Freedom Reborn

Community Forums => Film, Television, Video and Music Discussion => Topic started by: HarryTrotter on May 28, 2014, 09:37:45 AM

Title: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on May 28, 2014, 09:37:45 AM
I noticed there is no a topic so lets start one.  :thumbup:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/DCAU.jpg)
Shows in DCau:

    Batman: The Animated Series (September 5, 1992 – 1995 on Fox) (later renamed The Adventures of Batman and Robin)
    Superman: The Animated Series (September 6, 1996 – 2000 on The WB) (later compiled into The New Batman/Superman Adventures)
    The New Batman Adventures (September 13, 1997 – 1999 on The WB) (compiled into The New Batman/Superman Adventures)
    Batman Beyond (January 10, 1999 – 2001 on The WB)
    Static Shock (September 23, 2000 – 2004 on The WB)
    The Zeta Project (January 27, 2001 – 2002 on The WB)
    Justice League (November 17, 2001 – 2004 on Cartoon Network)
    Justice League Unlimited (July 31, 2004 – 2006 on Cartoon Network)

With numerous movies,comic tie-ins,video games and web cartoons.
So what are your thoughts?What did you watch?What did you like?  :cool:
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Cyber Burn on May 28, 2014, 01:17:29 PM
I think I watched pretty much all of them, but the Justice league/Justice League Unlimited series gave me the most enjoyment. I have them all on DVD, and it's still the coolest thing to be able to watch and share the characters I grew up with, with my 4 year old.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: bat1987 on May 28, 2014, 02:11:19 PM
Watched everything except static shock and zeta project.

All top notch stuff, from voice acting, to characterization of each member of the cast, everything was superb!

My fave ofc is BTAS, including TNBA. Its the best super hero animated show ever made IMO with JLU being close second.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: thalaw2 on May 28, 2014, 02:31:32 PM
No Superfriends?  A lot of us old heads would include superfriends....heck the list is also missing the original superman cartoon.  That was good stuff.  I've even listened to some of the real old skiool radio drams such as Green Hornet, Lone Ranger, The Shadow, and Batman.  To this day I still listen to radio drama.  It helps me sleep  I like imagining things instead of having TV shove them into my head sometimes. 
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Talavar on May 28, 2014, 02:37:51 PM
Yeah, probably the best cartoon series around, and definitely the best superhero cartoon series.  I never saw as much of the Zeta Project and Static Shock though; they were only loosely connected to the others by a couple of crossover episodes - I don't think the same creative teams that made Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond & Justice League were really involved.

Justice League got off to a slow start (some of those first season episodes - what were they thinking?) compared to the earlier Timm-verse shows, but by its second was really something great.

Quote from: thalaw2 on May 28, 2014, 02:31:32 PM
No Superfriends?  A lot of us old heads would include superfriends....heck the list is also missing the original superman cartoon.  That was good stuff.  I've even listened to some of the real old skiool radio drams such as Green Hornet, Lone Ranger, The Shadow, and Batman.  To this day I still listen to radio drama.  It helps me sleep  I like imagining things instead of having TV shove them into my head sometimes. 

Spade is specifically only referring to the DCAU as its called, the shows done by Bruce Timm that all shared a continuity, their 2 spin-offs, the Zeta Project & Static Shock.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on May 28, 2014, 03:13:51 PM
Quote from: thalaw2 on May 28, 2014, 02:31:32 PM
No Superfriends?  A lot of us old heads would include superfriends....heck the list is also missing the original superman cartoon.  That was good stuff.  I've even listened to some of the real old skiool radio drams such as Green Hornet, Lone Ranger, The Shadow, and Batman.  To this day I still listen to radio drama.  It helps me sleep  I like imagining things instead of having TV shove them into my head sometimes. 
Like Talavar said this is just this one continuity.As wikipedia confirms it.Belive me I see a ton of flame wars about :Do the Teen Titans fall into this continuity?
Spoiler
They dont
This actually had a great impact on the comics.Such as introducing Mr. Freezes wife,Harley Quin,Lock-up and so on.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on May 28, 2014, 11:41:25 PM
That list is the best of all Bat-worlds (minus the New Batman Adventures), and 90% of a perfect version of the DC Universe.  The Timmverse is fantastic, and it contains, without a doubt, the greatest animated series and superhero adaptations of all time. :D
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: thalaw2 on May 29, 2014, 03:36:11 AM
I stand corrected   :lol:

<------- runs off to take a nap
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on May 29, 2014, 06:20:35 AM
Also LOBO.And my favourite version of Clayface.
STEEEELAAAAAA!!!!  :thumbup:
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: catwhowalksbyhimself on May 29, 2014, 06:56:43 AM
I'm still not entirely sure how they managed a familty friendly version of Lobo, but somehow they did.  It's mostly the voice actor, I think.  Lobo on Young Justice, an otherwise fantastic show, was just not all that good.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on May 29, 2014, 08:20:31 AM
Quote from: catwhowalksbyhimself on May 29, 2014, 06:56:43 AM
I'm still not entirely sure how they managed a familty friendly version of Lobo, but somehow they did.  It's mostly the voice actor, I think.  Lobo on Young Justice, an otherwise fantastic show, was just not all that good.

