What's your favorite (and least favorite) Batman cartoon? Go to brilliant.org/Midnight/ and sign up for free, the first 200 people that go to that link will get 20% off the annual Premium subscription.
Out of the different tv series versions of Batman, I liked the Beware the Batman's Batman the least. He doesn't talk or act like Batman. He is reckless (with the lives of others), short sighted, arrogant, and self-righteous. He gave the Legion of Assassins the Soultaker sword. Also, I can't see Batman call a villain "honorable" just because he releases innocent people from his death trap after his plan fails and he escapes.
Here's my list. Consider that I grew up with both the 60s live action Batman and the Super Friends, especially with those wonderful last 2 seasons and the great "Challenge". 7. Beware the Batman (Do I have to explain?) 6. Filmation's Batman (I consider both series one. Filmation standard, it entertains, just that.) 5. Batman, WB Kids revival (sorry, but you can't mix the original '92 series with the STAS spin-off even if it's canon. Only about 3 or 4 episodes are TAS level, the rest are bland.) 4. The Batman (Sorry. Nice and interesting take by Jackie Chan Adventures' Jeff Matsuda but there's always something off with every character. It got better in later seasons, though) 3. Brave and the Bold (A love letter to silver age comics. No one but Paul Rubens' Batmite could have said it better) 2. Beyond (No explanation here either.) 1. TAS (No contest here. It just set the bar way too high)
I think both Brave and The Bold and The Batman are really underrated, they both had the misfortune of following up what is almost universally considered the definitive take on the character.
I agree, the brave and the bold was my childhood and it still stands on his own with style and the boldness in storytelling that you wouldn't expect from a show that looks that cartoony
For some reason The Brave in the Bold was the first Batman cartoon that I really got invested in. I grew up occasionally watching The Animated Series, but it never grabbed my attention like all the other comic book based cartoons out in the 90s. I knew The Animated Series was going to be #1, but I was really hoping The Brave and the Bold was going to take second or third place. To tell the truth I kinda forgot The Batman existed, until I saw that I'm of the Joker
I really like how the Brave and the Bold gave so much spotlight to lesser-known DC heroes. It’s what introduced me to Plastic Man, Blue Beetle, Red Tornado, Wildcat, and Guy Gardner as a kid, and to this day, I still like these characters.
My favourite episode of Brave and the Bold is the one where he meets Joe Chill (the man who killed his parents). Adam West and Julie Newmar as Thomas and Martha Wayne, Kevin Conroy as the Phantom Stranger and Mark Hamill as the Spectre.
I grew up with The Batman (2004) and loved it. I decided to watch it through in college and loved it even more and I’m glad to see the show getting more recognition the last couple of years
I grew up watching The Batman show from the mid-2000’s so to see it get a lot of respect is really nice. I always felt it was super underrated but to be second to the Animated Series shows how good it really was
Same. I grew up watching The Batman, Teen Titans, and Justice League all side by side and I knew they were different universes but wished they could cross over.
@@quadiraholden9532 As a I kid I loved Batman but I also loved Robin because he was younger so I totally agree, when they started adding supporting characters I loved the show even more
You're probably right. I completely wrote it off when I was a kid. But over the years I've heard alot oa praise and love for it and seen some clips that look really good.
I liked The Batman quite a lot as a kid but on revisti noticed it was at times campier than I remember as well as the only season where the writing really holds up compared to TAS is 4 in my opinion. 3 on hbo max. It just has the unfortunate fate to follow up TAS and coincide with justice league and unlimited during its run where the better Batman is.
I love that whenever there was a joker focused episode you know they were gonna do some weird new stuff. Like that one episode where he decided he wants to be batman so he tried to make batman his joker. And the other one where they travel into each others minds and have a weird cognitive battle. No other batman show could have done that.
Can we just accept that The Batman’s first two seasons has the most underrated theme song ever? Same for it’s really good movie tie-in, The Batman vs. Dracula.
@@Coffeeguy18 fr tho. That show was my shit, bro. So many classic episodes too. Here are my favorites: "The Everywhere Man" "A Matter of Family" "The Breakout" And literally every episode with Clayface (Ethan Bennett)
Same. It was the first animated Batman I watched as a kid and some of the subjects it tackled were really mature, it felt different from every other cartoon I watched back then. And i loved the way they still incorporated an older Bruce Wayne as a mentor for Terry. Out of all the spinoffs and reinterpretations that almost every superhero has, I think it stands above the rest. Still my favorite Batman series. I really wish they would do more with the character
I remember watching Batman The Animated Series on Jetix along with Superman TAS, Static Shock, and Pinky and the Brain. Apparently there was even a Direct-to-video Superman movie that aired on Toon Disney too. Looking back during a time where Disney owns Marvel, it’s wild to remember seeing DC cartoons air on a Disney owned channel.
The Brave and The Bold will always have a special place in my heart, it the was the show I watched as a kid and was my first introduction to not only Batman, but the whole DC universe. Also I absolutely adore its take on Elastic Man and Aquaman
The thing about Batman is that ALL of the animated series that came out after and including BTAS are very good shows. They all contribute something different. BTAS- The noir/rogues gallery side. Brave and the Bold- The campy, fun side. Beware the Batman- the detective and fighting side. Batman Beyond- the young/old side. And the reason I think The Batman is the best one is because it's the one that balances all of these aspects while having the best audiovisual presentation. It could get dark, it could be campy and fun, it had a young Batman, it had a seasoned Batman, it had Batman alone, it had Batman with allies, and it's got the most well rounded portrayal of the character in that it showed an emotionally healthy Bruce Wayne who could crack a joke but also the stoic caped crusader. Rather than focusing on the villains like BTAS, it focused on Batman. It had some villains with depth, and others who were just plain fun, and unlike BTAS, all of them could actually go against Batman in a fight.
