Exclusive: Batman: The Animated Series cast reveal favorite episodes!
This week Warner Bros. Home Entertainment released their Deluxe Limited Edition Blu-ray box set of Batman: The Animated Series. During this year’s New York Comic-Con, ComingSoon.net got the chance to ask the main voice cast of the show what their favorite episodes were, including Kevin Conroy, Loren Lester, Tara Strong, Diane Pershing and producer Eric Radomski. Check out their answers in the gallery below!
Click here to purchase the Batman: The Complete Animated Series Blu-ray box set!
Premiering in September 1992, Batman: The Animated Series followed the titular hero as he dealt with the various criminals in Gotham City, everybody from his Rogues Gallery of villains to lesser-depicted antagonists including Roland Daggett, Clayface and Man-Bat. The series ran for 85 episodes and received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike for its more mature and adult storytelling, darker tone, musical score and voice cast, which introduced various actors who portray their roles over the years.
The ensemble cast included Kevin Conroy as The Dark Knight, Mark Hamill (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) as The Joker, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. (Hot Shots!) as Alfred Pennyworth, Robert Hastings (The Poseidon Adventure) as Commissioner Jim Gordon, Ron Perlman (Hellboy) as Clayface, Roddy McDowall as The Mad Hatter, Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog) as Catwoman and Arleen Sorkin (Days of Our Lives) as Dr. Harleen “Harley Quinn” Quinzel, who was created specifically for the series and was so well-received she became part of the Batman comic canon.
The series earned four Emmy awards, including Outstanding Animated Program, and has appeared on numerous lists for best animated shows of all time, best comic book adaptations of all time and best Batman adaptations of all time.
“Batman: The Animated Series set the standard for superhero animation for decades to come, and we’re proud to present this remastered box set to allow new generations – and the series’ vast, avid fanbase – to enjoy this landmark entertainment in the highest quality possible,” Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing, said. “This is truly a box set for the ages with an array of bonus features to perfectly complement all 109 episodic masterpieces – plus the full-length, remastered films Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero.”
The box set, which will cost $113, includes 10 Blu-Ray discs featuring all 85 episodes, as well as two bonus discs featuring the films Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero, and features hours of special features and additional entertainment, as well as three exclusive three Funko mini-figurines of Batman, Harley Quinn and The Joker and seven lenticular art cards. Only 30,000 copies of the box set are being produced, 2,000 of which were pre-ordered on Amazon within 24 hours of availability.
The special features are listed below:
- The Heart of Batman (All-New Documentary) – A rare gathering of talent defined Batman for a generation. Twenty-five years later, Batman: The Animated Series continues to inspire fans and myth makers all over the world. This hour-long documentary takes an in-depth look at the renowned storytellers behind the landmark series.
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Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (Feature-Length Film) – When the city’s most feared gangsters are systematically eliminated, the Caped Crusader is blamed. But prowling the Gotham night is a shadowy new villain, the Phantasm, a sinister figure with some link to Batman’s past. Can the Dark Knight elude the police, capture the Phantasm and clear his own name? Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the twists in this dazzling animated feature. Discover revelations about Batman’s past, his archrival the Joker, and Batman’s most grueling battle ever — the choice between his love for a beautiful woman and his vow to be the defender of right. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is “a mystery that is genuinely absorbing, suspenseful and moving” (The Cincinnati Enquirer).
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Batman and Mr. Freeze: SubZero (Feature-Length Film) – Batman faces his coolest case ever when Mr. Freeze returns to Gotham City and kidnaps Batgirl. While unraveling the mystery of
Batgirl’s disappearance, Batman and Robin discover that she is part of Mr. Freeze’s frigid plan to save his dying wife – no matter what the cost. With time running out, Batman and Robin must find Gotham’s most cold-blooded villain and prevent him from putting Batgirl “on ice” forever. Batman and Mr. Freeze: SubZero includes all of the special features included on the original release: All four episodes of the animated “Mr. Freeze Saga” – Heart of Ice (Batman: The Animated Series), Deep Freeze (Batman: The Animated Series), Cold Comfort (The New Batman Adventures) and Meltdown (Batman Beyond); Art of Batman: Music Montage (Featurette); Get the Picture: How to Draw Batman (Featurette); Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes (Featurette); and an Audio Commentary featuring Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Glen Murakami and James Tucker.
