6 Amazing Animated Portrayals of Batman

TV and Movie

Sep 29

No character has benefited more from the explosion of superheroes in pop culture than Batman. With more than two times as many live-action portrayals as Spider-Man, the debate of which actor did the role best has been a hot topic among the fanbase for decades. However, the discussion around the animated versions of Batman is not nearly as mainstream, even though there has been a steady stream of animated Batman content since the 90s. So let’s shy away from the live-action discourse and take a look at 6 amazing portrayals of Batman in animated series and movies.

#6: Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Batman: The Brave and the Bold was OUTRAGEOUS fun! Like its comic-book counterpart, each episode featured Batman teaming up with superheroes from across the DC universe like Aquaman and Blue Beetle. One of the best aspects of this show is how it would highlight more obscure characters from DC like Music Meister and Bat-Mite. Diedrich Bader's performance was over the top and immensely entertaining. It's no wonder they chose The Brave and the Bold to cross over with Scooby-Doo years later; their vibes match perfectly. Plus, The Brave and the Bold delivered some of the greatest one-liners to come out of Batman in ages.

Diedrich Bader's inclusion as Batman in the Harley Quinn animated series for HBO was a great shorthand to indicate how ridiculous the series was going to be. He perfectly represents all the outlandish and goofy parts of Batman that are reserved for shows like these.

#5: Young Justice / Batman: Under the Red Hood

Bruce Greenwood, with over 150 acting credits under his belt, voices Batman in two great pieces of DC media: Young Justice and Batman: Under the Red Hood. Although they exist in different continuities, they both showcase Batman’s role as a mentor and father figure to his Robins. In Under the Red Hood he faces the loss of Jason Todd and is confronted on his strict moral code when Jason comes back as the Red Hood and demands revenge for his murder. In Young Justice, he grapples with giving Dick Grayson the independence to start his own team. Greenwood’s gravelly voice brings a seasoned gravitas to Batman, which makes him sound more like a military commander than a vigilante, giving his voice a leadership quality that lends itself perfectly to these two stories.

#4: The Batman (2004)

Rino Romano, with an impressive portfolio as a voice actor from Spider-Man, Star Wars, and Resident Evil, voiced Batman in the 2004 animated series aptly titled The Batman. This Batman had a slim silhouette, silky smooth fighting style, an arsenal of high-tech gadgets, and a cool demeanor that rivaled James Bond. The Batman featured visually unique and heavily stylized animations, and Rino provided an equally distinctive voice to Batman.

This show also featured interesting new characters to the Batman mythos, like GCPD Detectives Ellen Yin (Ming-Na Wen of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Mulan) and Ethan Bennett. Bennett is a longtime friend of Bruce Wayne, but neither he nor Detective Yin are fond of Batman at first. These characters evolve as the show goes on, and their arcs really speak to the originality the showrunners brought to this series. The eventual introductions of Batgirl, Robin, and the Justice League rounds out the cast in this often overlooked series in the Batman mythos. Plus, this series has one of the most captivating incarnations of The Riddler of all-time.

#3: The Dark Knight Returns, Parts 1 and 2

Peter Weller, famous for RoboCop, voices Batman in the animated-movie adaptation of Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. In 1976, Bruce Wayne decided to retire following the death of Jason Todd, vowing never again to take up the mantle of Batman. Now, 10 years later, despite his vow and the fact that he’s pushing well into his 50’s, Bruce is spurred to resurrect the Batman after a gang calling themselves the Mutants begins to ravage Gotham. This Batman has spent decades refining his craft and carries the weight of his past mistakes. He's narcissistic, bitter, ruthless, and yet he’s still the calculating and intelligent Batman audiences have come to love.

Most interesting about this Batman is his relationship with Carrie Kelley, the new Robin. While Bruce was like a father to Jason Todd, to Carrie he acts more like a drill sergeant. But it’s clear that he still cares for her. His demand for obedience is his way of protecting her from ending up like Jason, even though on the outside it looks like he’s just being a hardass.

In some ways he represents the worst parts of Batman. Many stories make you question whether Batman is a hero, and it’s never been more uncertain than in The Dark Knight Returns. However, Peter Weller’s voice gives a performance that makes it impossible not to root for him.

#2: The Lego Batman Movie

Will Arnett, famous for Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman, voices the most offbeat and comedic Batman to date in The Lego Batman Movie. While some may look at this movie as a parody, the cutting self-awareness of Batman’s long cinematic history makes it feel like the magnum opus of all Batman media, rather than mere commentary. Throughout the film, Batman and Joker’s rivalry is likened to a romantic relationship through innuendo, highlighting the duo’s obsessive tendencies towards each other that have existed in other media for years.

The Lego Batman Movie is deceptively deep, giving the appearance of a children’s movie on the surface, yet dealing with complex emotional subtext. This movie strikes at the heart of Bruce Wayne’s trauma, showing his struggles to find a new family while still coping with the loss of his own parents. It was moving to see Batman work through his trauma in more depth, something we don't get to see often when it comes to this iconic character. Seeing Batman embrace Dick, Alfred, and Barbara as his found family was a catharsis few Batman fans would expect to find, and not an experience to be forgotten.

Honorable Mention: Batman Beyond

Will Friedle voiced Terry McGinnis in the 1999 animated series Batman Beyond, a series that stood out for its unique vision of a futuristic Gotham and a new take on Batman as a teenager. Terry McGinnis’ Batman borrowed many elements from Spider-Man, like having him deal with as many teenager problems as Batman problems, but with the fun twist of having a mentor and foil in the original Batman, Bruce Wayne. This dynamic gave us 3 seasons of entertainment, plus an excellent movie that pitted Terry against Batman’s most dangerous enemy, The Joker. While Terry will never be the most well-known Batman, this series has cemented itself as a niche staple in the Batman mythos.

#1: Batman: The Animated Series

Kevin Conroy is a legend in his own right, having voiced Batman in more movies, TV shows, and videogames than any other actor. His first and most iconic portrayal of Batman, Batman: The Animated Series, set the tone for Batman for years to come. Creators Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski merged art deco architecture with the film noir elements from Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) to create a unique visual style for Gotham, affectionately referred to as Dark Deco. The hybrid aspects of Dark Deco are a perfect representation of Batman, who acts as both an avatar of fear for the criminal element of Gotham and a vulnerable human who tries to do right by her citizens. He’s a brilliant detective, a master of disguise, and a skilled combatant. But most of all, under the surface, he is exceptionally kindhearted. Unlike many other incarnations of Batman, which do not portray his empathy as a primary trait, this version of Batman earnestly threads the line between intimidation and compassion.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is the greatest showcase of Batman's empathy. When Bruce Wayne falls in love with Andrea Beaumont, he is forced into a heart-wrenching dilemma. He must decide whether his vow of vengeance is worth the cost of giving up love. Ultimately, he chooses love, even though it was not meant to be in the end.

Kevin Conroy brings a warmth and compassion to Batman that we don't see often, and that's why his performance as the Batman is #1.

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Joseph "Tenjo" Tennenbaum

You might be asking how I came about my current position. Back when I was a Witcher, Sami came to me and asked me to behead a monster for her. Apparently, I misheard her because she actually said, “edit for The DeMonster.” Now here we are!

I went to school for cybersecurity, but my real passions are game design and creative writing. I’m an avid gamer in my spare time and love to play tabletop games, card games, and video games. My favorite genres are turn-based strategy and rich story-driven games.