Batman Animated Paperback – December 7, 1998

Paul Dini and Chip Kidd’s “Batman: Animated” examines the history of “Batman: The Animated Series” from pre-production through its transition to “The New Batman Adventures” on Kids’ WB!, including production artwork, interviews with the producers, animators, and stars, as well as items used in the show’s marketing such as toys and games.Discussing censorship, Dini writes, “Some of Batman’s greatest conflicts have not been with the Joker or the Riddler, but against a much more excruciating adversary: the censor. Broadcast Standards and Practices (BS&P), ever vigilant to shield America’s youth from objectionable program content, closely oversees every script, storyboard, and rough cut, ordering the omission of action and dialogue they feel is too intense for the kiddies… In all fairness, the BS&P restrictions on ‘Batman,’ both at Fox and at the Kids’ WB!, have been much more lenient than at any other network. One of the unsung heroes of the series was Avery Coburn, Fox’s BS&P liaison. We were getting into new territory with this show, and Avery understood exactly what we were going for. She changed the rules for daytime animated series, which were long due for an overhaul” (pg. 34). Dini and Kidd include examples of notes the production staff received from BS&P, including forbidden words, the worry that Batman saying “Oh my god” would offend religious households (even if it made sense in context), the removal of any mention of excrement, no characters striking each other in the head/face, and concern over the portrayal of mental illness (pg. 34).Turning to the introduction of Robin, Dini writes, “The Fox Network, on the assumption that kids won’t watch a kid’s show unless kids are in it, soon began insisting that Robin be prominently featured in every episode. When Fox changed the title from ‘Batman: The Animated Series’ to ‘The Adventures of Batman & Robin,’ they laid down the law – no story premise was to be considered unless it was either a Robin story or one in which the Boy Wonder played a key role. Out were underworld character studies like ‘It’s Never Too Late’; in where traditional Batman and Robin escapades like ‘The Lion and the Unicorn.’ A potentially intriguing Catwoman/Black Canary team-up was interrupted in midpitch to the network by their demand, ‘Where’s Robin?’ When the writers asked if they could omit Robin from just this one episode, Fox obliged by omitting the entire story” (pg. 53). In terms of changes when the series shifted to the WB network and retooled characters as part of “The New Batman Adventures,” Dini writes, “The producers had always preferred the idea of a younger Robin, and as the WB! had fewer problems than Fox with putting a youngster in jeopardy, we decided to bring in young Tim Drake from the current ‘Batman’ comics as our new Robin” (pg. 124).Of most interest to fans are the character studies, displaying the evolution of character designs, and the production artwork, including storyboards and background images. For each of these, Dini explains the process that accompanied the design from idea to final, filmed image, including the unique coloring process that gave the animated Batman’s Gotham its dark and heavy feel. Both Batman fans and film scholars will find this a useful volume for study.

First, I'd like to point out that 'Batman: Animated' isn't a "how to draw" book in the strictest sense. However, this book is highly useful and great to have as a reference if you are an artist or illustrator who is into concept/production art. Even if you're not an artist, this book is still impressive if you are a fan of Batman and the animated series. This book has a great design and layout and is easy to follow. Plus, there are many images that make this book more than just "eye candy." This book offers a 'behind the scenes' look at what goes on in making an animated show that has to meet television standards and maintains excellence, spotlight the storytelling and artistry of Paul Dini, Bruce Timm, and the rest of the production crew of Warner Animation.I remember that I first bought a copy of this book in the early 2000s. I cherished this book and often referred to it for artistic inspiration as well as for repeated reading. I despaired when it was lost and grieved even more when I saw the stratospheric asking prices being asked for replacement copies. Long story short, I saw that Amazon had some for very reasonable prices (below even the original cover price) and I jumped on it. To say that I was happy is an understatement.I have purchased and enjoyed such Warner Animated series such as Batman Beyond, Superman: The Animated Series, and JLA/JLA Unlimited. I will also purchase the entire Batman: The Animated Series catalog in the near future, especially since it's the one that started it all. This book is an invaluable 'companion piece' and a treasure by itself. I definitely highly recommend it.

Who best to write a book about this justifiably award-winning animated series than one of the series writer/producers--Paul Dini (who wrote one of my favorite episodes--"Heart of Ice")? And with graphic designer Chip Kidd involved, you have a book that looks great on the coffee table. The best word I can use to describe this book is "thorough." It contains superlative art in full color, storyboards, character designs, in-house memos, licensed products, an episode guide from the animated series, plus great information on why the series was created, why the censors said no to certain aspects, as well as facts about the movies based on the series (SUBZERO, MASK OF THE PHANTASM). My only complaint is that the book isn't longer. But that's not the authors' fault. They put together such a great book, you'll want as much insight into the creation of this series as you can get (like a good DVD provides). And these guys deliver! This is a great "backstage" look for fans of the series.

this book gives great insight into the thought process of the animated show. Rich with beautiful illustrations , you get to to see first hand all the love that went into this beloved series. A great investment for those into comics, batman, animation etc