7 Batman: The Animated Series Moments That Rival the Live-Action Movies (And One Might Happen in the DCU)

by

Batman: The Animated Series stands out as one of the most cherished animated series, not only within the superhero genre but also beyond it. Its nostalgic aesthetic, memorable character designs, and groundbreaking performances by Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill’s Joker have left an impact on films, other television shows, and even the comic book universe. We all have our favorite episodes from this series, featuring some truly remarkable scenes, such as when the Joker flees Arkham Asylum on a rocket-propelled Christmas tree or the time Poison Ivy contaminated Halloween by filling pumpkins with poison gas.

Certain sequences within this series are so impressive, they seem to move beyond their animated limitations. These instances aren’t just on par with the action-packed scenes from live-action Batman films, but frequently surpass them. Here are our top choices.

7) The Reveal in “Almost Got ‘Im”

In an entertaining episode of the popular animated series, titled ‘Almost Got ‘Im,’ villains Poison Ivy, Joker, Penguin, Two-Face, and Killer Croc engage in a card game and share tales of nearly succeeding in eliminating Batman. Some yarns are more captivating than others; Penguin’s anecdote involves poisoned hummingbirds and a fierce cassowary, while Croc simply hurled a stone.

In the climax, it’s revealed that it wasn’t Croc after all, but rather Batman in a clever disguise. He had meticulously planned a complex trap to force The Joker into revealing Catwoman’s hidden location.

Bruce Wayne, known for his dual identity as a masked crime fighter (Batman) and an exceptional undercover agent, often hides behind multiple disguises in addition to his public persona. This ability is highlighted in “The Animated Series,” where it plays a role several times. Conversely, the live-action films have yet to explore this facet of Batman’s character. A particularly entertaining moment occurs when Batman assumes Killer Croc’s identity, even devising an unconventional strategy, which stands out as a memorable scene in the show.

6) Mr. Freeze’s New Origin in “Heart of Ice”

Initially in his comic book debuts, Mr. Freeze (originally Mr. Zero) wasn’t particularly well-liked. He was mainly seen as a character with a one-dimensional concept, which revolved around ice or cold elements. However, the Batman: The Animated Series transformed him into a respected and formidable adversary of Batman in his rogue gallery.

In this rephrased version, the cartoon modifies Freeze’s origins by introducing a caring husband who places his wife, Nora, in a cryogenic sleep to keep her alive until a cure for her fatal illness is found. However, when his employer (who hadn’t authorized such actions) destroys the lab and accidentally spills cryo-fluid on the scientist, he transforms into Mr. Freeze as a result.

In my opinion, when it comes to the Batman films, crafting even remotely compassionate origins for their antagonists has often proven challenging. While The Dark Knight’s Two-Face might be an exception, his rapid descent into violence weakens his case somewhat. Interestingly, the recent reimagining of Mr. Freeze garnered such positive responses that it ended up being officially adopted in the comic books themselves.

5) The Meet Cute in “Harley and Ivy”

In their comic book adventures and the “Harley Quinn” animated show, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn have developed a romantic relationship. However, their first joint appearance was in the animated series story titled “Harley and Ivy.” Following yet another eviction from the Joker’s lair, a disgruntled Harley stormed into Gotham’s Museum of Natural History to swipe the Harlequin Diamond. Despite her anger, she realized the significance of maintaining a strong brand identity.

Unaware of it, she doesn’t realize that Poison Ivy has secretly entered the museum with intentions to steal certain plant toxins. In doing so, Ivy triggers the alarm system, leading to a chance encounter between them. Just as law enforcement arrives on the scene, Harley uses a flask containing poisonous plants to generate a smokescreen using her cork gun for an escape. One could argue that this escapade is as entertaining and vibrant as Harley’s heist at the GCPD in _Birds of Prey_. Both events are packed with eye-catching gases.

4) The Freakout in “Feat of Clay”

In the episode titled ‘Feat of Clay,’ Batman: The Animated Series demonstrates its knack for enhancing familiar villains. The series’ version of Clayface is Matt Hagen, a character who becomes dependent on an experimental skin cream following a devastating accident. Daggett, acting as his benefactor, manipulates Hagen’s reliance on this concoction to persuade him into criminal activities.

In order for Batman to effectively combat Clayface, he doesn’t rely solely on physical fighting. Instead, he enlists the help of Hagen in a recording studio, and then displays images of Hagen’s past characters on every monitor around the room.

Instead of being a strategic move, it’s more like a last-ditch effort to tug at Hagen’s human feelings. Yet, the outcome remains potent. Strangely, Clayface aims to morph into multiple characters simultaneously, creating a scene both awe-inspiring and unsettling. Typically, Batman movies rely heavily on villains falling off things for dramatic effect. However, this “death” scene surpasses many of them in impact. Given that Clayface is set to make his DC Universe debut soon, a similar death scenario could unfold on the big screen in the not-so-distant future.

3) The Rollercoaster Fight in “Be a Clown”

Among the many thrilling battles Batman has encountered, one of the most noteworthy takes place when he’s donning the costume of a Clown – yes, you guessed it, fighting The Joker! This time, their battle isn’t on rooftops, in the sky, or even in his iconic Batmobile. Instead, they engage in an exhilarating fight aboard a speeding rollercoaster. Batman has faced numerous adversaries in various locations, but this one is truly unique.

The battle at the climax of “Be a Clown” shares a resemblance with the monorail confrontation between Batman and Ra’s al Ghul in “Batman Begins.” However, the outcomes are slightly different. In the series, Batman pushes the Joker off the roller coaster. Conversely, in the movie, Batman allows the train carrying Ra’s al Ghul to crash, an act that may not align with his policy against taking lives.

Generally speaking, we tend to favor the rollercoaster-style battle, primarily due to our affinity for the character of the Joker. Furthermore, the open-car design of the ride heightens the sense of danger, adding an extra thrill, even though it’s an animated setting.

2) The Team-Up in “Beware the Gray Ghost”

In films, Batman often chooses to operate independently. Though there have been several real-life Robins and even a full Justice League, it’s usually just Batman who instills terror in the hearts of crooks.

In The Animated Series, Batman isn’t typically a solitary figure as he has numerous friends, particularly in the Justice League spin-off. However, our preferred partnership between Batman and another character occurs in the episode “Beware the Gray Ghost.” This tale features Batman joining forces with Simon Trent, the actor who portrayed the fictional superhero that inspired him. The cherry on top is that Adam West, the original TV Batman, takes on the role of Trent.

The episode operates on multiple levels: Conroy was impressed by West’s portrayal of Batman, making it an encounter between an admirer and his idol. Beyond that, the story is exceptional as it explores a man regaining self-worth, and it outshines any Batman collaboration seen in films thus far.

1) Batman Saying the Thing in “Nothing to Fear”

Since the initial scene of the 1989 film, “I’m Batman” can be considered as one of the closest taglines that the Caped Crusader has ever had. In the animated series, this phrase is featured in the episode titled “Nothing to Fear.” This is the inaugural episode featuring Scarecrow, who debuts by injecting Batman with a fear toxin-filled dart. As a result, Bruce Wayne experiences hallucinations of his late father criticizing him for being laughable if the Dark Knight were afraid of common insects like worms.

In a different yet understandable manner: Our protagonist counters the poison’s influence by gathering his courage using the renowned statement, “I am retribution… I am the night… I am Batman!” Various actors like Michael Keaton, Chris O’Donnell, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and more recently Robert Pattinson have spoken this line, but Conroy’s delivery remains our preferred version.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!”

https://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/batman-characters-improved-by-animated-series/embed/#

Read More

2025-09-11 19:46