TBH as amazing as all of them were. They owe a lot of their identity and existence to how good BTAS was. It raised the standard for any batman animation going forwards. So credit to the one that started the trend of very high quality animation. BTAS earned every bit of it's fame.
Brave and the Bold was underrated because it came out around the same time as The Dark Knight did and many fans only cared about that one iteration of Batman. While I absolutely enjoyed both for different reasons, I was mocked for liking BatB and it's silliness. It made me understand how 1960s Batman fans felt. The Silver age is such an underappreciated era of a fun Batman and the show being a love letter to it was eye opening. As the series had jokingly mentioned, it doesn't take away from the core values of Batman and is still about a tortured superhero coming from the depths of darkness and tragedy.
As a character designer I love The Batman (2004) to death. Growing up with it probabaly influences my tastes, but I’m just obsessed with how weird, cool, and UNIQUE every villain looks, from Rasta straight jacket joker, to Red Hulk Bane, to other sick redesigns like firefly, mr freeze. Catwoman, poison Ivy, etc.
As much as I love "Batman: The Animated Series," the 2004 "The Batman" series really has grown on me. I feel that show's version of the Joker (voiced _excellently_ by Kevin Michael Richardson) is just such as stand-out version when compared to other versions.
Gotta love growing up early 2000s with TAS, BB, and The Batman. It felt like a cohesive story and progression for the character. I never gave a chance to Brave and the Bold, but I like the art style
The Batman (2004) was my all time favorite since it gave a new design to the characters and it feels more gritty and dark. Overall it was great for me.
Im suprised you put The Batman so high I greatly enjoyed it and think it is generally underrated, so I am happy you mentioned it all given that it has some of the worst SEO and goes unnoticed a lot
Batman the animated series is one of the cornerstones of my childhood. It warms my heart just thinking of it and i know nothing will ever be able to give me that same feeling.
I'm right there with you. B:TAS came out when I was 11, and it was the first cartoon I ever watched that didn't feel like it was for kids. I specifically remember feeling like these were stories that took me seriously as a viewer, and that feeling really stuck with me.
The Batman was my first introduction to the character. It’s almost up there with Spectacular Spider-Man, but Spectacular is so high because most of the other Spider-Man shows don’t come close in quality.
I grew up on Batman TAS. I actually started to rewatch it recently and it's amazing to hear Conroy figure out the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne as it goes along.
I rarely see or hear people talk about The Batman (2004) when it comes to the animated shows. It's usually TAS/Beyond and/or Brave-Bold. So I'm overjoyed that you have it at #2. I think it's definitely an underrated series that deserves more recognition. When I was growing up, this was my Batman and still is to this day.
So glad to see the 2004 The Batman series having it's love. It was the series I more grew up with considering I was born in 1990 and so was too young to really remember the Animated Series when it was originally on air. I was 14 when The Batman came out and I loved that show, and it has my favorite version of the Batmobile being the one he gets after Gearhead destroys his first one.
The Batman was such a great series. I really liked Riddler's origin in that show. "When is the villain not the villain" was honestly such a great line that really helped to make Riddler feel more morally grey.
The Batman had the best action scenes to me. As a kid, the fast paced hand to hand combat scene with he and joker were the best at times. I’m not used to seeing Joker do flying ninja spin kicks but here he was throwing hands with Batman and doing it like it was nothing.
I forgot about The Batman, I used to like it, although I think Batman Beyond is the better of the two! that said, I feel the way you ranked them makes perfect sense. I also found that DC animated movies about Batman are usually excellent at portraying the character in a way fans can appreciate.
I used to LOVE Brave and the Bold when I was younger. I'd probably still love it even now! Seeing it get ranked somewhat highly and getting all that praise feels so vindicating.
This is the first of these kind of ranking videos that actually matches 1:1 with my personal tastes (minus the 60's and 70's shows which I haven't watched and thus can't rank). The Batman really aged well and deserves more credit than it is given. Its Ridler introduction episode is still my quintessential Ridler story.
Batman Brave and the Bold and The Batman were both underrated for their time, even I admit I didn't watch them until much later. But over time they've gained a lot more appreciation by fans that they're just as good as Batman TAS.
Nice video! I like how you said that you gave the Batman (2004) a second chance. As far as I'm concerned the only bad thing they ever did on that cartoon was removing Ellen Yin! She and Bruce had great chemistry in my opinion. I also really like Batman Beyond. I'm very glad these were in your top set. By the way, with al the current Bat-mania going on, would you also consider doing a retrospective on Gotham and going over all five seasons, I think that would make for another great discussion video. Think about it, please!
That entire title can be translated as “Batman TAS number 1, followed by your choice of series order.” Brave and the Bold and Beyond are my numbers 2 and 3.
The Batman is the definitive animated version for me He feels more dark and sharp rather than beefy and heroic that makes most versions of Batman feel a little too similar to other heroes
I’m so glad The Batman is getting the love it deserves in recent years. I love how they did their own unique takes on the characters, that still felt true to them while still being fresh.
I remember one episode of the Brave and the Bold where Joker accidentally gained god like powers. This episode gave a really interesting and well done look at what exactly goes on in Jokers head and what motivates him
Amazing video! The Batman (2004) is my fave for sure and lvoe that you gave it some love. Would totally watch a DCEU animated Batman tier list! Also, you've convinced me to give Brave and the Bold a chance.
The Batman was the one I grew up with and I love how action packed it was, and man that season finale episodes were really good. Also, the plug and play game was really, really good
@@gas7904 Right? I was surprised at how good the game was. The only plug and play I’ve tried before that is a scooby one, and that was pretty limited. So I was delighted by how good the Batman plug and p,ay was.
