Bruce Timm

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**Bruce Walter Timm** (born February 5, 1961) is an American artist, character designer, animator, writer, producer, and actor. He is best known for his contributions building the modern DC Comics animated franchise, the DC animated universe.

## Early life

Bruce Timm was born on February 5, 1961, in Oklahoma, the third of four children. His father was an engineer and his mother worked for the phone company. Timm's family first moved to Ohio when Timm was two years old, and then to California when Timm was five or six.Template:Fact

## Career

### Animation

Timm's early career in animation was varied; he started at Filmation, working on the layout of *Blackstar*, *Flash Gordon*, *He-Man and the Masters of the Universe*, its spin-off *She-Ra: Princess of Power*, and *The Lone Ranger* (Timm also did background work on *G.I. Joe*). He also worked for numerous other employers, including Ralph Bakshi, Don Bluth Productions, and attempted to find work at Marvel Comics and DC Comics, but without luck. In 1988 he worked at DiC on *The Real Ghostbusters* for one season, then joined Warner Bros. in 1989. At Warner, Timm worked on *Tiny Toon Adventures*.

However, Timm is best known for his subsequent work on the animated series based on various DC Comics superheroes, popularly referred to as the "DCAU" (DC animated universe). Along with his *Tiny Toons* partner Eric Radomski, Timm co-created and produced the Emmy Award-winning *Batman: The Animated Series*, which premiered on September 5, 1992, and went on to co-create and produce *Superman: The Animated Series* (premiered in September 1996), *The New Batman Adventures* (premiered in September 1997), and *Batman Beyond* (premiered in January 1999). He also served as producer on the feature-length *Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker* before taking the helm as creator and producer of the animated version of *Justice League*, which debuted in November 2001; the series continued in the form of *Justice League Unlimited*. Timm was also the producer and creator of *Green Lantern: The Animated Series*. Along with Paul Dini he created the animated series *Freakazoid!* (premiered in September 1995).

Although he shared character designer duties on *Superman: The Animated Series* and *Justice League* with James Tucker, Timm did virtually all the original character designs for *Batman: The Animated Series* himself (with the exceptions of Mr. Freeze and the Riddler, who were designed by Mike Mignola and the characters Man Bat and the Mad Hatter, who were designed by Kevin Nowlan).Template:Citation needed

His 2008 project *Batman: Gotham Knight* is a departure from the "Timmverse" style, with Timm in a producer role collaborating with Japanese animators on a direct-to-DVD anthology that takes place between *Batman Begins* and *The Dark Knight*.
In 2013, following the release of *The Dark Knight Returns* animated feature, Timm stepped down as DC animation supervising producer; James Tucker was named as his replacement. Timm still works at Warner Brothers, and executive produced the DC Universe Original Animated Movies *Justice League: Gods and Monsters* and *Batman: The Killing Joke*, and series *Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles*.

In 2013, he worked with *Man of Steel* director Zack Snyder, in creating a 75th anniversary short of Superman.

In 2014, he released *Batman: Strange Days*, an animated short celebrating the 75th anniversary of Batman and an homage to one of Hugo Strange's first appearances in the comic books.

#### Acting

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Timm has played several characters in the animated series he has been involved in. His cameos include the episode of *Batman: The Animated Series*, "Beware the Gray Ghost", playing the toy shop owner, as himself in the episode of *The New Batman Adventures*, "Holiday Knights", and as the leader of the Jokerz gang in *Batman Beyond*, which he joked he did under duress and was "Emmy Award-winning material". He appeared in animated form as Arkham Asylum patient in *The Batman*. He subsequently appeared in an animated form in *Batman: The Brave and the Bold* episode "Legends of the Dark Mite" in a comic book convention parody scene, in which he wore Joker's costume, alongside Paul Dini in Harley Quinn's costume. He played a guard in the direct-to-video animated film *Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker*.

Timm made a cameo appearance in the 2009 film *Green Lantern: First Flight* as Bug Boy, he played The Riddler in the 2010 film *Batman: Under the Red Hood*, and appeared as Galius Zed in the 2011 film *Green Lantern: Emerald Knights*.

### Comics

 File:Quinnz.jpg
While Timm is known primarily for his work in animation, his first ambition was to become a comic-book artist and has thus produced several one-shots and miniseries, mostly for DC Comics. In the 1980s, he made some mini-comics for Masters of the Universe.

In 1994, Timm and writer Paul Dini won the Eisner Award for Best Single Story for *Batman Adventures: Mad Love*. Timm won the same prize the next year as well, for *Batman Adventures Holiday Special*, (a one-shot with several Christmas-themed stories) with Dini, Ronnie del Carmen, and others. Later, Timm was involved with *Batman Adventures* and has also worked on *Avengers* and *Vampirella*. He is also a popular cover and pin-up artist.

In 2000, he did the art for an issue of DC's Vertigo imprint horror title, *Flinch*.

Bruce Timm co-created Harley Quinn (with Paul Dini), working from Dini's original design. Harley's popularity on television led to her inclusion in the mainstream DC Universe. In 2004, Timm and Dini (assisted by Shane Glines as inker) released a three-issue *Harley and Ivy* miniseries, which was in the works for years.

Timm also drew the 1999 *Avengers 1½* special for Marvel Comics, written by Roger Stern.

