B:TAS & How It Has Changed Our View of Batman

[Timothy]

Original Idea from the DC Comics Message Boards

I thought that this was an excellent question, and I'd like to start off by quoting one of the members of DC's official message boards:

A common agreement among Bat-fans, despite their many differences in opinion, is Kevin Conroy as the "voice of Batman". That is, the voice a person hears in place of Batman's dialogue. Quite often I see on the boards someone mentioning that Kevin, who of course was the voice actor for Bruce/Batman, is the person's voice they imagine. To top that, another general agreement is that Mark Hamill has the same affect on the Joker. So, beside all the obvious in-stone affects (Harley, Montoya, Robin's costume, etc.), there is this sort of underlying likeness that everyone seems to be able to get on board with.

I think this poster has hit the nail right on the head. It's more than just the look of the Batman: The Animated Series Gotham, or it's music... It's the voice of Batman; a voice that you could love, hate, fear, and enjoy. There's just some timeless quality about it that, even for a children's show, can make you forget (even for a couple of minutes) that this is a fictional character.

[Jack Napier]

I definitely agree. I myself hear Conroy and Hamill as Batman and Joker in the comics I read.

I also believe that some of the changes that BTAS did have been cemented in our minds as the definitive take on the character and the mythos.
The Mr. Freeze origin, for example, was created for the cartoon, with the scientist trying to save his dying wife. The take became so popular that it was incorporated into the cartoon.
The same applies to the characters of Harley Quinn and Rene Montoya, whom we often associate as being part of the Batman series, even though they've only been around for a decade or so.

[Timothy]

batmangelus said:

I also believe that some of the changes that BTAS did have been cemented in our minds as the definitive take on the character and the mythos.
The Mr. Freeze origin, for example, was created for the cartoon, with the scientist trying to save his dying wife. The take became so popular that it was incorporated into the cartoon.

That Mr. Freeze origin still makes me feel intense loss for the character; my hat goes off to Paul Dini and the gang for taking a somewhat z-list character, and making him not only a powerhouse, but one that you can feel for as well.

If it wasn't Batman or Joker, I would say the #1 voice that still resonates for me is Efrem Zimbalist Jr.'s, Alfred Pennyworth. It was warm, yet sarcastic at the right moments...

[Jack Napier]

^ Another perfectly cast voice. And probably the American who can get away with playing this famous British character!

[Timothy]

batmangelus said:

^ Another perfectly cast voice. And probably the American who can get away with playing this famous British character!

Good point

Other actors, such as John Glover (Lionel Luthor on "Smallville", Dr. Woodrew in "Batman & Robin"), seem to be custom fit to their roles...