How Well Do You Remember Batman: The Animated Series?
- by Andrew Pollard
- – on
- in Movies and TV
In the annals of TV history, one of the most beloved animated shows to ever grace the small screen is Batman: The Animated Series. Even to this day, the series usually ranks in the top 2 or 3 whenever an outlet puts together a ranking list of the greatest animated shows of all time.
Why was BTAS so special? Well, it was simply a breath of fresh air when it premiered, giving audiences a more mature, serious Batman show in comparison to the animated efforts of decades prior. With an aesthetic and tone that was unique and mesmerizing, the show built on its stunning visuals, giving longtime Bat-fans plenty to smile about as it showcased many of the Caped Crusader's rogues gallery in ways never before seen - such as how it reinvented villains such as Mr. Freeze and Two-Face.
Throw in a stellar voice cast, genuinely engaging and interesting stories, and nods and references to the comic book Dark Knight, and you had a winning formula. So successful was the initial incarnation of the show, feature-length movies would spin off from the series, plus Batman: The Animated Series would later be reinvented as The New Batman Adventures and, later, Batman Beyond.
How well do you know the original 3-year run of Batman: The Animated Series, though? It's time to suit up and find out!
Who Voiced Batman?
Over the decades, comic book fans have come to hear certain voices in their head when reading the stories of their favourite heroes and villains. Batman is certainly no different on that front. To many, when reading a Bat-tale they hear the same voice that they heard behind the World's Greatest Detective in the famed Batman: The Animated Series. The big question here, though, is just who was behind the voice of Batman: The Animated Series' take on the Dark Knight?
When Did Batman: The Animated Series Debut?
Following Tim Burton's Michael Keaton-headlined Batman movie in 1989, the Caped Crusader found himself in the midst of a newfound popularity. The last time the Dark Knight was this popular, Adam West and Burt Ward were running around as Batman and Robin in the 1960s. Eager to jump on this boom, Warner Bros. Animation decided to develop Batman: The Animated Series - a show that, in its initial incarnation, would run for 3 years and a total of 85 episodes. What year did the series first air, though?
Who Was His First Villain?
One of the elements that made Batman: The Animated Series such a beloved and well-revered show to many longtime Batman fans was how it featured such a huge roster of Batman rogues throughout its run. From A-listers to B-listers to Z-listers, Batman: The Animated Series gave a whole host of infamous, nefarious villains their time in the spotlight. Back in the very first episode - titled 'On Leather Wings' - which particular villain did the Caped Crusader find himself battling with?
Who Was Engaged To Poison Ivy?
One of the very first episodes of Batman: The Animated Series was the 'Pretty Poison' outing in which audiences were given their first look at this animated show's take on Poison Ivy. Now, while Ivy would, of course, find herself butting heads with the Dark Knight in this episode, another notable plot point of the episode is that Pamela Isley is actually engaged to a well-known character here. Who was the lucky - or not so lucky - fella who was smitten with Ivy in Pretty Poison?
Was Harley Created especially For The Show?
These days, Harley Quinn has been well and truly thrust into the public consciousness due to the big screen outing for Margot Robbie's Harleen in 2016's Suicide Squad movie. And with Harley set to appear in Gotham City Sirens and Suicide Squad 2, her popularity is only going to rise further over the next few years. Is it true or false, though, that Harley Quinn was a character specially created for Batman: The Animated Series rather the originating as a comic book character?
What Was Harvey Dent's Initial Alter-Ego?
In terms of all of the characters that Batman: The Animated Series handled well over the years, Harvey Dent was right at the top of the tree on that front. With the show's Dent, they showcased a multi-layered, troubled, intense, emotional, and erratic character who was far more than simply just a regular bad guy. Before we got to see Harvey become Two-Face, he had ANOTHER nickname for his more angry, aggressive side. Do you remember what that name was?
What Was The Name Of Mr. Freeze's Wife?
