The Animated Series’ Title Card, Ranked

2022 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Batman: The Animated Series, the landmark cartoon from Warner Bros. that rewrote the principles of superhero animated sequence when it debuted in September of 1992. After a long time of Batman the Super Friend, the man who hung round with Scooby-Doo, the dude who talked like your favourite uncle, Batman: The Animated Series gave us a Dark Knight who lived as much as that nickname. He was grim, he was indignant, he all the time knew discover a shadow to face in, and he sounded (due to actor Kevin Conroy) like gravel rubbed on sandpaper.

Another factor that made B:TAS totally different from each different earlier Batman cartoon — and many of the youngsters cartoons of that period — was its richly detailed pictures. Where most animated TV sequence of the ’90s have been carried out on a budget and fast, Batman: The Animated Series seemed lovely, with wealthy colours, darkish shadows, and fluid character actions. Part of that general visible package deal have been the present’s opening title playing cards. Each of B:TAS’ 85 episodes got here with its personal hanging art work that accompanied the opening credit.

In honor of the present’s thirtieth anniversary, we’ve collected and ranked all of them. You will be aware the checklist has 79 entries as an alternative of 85; that’s as a result of Batman: The Animated Series had seven two-part episodes, and 6 of the seven merely recycled the identical title card twice with a “Part II” slapped on the underside. Also, when you’re questioning why there aren’t any New Batman Adventures on the checklist, there’s an excellent motive: They didn’t have opening title playing cards.

Honestly, the rating of the title playing cards doesn’t matter all that a lot on this case (though we do assume there are a handful of items that have been clearly the most effective of the bunch). What issues is taking the time to acknowledge the effort and time that went into these lovely items of artwork. Batman: The Animated Series didn’t have to make these for every episode however doing so helped set up the present’s gothic temper.