While still being AWESSOME,you mean?
This version of Superman was also one of my favourites.Darkseid was great too.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on May 29, 2014, 02:17:19 PM
Yeah, one thing that the Timmverse never missed on (once again, excluding the New Batman Adventures) was the villains.  They provided the definitive version of pretty much every Batman villain AND the Superman/JLA villains as well.  I would say, though, that their Darkseid was a bit weak, physically.  That's a very minor complaint, though.  :D
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Glitch Girl on May 29, 2014, 02:40:07 PM
Adventures of Superman made me love the big blue boyscout.  Even their weaker series (serieses, seri?)  like The Zeta Project (IMO) still had some pretty good ideas and entertainment value. 

In a perfect world, Bruce Timm and his crew would be in charge of the Nu52.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Talavar on May 29, 2014, 02:55:31 PM
Quote from: Glitch Girl on May 29, 2014, 02:40:07 PM
Adventures of Superman made me love the big blue boyscout.  Even their weaker series (serieses, seri?)  like The Zeta Project (IMO) still had some pretty good ideas and entertainment value. 

In a perfect world, Bruce Timm and his crew would be in charge of the Nu52.

Or the DC movies.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on May 29, 2014, 02:57:05 PM
Entirely true. :D
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: catwhowalksbyhimself on May 31, 2014, 11:08:57 PM
Quote from: Spade on May 29, 2014, 08:20:31 AM
Quote from: catwhowalksbyhimself on May 29, 2014, 06:56:43 AM
I'm still not entirely sure how they managed a familty friendly version of Lobo, but somehow they did.  It's mostly the voice actor, I think.  Lobo on Young Justice, an otherwise fantastic show, was just not all that good.

While still being AWESSOME,you mean?
This version of Superman was also one of my favourites.Darkseid was great too.

Yes, that is what I meant.

Of course, The DCAU redefined or invented quite a few villains, while we're on that subject, and the comics and most adaptations have followed on their (sometimes radically different) versions.  Harley Quinn, Mister Freeze, Brainiac, just to name a few.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 01, 2014, 02:56:31 AM
Yeah, and Mr. Freeze was clearly vastly improved by the transition, and I would argue that Brainiac's origin changes are very beneficial as well. :)
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: catwhowalksbyhimself on June 01, 2014, 03:03:37 AM
Mr Freeze had actually been killed off in the comics at the time and was considered a very minor villain that no one had any interest in.  Then the DCU happened and they hastily revived him and reconned him to match the animated version.

Unfortunately that one Batman movie proved that is is possible to ruin that storyline.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 01, 2014, 02:56:00 PM
Haha, yeah, but there is no story so good that it can't be ruined by morons.  ;)
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 01, 2014, 02:59:45 PM
^Under the red hood was awessome on the other hand.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Tomato on June 01, 2014, 03:48:52 PM
Yes, but unfortunately that movie has Nightwing in it so Benton automatically assumes it's not worth his time.  :P
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 01, 2014, 03:52:21 PM
He doest like Nightwing for some reason?
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 03, 2014, 04:56:18 PM
Haha!  There are a lot of reasons Under the Red Hood wouldn't interest me, but yeah, Nightwing is one.

I'm not a fan of the stories that brought Dick into the Nightwing identity, I think most of his costumes are fairly poor, and the eras during which he existed are, on the whole, not my favorites.  I prefer the classic Bat-Family.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 03, 2014, 05:07:39 PM
^Nightwing doesnt appear much in DC animated universe.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 03, 2014, 05:09:36 PM
And that is another strength of that setting, it seems to me. ;)
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 03, 2014, 05:10:55 PM
Ok which charachters from here you liked?
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 03, 2014, 06:00:56 PM
I'm sorry Spade, I don't entirely understand the question.  Do you mean to ask which characters from the Timmverse I like?  If so, that is a very long list.  I love most of those characters.  In fact, pretty much the only characters I intentionally didn't put in my DCUG were Nightwing and Batwoman (and of course, the other Robins). 
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 03, 2014, 06:30:50 PM
Yes,thats pretty much what I asked.
Im not a big fan of Robin myself,but hey...
I didnt like Catwoman here.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 03, 2014, 06:32:40 PM
Ohh, I loved the Timmverse version of Catwoman.  As with pretty much everything in their B:TAS, I've always thought of her as the definitive version of the character.  She's sympathetic, devious, alluring, but ultimately a good, though misguided, person.