Much like Harvey Dent/Two-Face, the character of Victor Vries, aka Mr. Freeze, was a hugely complex one that was handled wonderfully by Batman: The Animated Series. If ever there was a tragic villain, Freeze was it, and his Batman: The Animated Series debut in 'Heart of Ice' was so mesmerizing that it won a 1993 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program. Freeze's sole motivation here was to save his beloved wife - but what was her name?
Who Voiced The Gray Ghost?
In one of the more famous and fan-favourite episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, we see our Caped Crusader team up with a fella by the name of Simon Trent in 'Beware the Gray Ghost'. Trent is a down-and-out actor famous for playing the Gray Ghost, but in turn, he became typecast and was on the verge of bankruptcy when we were introduced to him. Providing the vocals for Trent was which veteran actor who had ties to the Batman series of the 1960s?
Whose Attempted Murder Was Bruce Wayne Framed For?
In the two-part 'Feat of Clay' story, fans got to see Matt Hagen, aka Clayface, take centre-stage. And by that, we actually saw this villainous master of disguise pose as Bruce Wayne as he attempted to murder someone. In the fallout of that, Bruce was arrested for assault and attempted murder, although the truth would finally emerge by the time this arc came to a close. Which character was Bruce Wayne accused of trying to kill off, though?
Who Was Originally Hired To Voice The Joker?
In Batman: The Animated Series, Mark Hamill is the person who famously voiced the Clown Prince of Crime, the Jester of Genocide, the Harlequin of Hate, Batman's greatest villain: The Joker. To many, Hamill is THE voice of Mr. J, and it seems strange to see certain modern-day affairs that use anyone other than Hamill as The Joker. What many don't know, though, is that a different actor was originally hired for the role but was replaced by Hamill due to his performance being too scary. Who was that actor?
What Was The First Feature Film?
Thanks to the hugely positive critical and fan response to Batman: The Animated Series, the minds behind the show decided to venture further afield and take the action of the show to the feature-film format. Of course, there have been plenty of classic animated Batman movies to have been released over the past few decades - with the Caped Crusader having had just as many stunning animated feature outings as live-action ones - but which was the first movie to spawn from Batman: The Animated Series?
Which Villain Debuted In This Episode?
The 40th episode of Batman: The Animated Series - which first aired in November 1992 - was titled 'If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?', and is famous for the series debut of a character familiar to many a longtime Bat-fan. Like so many rogues, this nefarious bad guy is ultimately brought to justice by the Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin, but the question here is just which of the characters listed was it that made their debut in this episode?
Was Montoya Created especially For The Show?
When it comes to the police presence in Gotham City, both in the comic book world and in Batman: The Animated Series, at times it seemed and seems that nobody can be trusted. Of course, there are the exceptions to that grim rule, with Jim Gordon famously a trustworthy ally of the Caped Crusader. And under Gordon's command, there are Jim's trusty GCPD cohorts, officers Harvey Bullock and Renee Montoya. True or false, though; was Montoya exclusively created for Batman: The Animated Series rather than having her roots in the comic book world?
Who Did Loren Lester Voice?
Batman: The Animated Series is often lauded for a whole variety of different reasons, and one element that fans regularly champion is just how fantastic a job the assembled vocal cast did throughout the show's initial 3-year run and its subsequent reinventions and feature-film spinoffs. While some vocal performances may have been one-and-done gigs, other actors were involved in the show as a far more permanent fixture. Loren Lister is one such name who had a heavy presence in the series, but which character did he voice?
Who Almost Got 'Im?
As is pretty much always the case, whenever a bad guy or supervillain go up against Batman, the end result is that the rogue in question sees their no-good scheme brought to a halt and they are locked up by the episode's conclusion. So, in the "Almost Got 'Im'" episode, we see five villains get together to tell stories of the times that they were so close to defeating the Caped Crusader. The Joker, The Penguin, Poison Ivy, and Two-Face were part of this chat, but who was the fifth rogue present?
Which Of These Characters Wasn't Created For The Show?
As well as being famous for showcasing a whole host of established comic book villains of the Dark Knight's, Batman: The Animated Series wasn't afraid to boldly introduce new characters, whether heroes or villains. Some of these specially created new characters worked, others didn't, but it was just great to see the series trying to keep things fresh. Out of the four characters listed here, though, which one was an already established comic book character and NOT simply created for Batman: The Animated Series?