@@rimurutempest4945 defenately a hidden gem for a plug and play. Sad that they didnt make the batman a good ps2 game in the era where everything had a video game tie in
@@gas7904 Yeah, like as much as I loved that plug and play, I’d have given everything to have a full ps2 game. Man, that plug and play really brings me back lmao, I remember trying to just use the grappling hook to bypass levels where I can use the grapple, it’s so much fun
I recently went back and watched Batman TAS and I was shocked by how mature it was. Not in terms of excessive violence or sex but in the emotional intelligence of its cast and how cerebral a lot of the episodes ended up being. I think there is a reason why for just about anyone, it had the definitive Mr. Freeze, who was so haunting. "I would trade a thousand of my days for one of your worst" Even though they made it so kids could watch, as a kid I always felt like I was watching something so much more adult.
The Batman and even Beware the Batman are incredibly underrated imo. Beware takes a bit to get goin, and Batman gets a bit fuller in it's later seasons, but they do such great unique things with it's villains and stories that are truly fantastic and live up to the Bat himself.
Excellent list, Batman: The Animated Series deserves the top spot. I felt the same way about The Batman Series, I never really get it a chance until several years ago. I retrospect The Batman Series from the early 2000's is quite good.
1:43 The Adventures of Batman (1968) 2:30 Beware the Batman (2013) 3:49 The New Adventures of Batman (1977) 5:08 Batman: The Brave and The Bold (2008) 6:23 Batman Beyond (1999) 7:52 The Batman (2004) 9:20 Batman The Animated Series (1992)
I had that video collection you showed right before the list. I'll never forget this, but one of them had a commercial for DVD technology at the beginning. Those little featurettes for old toys and stuff (many of which I had as a kid) are one of the things I love about your channel. So cool.
Among the most bizarre moments of the 1970s "New Adventures of Batman" was the two-part episode where Zarbor, the evil Batmite from Batmite's dimension, came to Earth. I think there were two episodes with Zarbor, in fact: with one, he stole power plants to provide power to his own dimension; and with the other, he used Batman and Robin to help conquer Earth.
Brave and Bold is severely Underrated. I have a unhealthy amount of nostalgia for that show(ahhh the intro) and its still immensely enjoyable to this day. It introduced to a lot if new heroes and things about comics I had never known. This was my first introduction to characters such as Blue Beetle, Aquaman, Huntress, Black Canary and Bat Mite. Its like the Tom And Jerry of the Batman universe in its nostalgic and universal appeal for me.
I remember bawling when I saw the last episode of the brave and the bold, I had action figures, used to go outside in the brave and the bold costume and it introduced me along with the burton films to comics and I wouldnt be the same without that show, I miss it
It's kinda incredible to me that despite how great Batman's animated history is, there's still room for new takes on the character. For example, I think a (slightly) more mature oriented series (or at least one allowed to match the PG-13 tone of the main universe Batman comic) could do a great job depicting the long history of the Batfamily, which is by far my favorite part of the Batman mythos and probably the only way to see a decent adaptations of my favorite Batman characters (Cassadra Cain, Stephanie Brown, and Tim Drake) I think the main hurdles would be getting an animated series that aims to eventually depict the murder of Jason Todd and the Joker shooting Barbara Gordon (both vital moments relatively early to the modern history of Batman and which happen back-to-back) off the ground, since most pitches for a more "mature" Batman seem to ditch his family altogether.
The best animated version of Batman is by far the one from Teen Titans Go. He's just a chill dude who wants to hang out and watch Tv with Commissioner Gordon. A very relatable character if you ask me.
TAS and Beyond are some of the best and my favorites but the 2004 one holds a special place in my heart. that show is pretty much what made me love and become a batman fan, i would wake up early saturday mornings just to make sure i didnt miss an episode.
Hey CaptainMidnight, excellent video! I agree with your placement of Beware the Batman, it is the weakest, however! It get’s much better in the second half of season one. It becomes far more serialized with each episode ending in a cliffhanger & recap next time. This allowed them to explore some interesting stuff especially in the character of Harvey Dent and his transformation to Two-Face. Have you completed the series? If not, I would recommend watching the second half to really get a true sense of what they were going for.
@@GamerSlyRatchet1 yeah I don’t know, I’ve never seen any of that show but I can’t imagine it’s better. The 60s show is great but all the attempts to recapture that style have fallen pretty flat.
Batman Beyond is my favorite of all of these but TAS is a close second. I have the exact same thoughts on "The Batman" as you did as a kid. It just felt wrong after watching TAS and with that version of Batman being everywhere at the time. The DCAU was still ongoing when the show started so it was also jarring for that reason. I wrote it off for that reason as a kid but over time it did get better.
Nice list, though I don't think you were fair to Bruce in Beware the Batman lol. He had an ongoing character arc where he had to struggle to control the Batman and Bruce Wayne aspects of himself, especially whenever Alfred was not around to keep him grounded. He started off stable, but arrogant, and then went on a downward spiral until he finally valued partnership with others. Even when he does the "I work alone" schtick in the season finale, he does it more out of concern for his partners than arrogance like when the show started. Two steps forward, one step back. The serialized nature also had his relationships to others change throughout the season, such as Katana and Gordon, and I think the show's quick cancellation robbed it of the growth other Batman shows enjoyed.
I love TBATB. I remember seeing a few episodes on Cartoon Network when I was a kid and I loved the portrayal of all the characters. My favourite characters from the show might be Aquaman, Batman and Wildcat. I also love the art style of the show- I think a Spider-Man or Avengers show in that style should be a thing.
