New Batman animated short by Bruce Timm

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Bruce Timm has made a short that pays tribute to the Batman of 1939 as part of the character's 75th anniversary:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IFwOS2R9o_8[/yt]

 

[Mr Light]

Was that Hugo Strange and Solomon Grundy?

Did Kevin Conroy actually voice that one line or did they just pull it from the old show?

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

Yes, it's Hugo Strange. I think the other villain is one of Strange's monster men rather than Solomon Grundy.

 

[Christopher]

It was Kevin Conroy, and Timm has confirmed in an interview that they had him record the line anew -- although as part of a recording session for something else he was doing for them, so they didn't bring him in just to say two words.

I'd like to know who did the other voices, though, particularly Strange. He sounded a little like Jeff Bennett, but I'm not sure. Come to think of it, it could've been Corey Burton, who played Strange in Arkham City (according to IMDb).

And the big guy was based on the creatures in "Doctor Hugo Strange and the Mutant Monsters" from Batman #1 in 1940. The shot of Batman firing a machine gun from the Batplane was also an homage to that same story, since that was the infamous issue where Batman strafed a truck and killed the drivers, then hanged one of the monsters from a rope dangling from the Batplane.

 

[Redfern]

And while the 90s series was "noir" influenced (partially paying homage to the Max Fleisher Superman shorts), this was full on 1940s styling, tall ears on the cowl that angled outwards, gloves with short cuffs rather than the longer grieves with the mounted "fins", and as mentioned above a propeller driven batplane with an open canopy.

I was lucky to catch it. I knew it was to air Wednesday, but looking at the schedule grid, I didn't see it listed. It was only because I risked watching Teen Titans Go! (in case they presented anything kinda' "saucy" with Raven or StarFire) that I saw the short as it aired between the two segments.

It would be great if this would lead into a new series, but given Cartoon Network has cancelled several DC related series lately, I don't have much hope for this.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[bbjeg]

Kevin Conroy is my definitive Batman voice.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Kevin Conroy is my definitive Batman voice.

Mine too! Bruce Greenwood does a good job too, though!

 

[Christopher]

It was only because I risked watching Teen Titans Go! (in case they presented anything kinda' "saucy" with Raven or StarFire)

Huh? On a version that's aimed at very young children?

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^ Well, there's always this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNygkgKgLdg#t=1m14s

 

[Mistral]

Wonderful piece that just leaves me wanting more.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I wasn't familiar with the original source material before watching this but it's a nice love letter. The tear gas bullets are a bit of a cheat though, lol.

The DC Nation shorts have offered some great moments with quirky experiments that might not have been able to get produced as full features. I liked Batman of Shanghai, Amethyst and the Wonder Woman ones among others. I don't know if they ever will but I think it would be terrific if they offered a compilation disc at some point with all the shorts.

 

[Out Of My Vulcan Mind]

I don't know if they ever will but I think it would be terrific if they offered a compilation disc at some point with all the shorts.

Hopefully they'll be offered as extras at some point on season DVD sets for DC animated shows. I think that's more likely than a dedicated release.

 

[Redfern]

It was only because I risked watching Teen Titans Go! (in case they presented anything kinda' "saucy" with Raven or StarFire)

Huh? On a version that's aimed at very young children?

There was an episode titled "Legs" in which Robin swipes Raven's cloak to determine if it's the article of clothing that makes her all moody and morose. When she enters the room to retrieve it, the rest of the troop makes a big deal that she is revealing her legs...as though they have never before seen them. (Yes, I know this does not make much sense as Raven has often been depicted with her cape spread like wings. It's just one of those things one must accept for the "rule of funny".) BeastBoy gapes like a "horn dog" going so far as the shift into the form of a rabbit to sniff her calves. Turns out the cloak actually does affect one's personality (as each of the team tries wearing if only to experience extreme mood swings). Without it, Raven becomes a friendlier person and strikes upon her own, taking the new title of "Lady Legasus". But she drops her solo efforts when she discovers her cloak has "possessed" Cyborg. She returns; retrieves her enchanted garment and when she pulls it around her body, we hear the creak and slamming shut sound of a vault door. BeastBoy is devestated and cries for the "lovely, lovely legs" which he assumes he will never see again. As Raven walks a away, she carftily smiles and then swings open a fold of her cloak to reveal a shapely thigh and calf. BeastBoy shifts into a hound and then howls in approval as we hear an off camera voice sing, "Baby, Baby's done a bad, bad thing! while the shot irises out.

So, yeah, compared to most of the material presented in that series, that episode could be debated as "saucy" or at least "suggestive" It also gave the creators a chance to draw Raven as having a bit more shape than the usual "clothespin" doll style normally depicted.

I'm at work so I can't access YouTube to present clips from the episode to illustrate my point. But if one runs a search with the key phrases "Teen Titans Go" and "Legs", one will likely get some readily accessable clips.

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Bruce Timm has made a short that pays tribute to the Batman of 1939 as part of the character's 75th anniversary:

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IFwOS2R9o_8[/yt]

That was... AWESOME!!!

 

[JD]

I'm not familiar with the earlier Batman comics this was apparently inspired by, but I still loved it.

 

[Christopher]

Well, the art here was a lot better than in those early comics.

 

[The Old Mixer]

In addition to the other influences noted, the setting had a very 30s/40s monster movie vibe to it...right down to being in black & white.

 

[Warped9]

Very cool! I want to see more, please.

 

[publiusr]

Kevin Conroy is my definitive Batman voice.

Mine too! Bruce Greenwood does a good job too, though!

I miss Olan Soule myself. They all did good work.