History WesternAnimation / BatmanTheAnimatedSeries

** Harvey Dent's fiance, Grace, no longer appears or is even mentioned after the events of "Two-Face Pt. 2," which is especially odd considering she still clearly loved him even with his deformity and criminality.

* BrakeAngrily: In "House And Garden," Poison Ivy has apparently rehabilitated and has married her doctor, Professor Steven Carlyle, to help him raise his twin sons. Batman thinks Ivy may still be up to something when a number of wealthy bachelors succumb to a mysterious toxin, but all his leads come up zilch. Driving back to the Batcave, Robin tells Batman that Prof. Carlyle actually has twin ''girls''. '''''SCREEEEEEECHHHHH!!!!'''''

* {{Brainwashed}}: Several villains utilize brainwashing to further their schemes, whatever they may be.

** Joker goes nuts when he's the butt of jokes or is pranked by someone else. In a posthumous SpitefulWill, rival boss King Barlowe got the last laugh when he told that the UnexpectedInheritance was fake and knew that Joker would binge-spend before the IRS came for the taxes. Realizing he was duped, the Joker [[ShootTheTelevision shoots the television]] playing the VideoWill in rage.

* BedlamHouse: Arkham Asylum is less a case of Bedlam House than in the source comic. The architecture is still oppressive, and the better-known inmates seem to enjoy making life hell for each other, but it is shown to have some good doctors, who have some [[StatusQuoIsGod sadly temporary]] success with Harvey Dent, Harley Quinn, and Edward Nygma. Harely herself was also a therapist at Arkham that fell in love with the Joker. It shows the place isn't that great for its staff either. The episode ''Lock-Up'', however, features Arkham guard Lyle Bolton, who gets fired after it's revealed he's on a serious power trip that has made him violently abusive to inmates including Harley and Jonathan Crane.

* BadassBack: Batman will typically knock out those trying to sneak up on him wit little effort. Unfortunately, Batman cannot sneak attack The Creeper from "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE23BewareTheCreeper Beware the Creeper]]" without [[OffhandBackhand getting knocked across the room]]... while The Creeper is trying to flirt with Harley Quinn.

[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin As the title suggests]], the series is an animated adaptation of the adventures of the popular comic book character ComicBook/{{Batman}}. It drew heavily from the Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams era in TheSeventies '70s and thelive-action films Film/{{Batman1989}} and Film/BatmanReturns, directed by Creator/TimBurton (although some of the latter's baggage, such as the mutated version of the Penguin, caused them some problems). The often-minimalist look of the show was largely influenced by the 1940s WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons, with character designs resembling those of Creator/JackKirby, [[ComicStrip/DickTracy Chester Gould,]] and Creator/AlexToth. The resulting product, revolutionary for its time, was dubbed "dark deco"; it was also the result of co-producer Eric Radomski's standing order to the animators that all backgrounds be drawn with light colors on black paper (instead of dark colors on white paper, as is the industry standard) to ensure that the artwork stayed as dark as possible. Head producer Creator/BruceTimm -- who also took on other roles -- carried his design style over into other shows, thus making ''Batman: The Animated Series'' the first entry in the fully-realized canon known as the ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse''.

* AnAesop:
** The episode "Mean Seasons" has a moral about how beauty standards are absurd and put extreme pressure on women. The masked VillainOfTheWeek Calendar Girl, who was once a renowned model but was fired for being unable to compete with younger women. When the police unmask her, she begins to scream and writhe on the ground, horrified that they see her "ugly" face. She's in her late-thirties and just as attractive as the other models seen.
--->'''Batgirl:''' She's beautiful.
--->'''Batman:''' She can't see that anymore. All she can see are the flaws.
** A huge one regarding domestic abuse is dropped in "Mad Love". Not only does it portray it as a serious issue, but it also shows why victims keep going back to their abusers; the Joker convinces Harley that he still loves her and that's enough to get her back in his grip.
** The episode "Never Fear" has the lesson that having no fear is not a good thing. Scarecrow uses a poison that causes a person to act without fear. A man who fears heights foolishly swings through Gotham like Batman and almost plummets to his death. A timid employee at Wayne Industries storms into Bruce's office, loudly quits and kisses Wayne's secretary without her consent. Batman murders a crocodile, nearly gets himself killed several times, and threatens to have a man fall to his death for information on where Scarecrow is and doesn't bother saving him when it happens, though fortunately Robin (Tim Drake) steps in. Fear might be something that holds us back, but it can also keep us in check so we don't foolishly endanger our lives or anyone else's.