In 2005, Timm contributed artwork for two comics. One was a short story in *Conan* #18, titled "Conan's Favorite Joke". The other was a Black Canary short story in *Birds of Prey* #86.

In 2008, he provided the art work for a short two-page Harley Quinn origin story for Paul Dini's countdown.

Timm was featured in "Conan Gets Animated", a skit in the December 9, 2010 episode of the TBS late night talk show *Conan*, in which host Conan O'Brien enlisted his help in designing a new superhero, based on O'Brien's specifications. The superhero, who was designed to resemble O'Brien, included a typically muscular superhero body and costume with chest insignia, as well as idiosyncrasies such as an oven mitt, a jai alai glove, golf shoes, sock garters, and fishnet stockings. One month later, O'Brien aired a clip on his show in which the character, named "The Flaming C", appears in *Young Justice*.

In 2012, Timm released a book of erotic art, "Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm," showcasing more than 300 pencil, line, and full color erotic drawings of women.

In 2013, Timm provided the cover artwork for *Adventures of Superman* #4.

In 2020, Timm released a book of erotic art, "The Big Tease: A Naughty and Nice Collection," showcasing more than 208 pencil, line, and full color erotic drawings of women.

## Drawing style and influences

Timm's minimalist, angular style is heavily based in his love of 1950s- and 1960s-era comics and Art Deco architecture style. He is also completely self-taught, having never received any formal art schooling. He lists his artistic influences as Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, Jim Steranko, John Buscema, Wally Wood, Frank Frazetta, Dan DeCarlo, and Alex Toth.

## Filmography

### Television

List of voice performances in television series
 1999–2001
 2003
 2004

## Bibliography

### Dark Horse Comics

* *Madman* #6 (1995)
* *Adventures of the Mask* #1-6 (1996)
* He-Man & The Masters of the Universe: Minicomic Collection #1-2 (2015)

### DC Comics

* *The Batman Adventures* #12 (1993)
* *Batman: Mask of the Phantasm* - The Animated Movie (1993)
* *The Batman Adventures: Mad Love* (1994)
* *The Batman Adventures Holiday Special* #1 (1995)
* *Batman Black and White* #1 (1996)
* *Superman Adventures* #1 (1996)
* *DC animated universe (comics)#Adventures in the DC Universe* #3 (1997)
* *Gen 13 Bootleg* #18 (1998)
* *Batman Beyond (comics)* #1, 5 (1999)
* *Harley and Ivy* #1-3 (2004)
* *The Spirit* #15-16, 22 (2008)
* *Adventures of Superman* #11-13 (2013)
* *Harley Quinn* #0, 14, 23 (2014-2016)

### Eternity Comics

* *Ex-Mutants: The Shattered Earth Chronicles* #4 (1988)
* The Trouble with Girls #7, 11 (1988)

### Flesk Publications

* *Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art Of Bruce Timm* (2012)
* *The Big Tease: A "Naughty and Nice" Collection* (2020)

### Dynamite Entertainment

* *Vampirella: Master Series* #3-4 (2011)

### Marvel Comics

* *Avengers* #1½ (1999)
* *Fantastic Four: The World's Greatest Comics Magazine* #1-12

### First Comics

* *Whisper* #13-16, 22-23, 25 (1988-1989)
* *Twilight Man* #1-4 (1989)

### H. H. Windsor

* *Masters of the Universe minicomic* #25, 30, 32-35, 39, 42-44, 48-49 (1984-1986)

## References

1. ↑ Inkpot Award
2. ↑ "Bruce Timm" – Norman Rockwell Museum
3. ↑ https://comicvine.gamespot.com/bruce-timm/4040-7365/issues-cover/
4. ↑ Melrose, Kevin. "Bruce Timm Steps Down as DC DVD Producer", *Newsarama*.
5. ↑ "Machinima Lands Exclusive Animated ‘Justice League’ Series". *Variety*. September 17, 2014. https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/machinima-justice-league-series-superman-batman-wonder-woman-dc-entertainment-1201308015/.
6. ↑ "Conan Gets Animated", Conan*, TBS, December 9, 2010*
7. ↑ ""The Flaming C" Returns!". *Conan*. Team Coco/TBS. January 10, 2011. http://www.tbs.com/video/conan.jsp?oid=239470&eref=sharethisUrl. Template:Dead link
8. ↑ "Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm, exclusive excerpt" (in en-US). 2012-01-13. https://boingboing.net/2012/01/13/naughty-and-nice-the-good-gir.html.
9. ↑ "Adventures of Superman #4". DC Comics. http://www.dccomics.com/comics/adventures-of-superman-2013/adventures-of-superman-4.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Comic Book Artist Magazine Special Edition - (Bruce) Timm of the New Gods - TwoMorrows Publishing". http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/sptimm.html.
11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 11.16 "Behind The Voice Actors – Bruce Timm". Behind The Voice Actors. http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Bruce-Timm/.  – green check mark indicates roles that have been verified by BTVA through closing credits

## Sources

* Nolen-Weathington, Eric & Timm, Bruce (2004). *Modern Masters Volume 3: Bruce Timm*. TwoMorrows Publishing. Template:ISBN.

## External links

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* Template:IMDb name
* The Bruce Timm Gallery
* An interview with Bruce Timm primarily discussing the (then yet-to-be-aired) second season of *Justice League*

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