Off the Cuff: Batman The Animated Series
I spent a lot of my formative years watching Batman the Animated Series. And I loved it. That show defined not only Batman but all superheroes with its atmosphere, stories, and characters. Every single cartoon or movie is chasing the standard that Batman: TAS set.
Even the artwork was brilliant. It was the first show that I actually noticed the animation style. And I still think it used shadows better than any incarnation of Batman I’m familiar with.
That’s a high bar.
And in recent years I’ve feared that maybe my memories were tinted by rose colored glasses. Maybe Batman: TAS wasn’t half as good as my mind recalled. After all, I thought Voltron was the best show ever – it was devastating to learn that it’s not.
Talk about crushed childhood dreams.
Well let me relieve the fear – Batman: TAS is still the standard to beat. Watching it on TV these last few weeks has reminded me just how brilliant it was. What’s surprising is the show’s probably better than I remember!
As a kid I enjoyed it because of the action, the art, and the “coolness” of Batman. But I instinctively knew there was something more there – I just didn’t now what. Now I can now fully appreciate the subtlety of the characters and artwork. I can enjoy it for the depth of the story telling and character development.
Batman: TAS is still the greatest superhero cartoon ever created. And may possibly be the best cartoon ever created.
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January 24, 2008
Off the Cuff: Batman Begins
Comics, Cartoons, and all things related
By Eric Barrett
It seems appropriate that I was watching Batman Begins on TV last week. As you’ve heard by now Heath Ledger, who played the Joker in the upcoming Batman movie died this week. Whenever I see someone who doesn’t live out their full potential, I find this to be a tragic event. And unfortunately that describes Ledger.
However, enough commentators have said far better, and more interesting things than I can say in this space. So let me turn my attention to somewhat related note: Ra’s death in Batman Begins.
Batman is a character who walks that fine line between good and bad, light and dark, as well as any other cliché you can think of. That’s partly what makes his character so compelling. How does someone who gets so close to becoming a criminal, not actually cross that line? People like the Punisher have similar backgrounds to Batman, and yet they have become just as bad as the people they hunt. Why is Batman able to stay away from that?
In my view it’s because of Batman’s rigid value system. There are some things, no matter what the situation, that he simply won’t do. He could have killed the Joker or a dozen other villains hundreds of times over. And yet he never does. It’s part of what makes Batman, Batman.
So when he willingly allows Ra’s to die in the movie, this goes against his entire nature. Batman would never allow someone, even Ra’s, to die if he could prevent that death. If he allowed it, he would be just as guilty as the people who murdered his parents, or any other person. In Batman’s mind, he would become just as evil and corrupt as they are.
Taking that hard, unbreakable stance is what keeps Batman from going “rogue.”
In many ways this is the most interesting aspect of his character. For someone who deals in “shades of gray”, he has very “black and white” views.
As I think about Batman I have to wonder, is the only reason he spares villain’s lives is so he doesn’t cross this line? Or does he hope, in some small way, that by sparing their lives, they can redeem their own?
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December 20, 2007
A new Off the Cuff?
What’s this? Off the Cuff on the front page? Could it be a Christmas miracle? Well it’s probably a miracle Craig lets me post anywhere on this site, but that’s beside the point at the moment.
So what’s going to happen over the next few weeks? You’re guess is as good as mine, but I think we will begin to see an evolution of Off the Cuff. Perhaps it will even grow legs and begin to walk on legs. Or maybe it will evolve into something more pointless, but fun – like sporks.
Either way, I’m sure it will continue to be something. Probably.
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Nothing says “Christmas” quite like the Dark Knight. So I encourage everyone to check out this video clip of the upcoming Batman movie. I’ll admit I was a bit concerned about how Heath Ledger was going to play Joker. Not everyone can pull off Joker, but I really think Ledger has a shot.
This is the first time I’ve ever been “scared” by the Joker. Ledger really creeps me out. He’s certainly got the whole “killer clown” vibe.
The Joker is such a brilliant villain because he completely corrupts anything he comes into contact with. Harley Quinn used to be an innocent person, and now she’s as deranged as he is. All of his schemes involve toying (sometimes literally) with items from our childhood. Even dressing as a clown is corrupted. The Joker is the ultimate representation of all that is “not right” with the world.
I am more excited about the new Batman movie than any other super hero movie coming down the road. I can’t wait.
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