Shots From The Studio #18

August 14, 2024

A few weeks ago I wrote about how several recent animated television programs have been written better than a lot of live action shows. Well I’m at it again. After watching all 10 episodes of Batman: The Caped Crusader I have another one to add to the list.

Now I will say up front that the 90’s Batman: The Animated Series is one of my favorite cartoons of all time so I was….skeptical when I heard about the new Batman cartoon. But longtime DC animation guru Bruce Timm was set to produce, and by all accounts was the creative force behind this new endeavor, so I was more than willing to give it a chance. My faith in Mr. Timm paid off.

Together with fellow producers Matt Reeves (The Batman), JJ Abrams and head writer/comics legend, Ed Brubaker, DC has delivered 10 intense, fast paced, well written episodes each episode being a stand alone tale with an overarching story that wraps up by the end of the season.

Where as the original animated series took place in an amorphous undisclosed time, Caped Crusader seemingly sets us in the 30s/40s. There is no bat computer or high tech gadgets and the “Batcave” more closely resembles a detective’s office. Which is fitting since the Dark Knights main objective seems to be to stop criminals and root out Gotham PD’s rampant corruption.

While the Caped Crusader has a lot of the same vibes as the original animated series, its art direction is actually quite unique in some subtle but important ways. First of all Batman’s overall look is very closely modeled on Bill Finger and Bob Kane’s original design from 1938. This really helps with giving us a sense that we are in an earlier setting. And while there are some familiar characters throughout the 10 episodes everyone has been given a fresh new look.

The dialog and voice acting is top notch with Hamish Linklater doing a great job with the nearly impossible task of taking up the cowl after the passing of Kevin Conroy. Other great talents lend their voices such as Diedrich Bader, Minnie Driver and Christina Ricci and really help flesh out this version of Gotham City.