Batman: The Complete Animated Series (1992) (Blu-ray)

Batman The Complete Animated Series on Blu-Ray Review Biases: I am a fan of the Batman, I have had a fascination with the character from childhood. I am a fan of animation in general, I own a large collection of animated TV series and films. I already owned Volumes 1-3 of the series and Mask of the Phantasm on DVD, and only bought this set for the upgrade in visual quality and the digital copies. Even without the digital copies it is easy enough to create them from the original discs, which I am doing to stream across PLEX over a home network. Packaging comparison: Visually the packaging for the DVD editions is by far more appealing to the eyes, however it comes with a cost, and that is shelf space. Which is one reason I prefer the packaging of the Blu-Ray edition, you will gain a substantial amount of shelf space for other shows/films. The packaging for the Blu-Ray edition is bare bones, the physical discs for example do not feature a color printing of random characters, just the series logo. The lackluster packaging is fine with me to be honest, not a big deal considering the reason for buying this set. Practical score: 5/5 Aesthetic Score: 2.5/5 “She’s got it where it counts kid” Content: 12 Blu-ray Discs featuring: • all 85 episodes of Batman The Animated Series, • all 24 episodes of The New Batman Adventures, • 2 animated films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm + Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, • And other bonus content from the DVD versions. Note: the bonus content is directly from DVD so it is not upgraded, it is still 720p. Overall this set includes more content than I previously owned, a nice bonus which makes up for the bare bones packaging and adds to the value in terms of bang for the buck. Video Quality: For this part of the review I will quote Martin Liebman from his review on Blu-Ray dot com: “Batman: The Complete Animated Series makes its long-anticipated Blu-ray debut in 1080p high definition, framed at its original 1.33:1 (4x3) aspect ratio which preserves the broadcast specifications and presentation parameters as were standard at the time of the show's initial airing. The resultant image, with vertical "black bars" on either side of the 1.78:1 panel, look marvelous, generally, with a few caveats to keep in mind. First, the bad. Speckling and debris are not uncommon. The opening sequence is particularly troublesome in this area, but episodes do reveal a fairly steady, albeit generally light, infestation. Most of the time, though, such do not prove distracting. A little more serious is background banding and compression artifacts. Almost never is this issue more prominent than it is right out of the gate in episode one, beginning with a scene featuring a security guard speaking into a tape recorder only minutes in. Such occurrences can be found in many places, but but not always to the same level of distracting severity. Finally, a few obviously lower resolution shots and scenes are interspersed throughout. They are rare but do make a negative visual impact, particularly if they extend for any length of time. Take a look at the episode "Riddler's Reform." Around the 7- and 9-minute marks are rather extended sequences where the lower resolution is obvious (though still obviously encoded in 1080p), featuring jagged lines, false colors, softer elements, and a more limited color range. The transfer's good qualities far outweigh the bad. Clarity is tremendous. The animated imagery translates exceptionally well to Blu-ray. The picture is crisp, firm, finely detailed, and richly colored. The clarity and visibility of small details in the animation -- such as costume details, environments, even smudges and signs of wear that reveal the animators' careful, detailed renderings -- come to life on Blu-ray like never before. Character definition is particularly stout, with organic movement and stability to match. Static backgrounds are a joy beyond the occasional banding and macroblocking elements, revealing richly layered and complex renderings with ease. Colors are a standout. The show defaults to a noir-inspired darkness favoring plenty of black and shades of gray and blue (Batman's costume most prominently beyond less dynamically colored Gotham environments and nighttime interiors and exteriors), but colorful costumes worn by characters such as Robin, Joker, Riddler, and Harley Quinn are bold and true, if not a bit lacking in nuance by nature. Brighter scenes additionally handle other colors pleasantly and brightly. Blacks are deep and dense and do border on crush at times, but for the show's style that's preferable to seeing them lifted to gray. The image is not without its issues, but Warner Brothers has done a very good job overall bringing this to Blu-ray.” Having watched approximately ten episodes of this release so far I can vouch for Martin’s analysis above is spot on. This is what this release is primarily about to me, the most important aspect of the release and it delivers. Aesthetic Score: 4.5/5 Audio Quality: This release features a two-channel DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack. Despite the limitations of two channel sound, the sound is exceptional, outstanding, exactly as it should be. Aesthetic Score: 5/5 Final Thoughts: Overall, despite the lackluster packaging I give this a score of 5/5 based on quality and value. Many years ago I spent roughly $28 per DVD volume (I purchased them around original release dates) and so even though I am a Batman fan and love this series, I hesitated to spend more on this series, however in my opinion this is definitely worth the upgrade and the HDX digital copies alone will cost more (for the equivalent content) through the various digital providers than the $40-60 for this physical discs plus digital set. So I hope this information has been useful/helpful to readers thinking about purchasing Batman The Complete Animated Series on Blu-Ray.

