12/16/2023 0 Comments Batman animated series![]() ![]() But in “The Animated Series” he was an actor disfigured in a car accident, who hides damage thanks to a miraculous skin cream with terrible side effects. Clayface was a third-tier villain who, depending on the continuity, was either a B-movie actor who put on a monster suit or a treasure hunter who found a special pool that gave him shapeshifting powers. That kind of sympathy extended to minor villains, who were so transformed by this series they often were introduced back into the comics with their new backstories. Barbeau’s line readings have a longing in them, and her scenes with Batman always involve Kevin Conroy dropping his Batman voice from its intimidating gruffness into something more human, more capable of being wounded by the one person he wants but cannot have. There's a gives a frisson to their inability to be together, due to his refusing to look the other way on her criminal activities. A socialite by day, jewel thief by night in this version of the character, she's a great match with Bruce/Batman. Adrienne Barbeau brought an arch but warm knowingness to her Selina. “Batman: The Animated Series” was unusually sympathetic to its rogues gallery, especially in Bruce/Batman’s on-again, off-again romance with Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. He’s unpredictable, the very best thing a Joker can be. Hamill voices him to the hilt, full of show business brio that turns on a dime to vindictive cruelty. But because "Batman: The Animated Series" is a cartoon show for children, it becomes clear that this Joker is dangerous because he’s also a big ridiculous buffoon, a clown who commits circus-themed crimes using the remarkable number of abandoned amusement parks and toy factories Gotham has lying around. The live action movies go to increasing pains to present The Joker as a dangerous, profoundly evil explosion of pure Id. A last-minute replacement for Tim Curry (who would go on to voice characters on this series and Disney’s similarly excellent “Gargoyles”), Hamill’s vocal performance is a malevolent force of nature that never forgets the pathetic absurdity at the root of the character. ![]() Best known for the clean-cut heroism of Luke Skywalker, Hamill's Joker was an early fan favorite. Perhaps the most notable talent you wouldn’t expect from a show like this is Mark Hamill as The Joker. So much so that in discussing these actors careers, it would be remiss to not discuss their work on this series too. Romano’s cast of voices regularly turned in exceptional work. The series’ voice and casting director Andrea Romano was able to regularly snag TV veterans, character actors who split their time between movies and the stage, and names you wouldn’t typically think of for voice work on a kid’s show. On top of that, a revolving door of notable guest voices, along with the terrific work the regular cast was doing, brought some of DC Comics' most venerable characters to startling life. “Batman: The Animated Series” came out swinging in 1992 with sumptuously painted backgrounds and title cards that positioned the show in an Art-Deco 1940s netherworld. They were meant to fill Saturday mornings in between commercials for cereal and toys. These shows tended to be indifferently designed, stiffly animated, with professional if uninspired voice work. Before “Batman: The Animated Series,” superhero cartoons for children generally meant things like Filmation’s various Superfriends series.
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