My favorite characters, specifically talking about the Timmverse, would probably be The Question and John Stewart.  JLU introduced me to both of them, and I loved their portrayals. 
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 03, 2014, 06:41:33 PM
^Question was cool.
BTW He was hinted for the Arrow,so we will see...
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 03, 2014, 06:42:45 PM
Quote from: Spade on June 03, 2014, 06:41:33 PM
^Question was cool.
BTW He was hinted for the Arrow,so we will see...

These things make me sad.  I wish that there was a show more to my taste that was doing this type of thing. :(
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 03, 2014, 06:47:07 PM
^Im kinda watching the whole DCAU again.I finished Batman TAS.Now up to Superman TAS.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 03, 2014, 06:51:20 PM
I'm watching through Superman:TAS myself.  It's better than I remembered, and I remembered it being pretty good. :)
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 03, 2014, 06:59:28 PM
Are Static Shock and Zeta project any good?
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 03, 2014, 07:00:17 PM
Okay to good and yes.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 03, 2014, 07:32:22 PM
^I hope so.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: thalaw2 on June 04, 2014, 12:16:22 AM
Static Shock is one of my favs.  I thought Zeta Project was just finding it's legs before it got cut off.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 04, 2014, 12:43:58 AM
Quote from: thalaw2 on June 04, 2014, 12:16:22 AM
Static Shock is one of my favs.  I thought Zeta Project was just finding it's legs before it got cut off.
Emphasis added.

Entirely true, that.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Talavar on June 04, 2014, 03:08:12 AM
I actually just watched through Superman myself, and now I'm going through Justice League.  I don't know what they were thinking at the start of Justice League, pretty much ignoring all the rich continuity they'd developed in Superman, and seeming to forget how to write that character.  I got to the first episode of the second season, and the improvement was by orders of magnitude.

Superman TAS was a great cartoon.  It never quite got the accolades of Batman TAS, but I really think it's just as definitive an interpretation of the character.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 04, 2014, 03:23:13 AM
Tal, you're right, it is just as definitive.  In fact, I'd have much rather seen anything like that than what we got in MoS.  Yeah, the first season of JLA is good, but the rest are so much better.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: thalaw2 on June 07, 2014, 02:19:40 PM
It's kinda hard to write superman into a team, because he's so freakin powerful.  It seems that his power levels vary from the Superman cartoon to JLA.  In some cases it seems to vary from episode to episode.  Despite this I enjoyed the Superman cartoon and JLA very much because the stories were good no matter what Supes power levels were. 

A little off subject, but I re-watched Flashpoint and enjoyed it.   IMO Supes in that cartoon is pretty powerful.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 07, 2014, 02:28:45 PM
Its explained that hes restraining himself most of the time.Remember when stops and then curbstomps Darkseid?
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: thalaw2 on June 07, 2014, 02:51:30 PM
Yes, but that just seems to be more of a writing tool.  Why would Supes "restrain" himself when a plane is crashing?  How does his restraint work?  Is it something he can set to different levels or is he always conscious of it?

Also, I didn't think the whipping he put on Darkseid used as much power as the one he had to give Shazam in JLU. 
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 07, 2014, 03:12:50 PM
Hes strong as plot demands him to be basicly.
BTW its not Shazam its Captain Marvel.At least it was.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 07, 2014, 03:17:16 PM
Quote from: thalaw2 on June 07, 2014, 02:51:30 PM
Also, I didn't think the whipping he put on Darkseid used as much power as the one he had to give Shazam in JLU.

That really depends rather heavily on just how tough Darkseid is, but yeah, it was inconsistent. For the most part, I felt like JLA did a good job with his portrayal.  It makes sense that he'd hold back when fighting non super-powered/giant-robot-type foes.  That's actually something that comes up in the comics.  Instead of punching Gorilla Grodd into fine red gorilla mist, he flicks him on the nose, etc.  Are there inconsistencies?  Yeah, even Timm and company own them in a few places through the commentaries, but those uneven bits mostly don't bother me.  That ending was actually the one that bothered me the most, but it's only one moment in the entire series, so I can give it a pass.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: catwhowalksbyhimself on June 07, 2014, 03:36:40 PM
Part of the reason why Batman TAS gets the amount of respect and credit it does is that is was a key part of the 90's cartoon revolution, being one of the first that went from the mass produced, formulaic get enough episodes broadcast to go into syndicate then stop format used previously for kids cartoons and actually try to have a story with quality characters and superb casting.  As a result, it REALLY gets remembered, along with X-Men and Spiderman (more so the former) which were also revolutionary.  By the time Superman TAS came along, it was no longer on of the first.  It was incredibly good of course, but that was more or less expected of it.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 07, 2014, 03:49:56 PM
That's a fair point Cat.  I think that it was on the edge of my being young enough to watch it without being self-conscious, so I didn't really see it when it first aired.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Talavar on June 07, 2014, 10:11:06 PM
Quote from: thalaw2 on June 07, 2014, 02:19:40 PM
It's kinda hard to write superman into a team, because he's so freakin powerful.  It seems that his power levels vary from the Superman cartoon to JLA.  In some cases it seems to vary from episode to episode.  Despite this I enjoyed the Superman cartoon and JLA very much because the stories were good no matter what Supes power levels were. 

