “Joker’s Favor,” with the character initially set to only appear in a single episode. But she became a recurring part of the main cast after a rough cut of the episode was met well by the producers.
Prior to “Batman: The Animated Series,” Sorkin was best known for playing dressmaker Calliope Jones on “Days of Our Lives” from 1984-...
- 8/27/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
A legend is no longer with us, for Arleen Sorkin has died at the age of 67. The news was first reported by voice actor Neil Kaplan and later confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter. She is survived by her husband and their two sons. DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn shared a tribute to Sorkin on Instagram, and her old friend and co-star Mark Hamill wrote: "Not just a wonderful talent, but a truly wonderful person. I'm grateful not only to have worked with her, but to have been her friend."
Mrs. Sorkin is most remembered for being the original voice of the DC Comics character Harley Quinn. She played the part across 17 years, beginning in "Batman: The Animated Series" in 1992 and for the last time in the 2009 video game, "Batman: Arkham Asylum." We'll talk about this part of her legacy soon, but first, let's be clear — Sorkin was not a one-trick pony.
Mrs. Sorkin is most remembered for being the original voice of the DC Comics character Harley Quinn. She played the part across 17 years, beginning in "Batman: The Animated Series" in 1992 and for the last time in the 2009 video game, "Batman: Arkham Asylum." We'll talk about this part of her legacy soon, but first, let's be clear — Sorkin was not a one-trick pony.
- 8/27/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Arleen Sorkin, who portrayed Calliope Jones on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives and served as the original voice of the DC Comics character Harley Quinn, had died. She was 67.
Sorkin died Thursday, a source told The Hollywood Reporter. Health issues kept her from acting in recent years.
DC boss James Gunn wrote on Instagram Saturday: “Rest in Peace, Arleen Sorkin, the incredibly talented original voice of Harley Quinn, who helped to create the character so many of us love. Love to her family and friends.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn)
Mark Hamill, who often recorded his lines as the Joker opposite Sorkin, also remembered her in a tribute, writing: “Devastated to learn we’ve lost the brilliant Arleen Sorkin. Not just a wonderful talent, but a truly wonderful person. I’m grateful not only to have worked with her, but to have been her friend.
Sorkin died Thursday, a source told The Hollywood Reporter. Health issues kept her from acting in recent years.
DC boss James Gunn wrote on Instagram Saturday: “Rest in Peace, Arleen Sorkin, the incredibly talented original voice of Harley Quinn, who helped to create the character so many of us love. Love to her family and friends.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn)
Mark Hamill, who often recorded his lines as the Joker opposite Sorkin, also remembered her in a tribute, writing: “Devastated to learn we’ve lost the brilliant Arleen Sorkin. Not just a wonderful talent, but a truly wonderful person. I’m grateful not only to have worked with her, but to have been her friend.
- 8/27/2023
- by Carly Thomas and Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Arleen Sorkin, who remains the definitive Harley Quinn to children of the nineties thanks to her work on Batman: The Animated Series, has died. Fellow voice actor Neil Kaplan first broke the news on Twitter (X):
It broke my heart to hear… the original voice of Harley Quinn, Arlene Sorkin has passed away.
I adored her work as HQ & as Calliope in “Days of Our Lives.” pic.twitter.com/QtypvmvNUX
— Neil Kaplan – Voice Actor (@NeKap) August 26, 2023
No news yet on what the cause of death was. Sorkin was 67.
Of course, Sorkin’s portrayal of Harley Quinn is seen by many as one of Batman: The Animated Series’ most iconic voice roles, being right up there with Mark Hamill’s Joker and Kevin Conroy’s Batman. In recent years, the character has been played in live action by Margot Robbie and (soon) Lady Gaga in Joker Folie a Deux and...
It broke my heart to hear… the original voice of Harley Quinn, Arlene Sorkin has passed away.