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The Dark Knight’s First Night Pilot Promo: Hosted by Bruce Timm (Featurette) – Witness the 1991 Batman promo reel as producers Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski discuss the origins of
Batman: The Animated Series.
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Robin Rising: How the Boy Wonder’s Character Evolved (Featurette) – The evolution of Dick Grayson from young ward to crime fighter.
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Batman: The Legacy Continues Retrospective (Featurette) – DC luminaries join BTAS creators as they explore the combination of exquisite design and in-depth storytelling that helped create a once in a generation show.
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Gotham’s Guardians: The Stalwart Supporting Characters (Featurette) – Batman is not the only hero safeguarding Gotham City. This documentary focuses on the importance of the Dark Knight’s allies in the Batman mythology.
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Voices of the Knight (Featurette) – Actors Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy, Adriene Barbeau, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., and Andrea Romano discuss the process of bringing their iconic characters to life.
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Gotham’s New Knight (Featurette) – Barbara Gordon swings into focus in this exciting look at Batman’s trusted ally and equal, Batgirl.
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Video Commentary: “House and Garden” – Watch along as Producer Bruce Timm, Director Boyd Kirkland and writer Paul Dini take viewers behind the scenes of an exciting episode of Batman: The Animated Series.
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In-Movie Experience – Watch along as Producer Bruce Timm, Director Boyd Kirkland and writer Paul Dini take viewers behind the scenes of an exciting episode of Batman: The Animated Series.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Introduction (Featurette) – Bruce Timm, Dan Riba, James Tucker, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett and
Andrea Romano discuss Gotham’s most popular rogues.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Clayface (Featurette)– Clayface personnel file revealed by Bruce Timm, Dan Riba and James Tucker.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Harley Quinn (Featurette) – Alan Burnett, Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski, Paul Dini and James Tucker
discuss bringing Harley Quinn to life.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: The Joker (Featurette) – Alan Burnett, Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski, Paul Dini, Andrea Romano and
Dan Riba discuss Mark Hamill’s inimitable Joker.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Mr. Freeze (Featurette) – Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Andrea Romano and Dan Riba discuss MR. Freeze and the Heart and Ice Origin story.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: The Penquin (Featurette) – Bruce Timm, Andrea Romano, Alan Burnett, James Tucker, Dan Riba and Eric Radomski discuss The Penguin.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Poison Ivy (Featurette) – Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Andrea Romano, Alan Burnett, Dan Riba and Eric
Radomski discuss designing Poison Ivy.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Ra’s Al Ghul (Featurette) – Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, and Dan Riba discuss why Ra’s Al
Ghul is such an exciting villain.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: The Riddler (Featurette) – This file discusses The Riddler and how creators differentiated him from the Batman ‘66 Riddler with: Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Andrea Romano, Eric Radomski and Dan Riba.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Scarecrow (Featurette) – Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Andrea Romano and Dan Riba
discuss the various iterations of the Scarecrow.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Two Face (Featurette) – Discussing Batman’s key nemesis are Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett,
James Tucker, and Dan Riba.
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Arkham Asylum: Examine the Top-Secret Case Files of the Dark Knight’s Many Foes: Ventriloquist & Scarface (Featurette) – Lively discussion about one of Batman’s most unique
villains with creators Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Eric Radomski, Andrea Romano, and Dan Riba
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“Concepting Harley Quinn” (Featurette) – Producer Paul Dini discusses how Harley Quinn was incorporated into the series.
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Tour of the Batcave (Featurettes):
-Batman
-Utility Belt
-Bat-Vehicles
-Alfred
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Audio Commentaries:
“On Leather Wings” – Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski.
“Heart of Ice” – Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and Eric Radomski.
“Robin’s Reckoning, Part One” – Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski
“Heart of Steel, Part Two” – Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski and Kevin Altieri
“Almost Got ‘Im” – Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski and Paul Dini
“Harley and Ivy” – Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski and Boyd Kirkland
“Read My Lips” – Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Michael Reaves, Boyd Kirkland and Shirley Walker.
“Harlequinade” – Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Shirley Walker and Eric Radomski
“Over The Edge” – Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Glen Murakami, and James Tucker.
“Critters” – Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Dan Riba, Glen Murakami, and James Tucker.
“Legends of the Dark Knight” – Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Dan Riba, Glen Murakami, and James
Tucker.