In 1992, the birth
of Warner Bros. "Batman: The Animated Series" changed the Batman Universe
forever. The dynamic series spawned a new technique in animation using
black backgrounds that would eventually be dubbed "Dark Deco." Dark Deco
gave every scene within Gotham an extraordinary look, redefining the image
of the city. The series also revamped the classic characters, casting a
unique perspective on their origins and personalities. The series included
all the popular characters and even created some new ones. The most significant
change was the transformation of the Dick Grayson/Robin character in the
"new" 90's costume, resulting in a hipper more adult representation which
the character has never seen. The Batman character continued to embody
the dark image fans have come to love while maintaining the heroic qualities
identified with the character.
Another significant
change was the transformation of the Rogues Gallery of Villains. From the
ever-popular Joker to the more obscure Clock King, the series displayed
each villain's unique personality to perfection and introduced new characters,
including the popular Ms. Harley Quinn. Although she wasn't born into the
Batman universe until the seventh episode of the series, Harley quickly
overshadowed such long time favorites as Catwoman and Poison Ivy. Thanks
to Batman: TAS, Harley Quinn will be a staple in the Batman genre forever.
In Fall 1995, the
final five episodes aired (85 total episodes were produced) and the curtain
closed on Batman: The Animated Series. |