* RobotClown: In ''The Last Luagh'', the Joker introduces a new minion called [[spoiler:Captain Clown]]. Batman is visibly confused by this new minion's superhuman strength, until he breaks the minion's face, revealing that he is actually a robot. This gives Batman the realization that killing the minion will not break his strict ThouShaltNotKill rule, and so the minion meets his doom in a trash compactor.

Four movies based on the series were produced: ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm'' (which had a limited theatrical run), ''WesternAnimation/BatmanAndMisterFreezeSubZero'' (a pseudo-tie-in to the live action movie ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''), and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMysteryOfTheBatwoman'' (created and set after the end of the series).

Four completely different [[LicensedGame Licensed Games]] based on the series were released in 1995 for the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendo, UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis, UsefulNotes/SegaCD, and UsefulNotes/GameGear, all titled ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfBatmanAndRobin''. Also, while it's not officially part of the Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse, the 2009 video game ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum'' is (in some ways) considered a DarkerAndEdgier spiritual successor; Creator/PaulDini returned to write the script, while Creator/KevinConroy, Creator/MarkHamill, and Creator/ArleenSorkin (Harley Quinn) reprised their characters from the original series. The game was so popular it led to two sequels and a prequel, respectively ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamCity'', ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'', and ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamOrigins''.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation (In-Universe): In "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE19LegendsOfTheDarkKnight Legends of the Dark Knight]]", several children discuss what they believe Batman to ''really'' be like. The first alluded to story portrays Batman as a giant pterodactyl, the second is a brightly lit {{homage}} to the ''Series/{{Batman|1966}}'' TV series and UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, the third (never seen) version is a [[TakeThat contempt-filled reference to]] ''Film/BatmanAndRobin'', and the fourth is an adaptation of a section from ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', with Creator/MichaelIronside as the man himself.

** The cut scenes to the UsefulNotes/SegaCD version of ''The Adventures Of Batman And Robin'': Toshihiko Masuda; In house.

* PacManFever: The Riddler's "wildly popular" video game creation has graphics and gameplay at UsefulNotes/IntelliVision levels around the time the UsefulNotes/SuperNintendo was hitting its stride, though it fits considering the 1930s aesthetic and deliberate AnachronismStew of the series. It uses sound effects from the original Franchise/SuperMarioBros, distorted a little bit to make them sound different.

* TakeThat: In addition to its ShoutOut to UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|of Comic Books}} comics and Creator/FrankMiller's ''ComicBook/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'', the episode "Legends of the Dark Knight" is renowned for its blatant Take That against the Creator/JoelSchumacher films. A flamboyant kid named ''Joel'', wearing a feather boa and standing in front of a ''Shoemaker'' sign, gushes over Batman's "tight rubber armor" and "flashy car" which he's heard can "drive up walls." The other kids dismiss him out of hand. It is reported, however, that Schumacher himself apparently found this scene hilarious when he saw it.

Most of the episodes took place entirely in [[CityOfAdventure Gotham City]], although Batman and Robin occasionally ventured to other cities and even other countries. Besides the [[RoguesGallery familiar villains]], this series introduced other characters from the comics, such as Ra's al-Ghul, to the television audience. It even introduced a new character, Harley Quinn, who proved to be so popular that she eventually [[CanonImmigrant made her way into the comics]]. The series also marked the first major exposure of Two-Face outside of the comics, and its revised origin for Mr. Freeze soon became the definitive version of that story.

%%
%% The "Hey It's That Voice" trope belongs and is in Trivia/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries
%%

* NeverSayDie: Averted, mostly. There is still the odd instance, like the Riddler threatening to "destroy" someone by stabbing him through the chest with a [[{{BFS}} ten-foot sword]]. WordOfGod is that the Joker's Jokerizing gas was created because they initially were not allowed to kill people. It is arguably ''worse''.

* TheParagonAlwaysRebels: Kyodai Ken.

* PerkyFemaleMinion: Harley Quinn.

%%* AloofAlly: Nightwing, at first in "You Scratch My Back".

* BadassBack:
%%** Just try to sneak attack Batman from behind.
** Unfortunately, Batman cannot sneak attack The Creeper from "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE23BewareTheCreeper Beware the Creeper]]" without [[OffhandBackhand getting knocked across the room]]... while The Creeper is trying to flirt with Harley Quinn.
%%* BadassLongcoat: The Grey Ghost sports one.