I loved The Batman movie where he fought Dracula. I thought it was the coolest thing when I was a kid. And while BTAS is the definitive best Batman cartoon, mine will always be Brave and the Bold. I rewatched it recently and was surprised how much I laughed and how excited I was to see pretty old characters I knew about show up. It's definitely my favorite dc superhero cartoon
I've been watching Brave and the Bold recently and I am surprised by how much I like its campiness. The decision to play the show straight was a really good idea. The capers are weird, but not too weird. One complaint I have is Green Arrow. Not a fan of the beardless design.
The 2004 Batman was a bit rough in the first season, but then they brought on Alan Burnett, one of the main DCAU producers, to work on the show and smooth things out. I love Batman: TAS not just for its quality but also for how influential it is. So many people grew up with it. And all those people are starting to tell great stories on their own. Without B:TAS, we wouldn't have the Arkham games, we might not even have the new Reeves Batman or maybe even the Nolan Batman movies.
As someone who’s first Batman tv show and general Batman experience was brave and the bold, I’ve always enjoyed the show and how it manages to take itself completely seriously and yet not seriously at all.
I grew up on BTAS in the 90s. But it's nice seeing the other comments from younger people that grew up with The Batman and Brave and the Bold. Those aren't MY batman but I respected both those shows and I'm glad they left an impact on their intended audience.
I mostly agree with your take. I still haven't seen "Batman in the animated series", but "The Batman" and "Batman Beyond" are both great shows that I love! I think "The Batman" especially doesn't get enough love, as its designs are beautiful and help you let go of preconceptions of how these villains should act. Even as a kid, I knew this wasn't the definitive version, but a great version nonetheless.
Age ratings honestly don't mean crap anymore. Mild use of some "bad" language and the rating will skyrocket from that alone. The theme of the show definitely seemed less mature.
What's your favorite (and least favorite) Batman cartoon? Go to brilliant.org/Midnight/ and sign up for free, the first 200 people that go to that link will get 20% off the annual Premium subscription.
1. TAS
2. Beyond
3. The Batman
4. Brave and Bold
5. 60s Batman
6. Beware the Batman
Please, do a video for Superman animated shows too. And please include the 40s Fleischer Superman theatrical cartoons.
@Nicholas Batman Beyond. watched it a lot during Kids WB and the Hub to relive my youth.
Out of the different tv series versions of Batman, I liked the Beware the Batman's Batman the least. He doesn't talk or act like Batman. He is reckless (with the lives of others), short sighted, arrogant, and self-righteous. He gave the Legion of Assassins the Soultaker sword. Also, I can't see Batman call a villain "honorable" just because he releases innocent people from his death trap after his plan fails and he escapes.
Here's my list. Consider that I grew up with both the 60s live action Batman and the Super Friends, especially with those wonderful last 2 seasons and the great "Challenge".
7. Beware the Batman (Do I have to explain?)
6. Filmation's Batman (I consider both series one. Filmation standard, it entertains, just that.)
5. Batman, WB Kids revival (sorry, but you can't mix the original '92 series with the STAS spin-off even if it's canon. Only about 3 or 4 episodes are TAS level, the rest are bland.)
4. The Batman (Sorry. Nice and interesting take by Jackie Chan Adventures' Jeff Matsuda but there's always something off with every character. It got better in later seasons, though)
3. Brave and the Bold (A love letter to silver age comics. No one but Paul Rubens' Batmite could have said it better)
2. Beyond (No explanation here either.)
1. TAS (No contest here. It just set the bar way too high)
I think both Brave and The Bold and The Batman are really underrated, they both had the misfortune of following up what is almost universally considered the definitive take on the character.
Yeah the 90s Batman cartoon is great but both The Batman and Batman the Brave and the Bold is brilliant.
The Batman is fantastic, the fact it altered the looks of so many villains (Riddler is My riddler) and made it work was fantastic
I agree, the brave and the bold was my childhood and it still stands on his own with style and the boldness in storytelling that you wouldn't expect from a show that looks that cartoony
For some reason The Brave in the Bold was the first Batman cartoon that I really got invested in. I grew up occasionally watching The Animated Series, but it never grabbed my attention like all the other comic book based cartoons out in the 90s. I knew The Animated Series was going to be #1, but I was really hoping The Brave and the Bold was going to take second or third place.
To tell the truth I kinda forgot The Batman existed, until I saw that I'm of the Joker
And both were blamed for the Bat Embargo.
I really like how the Brave and the Bold gave so much spotlight to lesser-known DC heroes. It’s what introduced me to Plastic Man, Blue Beetle, Red Tornado, Wildcat, and Guy Gardner as a kid, and to this day, I still like these characters.
And Booster Gold
Love the Music Meister episode
@@holnrew Guy Gardner is just top tier
That was my introduction to Jay Garrick. And I've loved him since
@@infernopyre that’s probably still my favorite episode of the show. It’s a fun episode and the music is amazing.
My favourite episode of Brave and the Bold is the one where he meets Joe Chill (the man who killed his parents). Adam West and Julie Newmar as Thomas and Martha Wayne, Kevin Conroy as the Phantom Stranger and Mark Hamill as the Spectre.
*Spoiler Alert!*
My favorite part is where all of Batman’s rogues beat the shit out of joe chill cause he told everyone he made Batman
just if a few hrs ago just the voice actors alone elevated the episode,then the compelling story
Also it’s the first time we actually see Bruce Wayne’s face in the series
Good lord, talk about a mountain of fan service.
Oh yeah, the odd episode that gave that TAS vibe. Still one of my favorites.
I grew up with The Batman (2004) and loved it. I decided to watch it through in college and loved it even more and I’m glad to see the show getting more recognition the last couple of years
Same
Same bro same
@Will N wait really?
@Will Nbut why didn't they had wonder woman tho?
@Will N wow damn! Ty for the info
I grew up watching The Batman show from the mid-2000’s so to see it get a lot of respect is really nice. I always felt it was super underrated but to be second to the Animated Series shows how good it really was
Same. I grew up watching The Batman, Teen Titans, and Justice League all side by side and I knew they were different universes but wished they could cross over.
