{"id":29511,"date":"2018-11-12T00:37:12","date_gmt":"2018-11-12T05:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=29511"},"modified":"2018-11-11T17:18:05","modified_gmt":"2018-11-11T22:18:05","slug":"batman-the-complete-animated-series-deluxe-limited-edition-blu-ray-digital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/12\/batman-the-complete-animated-series-deluxe-limited-edition-blu-ray-digital\/","title":{"rendered":"Batman: The Complete Animated Series \u2013 Deluxe Limited Edition [Blu-Ray\/Digital]"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Even in this day and age, 1992\u2019s \u201cBatman: The Animated Series\u201d remains the definitive iteration of Bill Finger\u2019s Batman. Combining all of the best elements from past Batman lore, Bruce Timm\u2019s iconic animated series is a mature, often compelling take on the Dark Knight that\u2019s action packed enough for children, but sophisticated enough for older audiences to appreciate. Timm approaches the Batman with enough care and delicate creativity to allow the character to flourish in a contemporary setting, embracing the fantasy elements of the character as well as basing a lot of the aspects of the character and his background in reality as much as possible.<\/p>\n

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In its day, \u201cBatman: The Animated Series\u201d was considered a very edgy show, as it avoided the wrath of censors, allowing Bruce Timm to portray Batman\u2019s world with real weapons. This gives the series the neo-noir and pulpish aesthetic that\u2019s still rich and beautiful. \u201cBatman: The Animated Series\u201d is, of course, the story of Bruce Wayne, a rich business executive whose parents were murdered when he was a child. By night he masquerades as Batman, a costumed vigilante who fights crime, and infiltrates the criminal underworld. \u201cBatman: The Animated Series\u201d delivers on all fronts, with both crucial fan service, and rich masterful writing that keeps the show consistently balanced, and engaging.<\/p>\n

Along with skirting the censors, \u201cBatman: The Animated Series\u201d is still widely celebrated thanks to its unique animation, and brilliant voice work by its immense cast. Even today, fans consider Kevin Conroy the definitive Batman and Bruce Wayne, while Mark Hamil\u2019s Joker is the preferred interpretation. The show also goes down as creating two iconic Batman characters, one of whom being Renee Montoya, while the other is Harley Quinn. Quinn was initially created for the show as a means of giving the menacing Joker someone to play off of,\u00a0 but she inevitably rose to such popularity, she eventually earned her way in to the DC Comics canon, and in to pop culture fame.<\/p>\n

Timm and co. keeps the world of \u201cBatman: The Animated Series\u201d timeless, allowing it to be accessible by just about everyone.\u00a0 From colorful, dynamic villains, excellent analyses of the psychology of Batman and his rogues, and some wonderful new takes on once goofy villains like Mr. Freeze, and Mad Hatter, it\u2019s impossible to walk away from this masterpiece of a show disappointed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The new release from Warner comes packed to the brim with special features and an SD Digital Copy for consumers. The Digital Copy garners every episode of the series sans the Batman animated movies. The Deluxe LE packs the discs in a hard cover flat book, with full color illustrations and features an envelope filled with seven lenticular art cards from the series. There are also 3 Funko pop mini-figures of Batman, Harley Quinn, and the Joker, for folks that collect it. Among the extras there are audio commentaries for episodes like \u201cOn Leather Wings,\u201d \u201cHeart of Ice,\u201d \u201cRobin\u2019s Reckoning Part One,\u201d \u201cHeart of Steel Part Two,\u201d \u201cAlmost Got \u2018Im,\u201d \u201cHarley and Ivy,\u201d \u201cRead My Lips,\u201d \u201cHarlequinade,\u201d \u201cOver the Edge,\u201d \u201cCritters,\u201d and finally \u201cLegends of the Dark Knight.\u201d<\/p>\n

The commentaries feature folks like Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Dan Ribi, James Tucker, and Eric Radomski, respectively. There\u2019s also a video commentary \u201cHouse & Garden\u201d with producer Bruce Timm, director Boyd Kirkland and writer Paul Dini. There are introductions for \u201cOn Leather Wings,\u201d \u201cChristmas with the Joker,\u201d \u201cNothing to Fear,\u201d \u201cThe Last Laugh,\u201d and \u201cPretty Poison,\u201d along with The Dark Knight\u2019s First Night Pilot Promo: Hosted By Bruce Timm, clocking in at five minutes. There\u2019s the eight minute \u201cBatman: The Legacy Continues\u201d retrospective, and a three minute Tour of the Batcave with looks at his Utility Belt, Vehicles, and much more. \u201cRobin Rising: How the Boy Wonder\u2019s Character Evolved\u201d is an eight minute look at the new direction taken with Robin for the series and his origin as a kid friendly character, and the ten minute \u201cGotham\u2019s Guardians\u201d supporting characters like Harvey Bullock, Alfred, Jim Gordon, and Renee Montoya.<\/p>\n

\u201cVoices of the Knight\u201d is an eight minute look at the iconic voices behind the characters, the recording process and the like. I\u2019d love to see a two hour exploration of the process, but this is an okay segment. \u201cGotham\u2019s New Knight\u201d is a great eight minute look at the introduction of Batgirl to the show, her evolution as a character, and introduction to the comic books. Finally, there\u2019s \u201cArkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight\u2019s Many Foes\u201d a nearly half hour look at many of the series\u2019 rogues including Clayface, Harley Quinn, The Joker, and many more. It\u2019s a neat run down of the whole show\u2019s big bads. The Bonus Disc comes with \u201cThe Heart of Batman,\u201d a one hundred minute, three part retrospective explores the whole run of \u201cBatman: The Animated Series,\u201d along with Warner animation, Tiny Toons Adventures, Batman before his animated series, and much more.<\/p>\n

\u201cConcepting Harley Quinn\u201d a brief interview with Paul Dini, who discusses the creation of Harley Quinn, a character intended as a one episode side kick for The Joker, who then rocketed in fame as a pop culture icon. The Bonus Disc comes packed with the stellar \u201cBatman: Mask of the Phantasm\u201d with both Theatrical and TV aspect ratios, and the original trailer. We also get the excellent sequel \u201cBatman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero\u201d along with four Mr. Freeze Episodes from the DCAU Saga including \u201cCold Comfort\u201d from \u201cThe New Batman Adventures,\u201d and \u201cMeltdown\u201d from \u201cBatman Beyond.\u201d There\u2019s \u201cArt of Batman: Music Montage\u201d a look at the animation process for Batman, the original trailer, and finally \u201cGet the Picture\u201d a short tutorial on drawing Batman in Bruce Timm\u2019s classic style.<\/p>\n