A lot of people have already written about Batman The Animated Series. I will just add my 2 cents that I think that except for actual comic books (and even in those not all are great), this is by far the best Batman you will ever see. Whether you want the blu ray or even to own the series, if you are a Batman fan, you should watch it somewhere. The set comes with all episodes of the series (both seasons 1 and 2 - some of season 2 was also called the Adventures of Batman and Robin) as well as all episodes of the New Adventures of Batman (which many people consider season 3). The main difference being the animation style of the New Adventures is closer to the Batman you see in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Characters were redefined a little (Penguin looks more human and less like the Danny Devito Batman Returns Penguin). Still great scripts and animation though. Episodes follow the list you will find on wikipedia. Season 1 has 65, Season 2 has 20 and New Adv has 24. The reason season 1 has so many is the series started out as a daily show and changed to a weekly one. For those looking at the DVD set, some people consider each box a season - which makes 4, but most sites don't follow that numbering. The set also comes with Mask of the Phantasm in both widescreen and 4x3 ratios. This was originally going to be a straight to video release (which would have been 4x3) but then ended up being released to theaters (widescreen). The decision was made part of the way through, so the widescreen is not just a crop of the 4x3. In some scenes (if compared) the 4x3 would have more picture but in some scenes, the widescreen actually shows more. This is why both are included. I tend towards watching the 4x3 just because it matches the rest of the series, but the widescreen is there for those who saw it in the theaters. And the last show is Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero. This one was a straight to video movie and is 4x3 only. Besides the shows, there are commentaries for a bunch of episodes, and specials describing the creation of the series and the various characters. The commentaries are in the same hi-def format as the regular shows (probably just a different audio track). The specials do not appear to be hi-def. They look closer to the DVDs I owned prior. As for video quality of the shows. I own the DVD set. I notice a difference between them and the blu rays. The blu rays are clearer and the colors stronger. When viewed on my laptop (which does not have the upscaling software that a blu ray tv or dvd player has) there is a big difference in quality eventhough the screen is small. On my TV, the quality is not as strong unless you view them side by side. Then you will notice it. After watching an entire season in blu ray and then watching the special which is lower def, I immediately saw a difference. The images have also been cleaned up. As an example, I was watching the commentary of the first episode. Bruce Timm was speaking and then stopped at one scene to comment how much dirt was on the sleeve of one of the characters. He said the sleeve looked like it had measles. I saw nothing. It was totally clear and clean. So I loaded up the DVD and looked at the same scene. I could see some of the speckling/dirt that he was speaking about. The packaging is sparse. Really just the disks and a pamphlet with the episodes listed. It also comes with a digital code for streaming. I have not viewed these, but others have complained it is only standard def quality. If you're a fan of Batman, get this set. If you have the DVDs already and want better quality, get the set. If you're happy with the DVDs, there's not a big reason to jump to bluray, except for one item. 4k TVs are becoming the standard. A blu ray upscaled to 4k will be better than a DVD upscaled. I guess you could wait for a 4k set, but I'm guessing that won't happen any time soon. And that is one of the main reasons I upgraded.