Agreed I love BTAS and The Batman equally.
Same! Glad to see it getting the recognition it deserves!
@@quadiraholden9532 As a I kid I loved Batman but I also loved Robin because he was younger so I totally agree, when they started adding supporting characters I loved the show even more
@@gonkdroid8279 finally got a blue ray release
The Brave and The Bold is a severely underrated series. While TAS is brilliant, I have a much larger soft spot for TBATB
I absolutely love it, nothing beats the animated series, but it was pretty darn great.
It's top 3
It has a lot of nostalgia for me, I watched it lots as a kid
TBATB brought back campy Batman better than Joel Schumacher did
You're probably right. I completely wrote it off when I was a kid. But over the years I've heard alot oa praise and love for it and seen some clips that look really good.
The 2000s Batman series was definitely a fascinating experience with how it handled the character.
I think the assumption was “Batman TAS did everything so well, so let’s just do our own weird thing with it.”
I liked The Batman quite a lot as a kid but on revisti noticed it was at times campier than I remember as well as the only season where the writing really holds up compared to TAS is 4 in my opinion. 3 on hbo max. It just has the unfortunate fate to follow up TAS and coincide with justice league and unlimited during its run where the better Batman is.
I love that whenever there was a joker focused episode you know they were gonna do some weird new stuff. Like that one episode where he decided he wants to be batman so he tried to make batman his joker. And the other one where they travel into each others minds and have a weird cognitive battle. No other batman show could have done that.
I did enjoy the Batman for what it was a guilty pleasure and it is the most criminally underrated Batman series ever made
I love the movie Batman vs Dracula
Can we just accept that The Batman’s first two seasons has the most underrated theme song ever? Same for it’s really good movie tie-in, The Batman vs. Dracula.
Ngl. Hearing "The Batmaaaaan" at the end of the theme hits waaaay harder than it should.
Yes, that intro was low key scary and when they said The Batman at the end legit gave me chills as a kid.
@@Coffeeguy18 fr tho. That show was my shit, bro. So many classic episodes too.
Here are my favorites:
"The Everywhere Man"
"A Matter of Family"
"The Breakout"
And literally every episode with Clayface (Ethan Bennett)
*The Batmaaaaaan*
The Batman vs Dracula is mediocre
I've always liked Batman Beyond the most. It's just so stylish and refreshing. I hope to see its adaption on the big screen one day.
Same it's also my favorite style, fight scenes, and uniqueness, stories, characters, make it so good.
Same. It was the first animated Batman I watched as a kid and some of the subjects it tackled were really mature, it felt different from every other cartoon I watched back then. And i loved the way they still incorporated an older Bruce Wayne as a mentor for Terry. Out of all the spinoffs and reinterpretations that almost every superhero has, I think it stands above the rest. Still my favorite Batman series. I really wish they would do more with the character
@@inyrui same, also I love your name for red x.
@@boxingbull523 thanks man! I love when people recognize the name haha. Teen Titans is another one of my favs
@@inyrui nice, excellent show it should've had one more season
I remember watching Batman The Animated Series on Jetix along with Superman TAS, Static Shock, and Pinky and the Brain. Apparently there was even a Direct-to-video Superman movie that aired on Toon Disney too.
Looking back during a time where Disney owns Marvel, it’s wild to remember seeing DC cartoons air on a Disney owned channel.
What a time to be a kid!
The Brave and The Bold will always have a special place in my heart, it the was the show I watched as a kid and was my first introduction to not only Batman, but the whole DC universe. Also I absolutely adore its take on Elastic Man and Aquaman
Oh Elastic Man from that show is amazing, that character fits the show's vibe perfectly
You can't go wrong with either Stoner Nacho Batman or Music Meister
Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill will always be my Batman and Joker, every time I read a comic I hear their voices in my head
Me to!!
I loved Brave and the Bold and how it spotlighted basically even the most d-list heroes. Like, they actually made Bwana Beast cool. Insane
The thing about Batman is that ALL of the animated series that came out after and including BTAS are very good shows. They all contribute something different. BTAS- The noir/rogues gallery side. Brave and the Bold- The campy, fun side. Beware the Batman- the detective and fighting side. Batman Beyond- the young/old side. And the reason I think The Batman is the best one is because it's the one that balances all of these aspects while having the best audiovisual presentation. It could get dark, it could be campy and fun, it had a young Batman, it had a seasoned Batman, it had Batman alone, it had Batman with allies, and it's got the most well rounded portrayal of the character in that it showed an emotionally healthy Bruce Wayne who could crack a joke but also the stoic caped crusader. Rather than focusing on the villains like BTAS, it focused on Batman. It had some villains with depth, and others who were just plain fun, and unlike BTAS, all of them could actually go against Batman in a fight.
TBH as amazing as all of them were. They owe a lot of their identity and existence to how good BTAS was.
It raised the standard for any batman animation going forwards.
So credit to the one that started the trend of very high quality animation. BTAS earned every bit of it's fame.
I’m so glad to see that the Batman(2004) is getting the respect it deserves. It’s just as good as Batman the animated series in my opinion.
I loved that 04 batman, specially the light trail that the batmobile leaves behind, just so cool
Those Batarang sounds are still stuck in my brain. Plus I didn't shy of showing Batman being vulnerable and failing from time to time
Lol
@@236santi ikr
I grew up with "the Batman (2004)" and it was basically my introduction to the character. And I remember loving it a lot.
