Batman & Robin filmation featurette part2

[dsrocknroller]

the 68 series rocked - the 77 "new adventure" with Batmite -was plain lousy - to much political correctness and sanitized.

[Steve17010]

I hated that Batmite was a regular character in the 70's Batman.

Catwoman's costume was changed but I believe the same voice actress was used.

[alexander3062]

lol what did lou schiemer say i like that they used the bat symbol to bleep it out, lmao.

[demoskunk]

I hate the way American TV animation studios used to underestimate kids' intelligence. This was really evident by the mindless crap that passed for TV cartoons in the 70s.

Thank god for Star Blazers, though!

[RazMansReality]

Nevermind I found it.

[RazMansReality]

I know filmation has gone under but does anyone out there know of way to find these DVDs for sale. You can find nearly every show they did lurking around amazon & ebay from sellers except this one. It's like it doesn't exist.

[Aelflar]

Standards and practices! heh, nice concept.

Yeah, Batmite, it`s serious business, that why a 12 year old can come but an extra-dimensional magical creature can`t! DEAL with it!

[e6d6d6yheartagram]

Kevin Conroy - HANDS DOWN!!!!

[Razlo5000]

I prefer the darkest batman possible. The darkest, bloodiest, most violent one. Thats the one I liked when I was a young kid, and thats the only one for me now as an adult.

[chuckandmorgan]

I love the bat computer! 3:22!!!! So awesome!

This show is fun because it just goes to show that Batman is one of the greatest characters ever. You can put him in any setting from dark to mystery to light comedy and he works. Batman can do anything.

[butterp7]

This looks like the same television production team that did Tarzan Lord of the Jungle.

[Scarletspeedster68]

You are correct. They were both produced by Filmation Associates.

[dbonanno]

The Filmation Batman, like all 70s American TV animation, was just a mind-rotting waste of air time.

Thank god Star Blazers saved us in '79!

[kneejerker]

Yes, crimes against humanity.

[vardiss22]

@dbonanno ...i agree even though i really liked it at the time as a kid it dosn't hold up today unlike Starblazers and the that other legend Battle Of The Planets ( G- Force) even though we got the heavy edited versions of both in North America they were amazingly well written, gritty, dramatic and sometimes heartbreaking...great stuff.

[Nanuhhh]

i know that batman is batman but... what about robin i mean in the series he was hot!!!

[5N1D3]

say what?

[Nanuhhh]

yes.. burt ward was hot..

but he was never appreciated ...

i love batman i mean performed by christian bale of course =)

but i loved burt and he was the best robin for me

(L

[5N1D3]

Burt was an awesome Robin did wonders with the role.

My fave Robin tho is Stephenie Brown <3

and my fave Batman is voiced by Rino Romano <3

Bale is the best IRL Batman! :D

[Nanuhhh]

hhaha.. i'm really happy knowing that in you there's a little balehead :P

XDD

[richartrod]

I share Lou Scheimer's frustration about modern TV animation outsourced overseas, which began in the 80's to cut production costs and is standard practice today, even in the era of labor-saving Flash, Toonboom and AfterEffects software.

I grew up on this Batman in the 70's. It was just fun to watch, even though I hated Batmite. Remember that kidvid was more politically correct and anti-violence back then, and yet Filmation used it to its advantage. Very limited animation, but well drawn.

[Urvy1A]

Not to mention the "Bat Message" at the end of each ep.

[dramatic35]

the 90's animated Batman rocks, but the 60's & 70's versions were ok, too. they are all Batman you know

[DulBeat]

I like the 90's animated Batman the most out of all of his screen adaptations. He's dark and brooding like in the comics, but moral and empowering for kids to look up to... and there was no bat-mite.

[rikimaruakanomad]

thank God i grew up in the 90s lol if i saw this growing up i'd hate batmna hahah

[RepublicPosterBoy]

I'm only 20 and I love love love the 68 and 77 versions!!! I mean, I've got Scooby-Doo when Batman and Robin show up on DVD!!! And everyone I know hates the "old" version. I think that "kids" nowadays are way too jaded. But that's just me!