A little off subject, but I re-watched Flashpoint and enjoyed it.   IMO Supes in that cartoon is pretty powerful.

I don't just mean Superman's power level though (which was a bit of an issue; the creative teams owned up to the fact that they let flooring Superman being the villain of the week's way of showing they were dangerous, and did it better from season 2 on).  Superman's entire character seemed off at the start of the show.  Bland, humorless, and pretty much ignoring the character they'd built up over 3 seasons of his own show.

There are a few points in Justice League where they mention Superman's increasing strength, most notably "Only a Dream," where Superman's fear is that his powers will continue to grow until he can no longer control them.  It's not just power creep, but is  acknowledged 'in-universe' as well.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 07, 2014, 10:30:40 PM
Quote from: Talavar on June 07, 2014, 10:11:06 PM
Quote from: thalaw2 on June 07, 2014, 02:19:40 PM
It's kinda hard to write superman into a team, because he's so freakin powerful.  It seems that his power levels vary from the Superman cartoon to JLA.  In some cases it seems to vary from episode to episode.  Despite this I enjoyed the Superman cartoon and JLA very much because the stories were good no matter what Supes power levels were. 

A little off subject, but I re-watched Flashpoint and enjoyed it.   IMO Supes in that cartoon is pretty powerful.

I don't just mean Superman's power level though (which was a bit of an issue; the creative teams owned up to the fact that they let flooring Superman being the villain of the week's way of showing they were dangerous, and did it better from season 2 on).  Superman's entire character seemed off at the start of the show.  Bland, humorless, and pretty much ignoring the character they'd built up over 3 seasons of his own show.

There are a few points in Justice League where they mention Superman's increasing strength, most notably "Only a Dream," where Superman's fear is that his powers will continue to grow until he can no longer control them.  It's not just power creep, but is  acknowledged 'in-universe' as well.

That's true, he doesn't really become himself until the show has found its legs, but that's true of most of them, I suppose.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: catwhowalksbyhimself on June 07, 2014, 11:12:32 PM
Quote from: BentonGrey on June 07, 2014, 03:49:56 PM
That's a fair point Cat.  I think that it was on the edge of my being young enough to watch it without being self-conscious, so I didn't really see it when it first aired.

I was a teenager when it came out and thus spent a lot of my childhood watching said mass produced cartoons.  Not all of them were bad, necessarily, but it should be noted that it wasn't until X-Men and Batman came out that my dad was just as interested in watching these things as I was.  This should say something.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on June 08, 2014, 01:27:28 AM
Most definitely.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: HarryTrotter on June 19, 2014, 05:25:42 AM
Finished Superman TAS.As much as  I liked it,it was getting repetative by the end.Every now and then Darkseid launches an invasion.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on July 19, 2014, 04:42:21 AM
I think it's strongest in the middle.  While I think Batman:TAS could have pretty much gone on forever, Superman didn't have quite the same longevity.  He just doesn't have as many cool villains to play with.
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: trebean on July 28, 2014, 02:06:22 PM
Bruce Timm is back baby!! With an original story to boot!!Take that lazy adaptions!
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54383

Since DC announced that 1 out of their 3 movies that they release yearly would be out of continuity, anyone else hoping it's a DCAU Reunion?
The title Gods and Monsters leaves a lot to be desired though, I reaaaaaaally hope this kinda means New Gods?








Also Batman vs Robin is happening, which is supposed to be loosely based off Court of Owls, yay?
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: BentonGrey on July 28, 2014, 02:32:47 PM
Awesome!  Color me excited!  Yeah, let's hope for a DCAU reunion. :D
Title: Re: DC animated universe
Post by: Starman on July 28, 2014, 10:38:40 PM
Quote"Batman Vs. Robin" appears to be loosely based on the well-received DC  Comics' storyline "Batman: The Court of the Owls," by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.

The fact this is named after a Grant Morrison story, yet is supposed to be based on Snyder's big "The Court of the Owls" arc, makes me think this is going to turn into "Batman & Son Part 2" ...  :thumbdown: