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Posted: 03/04/02
© 2002 Filmmonthly.com
Justice League (2001) / Batman Beyond (1999)
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 When I was about seven years old, I discovered the Justice League comic books. I had already been introduced to Batman by my oldest brother, and fell in love with the character immediately. My child's imagination ran wild with JLA (Justice League of America, their original name). Later, the JLA would be replaced by The Avengers, but the originals always have a special place in our memory. When I learned that Cartoon Network was going into production on a new animated series, I felt a slight shudder of apprehension, largely due to the dreadful animated series of Marvel programs that came out in the 70's. I knew that the technology was there, but would the producers put money into such a program?
I've held back on my comments for several reasons. One of them is that I love comic books almost as much as I love books. And a really well composed comic book is almost better than a film. I've seen about seven episodes now, and I'm ready to cast my positive vote for this outstanding new series.
Production is everything in animation, and Justice League is superb. Now, it's not A Bug's Life, but for television, this is as good as it's going to get for a long, long time. The series producer/designer Bruce Timm and his team eloquently breathe new life into these characters with a bold, sleek visual style. This quality does not end with the animation, but extends to sound and vocal artistry, and begins with writing. Unlike Batman Beyond or the Batman series, Justice League's stories are not quite so dark. They do weave in morality plays and myths and legends, which lend a touch of class and a time-honored sense of tradition. And even though these heroes work together as a team, they are not above letting their own individual foibles get in the way from time to time. Which only allows them to be human, and adds yet another layer to their already rich texture.
Batman Beyond debuted in January of 1999 on the WB network. By its second week, it had already been renewed for a second season. Produced by the same team that created Batman: The Animated Series, and Superman: the Animated Series, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, and Bruce Timm have duplicated their success in this newest animation series. Batman Beyond effectively takes the legendary Dark Knight and propels him into the future with a fixed link to his legacy via guidance by Bruce Wayne in the Batcave. This vigilante has long been a contagious cult figure in American folklore, and the creative team's updating breathes life into the character in much the same way as did Miller's The Return of the Dark Knight. And for me, a devout fan from age five, Batman Beyond satisfies in ways that Burton's film version never could.
Batman Beyond gives us the darkness, the hunger, the validity of Batman's driving force. He is everything male, and the evidence is summed up in an offhand quote taken from one of the 60's comics by Neil Adams: "It's my job." We all want to be the guy who does what he has to in order to set things straight, to make things right. The Batman has been that role model for us for over sixty years, and now Batman Beyond has successfully taken over the bat's mantle and will carry us into the future.
Del Harvey is the founder of Filmmonthly. He has recently returned to LA from Chicago to get back into all that show biz insanity firsthand. Got a problem? Email us at onthebox@go.com |
Cartoon Network elevates the action cartoon to a level of quality to rival any primetime drama.
And that's part of the whole conundrum, because it's not just a cartoon. The powers that be at Cartoon Network have taken a flyer with this program, and they've created something that is not just for the kiddies. In fact, their other efforts, Batman and Batman Beyond, are also much more than mere cartoons aimed at the pre-teen or teen audience. The themes are often adult, often universal, often dark. But they rarely fail to grab your attention. The animation is a big part of this, with subtle shadings and depth which elevate these animated short films to a level equal to any top-notch animated feature.
The Justice League comic book has included many different heroes over the years, but for the program the line-up is as follows: Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Green Lantern and J'onn J'onnz, The Martian Manhunter. There are some very good actors lending their voices to these characters, including Maria Canals as Hawkgirl, Susan Eisenberg as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Phil LaMarr as The Green Lantern, Carl Lumbly as J'onn J'onzz, The Martian Manhunter, George Newbern as Clark Kent/Superman, Kevin Conroy as Batman, and Michael Rosenbaum as The Flash. Justice League premiered November 17, 2001, and is produced by Warner Brothers Animation.
Following the success of Tim Burton's 1989 live-action version of Frank Miller's rebirth of the Batman, Warner Brothers Animation set about creating a new look and feel for the Caped Crusader in a cartoon series. The result was Batman: The Animated Series, which premiered in September 1992. The creative team achieved their goal and restored the Dark Knight to his former glory as a brooding, vengeful figure pursuing a colorful gallery of villains in a decidedly dark and menacing Gotham City. Batman: The Animated Series set a new standard for adventure shows, earning an Emmy® Award in 1993 for Outstanding Animated Program. After two seasons and 70 episodes, the show became The Adventures of Batman and Robin, and further episodes were produced (with character redesigns) for The New Batman/Superman Adventures.
Frank Miller's version of Batman takes us back to his dark, dysfunctional roots. He's a man driven by anger and motivated by revenge. He's older, which gives his anger a more complex and validated feel. When I heard the cast for Burton's film I was very excited at the prospect of Michael Keaton as a middle-aged, pissed-off guy in a cape. And Jack Nicholson seemed like the perfect choice for the psychopath that is The Joker in the comics. After four attempts, the films still fail to provide us with anyone who even has the look of Batman, let alone the presence.
Cartoon Network airs Justice League several times a week. Batman Beyond is shown daily in some markets. The New Batman/Superman Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, and Superman: The Animated Series are shown at different times in different markets. Check local listings for showtimes, or visit Cartoon Network