[Mysterwright]

@RepublicPosterBoy Kids today aren't strong enough. They aren't given the encouragement they need to reach for the stars legitimately. Most kids come from parents who made money and think the kids should be sophisticated. Those who think the kids should just be kids aren't usually in a position to bargain. If they are, they don't want the kids exposed to the wrong stuff which results in the kids knowing alot *but* are lonely because of all the corrupt people around them. So exploitation arises.

[dddevin69]

you tellin a guy 2 foot tall to stay low? what else is there? WTF?

[dddevin69]

this is the batman I grew up on

[RoshamboRamone]

why has nobody put full episodes on!!!! lol

[HardyGirl66]

I loved this cartoon when it came out. I also loved the 60s cartoon. But I'm more a fan of the 60s live action series. When Adam West and Burt Ward lent their voices to this show, I remember as a kid, feeling really disappointed that Cesar Romero, Burgess Meredith, Yvonne Craig and Julie Newmar weren't doing the voices as well.

[JackSpader]

This was just laughable to watch, I mean it seemed obvious to anyone reading the comic book at the time that this "kid stuff" didn't cut it for them and why former Filmation employees are even bothering to look back at their work as nostalgia is insulting. And as far as I'm concerned Batmite is a joke, he probably ends up being the reason not to watch more than anything. I feel sorry for 70's kids, having to choose between the Wonder Twins and Batmite.

RIP Heath Ledger, good thing you lived.

[dddevin69]

I was born in 75 and I liked this was I was 4 and 5. I a baby then and this was good stuff

[DulBeat]

So every interpretation of a man who dresses up like a blue rat with wings and pals around with a circus performer has to be a moping, sobbing mess? This isn't Watchmen.

[hellscorpion2]

Well, BatMite appeared in one episode, but was a robot. who apparently could create saliva, since he gave Robin a big wet kiss on a cheek....it was creepy..

[crazyclimber80]

Wow.. :33 to :42.. ZARBOR!!! I remember that guy!

Hardly anything on the web about him though.

[dddevin69]

what..would we do without you....lil..fella

[dome1972]

Batman sounds drunk when he calls Batmite little fella.

[Jen32484]

Lol, yeah you're right.

[HeyArnoldsspleen]

Is that Myron Reducto amongst The rouges gallery...

[rnigma]

The Filmation artist was incorrect in saying that the Catwoman from the 1968 series was reused in '77. The '68 version had a green costume and a different mask.

[intrepidlikes]

Actually, the design of Batman's gey and blue black costume was refined by writer Bill Finger after Bob Kane showed him his (Kane's) version which had no bat cowl just a guy dressed in yellow with a red cape and domino mask. Bill Finger is the uncredited and unsung REAL creator of Batman who made him "dark" and based on the crime pulp magazines that preceded the comics in the 1930s.

[ghostbusterguy2001]

what why did i get thumbs down i was just pointing out the fact that this is filmation like as in wow this is filmation cool

[ghostbusterguy2001]

shit this is filmation

[zaprese]

I know Mark Hamill done the voice of the Joker, but did he do it in 1977 the same time star Wars came out?

[lulakirby]

He did the voice of the Joker on the Batman Animated Series in the 90's. He's been a fan of comics since he was a kid, though.

[mikejaysmith]

And, he really is to the animated version of the Joker, as Keith Leger is to the big screen one-The Joker that people loved!!!

[dramatic35]

no, he voiced the Joker on the 90s animated series

[Futura428]

I didn't know this Batman series existed until six months ago. Just watched the dvd.

[thimoneus]

My God, my mind just got blown by that video. I watched the show every Saturday when it was on television. That was three decades ago. I JUST NOW learned that Adam West and Burt Ward were the voices of Batman and Robin on the cartoon and that... WTF... Mark Hamill was the voice of the Joker. What a trip all of that is.

[thimoneus]

One of my favorite villains on the show was Sweet Tooth. He would do stuff like turn the city drinking water into chocolate. There was a lot of creativity involved in making that cartoon show.

[ACLTony]

One of my favorite episodes of this series comes to mind. It was the one with the "Moon Man" where an astronaut becomes mutated into a eco-villain. Decent episode, Batman (Adam West) was not campy. Batmite, campy and annoying as usual. Filmation tried too hard to appeal to the "tots". Totally unnecessary as the tots were already tuning in.

