Batman: The Animated Series Defines a Character for a Generation

As The Dark Knight continues to receive critical praise and earn millions of dollars, it's become clear the world is fascinated by the superhero icon known as Batman.

While the movie appeals to audiences of all ages, it's the 20-somethings in the world who are truly raving about it. But why? Is it because our up-and-coming citizens love explosive action and special effects? Maybe. Is it because Christian Bale takes his raspy Batman voice to the next level? Doubtful. The reason people of my generation love The Dark Knight is simple: nostalgia.

No, we are not nostalgic for George Clooney's rubber Bat nipples or Arnold Schwarzenegger's corny one-liners in Batman and Robin. Rather, The Dark Knight reminds us of the first time we fell in love with Batman, a time spent watching Batman: the Animated Series.

This Emmy-Award winning show premiered in 1992 and instantly shattered the perception of what a superhero cartoon could be. Translating film noir into animation, Batman: the Animated Series created a Gotham City in which everything from the architecture to the fashion resembled 1940s styling. The animators incorporated shadows and dark, "rust-like" colors to eliminate any hint of camp from the series.

The writers took a very mature approach to the storylines, often writing episodes that resembled psychological thrillers more than Saturday morning cartoons. With the Animated Series the writers introduced a whole new audience to the Batman story, refusing to shy away from Bruce Wayne's tragic past and quest for revenge.

The Animated Series is also responsible for introducing an entire generation to Batman's rogues' gallery. No medium outside of the comics has done more justice to Batman's army of bad guys than the nineties TV show. It was in the Animated Series that many kids first met the Joker, Harvey Two-Face, Ra's al Ghul, and Scarecrow, all characters who have appeared in Christopher Nolan's Batman films. It was also on the show that audiences were introduced to Harley Quinn, the Joker's lovable female assistant. While Quinn was created specifically for the Animated Series, audiences loved her so much that DC Comics eventually wrote her into the Batman comics.

The voices behind Batman: the Animated Series have become must-haves in Warner Brothers' other projects involving the Dark Knight. Kevin Conroy, who gave Batman his deep, brooding voice, continues to play the Caped Crusader in Justice League cartoons and feature films.

Mark Hamill, famous for his Star Wars gig as Luke Skywalker, portrayed the Joker as a dangerous psycho with an addictive flair for the theatric. Hamill's extensive vocal range allowed him to go from high-pitched laughs to harsh, rage-filled rants, a talent Warner Brothers used in Batman Beyond and Justice League. Conroy and Hamill's voice-overs for Batman and the Joker are immediately recognizable to any fan of the Animated Series.

Aside from the tremendous voice work, the producers also enhanced the credibility of the show by using a strong musical theme adapted from Danny Elfman's Batman movie score. The theme plays throughout the haunting opening sequence in which Batman fights off some thugs on the rooftops of Gotham, then stands triumphantly as a lightning bolt streaks across the blood red sky.

Overall, Batman: the Animated Series was not a children's show, but obviously kids like me watched it, mesmerized by its style, its characters, and its storylines. While it still explored Batman's dark roots and his tormented war on crime, the show remained accessible enough so kids could get to know the Batman character. At the time, Tim Burton's movies were too dark for children to see, and the 1960s television show was too stupid to do justice to the character. Batman: the Animated Series came along at the perfect time, creating a fan base that has lasted into the Nolan era and will certainly follow the Dark Knight's adventures until the end of time (or should I say, crime).