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This version of the Batman is the first animated series to capture the true depth of the comic series. The creators of this show really did their homework and it showes. The look of the city, the characters, and even the story lines reflect classic comic book archetypes; yet,this show has a fresh unique style. It feels like the orginal art-deco Batman has been reborn in the modern world. Buy this dvd and every one that comes after it.
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There is a large group of people who lavish anime (japanimation)with praise for it's simplistic and stylized look. They must have never seen 'Batman: The Animated Series.' Bruce Timm's emmy-award winning art design and production, creates a sleek, timeless retro-modern look for Gotham City and it's inhabitants. A century from now, this will still look as classy and modern as it does now. This, matched with an incredible writing team headed by Paul Dini and spot-on voice talent including Mark Hamill as the Joker, secures this as the best animated series ever. Yes, even better than 'The Simpsons.'
Warner Bros. has had a poor commitment to TV on DVD. Up until now, everything they've released has been "Best of" compilations. While 'Batman: TAS' isn't being released in seasonal box sets as I'd hoped, it's the first series that Warner Bros. is releasing cronologically (by production order.)
If your a fan of comics, animation, film noir, or a really good mystery, you owe it to yourself to pick this up when it streets in April.
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Everyone has done a great job reviewing this series so I'll keep mine short. One thing I did want to praise was the excellent job that was done with Mr. Freeze. He had just the right touch of mournfulness to make you really feel for his plight. It makes me shudder to think about the [bad] job Arnie did in the movie. Also, this was a great series until the WB bought the show and changed the animation. Stick with the original and if Warner Brothers tries to slip in a DVD with their newer shows, skip it.
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One of the most incredible animated series of all time- Batman: The Animated Series, is finally coming to DVD. This first DVD comes with the first five episodes in production order, and hopefully is one of many to come.
With its incredible "dark deco" style, and amazing voice casting and acting, B:TAS has become the finite version of Batman available. Batman: The Legend Begins kicks off B:TAS trip to DVD! Yay!
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It's about time that Warner Brothers finally responded to the years of demand by the fans to release the amazing "Batman: The Animated Series" on DVD. What we've finally gotten is a mixed bag, however. I'm happy to see this first disc of episodes in chronological order (rather than the ridiculous themed releases like what we got on VHS), and hopefully Warner will continue to release the entire series in order and complete; but more episodes on the disc would have been nice! What we get here on this release called "Batman: The Legend Begins" is the first five episodes of the animated series -- based on production order, not airdate order -- (1) "On Leather Wings", (2) "Christmas with the Joker", (3) "Nothing to Fear", (4) "The Last Laugh", and (5) "Pretty Poison". Respectively, these episodes are the spectacular pilot with Man-Bat, a lighthearted Joker story, a pretty good Scarecrow story, another (slightly better) Joker story and the origin story of Poison Ivy. A pretty good introduction to the series, but the best was yet to come! As far as extras go, there isn't much. An introduction by Bruce Timm, a few webgames and CD-ROM links, and a brief documentary. (Where are the commentaries, pre-production drawings, artwork slideshows, and extended documentaries?) ... ... Now, if you've never seen the series you are in for a treat! "Batman: The Animated Series" premiered on television way back on Sep. 5th, 1992 with the episode "The Cat & The Claw, part 1" (not included on this first disc), about three months after the live-action "Batman Returns" had come out. The animated series (unlike the mediocre movies) met with almost universal acclaim. Boistered by fabulous writing from the likes of Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, Michael Reaves and many others, as well as solid voice talent like Mark Hamill (wonderful as the Joker) and Kevin Conroy (this guy IS Batman), the series also intoduced such wonderful characters as Harley Quinn and improved versions of nearly ever Batman rogues gallery villian. In my humble opinion, the animated series is the definitive Batman, better than any of the comic books or movies... absolutely nailing the characterizations of Batman/Bruce Wayne himself, as well as his relationships with police commissioner Gordon, Robin/Dick Grayson and best of all Alfred. The series transcends its origins as a "kids cartoon" to being one of the greatest and most adult animated series ever produced. (In a recent poll, it ended second only to "The Simpsons" as the greatest cartoon series ever.) ... At a rate of only five episodes per disc, it will take twenty-two discs to release the entire series of 109 episodes, and that doesn't even count the 50+ episodes of "Batman Beyond" or the 54 episodes of the "Superman" animated series; these series have not yet been announced, but we can only hope... right, Warner Bros?
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