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Many fans are familiar withBatman: The Animated Series(1992), but there is actually a show calledThe Batman Animated Series(2004) which remained less popular despite its six Daytime Emmy Awards. The story behind its creation is quite as interesting as the series’ unique take on Batman.
Animator Jeff Matsuda was the chief character designer forJackie Chan Adventures. The show was a raging success, but when it was time to bid farewell to the series, Matsuda had to find a way to score a new gig.
The End ofJackie Chan AdventuresOpened Up The Path ToThe Batman Animated Series
Character designer José López spoke withThe World’s Finestand shared his journey working with Matsuda onJackie Chan Adventures.
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“In September of 2003, I was working at Sony Animation on the fourth season of The Jackie Chan Adventures and had been with the company for four years doing character designs with Jeff Matsuda. We were wrapping the season, and the rumors around the studio were that we did not have a pick up for another season, and we were going to get the boot.”
They both tried their luck and after praying so hard to get the job, Warner Bros called them, and they negotiated a deal.
“So, the first thing you do is to start looking for the next gig. Jeff and I were having a conversation about the situation when he mentioned that he was negotiating getting into a really big show, The Batman. If everything worked out, he wanted me to jump on the show with him to do character designs.”
López’s character design in theJackie Chanshow influenced so much ofThe Batman Animated Series. The project had a different twist that most fans have not seen on a regular Batman animated installment.
“In ‘The Batman’ we tried to push the limit, but ensure to show off appealing versions of the characters (and maybe surprise the fans). I truly believe that the new representations of these characters are fresh additions to their history, and hopefully, the fans will feel the same way.”
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This unique and novel take on Batman made the show stand out from the rest of its kind, although it’s quite sad that it remained in the shadow of the1992 series.
What’s Unique AboutThe Batman Animated Series?
Producer Duane Capizzi spoke withThe World’s Finestto share whyThe Batman Animated Seriesis so different from its predecessor and what they did to set it apart.
“We wanted to tell the stories less from the villains’ point of view and more from Bruce Wayne’s. Because we wanted our sympathies to be with Bruce, to experience his various dilemmas as he grows to become a better Batman, we made the decision to avoid pathos with the bad guys (at least, on a regular basis; there are notable exceptions, of course).”
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The 2004 animated series truly deserves to be recognized by global fans. It offered the most revolutionary character designs, perhaps themost iconic Joker look, and a storyline that’s worth investing in.
All five seasons ofThe Batman Animated Seriesare available on DVD and Blu-ray.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3532
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