If you're browsing this page you probably already enjoy Batman: The Animated Series, the Justice League series and are working your way backwards through the DC mythos, or have a friend or relative who loves the Caped Crusader. So I'll save my extended review of the series itself and simply give some tidbits. 1. The identity, direction, music, voice acting and scope of the show is marvelous. 2. The Joker depicted in this series was the most accurate presentation of the character until The Dark Knight this year. He borders on the psychotic and has so much fun in everything he does while still remaining disciplined and vigilant in pushing Batman to the limits of his self-control. Other characters such as Mr. Freeze, Catwoman and The Riddler somehow manage to be 'cartoony' and yet more serious than the pitiful Hollywood attempts to encapsulate them thus far. 3. Kevin Conroy's voice is the one I've associated with Batman since I was 8 years old, and fortunately despite several studio and direction changes in the DC cartoon production schedule he lends his voice from season 1 of Batman all the way through the end of Justice League: Unlimited. Now onto the collection itself. Warner Bros. got this right for once; the collection is sharp and attractive and makes a fantastic collectible for any fan of the series. I was so impressed with the appearance of the set I bought another copy for the young son of my best friend. There's a thick plastic cover with silver-lined bats on one side and a backdrop of Gotham on the other as well as the title of the series and of course Batman, all of whom jump off the cover with vibrant action. The box itself is finely crafted too, in finished black with various scenes of Batman on the top and inside cover. Inside, you're greeted by a double-wide collectible book detailing the episode list as well as showing exciting scenery from the show and sketches of Batman's character. Underneath, the discs are contained in 2 dependable cases that look like they will protect the series over time, and at just over twice the size of a normal DVD case, allow you to store the series with the rest of your collection and put the box set away if you're hard up for shelf space. Pros: * The show rocks. * The set feels and looks excellent, even people who have no ties or interest in the show will acknowledge it as a great looking gift. * The set is durable and includes the entire series. * The show is as watchable as an adult for different reasons as a child, so it's easy to justify the purchase even if it's for yourself. Cons: * No set contains the entire collection of Batman, Superman, Justice League and Justice League Unlimited episodes. * Your girlfriend, wife, family or friends may wonder why you're rewatching cartoons from your childhood in their entirety. * Warner Bros. is notorious for not touching up the quality of damaged material, and the first season of this collection isn't as sharp, bright and gorgeous as the rest of the cartoon. You'll notice a few flaws. * The set is full-screen. Overall my expectations were exceeded for this product. Typically these days as a consumer I feel like I'm asking too much just to have an entire series accessible and affordable all in one place, but with this set you've got that as well as a genuinely attractive collectible that, along with the series itself, should stand the test of time. For me personally, Batman: The Animated Series along with Justice League Unlimited represents the pinnacle of American episodic cartoons.

Took me right back to my childhood. The dvds look great and olay great!

I ordered this 12 pack blue-ray Batman series and it was shipped so quickly to my home and packaged safely and securely. I love these old movies and series. My family and friends have been watching them non-stop since we got them in the mail! LOL! I am an adult but these are for all generations! I highly recommend this Batman series just for the wonderful memories of growing up. We are very happy with this and it has been popcorn night since we purchased this! Thank you very much!

Just watched 4 episodes of the first disc so far so good but still didn’t reach the prime. I know that e20 to e65 is the best. just a great story and action packed show. And came in good condition. I never watched s2 and s3 let’s see if there good