Brave and the Bold was underrated because it came out around the same time as The Dark Knight did and many fans only cared about that one iteration of Batman. While I absolutely enjoyed both for different reasons, I was mocked for liking BatB and it's silliness. It made me understand how 1960s Batman fans felt. The Silver age is such an underappreciated era of a fun Batman and the show being a love letter to it was eye opening. As the series had jokingly mentioned, it doesn't take away from the core values of Batman and is still about a tortured superhero coming from the depths of darkness and tragedy.
spitting mad facts my friend
I loved that Brave and the bold made fun of edge lord Batman fans in one episode.
I’m so glad that brave and the bold got some love and attention. That was one of the shows that got me obsessed with dc
i always thought the batman was highly underrated so it's good to see it finally getting some love
As a character designer I love The Batman (2004) to death. Growing up with it probabaly influences my tastes, but I’m just obsessed with how weird, cool, and UNIQUE every villain looks, from Rasta straight jacket joker, to Red Hulk Bane, to other sick redesigns like firefly, mr freeze. Catwoman, poison Ivy, etc.
Lol. I auditioned for that Batman Beyond Commercial as a kid.
As much as I love "Batman: The Animated Series," the 2004 "The Batman" series really has grown on me. I feel that show's version of the Joker (voiced _excellently_ by Kevin Michael Richardson) is just such as stand-out version when compared to other versions.
Gotta love growing up early 2000s with TAS, BB, and The Batman. It felt like a cohesive story and progression for the character.
I never gave a chance to Brave and the Bold, but I like the art style
The Batman (2004) was my all time favorite since it gave a new design to the characters and it feels more gritty and dark. Overall it was great for me.
Im suprised you put The Batman so high
I greatly enjoyed it and think it is generally underrated,
so I am happy you mentioned it all given that it has some of the worst SEO and goes unnoticed a lot
Batman the animated series is one of the cornerstones of my childhood. It warms my heart just thinking of it and i know nothing will ever be able to give me that same feeling.
I'm right there with you. B:TAS came out when I was 11, and it was the first cartoon I ever watched that didn't feel like it was for kids. I specifically remember feeling like these were stories that took me seriously as a viewer, and that feeling really stuck with me.
So glad to see The Batman (2004) getting the respect it deserves, 'twas my childhood and will always love it
The opening sequence alone for BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES ('92) is amazing!
I agree with this list, man... The Batman was one of my favourite shows as a kid and like to revisit it a lot
The Brave and the Bold is a love letter to the golden age.
I fell it more a love letter to the sliver age
It's just a love letter to classic (mainly, although certainly not exclusively, pre-Crisis) DC in general, tbh.
Batman Beyond is AWESOME. The Batman is very underrated as well, it’s really cool
The Batman was my first introduction to the character. It’s almost up there with Spectacular Spider-Man, but Spectacular is so high because most of the other Spider-Man shows don’t come close in quality.
I grew up on Batman TAS. I actually started to rewatch it recently and it's amazing to hear Conroy figure out the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne as it goes along.
Yeah, I also grew up with Batman TAS. It was one of my favorite cartoons when I was a child. I need to rewatch it one of these days.
I rarely see or hear people talk about The Batman (2004) when it comes to the animated shows. It's usually TAS/Beyond and/or Brave-Bold. So I'm overjoyed that you have it at #2.
I think it's definitely an underrated series that deserves more recognition. When I was growing up, this was my Batman and still is to this day.
I honestly think both the batman and brave and the bold are pretty underrated
So glad to see the 2004 The Batman series having it's love. It was the series I more grew up with considering I was born in 1990 and so was too young to really remember the Animated Series when it was originally on air. I was 14 when The Batman came out and I loved that show, and it has my favorite version of the Batmobile being the one he gets after Gearhead destroys his first one.
I love The Batman (2004). I rewatch the show on a yearly basis if I’m being honest. Was my childhood Batman beside Batman Beyond.
The Batman was such a great series. I really liked Riddler's origin in that show. "When is the villain not the villain" was honestly such a great line that really helped to make Riddler feel more morally grey.
The Batman had the best action scenes to me. As a kid, the fast paced hand to hand combat scene with he and joker were the best at times. I’m not used to seeing Joker do flying ninja spin kicks but here he was throwing hands with Batman and doing it like it was nothing.
Thank you for shining a light on the Batman.
It was amazing and so refreshing. It was my childhood and I’m glad it went so many seasons
I forgot about The Batman, I used to like it, although I think Batman Beyond is the better of the two! that said, I feel the way you ranked them makes perfect sense. I also found that DC animated movies about Batman are usually excellent at portraying the character in a way fans can appreciate.
I remember watching Batman brave and the bold! It’s a fun one! (Especially the musical episode!;)
Been watching The Batman recently and I am absolutely loving it! And no better time to watch it with "The Batman" in theaters.
I used to LOVE Brave and the Bold when I was younger. I'd probably still love it even now! Seeing it get ranked somewhat highly and getting all that praise feels so vindicating.
The Batman vs Dracula is what introduced me to The Batman series. It's one of my favourite series alongside Batman: The animated series.
This is the first of these kind of ranking videos that actually matches 1:1 with my personal tastes (minus the 60's and 70's shows which I haven't watched and thus can't rank). The Batman really aged well and deserves more credit than it is given. Its Ridler introduction episode is still my quintessential Ridler story.
Batman Brave and the Bold and The Batman were both underrated for their time, even I admit I didn't watch them until much later. But over time they've gained a lot more appreciation by fans that they're just as good as Batman TAS.
Nice video! I like how you said that you gave the Batman (2004) a second chance. As far as I'm concerned the only bad thing they ever did on that cartoon was removing Ellen Yin! She and Bruce had great chemistry in my opinion. I also really like Batman Beyond. I'm very glad these were in your top set. By the way, with al the current Bat-mania going on, would you also consider doing a retrospective on Gotham and going over all five seasons, I think that would make for another great discussion video. Think about it, please!
