From: conty@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (OtakuRoach)
Subject: Some comments on BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Date: Mon, 7 Sep 1992 03:20:09 GMT


Episodes aired:
THE CAT AND THE CLAW	9-5-92	First episode, Catwoman and Red Claw
ON LEATHER WINGS	9-6-92	Man-Bat

The series will then move into a weekly schedule (Mon-Fri, 4:30 PM Central),
with a Mr. Freeze episode.  The second part of the Catwoman episode will be
aired next Saturday, same Bat-time, same Bat-channel (sorry :-)).

Opening sequence:  The animation itself is nothing to write home about,
		   but the overall look is very good.  You'll note that
		   the title of the series appears nowhere on the opening
		   sequence.  In fact, there are no titles whatsoever.  I
		   think this is a first for an American television series,
		   let alone an animated show.

Character designs: Yes, they do have a family resemblance to the old
		   Fleischer SUPERMAN cartoon which is why Bruce Wayne
		   is the typical lantern-jawed hero.  From what I've seen
		   so far, the character designs will be closer to the
		   comic than the movies, with some differences (a definite
		   improvement in the case of Mr. Freeze, I must say).

Backgrounds/mecha: The backgrounds are reminiscent of both the Fleischer
		   SUPERMAN and the Batman movies.  In fact, if you took
		   Fleischer's Metropolis and viewed it at night, you'd
		   see BATMAN's Gotham City.  BTW, I love the 40's/art-deco
		   look of the show.

Animation:	   The character animation in C&C (done by Sunrise) was
		   between average and poor(*), but the animation on
		   LEATHER WINGS (by Spectrum) was very good for what I've
		   seen of weekdays animated shows.  I want to watch that
		   "monster-out" sequence a few more times...
		   [(*) Probably because Sunrise, well known to anime fans
		    as the producer of such series as DIRTY PAIR, CITY HUNTER
		    and GUNDAM, is not very good at doing character animation.]

Music:		   Wow.  The music here REALLY contributes to the feel of
		   the show.  The score is based upon Elfman's soundtrack
		   for the movies, but there is LOTS of original music here.
		   In fact, both episodes I've seen had their own "theme",
		   if you will.

Voice acting:	   Feh.  The secondaries were good, and Batman's voice wasn't
		   all that bad, but the Bruce Wayne voice was godawful.
		   Very dopey-sounding.  BTW, District Attorney Harvey Dent
		   was played in LEATHER WINGS by Richard Moll of NIGHT
		   COURT fame.  Quite a departure, IMO.

Plot/situations:   This is Batman, not Masterpiece Theater, and I know what
		   to expect.  Still, it was a welcome change to finally see
		   an animated network TV that doesn't talk down to its
		   audience.  When Red Claw shows up, a quick shot of her
		   tatoo is all we're given to confirm her identity, and
		   that's all is needed.  If you want to show a couple in
		   love (like the two technicians on LEATHER WINGS), the show
		   doesn't balk away from showing them kissing.  When Batman
		   (again, in LEATHER WINGS), is thrown against the side of
		   a building, he's shown bruised and bleeding.  This is
		   a definite improvement, and the one I hope stays the most.

Overall:	   I'm staying for the ride.  This promises to be one HOT
		   series.

Notes:		   My local station showed an ad with the characters from
		   BOBBY'S WORLD explaining that it is the parents
		   responsibility to know what are their kids watching.
		   This is true regardless whether they're watching
		   BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES or GI JOE (a show I consider
		   really offensive).
-- 
			    E n r i q u e  C o n t y
			The Incredible Man-with-no-Life
			      jester@ihlpl.att.com
		    Disclaimer: You're not dealing with AT&T
Newsgroups: rec.arts.animation