After seeing review after review talking about the shoddy packaging (arriving destroyed), I figured I'd order the "regular" no frills packaging (two blu-ray cases in a cardboard slipcase) rather than the Bobble Head (Funko Pop) package. Frankly, I couldn't care less about those stupid plastic bobble-heads (which didn't even exist when Batman: the Animated Series was on). If you ask me, Funko had a much better thing going with their "Re-Action" retro action figures. Anyway... another criticism I heard was that the "digital" versions of these episodes were in SD and didn't have the best intro choices (using the Batman Superman Hour). Since I don't care much about these digital things, that wasn't a deal-breaker. Sadly, and this may have been due to the weather... we had huge snowstorms and arctic temperatures... the cases arrived cracked and broken... pieces were falling off at the edges. The paper that formed the covers were torn. I actually ordered a new set of six disc blank Blu-Ray cases and they were perfect replacements. Due to the weather I figured they would arrive broken again and didn't bother to seek a refund. The discs played perfectly. If you have ever watched these on VHS or DVD, you will be blown away by the visual quality. The colors and everything else look stunning. Yes, at times you'll see a film scratch or bit of grain here or there, but that doesn't take away from its charm. For a tv cartoon from the early 1990's, this looks amazing and you'll soon be drawn into the world of Batman's Gotham city with its smoothly realistic motion but hard edged, square jawed men and almond eyed women set on the backdrop of dark art-deco architecture (achieved mainly by drawing the backgrounds directly on black paper) as well as the fictional docks, caverns, sewer systems, island hideaways and secret lairs that accompany the surrounding areas, accompanied by the orchestral scores borrowed heavily from the 1989 theatrical film. As for the series.. this to me is the definitive adaption of the Batman comics (I grew up with the "serious" Batman of the 1970's.. the perfect balance between the "comic" farcical Batman of the 60's, or the "grim dark" Batman of the late 80's and into the modern era influenced by the live action movies, of which I only really liked "the Dark Knight"). For me the Batman 60's show, besides being obviously for kids, "jumped the shark" towards the end of the first season. But Batman the Animated Series went strong until the end of its original run. When it returned, two years later, suddenly the art style had changed (for the worst). Though this was only hinted at earlier, original character Harley Quinn was suddenly a seductress, not just a bubble-headed hench woman for the Joker. The characterization of Bruce Wayne vs Batman was not as satisfying as before. While the subplots with Nightwing vs the new Robin with Batman and Batgirl was kind of interesting, it was very hit and miss for these "New Batman Adventures" in the last two discs of 24 episodes. Batman and Harley Quinn which bills itself as part of this series, is a disaster (thankfully not included in this set). Mystery of the Batwoman got high marks (I have not seen it) but is not included here either. Frankly, the last 24 didn't need to be here, but they are included nonetheless. Batman Sub Zero (another Mr. Freeze adventure... Mr. Freeze is probably the coolest developed character... he existed before but this series really makes him shine) is good, despite some dodgy CGI scenes inserted into the mix that detract from the traditional animation. Thankfully this adventure sticks to the visual style of the previous (and superior) episodes. Batman Mask of the Phantasm is a bit unsatisfying, but nevertheless it is here, and can be watched as a two part TV episode. This appears to have been an attempt to "soften" Batman and make him more tender hearted (the opposite of the New Batman Adventures that make him more grumpy and hard-edged, so his sidekicks can be his "conscience" or "heart"). While the visual style of this series is a mixture of the Golden Age Batman, the serious tone of the 1970's comics, and with a lot of touches from the "darkness" of the first two Tim Burton Batman motion pictures... in my view it surpasses much of the source material. Despite being aimed at kids, it's gritty, dark, violent, but always with a point, and is full of action and suspense. Much of this is weakened or lost in the last 24 episodes, so if you want to skip these, be my guest! There is one episode of the "new" series at the end that sets the stage for "Batman: Brave and the Bold" where stories deliberately and nostalgically copy the art styles and tone of earlier incarnations of Batman, while poking fun at the franchise itself. That was enjoyable. But as I said before, the last 24 are hit and miss, a real dip in quality from what came before. At least "Batman Beyond" felt free and interesting, by mostly being its own thing, and that's something for another box set review... Here is what I learned from (re) watching this wonderful animated series: Batman is a hero. He's not a murderer, or a ladies man (that's just an act by Bruce Wayne to hide the fact that he's going out every night to fight crime). He's also a detective. A crusader. A vigilante. A "Dark" Knight but with emphasis on the latter part. He's got a sense of humor, a conscience and he's even a father figure. THIS to me is the definitive motion portrayal of Batman, and one that will live forever. Batman didn't get this far by being insane, lacking a conscience, being a womanizer or whatever as he is sometimes portrayed in one-offs these days. Batman exists in his own world. Sure, there are other costumed figures in this world, but its really about the caped crusader and his career, with guest appearances from Robin and Batgirl, Alfred always by his side, but really not a lot of interference from outside. "World's Finest" is a great concept, but Batman sharing the screen with Superman must be handled with care. This series did a lot to rehabilitate the image of Batman that I think a lot of viewers had written off or gotten tired of with the mainstreaming of the 60's tv series (in reruns after the 1989 blockbuster by Tim Burton). Is it over the top at times? Certainly. Remember, this is still a kid's cartoon, but one that can also be enjoyed by adults, without having to rely on gore, sexuality, or the other things you see in "grown up" cartoons. Yes, Batman does have trauma in his past for the death of his parents, which motivated his move to become a crimefighter in the first place, but he does not overly dwell on it, and is not mentally crippled by it. Yes, Robin has trust issues with him but its a professional relationship issue more than just having a bratty adolescent son acting like a stereotypical teenager. Most of the episodes don't feature Robin at all, and so the few that do tend to treat this relationship well. Much more could be said about this series, but just to get the entire (good) series in high quality at a reasonable price, this is it. Watch it on the small screen if you will, but if you're watching it on a phone, your mileage may vary... just be ready to replace the cases... ;P (how about a steelbook next time?)