[ghostbusterguy2001]

bat mite is like orko

[ACLTony]

Ghostbusterguy, good point. Batmite sure does remind me of Orko from the old "He-Man" series. Supposedly the light hearted "comdey relief". Though, imho, Orko was a likeable character. Batmite, to me, was just plain annoying! But that was typical Filmation. I understand now why Jackson Bostwick (Shazam) was trying to suggest ways to improve his show, which of course was watered down by Filmation.

[ACLTony]

I was at teen back then. Enjoyed this show but was irritated at the campiness. IMHO, Batmite was an unnecessary character, especially since some of the episodes had decent plots without violence. Just as with the live action Shazam, Filmation greatly watered down this show's characters.

[ERDGHY]

Batman is the best. Tanks for the video.

[BROJB]

Han Ha Han Ho Ho. Joker

[treychast]

USA CARTOON

[treychast]

BAT MITE

[mrmoore1970]

Mr. Freeze, Joker and Penguin (without the cigarette) were the same as 1968 Batman and Robin. However, Catwoman was made different; looked and sounded different and was much more sexier than the 1968 version. The outfit and her sultry voice were actually sexy, like The Baroness from GI Joe.

[dh1173]

This was my SHOW growing up!!! I liked this version better than Superfriends!! Filmation shows such as Tarzan, Freedom Force, Superstretch and Microwoman, Web Woman, etc. were great. The redesigned Catwoman was my fav. her voice was Eartha Kitt-esque. Scheimer was the voice of the Bat-Computer! Never knew that!! I'd take BAT-MITE over WONDERDOG or GLEEK anyday!!!

[mrmoore1970]

I think Catwoman was just about everybody's favorite (inculing mine), animated and the live-action versions. Tarzan was one of my favorites as well; it added a little sc-fi and I loved the original musical backgorunds, and the animation was cool too. Filmation had great animation and great shows, too bad they don't make it like that anymore.

[gagster7]

what would batman do without bat-mite? he be in heaven not hell.

[dds5]

NEVER felt that bat-mite crap! It tarnished BatMan's image.

[s0uperp00p]

After hearing Mark Hamil's voice for so long, every other joker voice sounds like crap

[QuartuvLarry]

Yeah, dude! Skywalker doing Joker's voice can't be topped! He's got to be the best Joker out there!

[kyletonarella]

agreed but i like kevin michael ricardson's joker too

[luutnantti111]

But he didnt do his voice in this show?

[styreen]

In thirty years time there will be people complaining about the current versions (too violent too broody too self involved too much pshycho analyses).

This series did the job back then. Now it's nostalgia.

In thirty years current series will be nostalgia.

I for one like the old stuff way better. The fact that they got Adam and Burt is a golden oportunity.

[alanr4447a]

Well, I guess it's nice that they bothered to MENTION the vastly superior 1968 cartoon version....JEESH!

[dechha1981]

Maybe it's just me, but when Batman said "What would we do yithout you... little... fella" I just kind of detected that he was thinking the same thing I was, but said "fella" instead.

[QuartuvLarry]

I'm post-camp. I liked Burton's Batman movies & the latest one. Schumacher did 90's style Batman campiness. I'm sure there are fans somewhere in the world who like that...stuff...

[FantomBloth]

As a 7 year-old kid i loved Batman & Robin. Few years later I'm watching it and going:What the hell...?!

[batmanpp]

It's a crying shame Olan Soule and Casey were not allowed to do both HB and filmation. Especially since this show was thier show and it recieved jakt up animation. But if we had to choose between this show or Superfriends, it's so fortunate that they went to Superfriends; the higher idea. But couldn't they get actor's that sounded akin to Olan and Casey?? That casting nails the characterization! KevnConroy sounds like a bully and is all WRONG, West sounds too jovial.

[Urvy1A]

In Legendary Super Powers Show, Olan voiced Professor Martin Stein, one half of Firestorm.

[batmanpp]

Yeah, that's right. Thinking about even then Adam West muscles in to replace Olan as THE BATMAN. It's so dam annoying. Plus, for about 90% or more of the show we have Batman as he is, then suddenly at the cream of the crop, the big finale, the Galactic Showdown, U all of a sudden alter Batman. It's so illogical. If Sienfeld's final season had Kramer replaced by Kareem Abdul Jabbar, in the final season! Nonsensical.

[Urvy1A]

Also, Olan voiced Batman 1st in the Superman Radio Show.