* UsefulNotes/TheBronzeAgeOfComicBooks: The series is very similar in tone to Bronze Age Batman.

* {{Catchphrase}}. Many, including:
-->'''Batman:''' That's ''not'' the answer I ''want''.

** Annie from "Growing Pains" was modeled after Creator/NataliePortman in ''Film/LeonTheProfessional''.

[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin As the title suggests]], the series is an animated adaptation of the adventures of the popular comic book character ComicBook/{{Batman}}. It drew heavily from the Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams era in TheSeventies '70s and thelive-action films Film/{{Batman1989}} and Film/BatmanReturns, directed by Creator/TimBurton (although some of the latter's baggage, such as the mutated version of the Penguin, caused them some problems). The often-minimalist look of the show was largely influenced by the 1940s WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons, with character designs resembling those of Creator/JackKirby, [[ComicStrip/DickTracy Chester Gould,]] and Alex Toth. The resulting product, revolutionary for its time, was dubbed "dark deco"; it was also the result of co-producer Eric Radomski's standing order to the animators that all backgrounds be drawn with light colors on black paper (instead of dark colors on white paper, as is the industry standard) to ensure that the artwork stayed as dark as possible. Head producer Creator/BruceTimm -- who also took on other roles -- carried his design style over into other shows, thus making ''Batman: The Animated Series'' the first entry in the fully-realized canon known as the ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse''.

[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin As the title suggests]], the series is an animated adaptation of the adventures of the popular comic book character ComicBook/{{Batman}}. It drew heavily from the Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams era in the '70s and [[Film/{{Batman1989}} the live-]][[Film/BatmanReturns action films]] directed by Creator/TimBurton (although some of the latter's baggage, such as the mutated version of the Penguin, caused them some problems). The often-minimalist look of the show was largely influenced by the 1940s WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons, with character designs resembling those of Creator/JackKirby, [[ComicStrip/DickTracy Chester Gould,]] and Alex Toth. The resulting product, revolutionary for its time, was dubbed "dark deco"; it was also the result of co-producer Eric Radomski's standing order to the animators that all backgrounds be drawn with light colors on black paper (instead of dark colors on white paper, as is the industry standard) to ensure that the artwork stayed as dark as possible. Head producer Creator/BruceTimm -- who also took on other roles -- carried his design style over into other shows, thus making ''Batman: The Animated Series'' the first entry in the fully-realized canon known as the ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse''.

''Batman: The Animated Series'' (or ''Batman: TAS''. Sometimes shortened to just ''Batman''), which originally aired on the Creator/FoxKids block from 1992 to 1995, is one of the most popular and groundbreaking series in WesternAnimation. Towards the end, it was given a minor {{Retool}} into ''The Adventures of Batman & Robin'', which promoted the latter hero from recurring role to regular star. A more noticeable retool occurred in 1997, where a ChannelHop and an {{uncancel|ed}}lation order led to Creator/TheWB's ''[[TheNewAdventures The New Batman Adventures]]'' (also known as ''Batman: Gotham Knights''). This retool streamlined the character designs to better match those of ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' (which it aired alongside as ''The New Batman/Superman Adventures''), allowing for the inevitable {{Bat Family Crossover}}s.

-->-- '''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xbbpH-20ak Batman,]]''' in [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE3NothingToFear "Nothing To Fear"]]

[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin As the title suggests]], the series is an animated adaptation of the adventures of the popular comic book character Franchise/{{Batman}}. It drew heavily from the Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams era in the '70s and [[Film/{{Batman1989}} the live-]][[Film/BatmanReturns action films]] directed by Creator/TimBurton (although some of the latter's baggage, such as the mutated version of the Penguin, caused them some problems). The often-minimalist look of the show was largely influenced by the 1940s WesternAnimation/SupermanTheatricalCartoons, with character designs resembling those of Creator/JackKirby, [[ComicStrip/DickTracy Chester Gould,]] and Alex Toth. The resulting product, revolutionary for its time, was dubbed "dark deco"; it was also the result of co-producer Eric Radomski's standing order to the animators that all backgrounds be drawn with light colors on black paper (instead of dark colors on white paper, as is the industry standard) to ensure that the artwork stayed as dark as possible. Head producer Creator/BruceTimm -- who also took on other roles -- carried his design style over into other shows, thus making ''Batman: The Animated Series'' the first entry in the fully-realized canon known as the ''Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse''.