I grew up on brave and the bold. It will always have a really soft spot in my heart and really helped foster my love for Golden and silver age comics
That entire title can be translated as “Batman TAS number 1, followed by your choice of series order.” Brave and the Bold and Beyond are my numbers 2 and 3.
Dude...you just unlocked a key memory with that "Batman video collection" commercial.
Like I was legit a little kid there for a few seconds.
The Batman is the definitive animated version for me
He feels more dark and sharp rather than beefy and heroic that makes most versions of Batman feel a little too similar to other heroes
I’m so glad The Batman is getting the love it deserves in recent years. I love how they did their own unique takes on the characters, that still felt true to them while still being fresh.
It's like the show was buried for 15 years and now it's back and getting the recognition it deserves
I grew up watching the 2004 and 2008 animation series. Thanks for remind me of these I had completely forgotten about them.
I remember one episode of the Brave and the Bold where Joker accidentally gained god like powers. This episode gave a really interesting and well done look at what exactly goes on in Jokers head and what motivates him
Amazing video! The Batman (2004) is my fave for sure and lvoe that you gave it some love. Would totally watch a DCEU animated Batman tier list!
Also, you've convinced me to give Brave and the Bold a chance.
The Batman was the one I grew up with and I love how action packed it was, and man that season finale episodes were really good. Also, the plug and play game was really, really good
Broo the plug and play was insane, legit could be ported to DS with a few changes and be a solid game
@@gas7904 Right? I was surprised at how good the game was. The only plug and play I’ve tried before that is a scooby one, and that was pretty limited. So I was delighted by how good the Batman plug and p,ay was.
@@rimurutempest4945 defenately a hidden gem for a plug and play. Sad that they didnt make the batman a good ps2 game in the era where everything had a video game tie in
@@gas7904 Yeah, like as much as I loved that plug and play, I’d have given everything to have a full ps2 game. Man, that plug and play really brings me back lmao, I remember trying to just use the grappling hook to bypass levels where I can use the grapple, it’s so much fun
@@rimurutempest4945 btw many levels in this plug n play were gigahard especially as a kid but it was fun af
I recently went back and watched Batman TAS and I was shocked by how mature it was. Not in terms of excessive violence or sex but in the emotional intelligence of its cast and how cerebral a lot of the episodes ended up being. I think there is a reason why for just about anyone, it had the definitive Mr. Freeze, who was so haunting. "I would trade a thousand of my days for one of your worst" Even though they made it so kids could watch, as a kid I always felt like I was watching something so much more adult.
The Batman and even Beware the Batman are incredibly underrated imo. Beware takes a bit to get goin, and Batman gets a bit fuller in it's later seasons, but they do such great unique things with it's villains and stories that are truly fantastic and live up to the Bat himself.
I think that's my favorite aspect. It took REAL risks, and while some of them don't work, it's one of the gutsier takes on Batman period.
This makes me wanna see you cover the DCAU as a whole. I’d really love to see your opinion on shows like Justice League and Teen Titans
Excellent list, Batman: The Animated Series deserves the top spot. I felt the same way about The Batman Series, I never really get it a chance until several years ago. I retrospect The Batman Series from the early 2000's is quite good.
The animated series just has such a strong style that I absolutely love
1:43 The Adventures of Batman (1968)
2:30 Beware the Batman (2013)
3:49 The New Adventures of Batman (1977)
5:08 Batman: The Brave and The Bold (2008)
6:23 Batman Beyond (1999)
7:52 The Batman (2004)
9:20 Batman The Animated Series (1992)
I had that video collection you showed right before the list. I'll never forget this, but one of them had a commercial for DVD technology at the beginning. Those little featurettes for old toys and stuff (many of which I had as a kid) are one of the things I love about your channel. So cool.
Beyond is my favorite but yes, I agree the villains are frequently a weak spot. I wish they had been able to create ones that were more compelling.
1.TAS
2. Beyond
3. Brave and Bold
4. New adventures
5. The Batmn
6. Beware The Batman
Beware the Batman was great. This really just shows that there has never really been a bad Batman show.
@@michaelterrell5061 definitely not great but not completely terrible either
@@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD Fair enough.
@@michaelterrell5061 yes my fav
Among the most bizarre moments of the 1970s "New Adventures of Batman" was the two-part episode where Zarbor, the evil Batmite from Batmite's dimension, came to Earth. I think there were two episodes with Zarbor, in fact: with one, he stole power plants to provide power to his own dimension; and with the other, he used Batman and Robin to help conquer Earth.
Batman beyond all the way. The more batman stuff I watch, the more I appreciate it's uniqueness and greatness.
Never 100% agreed to a ranking list video until today. Well done my guy
Brave and Bold is severely Underrated. I have a unhealthy amount of nostalgia for that show(ahhh the intro) and its still immensely enjoyable to this day. It introduced to a lot if new heroes and things about comics I had never known. This was my first introduction to characters such as Blue Beetle, Aquaman, Huntress, Black Canary and Bat Mite. Its like the Tom And Jerry of the Batman universe in its nostalgic and universal appeal for me.
Thank's for the post love those classic TV shows
Kevin Conroy brought Bats to life like no other
RIP Legend forever the best Dark Knight
I remember bawling when I saw the last episode of the brave and the bold, I had action figures, used to go outside in the brave and the bold costume and it introduced me along with the burton films to comics and I wouldnt be the same without that show, I miss it
It's kinda incredible to me that despite how great Batman's animated history is, there's still room for new takes on the character. For example, I think a (slightly) more mature oriented series (or at least one allowed to match the PG-13 tone of the main universe Batman comic) could do a great job depicting the long history of the Batfamily, which is by far my favorite part of the Batman mythos and probably the only way to see a decent adaptations of my favorite Batman characters (Cassadra Cain, Stephanie Brown, and Tim Drake)
I think the main hurdles would be getting an animated series that aims to eventually depict the murder of Jason Todd and the Joker shooting Barbara Gordon (both vital moments relatively early to the modern history of Batman and which happen back-to-back) off the ground, since most pitches for a more "mature" Batman seem to ditch his family altogether.
what a coincidence, just watched your animated spiderman TV show ranking from 3 years ago last night! I'm excited for this new batman movie!