I adored her work as HQ & as Calliope in “Days of Our Lives.” pic.twitter.com/QtypvmvNUX
— Neil Kaplan – Voice Actor (@NeKap) August 26, 2023
No news yet on what the cause of death was. Sorkin was 67.
Of course, Sorkin’s portrayal of Harley Quinn is seen by many as one of Batman: The Animated Series’ most iconic voice roles, being right up there with Mark Hamill’s Joker and Kevin Conroy’s Batman. In recent years, the character has been played in live action by Margot Robbie and (soon) Lady Gaga in Joker Folie a Deux and...
- 8/26/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Everyone knows the deal with 1997's "Batman & Robin" by now. We don't need to rehash the abject disappointment that accompanied its release and its legacy of having nearly killed off the Batman franchise — though, that might be fun ... but let's focus, here. In the wake of Joel Schumacher's second and final Batman movie, Warner Bros. was sent scrambling, lurching from one attempt to reboot the Dark Knight to another.
This went on for some years, with multiple projects being considered and developed before being scrapped. One such project, "Batman: DarKnight," would have been the complete opposite to "Batman & Robin," telling a dark tale that would see Dick Grayson used as a test subject in Dr. Jonathan Crane, Aka Scarecrow's twisted experiments. Of course, we all know how the story plays out, with Warners nixing that movie in favor of Christopher Nolan's origin tale "Batman Begins.
This went on for some years, with multiple projects being considered and developed before being scrapped. One such project, "Batman: DarKnight," would have been the complete opposite to "Batman & Robin," telling a dark tale that would see Dick Grayson used as a test subject in Dr. Jonathan Crane, Aka Scarecrow's twisted experiments. Of course, we all know how the story plays out, with Warners nixing that movie in favor of Christopher Nolan's origin tale "Batman Begins.
- 4/23/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
"Batman: The Animated Series" may be a wholly original take on the Dark Knight but it's also indebted to numerous inspirations. Show co-creators Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, along with writer Paul Dini, were keen to draw on not just the best of Batman's history, but cultural history in general. The goal was to produce a show that, as Dini told Syfy, depicted "a dark world, a world where crime really exists on every level." That approach would often cause them to run afoul of the Fox censors, who weren't enthusiastic about the show's mature tone. After all, this was a Fox Kids cartoon.
Thankfully, the team behind "Batman: Tas" were adept at navigating their way through the treacherous waters of Standards and Practices, maintaining their mature vision despite frequent pushback. And that extended beyond the usual stuff that gets censors riled up, such as violence or edgy language. The...
Thankfully, the team behind "Batman: Tas" were adept at navigating their way through the treacherous waters of Standards and Practices, maintaining their mature vision despite frequent pushback. And that extended beyond the usual stuff that gets censors riled up, such as violence or edgy language. The...
- 2/9/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
"Superman: The Animated Series" occupies a curious middle ground in the DC Animated Universe, the continuity built by artists including Bruce Timm and Paul Dini. It never earned the rapturous critical reception of "Batman: The Animated Series," which to this day generates oral histories extolling its greatness. It also lacked the epic scope of "Justice League," which told multi-part stories featuring a huge cast of characters across time and space. But "Superman" should not be underestimated. At its best, the show's staff reinvented and condensed comics canon as elegantly as "Batman" did. Crossover episodes united Superman with Batman, Lobo and even Green Lantern, paving the way for the widescreen action of "Justice League." Best of all, "Superman: The Animated Series" introduced characters from Jack Kirby's Fourth World, including the nefarious Darkseid.
The DC Animated Universe ended in the early 2000s, but continues to influence contemporary animated series based on the characters to this day.
The DC Animated Universe ended in the early 2000s, but continues to influence contemporary animated series based on the characters to this day.
- 1/14/2023
- by Adam Wescott
- Slash Film
On November 10, 2022, the great Kevin Conroy passed away. According to a Warner Bros. Discovery press release, the cause of death was intestinal cancer. Since most fans didn’t know Conroy even was battling cancer prior to his death, this news understandably came as a shock.