“Batman: The Complete Animated Series” collects all three seasons of one of the absolute best television adaptations of a comic book franchise as well as the animated feature films “Mask of the Phantasm” and “Sub Zero.” The series critically influenced all subsequent adaptations of Batman with Bruce Timm’s art deco/film noir designs and Paul Dini’s writing setting a high bar for all television animation. Voice actor Kevin Conroy is the quintessential Batman and Bruce Wayne, while Loren Lester is great as Dick Grayson/Robin, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is a fantastic Alfred, Bob Hastings gives Commissioner James Gordon just the right amount of wit, and Robert Costanzo is perfect as morally-ambiguous Detective Harvey Bullock. Additional actors include Brock Peters as Lucius Fox, Melissa Gilbert as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, Diana Muldaur as Dr. Leslie Thompkins, Adam West as Simon Trent, Mark Hamill as the Joker, Arleen Sorkin as Harley Quinn, Paul Williams as the Penguin, Richard Moll as Two-Face, Adrienne Barbeau as Catwoman, Diane Pershing as Poison Ivy, John Glover as the Riddler, Henry Polic II as Scarecrow, Aron Kincaid as Killer Croc, Roddy McDowall as Mad Hatter, David Warner as Ra’s al Ghul, Ron Perlman as Clayface, Michael Ansara as Mr. Freeze, Ed Asner as Roland Daggett, Michael Gross as Lloyd Ventrix, Kate Mulgrew as Red Claw, and many, many more. The series adapted several classic Batman stories, including “There Is No Hope in Crime Alley,” “The Last Arkham,” “The Laughing Fish,” “Moon of the Wolf,” “Man-Bat Over Vegas,” “Daughter of the Demon,” and more. It helped popularize a more tragic Mr. Freeze and featured the first appearance of Harley Quinn. “Batman: The Animated Series” launched a successful shared animated universe including “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Batman Beyond,” “Static Shock,” “Justice League,” “Justice League Unlimited,” “Gotham Girls,” and possibly the films “Batman and Harley Quinn” and “Justice League vs. the Fatal Five.” Bonus features on this set include various featurettes, a new featurette about the storytellers, and commentaries on 12 episodes. It’s great that they include the first two movies, but I do wish this set also included the animated film, “Mystery of the Batwoman,” set sometime during or after the third season of the series.

The discs are fine, but the case arrived in bad conditions

I am glad I bought this before it became too much of a collector's item and thusly started going for collector's prices. The set is fantastic. The quality is present throughout and the glossy book is a treat worth having if it came on its own. My only reservation is with the show itself when they changed the art style in the later season, which is a shame as the initial style is timeless and classic.

Recientemente adquirí el set Blu-ray de Batman: La Serie Animada a través de Amazon, y aunque el empaque llegó un poco dañado, el contenido en su interior está en perfectas condiciones y no presenta ningún problema. Esta serie animada de Batman es un clásico absoluto y tenerla en alta definición es simplemente maravilloso. La serie animada de Batman es conocida por su estilo de animación único y su narrativa adulta que capturó a una amplia audiencia, tanto niños como adultos, durante su emisión original. Esta edición en Blu-ray ofrece una mejora significativa en la calidad de imagen y sonido en comparación con las versiones anteriores en DVD. Los colores son vibrantes y los detalles se ven nítidos, lo que realmente resalta el impresionante trabajo artístico de la serie. El set incluye todos los episodios de las cuatro temporadas de la serie, así como las películas animadas "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm" y "Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero". Además, se incluyen numerosos extras y material adicional, como documentales, comentarios de los creadores y entrevistas con el elenco y el equipo de producción. Estos contenidos adicionales brindan una visión fascinante del proceso creativo detrás de la serie y profundizan en la influencia duradera que ha tenido en el género de superhéroes. Aunque el empaque llegó con algunos daños, es importante destacar que el contenido dentro del set no se vio afectado en absoluto. Los discos están en perfectas condiciones y reproducen sin problemas en mi reproductor de Blu-ray. Los menús son fáciles de navegar y la experiencia de ver los episodios y las películas es simplemente increíble. En general, estoy extremadamente satisfecho con mi compra del set Blu-ray de Batman: La Serie Animada. A pesar de los problemas en el empaque, el contenido en sí es excelente y la calidad de imagen y sonido es impresionante. Recomiendo encarecidamente esta edición a todos los fanáticos de Batman y de la animación en general. Es una adición imprescindible a cualquier colección y ofrece horas interminables de entretenimiento de alta calidad.

Nowhere is indicated that this is an import. Bought it on amazon.nl and should be working in Europe then. Very angry right now and dissapointed

Batman The Animated Series is a masterful collection. Definitely recommended. As a kid, it was one of my favorite animated shows that I grew up watching. After hearing of the passing away of legendary voice actor Kevin Conroy, I just had to get this. RIP Kevin Conroy - the best Batman.