[ACLTony]

Adam didn't muscle in. Olan was not available. Many of us teens back then liked this show simply because it was the live action actors that were doing the voices.

[batmanpp]

He muscled in on Galactic. Olan was available, he was there doing the professors voice.

[ACLTony]

Ah yes, I remember now.Firestorm. Olan did the professor's voice while Adam was Batman. I have to confess though that me and my friends were thrilled that Adam was doing Batman's voice as we were small kids when we watched him on the 1960s live action show. Just my guess, but a lot of us (me included) had grown attached to Adam West as Batman. IMHO, Adam had a much smoother delivery than Olan. But, just my opinion

[ACLTony]

All wrong? Kevin Conroy actually characterizes what batman is SUPPOSED to be: Tough, brooding, no nonsense, slightly anti-social. That's the Batman of DC Comics that many of us grew up reading. The "camp" element was courtesy of "Hollyweird's" influence, unfortunately.

Just my opinion, but Olan's "Batman" voice was irritating to hear when he was excited or anxious. Short and jerky, similar to Star Trek's, William Shatner's. Adam West was jovial, but smoother.

[batmanpp]

No, it's Soule who characterizes what Batman is SUPPOSE to be: Shrewd, cool and cunning. Brainy, kind, and more moral than Superman himself. Your description of Conroy "Tough, brooding, no nonsense, slightly anti-social" fits exactly the Punisher or Wolverine. Soule had Batmans soul.

[batmanpp]

quoting myself "Shrewd, cool and cunning. Brainy, kind, and more moral than Superman himself." that's the Batman of DC comics many of US grew up reading. The very comic that Kane manufactured.

[ACLTony]

Interesting. I read Batman comics dating from the late 50s thru the early 90s. "Bats" goes through various changes over time, depending on the time period, some were border line campy whil In a number of issues we see a broodish Batman beat criminals up to ambulatory conditions. In a memorable Justice League issue, Batman says "I just want to be feared". He made similar statements in other issues. Konroy's characterization is on the mark with the post 1980s DC version.

[batmanpp]

60's-90's are the same comix I grew up with, so at least we on the same page(save a decade). Bat's doesn't necessarily want people to fear him when he says that, rather he wants evil to recognize the error of their path. Someone who wishes U to fear them I feel is a bully and a coward himself. Batman naturally instigates fear because his wisdom and cleverness created an terrifying image that is suppose 2 be a reflection of your own sin and guilt. Batman's a genius and a player.

[batmanpp]

...also, it's true Batman gets variations now and then, but hopefully they are fleeting. The basics of his identity remains classic and immortal. There's a lot of gratuity in comix, and we can't take em seriously. Like Year Two was it? With the gun and chill; extreme sensationalism but excellent art. Parallex? Not only gratuitous but major bull shit. That is NEVER Green Lantern.

[multivox]

I agree with you that Adam West sounded too jovial. But I disagree about Kevin Conroy sounding like a bully. Bob Kane and Bill Finger created Batman as a superhero designed to strike FEAR into criminals' hearts. He shouldn't sound like a Boy Scout troop leader.

Olan Soule was fine for this time period. But Kevin Conroy will go down as the best voice ever for an animated Batman. Just my two cents...

[batmanpp]

Conroy definitely sounds like a bully. He's very rough, very gruff, and very brute. Yer two cents is always worth sayin multivox, dont let anyone say otherwise. Kane designed him to strike FEAR into criminals hearts, obviously, BY VISUAL. So that doesnt justify a brute rough punisher type voice. He's suppose to creep U the fuk out,by the night circumstances and a shadow. Batman can creep U out and invent a Bat cuz he's shrewd and sharp. I agree not sound like BoyScoutleader,altho he IS boyscout

[tjjdwallace]

Wait a minute...I thought Superman was the big blue boy scout...;-P

[Winchester85]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think they should make The Killing Joke into a movie. That would be totally awesome. Just a thought. Thanks for uploading this featurette.

[Urvy1A]

They should put it as part of the DC Animated Movie lineup (ala Superman: Doomsday)

[rudycharles]

The new Batman coming out July,25 2008 is based off the Killing Joke...The Dark Knight....

[Winchester85]

Oh really. I didn't know that. Cool.

[Urvy1A]

I saw the trailer!