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The Batman
File:Thebatman.jpgThe Batman
Created by	Michael Goguen Duane Capizzi (supervising producers)
Starring	Rino Romano Alastair Duncan Danielle Judovits Evan Sabara Mitch Pileggi Adam West
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	46 (including the feature film, The Batman vs. Dracula) (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	30 Minutes (including commercials)
Original release
Network	Kids' WB
Release	September 11 2004 – present

The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman.

Overview

Although the series borrows many elements from previous Batman storylines, it does not follow the continuity set by the comic books nor that of the previous Batman: The Animated Series or its spin-offs. Also, the animation style bears a strong resemblance to that of Jackie Chan Adventures (as both are based from designs by artist/producer Jeff Matsuda), with the designs of many characters, like the Joker, The Penguin and Riddler, being very different from those of their comic counterparts.

The series made its world premiere on Kids' WB in the United States on September 11 2004. First-run episodes are broadcast during Kids WB's Saturday morning lineup. Repeats of the show have aired on Toonami and/or Cartoon Network worldwide.

A spin-off comic book series, The Batman Strikes!, is based on the world of The Batman.

The show has been criticized by some for its new character designs and perceived "pandering" to younger 2000s audiences. There is also the matter of the "Bat-Embargo" in which most Batman-related characters could not be used on other shows, especially Justice League Unlimited. The "Bat-embargo" term was first coined by The World's Finest.

Synopsis

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Season 1

In the first season of The Batman, Bruce Wayne (voiced by Rino Romano) is 26 and in his third year as the Batman, protector of Gotham City. A younger Batman confronts familiar foes for the first time, with the aid of Alfred Pennyworth (Alastair Duncan), who guides both Bruce Wayne and Batman when needed, and the technology he has secretly developed, such as the Bat-Wave.

In this series, Batman meets most of his major adversaries for the first time, many with character designs that differ markedly from their comic-book counterparts. Season One features new interpretations of Rupert Thorne (Victor Brandt), The Joker (Kevin Michael Richardson), Catwoman (Gina Gershon), The Penguin (Tom Kenny), Mr. Freeze (Clancy Brown), Clayface (Steve Harris), Firefly (Jason Marsden), The Ventriloquist and Scarface (Dan Castellaneta), Man-Bat (Peter MacNicol), Cluemaster (Glenn Shadix), and Bane (Joaquim de Almeida).

The first season also introduces two new characters, Detectives Ethan Bennett (Steve Harris) and Ellen Yin (Ming-Na), charged with capturing the vigilante Batman for Chief Angel Rojas (Edward James Olmos in his inital appearance, Jesse Corti in all his subsequent appearances). This is somewhat reminiscent of Detective Harvey Bullock and Officer/Detective Renee Montoya of Batman: The Animated Series, who similarly sought to catch Batman, but eventually end up in a tenuous alliance against crime. At the end of Season 1, Ethan Bennett, also an old friend of Bruce Wayne is turned into Clayface. Adam West, who played Batman in the live action series in the 1960s, provides the voice for Gotham’s Mayor.

Season 2

Season 2 introduced other fan favorites with brand new origins, including a sinister version of The Riddler (Robert Englund), Professor Hugo Strange (the late Frank Gorshin, replaced by Richard Green after Frank's death), Ragdoll (Jeff Bennett), Spellbinder (Michael Massee), Killer Croc (Ron Perlman), and Solomon Grundy (Kevin Grevioux) (who was actually Clayface in disguise, but the real one might exist). At the end of the season, Ellen Yin is found out to have been working with Batman, and their partnership ends when Commissioner James Gordon (Mitch Pileggi) is introduced. This is the last we see of Ellen Yin. He changes the GCPD's view of Batman and tells Batman to make Gotham a safe place for his daughter.