The series also had an official tie-in comic, ''ComicBook/TheBatmanAdventures'', which also received critical and financial success (most notably, the Eisner-Award-winning ''Mad Love'', which detailed Harley Quinn's [[StartOfDarkness origin]] and was later adapted as an episode of the TV series). ''ComicBook/HarleyAndIvy'' was another tie-in miniseries released in 2004 and based around Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Then there is also the one-shot ''Comicbook/BatgirlAdventures'' from 1997, featuring Batgirl, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, in the style of ''The New Batman Adventures''.

** Barbara Gordon initially appears only as Commissioner Gordon's daughter, [[CharacterDevelopment but over the series she transforms into]] Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} and becomes an official member of the Bat-family.

** Detective Renee Montoya is an interesting conundrum; though created for the show, because it took so long to produce the episodes she actually appeared in the ''comics'' first. She guest-starred in numerous Bat-Family titles until the launch of ''Comicbook/GothamCentral'', in which she was one of the primary characters. During the events of ''ComicBook/FiftyTwo'' she apprenticed with ComicBook/TheQuestion and [[LegacyCharacter took the title herself after his death]].

** Barbara Gordon initially appears as the normal daughter of Commissioner Gordon, but she gets dragged into a plot for world domination and, at the end of the episode, mentioned that she liked the experience. She later masquerades as Batman when she feels that he needs to be seen at a public event. She then begins to fight crime on her own as Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}, eventually becoming an official member of the Bat-family and replacing Robin when he ends his partnership with Batman.

* CrossOver: "Girl's Night Out" featured guest appearances by Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} and Livewire from ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', both of whom traveled to Gotham City and teamed up with Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} and Harley Quinn & Posion Ivy, respectively.

** Sometimes Batman and Robin took turns in this role (With Robin sometimes giving [[Franchise/SpiderMan Spidey himself]] a run for his money in the snarky battle banter department), but usually Alfred had at least one sarcastic remark per episode.

** In "Harley and Ivy," Ivy loudly proclaims that "[[NoManOfWomanBorn no man can take us prisoner]]." Enter, stage right: [[Comicbook/GothamCentral Renee]] [[ComicBook/FiftyTwo Montoya]].

* GirlsNightOutEpisode: {{Trope Namer|s}}, featuring Comicbook/{{Batgirl}} and Comicbook/{{Supergirl}} going up against Livewire, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn.

* HotterAndSexier: Compared to most other saturday morning cartoons from around [[The90s this era]] and especially previous animated {{Franchise/Batman}} shows this series was decidedly far more sexually charged, with special mention going to the numerous [[MsFanservice very attractive]], [[TheVamp very seductive]] villainesses who all look like Old Hollywood styled sexpots. Poison Ivy in particular seeming and sounding like a [[TheTease flirty]] temptress straight from a black & white noir flick. After all, it isn't every female baddie who makes [[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE5PrettyPoison her debut]] in an episode wherein she [[BigDamnKiss passionately]] makes out with the hero [[ForcefulKiss against his will]]. Aired on networks primarily marketed to kids no less.

** Most of the villains have their own theme tune and many of the heroes as well including Batman, Robin and Comicbook/{{Batgirl}}. At one point, the Joker actually whistles [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall his own leitmotif]].

** In the Scarecrow's first appearance, Batman checked a list of places where the villain could have acquired the chemicals used for his crimes. [[Franchise/{{Superman}} Star Labs]] was in the list.

** Batman vs. Rhino ([[Franchise/SpiderMan no, not that one]]). Also, ''vs''. Bane.

** The 2009 ''Comicbook/{{Batgirl|2009}}'' series reveals that "The Gray Ghost" is now [[ShowWithinAShow an old TV show within the DCU proper]], and [[StalkerWithACrush an ardent fan of hers]] assumes the "Gr'''''e'''''y Ghost" identity, complete with hat and mask, in an attempt to be her sidekick. Batgirl herself, Stephanie Brown, explains that she never watched the show, but she knows that the main character ''must'' have been smarter and saner than this guy.

* {{Superhero}}: Franchise/{{Batman}} himself, both ComicBook/{{Robin}}s (and by extension, ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}), and ComicBook/{{Batgirl}}.

** Harvey Dent's finale, Grace, no longer appears or is even mentioned after the events of "Two-Face Pt. 2," which is especially odd considering she still clearly loved him even with his deformity and criminality.