The best animated version of Batman is by far the one from Teen Titans Go. He's just a chill dude who wants to hang out and watch Tv with Commissioner Gordon. A very relatable character if you ask me.
What an absolutely terrible take. "Batman does NOT eat nachos!"
TAS and Beyond are some of the best and my favorites but the 2004 one holds a special place in my heart. that show is pretty much what made me love and become a batman fan, i would wake up early saturday mornings just to make sure i didnt miss an episode.
Hey CaptainMidnight, excellent video! I agree with your placement of Beware the Batman, it is the weakest, however! It get’s much better in the second half of season one. It becomes far more serialized with each episode ending in a cliffhanger & recap next time. This allowed them to explore some interesting stuff especially in the character of Harvey Dent and his transformation to Two-Face. Have you completed the series? If not, I would recommend watching the second half to really get a true sense of what they were going for.
All my biases aside, I think it should be above The New Adventures of Batman at least.
@@GamerSlyRatchet1 yeah I don’t know, I’ve never seen any of that show but I can’t imagine it’s better. The 60s show is great but all the attempts to recapture that style have fallen pretty flat.
Batman Beyond is my favorite of all of these but TAS is a close second. I have the exact same thoughts on "The Batman" as you did as a kid. It just felt wrong after watching TAS and with that version of Batman being everywhere at the time. The DCAU was still ongoing when the show started so it was also jarring for that reason. I wrote it off for that reason as a kid but over time it did get better.
Nice list, though I don't think you were fair to Bruce in Beware the Batman lol. He had an ongoing character arc where he had to struggle to control the Batman and Bruce Wayne aspects of himself, especially whenever Alfred was not around to keep him grounded. He started off stable, but arrogant, and then went on a downward spiral until he finally valued partnership with others. Even when he does the "I work alone" schtick in the season finale, he does it more out of concern for his partners than arrogance like when the show started. Two steps forward, one step back. The serialized nature also had his relationships to others change throughout the season, such as Katana and Gordon, and I think the show's quick cancellation robbed it of the growth other Batman shows enjoyed.
I love TBATB. I remember seeing a few episodes on Cartoon Network when I was a kid and I loved the portrayal of all the characters. My favourite characters from the show might be Aquaman, Batman and Wildcat. I also love the art style of the show- I think a Spider-Man or Avengers show in that style should be a thing.
1. TAS
2. Beyond
3. The Batman
4. Brave and Bold
5. 60s Batman
6. Beware the Batman
Spot on.
Dude I was waiting for you to make a video like this!
Better put some respect on The Batman and Brave & The Bold
Great video, concise and well thought out. Thought the random ps2 hit and run games was cool too
Editing this week was fun because I got to see Batman fight during D-day which was super jarring to me having never seen The Brave and The Bold
I loved The Batman movie where he fought Dracula. I thought it was the coolest thing when I was a kid. And while BTAS is the definitive best Batman cartoon, mine will always be Brave and the Bold. I rewatched it recently and was surprised how much I laughed and how excited I was to see pretty old characters I knew about show up. It's definitely my favorite dc superhero cartoon
Grew up on "The Batman" as a kid - so glad its getting recognition!
I've been watching Brave and the Bold recently and I am surprised by how much I like its campiness. The decision to play the show straight was a really good idea. The capers are weird, but not too weird.
One complaint I have is Green Arrow. Not a fan of the beardless design.
I really enjoyed The Brave and the Bold as a young adult. Just yesterday I started watching Beyond for the first time and it's absolute fire!
The 2004 Batman was a bit rough in the first season, but then they brought on Alan Burnett, one of the main DCAU producers, to work on the show and smooth things out.
I love Batman: TAS not just for its quality but also for how influential it is. So many people grew up with it. And all those people are starting to tell great stories on their own. Without B:TAS, we wouldn't have the Arkham games, we might not even have the new Reeves Batman or maybe even the Nolan Batman movies.
As someone who’s first Batman tv show and general Batman experience was brave and the bold, I’ve always enjoyed the show and how it manages to take itself completely seriously and yet not seriously at all.
I grew up on BTAS in the 90s. But it's nice seeing the other comments from younger people that grew up with The Batman and Brave and the Bold. Those aren't MY batman but I respected both those shows and I'm glad they left an impact on their intended audience.
I mostly agree with your take. I still haven't seen "Batman in the animated series", but "The Batman" and "Batman Beyond" are both great shows that I love! I think "The Batman" especially doesn't get enough love, as its designs are beautiful and help you let go of preconceptions of how these villains should act. Even as a kid, I knew this wasn't the definitive version, but a great version nonetheless.
It's interesting you mention Beware The Batman being held back by target audience given how it's the only Batman show to be rated PG.
Age ratings honestly don't mean crap anymore. Mild use of some "bad" language and the rating will skyrocket from that alone.
The theme of the show definitely seemed less mature.
@@SuperCatacata didn't ask.
I loved batman the animated series as a kid and had the box set. I still rewatch some of my favorite episodes to this day
I've seen beware the batman twice now and I still really like the vibe of it and most of it is entertaining
Frr
Wow, a ranking list I like and agree with. Great video👌
It still surprises me The Dark Knight was made in 2008 and still holds its reputation and ages really well till this day.
Spot on list! Great video!