Season 3

Season 3 introduces a young Barbara Gordon, who becomes Batgirl (Danielle Judovits) and plays a major role along with her father, James Gordon. More villains are added to the series, such as Poison Ivy (Piera Coppola) - who is originally Barbara's best friend in this continuity, a different version of Gearhead (Will Friedle), and a more threatening version of Maxie Zeus (Phil LaMarr).

Several brand new villains for the series are introduced this season: Cosmo Krank/Toymaker (Patton Oswalt), Prank (Michael Reisz) - Joker's response to Batgirl's addition to Batman's family, Temblor (Jim Cummings) and D.A.V.E. (Jeff Bennett) - a H.A.R.D.A.C.-like super computer created by Hugo Strange to emulate the worst villain minds in Gotham.

Season 4

Season 4 features a redesign of Bruce Wayne/Batman, with a stronger chin structure and new nose. The season also introduces Dick Grayson as Robin (Evan Sabara) into the series as well as other characters such as Lucius Fox (Louis Gossett Jr.). More villains appear such as Tony Zucco (Mark Hamill), Killer Moth (Jeff Bennett), Black Mask (James Remar) & Number One (Diedrich Bader), Rumor (Ron Perlman), Everywhere Man (Brandon Routh), Harley Quinn (Hynden Walch), Francis Grey (Dave Foley), and a new Clayface (Wallace Langham).

One episode is set in the future, taking place in 2027 Gotham where Barbara Gordon has become Oracle (Kellie Martin), Dick Grayson is Nightwing (Jerry O'Connell), and Batman resembles Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns version of the character, complete with a new tank-like Batmobile. The season finale will feature another superhero from the DC Universe; Martian Manhunter and his alter ego John Jones (Dorian Harewood). The fourth season of The Batman has been referred to by the creators as the most "Fan Friendly" season. Feedback from episodes that have premiered in the United Kingdom have pointed to this season as having a much darker tone closer to The New Batman Adventures

Season 5

As of Feb. 2007: The Batman has been renewed for a fifth season. On February 8th, 2007, infomation was released regarding the fifth season. Continung from Martian Manhunter's appearance on the season finale of season four, season five will include Batman meeting other members of the JLA. The three that have been revealed are Superman, The Flash, and Aquaman. Hawkman, Green Arrow and Green Lantern will appear in the season four finale. There are others that will be seen, but they have not been revealed yet. It is not yet known what new villains will make appearances during the season.

Episode list

DVD Releases

Feature Film

Villains

Crew

• Michael Goguen supervising producer
• Duane Capizzi supervising producer
• Glen Murakami producer
• Jeff Matsuda producer
• Linda M. Steiner producer
• Sander Schwartz executive producer
• Alan Burnett executive producer
• Kimberly A. Smith associate producer
• The Edge theme music creator

Trivia

Many of the voice actors on The Batman have previously played characters in other interpretations of the Dark Knight, which include:

• Kevin Conroy, who played Batman in Batman: The Animated Series, plays John Grayson, Dick Grayson father.

• Mark Hamill, who played Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, plays Tony Zucco.

• Will Friedle, who played Terry McGinnis in Batman Beyond, plays the villain Gearhead.

• Adam West, who played Batman in the campy 1960's Batman series, plays Gotham's mayor, Marion Grange.

Awards

The Batman received the Annie Award for Best New Animated Television Show 2004.

In 2006, The Batman won two Daytime Emmy awards. One for Outstanding Achievement In Sound Editing and another for Outstanding Special Class Animated Program.

External links

• The Batman at IMDb
• Template:Tvtome show
• The Batman at WarnerBros.com
• The Batman at The World's Finest
• The Batman @ Legions Of Gotham
• The Batman at Batman: Yesterday, Today, & Beyond
• The Batman at BATMAN-ON-FILM.COM

• 2004 television program debuts
• 2000s American television series
• Animated television series
• Batman television series
• Anime-influenced animation
• Shows on Toonami
• Kids WB shows
• Teletoon shows
• DC animation
• Television in the 2000's