It may have cost the quality of the cartoons, but I absolutely admire that Scheimer tried his best to keep american animators in work. R.I.P Mr.Scheimer
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.
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
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.
I have the DVD set of this interpretation of Batman and when it was on circulation on CBS I did not pick up on Adam West being the voice of Batman then again since he was TVs original Batman it was fitting and you can pick up on some camp such as referring to Catwoman as “ you felonious feline” speaking of whom the Catwoman of the 68-69 cartoon and this one from 1977 are very different from one another. Still great to see this on DVD and the 68 version
The interesting thing is that even though Riddler was shown in the opening montage he was not on the show because he was on the "Super Friends" as part of the Legion of Doom Filmation couldn't use him.
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.
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...
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.
I really love this series. The only thing I was puzzled about was Catwoman. The design was so different than the comic version. I feel the color seems too bright. Batmite was actually improved in my opinion. I would use that version for the official DC universe it's tons better in every respect.much more entertaining.
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.
Y'know, I actually tend to like a slightly lighter Batman. But then, I feel that there's a tendency by modern fans of the darker Batman to sort of gild his faults. People tend to like him because he's rude and antisocial and messed up. But I think the case with antiheroes in general is that you're supposed to like him despite his faults. He's messed up but he's trying to be better and bring a little justice into the world in the process.
What separates Batman and Robin from the rest, is that they have no super powers. They use courage and fearlessness, and mind powers to fight crime. They are only human. Fists and cunning and costumes are their only weapons.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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...
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.
No...in animation the voice of The Joker was Ted Knight in the '60s Filmation series and in this 1977 series it was Lennie Weinrib. Ted Knight was the narrator of the '60s Filmation series in addition to voicing The Joker, Penguin, Riddler, Commissioner Gordon, Mr. Freeze, Scarecrow, Simon the Pieman, Doll Man, etc. This was before Ted became famous as a television actor on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" in 1970. The Joker's next appearance in animation came in 1985 on an episode of Super Friends. The show was actually called "Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians". The Joker appeared in the 1985 episode titled 'Wild Cards' and was voiced by Frank Welker. Mark Hamill became the voice of The Joker in 1992. I think he retired from the role about 15 or so years later or he still may be the official voice of the character.
The 1968 Batman cartoon is much better than the 1977 cartoon.It's no BTSA, but it's historically important. It's of it's time of course, but it's surprisingly entertaining. It's so much better than the 1977 cartoon. Even Adam West could not make up for Bat-Mite and new/silly villains.
Used to watch the 60's Filmation Batman, somehow missed this 70's version here. It doesn't look as well. Too childish. The 90's Batman was excellent and more like the comic books.
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.
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.
@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.
Wow... Burt Ward is just the worst here. I've heard him voice act in recent stuff and he's great. Maybe it's because this was his first gig doing something like this?
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!
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.
The camp wasn't Hollywood. That's just what comics became after the crackdown the. Government did on comics. It was years before comics gradually returned to a darker tone. They were moving that way by the time the show aired but kids programs were much more visible than comics because you didn't have to read them or pay for them. So parents could watch with their kids.
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.