At the time of his passing, Conroy’s most recent voice acting credit for his most famous character, Batman, was for the Super Smash Bros.-like fighting game, MultiVersus. However, ever since Batman Arkham developers Rocksteady Studios announced Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, fans wondered if Conroy would reprise his “Arkhamverse” version of Batman for the game. Given the timeframe, if he was in the game, it would seemingly serve as his final Batman portrayal.
During last night’s Game Awards, Warner Bros. Interactive shared Suicide Squad‘s latest trailer, which not only included a clip of Batman as voiced by Conroy but included...
At the time of his passing, Conroy’s most recent voice acting credit for his most famous character, Batman, was for the Super Smash Bros.-like fighting game, MultiVersus. However, ever since Batman Arkham developers Rocksteady Studios announced Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, fans wondered if Conroy would reprise his “Arkhamverse” version of Batman for the game. Given the timeframe, if he was in the game, it would seemingly serve as his final Batman portrayal.
During last night’s Game Awards, Warner Bros. Interactive shared Suicide Squad‘s latest trailer, which not only included a clip of Batman as voiced by Conroy but included...
- 12/9/2022
- by Matthew Byrd
- Den of Geek
"Batman: The Animated Series" perfectly captured the essence of its comic source material, from the costumed characters of Gotham City to the personality of the metropolis itself. However, it only occasionally adapted comic storylines. Compared to the contemporaneous "X-Men" cartoon which slavishly recreated comic arcs, the "Batman" creative team was more comfortable putting their own spin on things. That's how Harley Quinn was born, after all.
The series did directly adapt from the comics on occasion, but even that came with stipulations. Paul Dini, the series' head writer and producer (not to mention the creator of the aforementioned Miss Quinn) had this to say in issue #99 of "Back Issue magazine:
"It's hard to adapt a comic directly for animation. The storytelling and pacing are different, and there might be other elements like excessive dialogue or graphic violence that don't translate well from one medium to the other. In the case...
The series did directly adapt from the comics on occasion, but even that came with stipulations. Paul Dini, the series' head writer and producer (not to mention the creator of the aforementioned Miss Quinn) had this to say in issue #99 of "Back Issue magazine:
"It's hard to adapt a comic directly for animation. The storytelling and pacing are different, and there might be other elements like excessive dialogue or graphic violence that don't translate well from one medium to the other. In the case...
- 11/28/2022
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
In the 1990s, Batman was still undergoing a transformation, with Tim Burton's grim "Batman" and "Batman Returns" having altered the perception of the character from his campier Adam West days. Warner Bros. Animation was gearing up to drop a revolutionary take on the hero that would help cement his legacy as the truly gothic and brooding figure of the shadows he was always meant to be. By now, fans probably know the story of how co-creators Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski borrowed from film noir and Burton's movies to create the moody environs of what would become "Batman: The Animated Series." And the late Kevin Conroy, who we sadly lost this year, is famous for his authoritative Batman/Bruce Wayne voice.
But, as Vulture's oral history of the show revealed, there's more to the story of what made the show a success. After all, a dark and moody series...
But, as Vulture's oral history of the show revealed, there's more to the story of what made the show a success. After all, a dark and moody series...
- 11/23/2022
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
All comic characters evolve with the times, but few have grown from such humble beginnings to become an icon in quite the same way as Harley Quinn. Initially created for "Batman: The Animated Series" simply to add a female henchperson to Joker's minions, Harley has since not only grown increasingly popular, but has also become quite a symbol of hope. She's empowered both the LGBTQ+ community and survivors of domestic violence, as well as countless others who could relate to her resilience, humor, heart, and frankly, how bonkers she can be. Harley has also taken an exciting journey from villain to antihero that is so often reserved for male characters. Her toxic relationship with Joker may have been what once defined her, but when people discuss the character in 2022, Mr. J is barely a footnote. In fact, Harley Quinn has become one of the most compelling of DC's comic characters all on her own.
- 8/15/2022
- by Jamie Gerber
- Slash Film
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