Which Robin Featured In The Show?
In comic book lore, there are five people in main continuity - six if you count The Dark Knight Returns' Carrie Kelley - who have taken on the mantle of Robin, the sidekick of the World's Greatest Detective, over the decades. In animated movies and TV series, we've seen several of these Robins brought to cartoon life, but which version of the famed Boy Wonder was front and centre during Batman: The Animated Series' original run from 1992 to 1995?
Who Killed Batman?
Many supervillains and criminals tried to take down the World's Greatest Detective throughout Batman: The Animated Series' run. All of the big hitters such as The Joker, Scarecrow, Ra's al Ghul, et al ultimately failed in their attempts, however. In the 'The Man Who Killed Batman' episode, a low-level thug would succeed where all of those big names had failed as he accidentally killed the Bat. Of course, the Caped Crusader would eventually be fine and well, but who had supposedly killed Batman here?
Who Hired Bane?
In the comic book world, Bane was the man who famously 'broke the Bat' during the Knightfall arc. Where Batman: The Animated Series is concerned, the Bane character debuted in the show's second season episode titled simply 'Bane'. In that episode, the hulking brute was hired by another no-good bad guy with one job in mind: to take out the Dark Knight. For his Batman: The Animated Series debut, which character was it that hired Bane to take down the Caped Crusader?
Who Did John Glover Voice?
John Glover is an actor who has been involved in many a DC project over the decades, including, of course, Batman: The Animated Series. In the years following this much-loved animated show, Glover appeared as Dr. Jason Woodrue - who falls victim to Poison Ivy's charms - in Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin movie, and then more famously he would play Lionel Luthor in The CW's Smallville. Going back to Batman: The Animated Series, though, which character did Glover provide the vocals for?
Which Other DC Hero Didn't Appear?
While Batman: The Animated Series is famous for featuring a who's who of Batman's rogues gallery, the fan favourite show also featured plenty of comic book 'good guys'. Now, while the series featured the likes of Jim Gordon and Alfred Pennyworth assisting Batman and Robin, at times the show would have more straight-up superheroes turn up to help out the Dynamic Duo in their battle to protect Gotham City. Which of these DC heroes DIDN'T feature at all in the original 3-year incarnation of B:TAS?
Who Created The Series With Bruce Timm?
The minds behind Batman: The Animated Series deserve a whole host of plaudits for the truly excellent and iconic series they gave to fans. Now, Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, and Alan Burnett often get a lot of praise for their work on the show, but there is one name that is sometimes not quite given the recognition he should be getting. While Timm was one of the creators of the show, he shares co-creator credit with someone else - but who?
Who Is Gotham City's Mayor?
There are various positions of power in Gotham City, although in the murky world of Gotham, so often there are those nefarious sorts out there who are looking to carve their own position of power. Of course, Jim Gordon headed up the Gotham City Police Department in Batman: The Animated Series, but the show also gave generous screen time to the Mayor of Gotham. Throughout the duration of Batman: The Animated Series, though, which character was actually in office as Gotham's Mayor?
What Name Did The Joker Go By In 'Be A Clown'?
Of course, Batman's greatest nemesis is and always will be The Joker. And where Batman: The Animated Series was concerned, it was indeed the Jester of Genocide who would cause the most trouble for Bats. Now, often The Joker is referred to by the Clown Prince of Crime moniker, but in the 'Be a Clown' episode of Batman: The Animated Series, Mr. J actually dressed up as a genuine clown as part of his evil plan. What name did The Joker give to his clown-ish alter-ego, though?
Who Was The Batman Of The Future?
As many longtime Batman fans will be aware, Batman: The Animated Series was followed in 1997 by The New Batman Adventures. After that, late 1999 saw the debut of the future-set Batman Beyond. In that series, the action centred on a future where a much older Bruce Wayne would hand the Batman moniker over to someone else. With the show known in certain markets as 'Batman of the Future', which character took over the mantle of Batman in that series?