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Some days, it feels like every name in Hollywood has been a superhero at some point, and TV stars have been getting in on that action for decades. From Superman's radio serials that turned into TV shows, all the way toward the massive "event miniseries" that pop up on HBO Max and Disney+ in the modern streaming era. A fan-favorite name will get the opportunity to play an iconic DC or Marvel character down the line if they just keep grinding, and sometimes those casting choices make all the sense in the world. For example, "NCIS" star Mark Harmon playing Superman is one of those moments that sounds fascinating in your head, and worked out to perfection in the world of DC animation.

Reading this, you might not remember the "NCIS" star playing the Man of Steel in any comic book project, but he did voice Superman back in "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths.

Certain actors come to define certain roles, and that goes double for comic book movies. After 2008's "Iron Man" changed Hollywood forever and re-energized star Robert Downey Jr.'s career, the man spent the next decade convincing us all that he just is Iron Man. On the DC side of things, many would say that Christopher Reeve did the same thing with his "Superman" movies, even though his final outing as the Man of Steel, 1987's "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace," became an infamous superhero movie that even Reeve regretted making.

While we're on the subject of DC, there is one man that can surely claim to rival Reeve: Kevin Conroy. The late actor inhabited the Dark Knight beginning with 1992's "Batman: The Animated Series" and went on to play the role across multiple projects, from other DC Animated Universe shows to video games and even in live-action as...

Irrespective of the medium, Batman’s rogues gallery has always been an integral part of his mythos, and has heavily contributed to his status as one of the most iconic fictional heroes in media. And among all the iterations, barring comics, Batman: The Animated Series is highly considered the blueprint for Gotham’s underbelly, including Ra’s al Ghul.

Although it’s hard to imagine anyone other than David Warner in the shoes of Ra’s in the revered series, prior to incorporating Warner in the role, legendary actor Sir Christopher Lee was initially in line to helm Ra’s voice.

Sir Christopher Lee missed out on voicing Ra’s al Ghul due to scheduling conflicts Ra’s al Ghul | Credit: Fox Kids

While David Warner’s iteration of Ra’s in Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, and Batman: Beyond is nothing less than perfection, it’s...

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"Batman: The Animated Series" was produced to capitalize on the success of the Tim Burton "Batman" films. Both the films and cartoon played big roles in bringing a darker Batman to the wider public, the kind that may not have bothered picking up a copy of Frank Miller's comic masterpiece "The Dark Knight Returns."

"Batman: The Animated Series" is widely considered to be the superlative take on the Dark Knight and his rogues gallery. It helps that the series starred several villains never before adapted out of the comics. The pilot episode, "On Leather Wings," featured Batman fighting the monstrous Man-Bat. The 1960s "Batman" series tried and failed to include Harvey "Two-Face" Dent, but "The Animated Series" had him, gruesome origin and all. "The Animated Series" also brought in the most important Batman villain introduced since the '60s...

At this point, saying Mark Hamill is the definitive Joker is as redundant as saying Kevin Conroy is the definitive Batman. While every Bat-fan has their favorite performance of both character, Hamill and Conroy have enjoyed such enduring appeal as the Clown Prince of Crime and the Dark Knight, respectively, that since playing the roles in "Batman: The Animated Series" they have returned to the characters in everything from video games to animated movies and even live-action TV appearances.

But the original Fox Kids series is where an entire generation of '90s kids witnessed Conroy and Hamill's performances for the first time. Prior to its 1992 debut, there had never really been anything quite like the now-beloved animated series. Co-creators Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, along with a team of indispensable contributors that included writers Paul Dini and Alan Burnett, crafted a show that appealed to kids without talking down to them.

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What's the best superhero TV show? Satirical gorefest "The Boys" has been a smash hit, and in 2024, Marvel Studios released one of its best projects ever with "X-Men '97." But for a lot of other geeks, the answer to this question is still one of the classics.

For as much stock as you can put in IMDb, the site's list of highest user-rated TV shows puts "Batman: The Animated Series" in 24th place. With a rating of 9/10, it's the highest ranking superhero program on the list. "Batman" is also the sixth-highest ranking animated series after "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (which also featured Mark Hamill voicing a super-villain), "Bluey," "Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood," "Rick and Morty," and "Attack on Titan."

Created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, "Batman: The Animated Series" debuted in 1992 and ran for 85 episodes. The show spawned a whole DC Animated Universe,...

Marvel and DC Comics have both cultivated fandom with a shared universe between series. This web of continuity entangles young minds, who come to see the comics not merely as pulp adventures, but gateways to a whole other world whose history they could study and master. Then, superheroes took over 21st century Hollywood by importing this same storytelling model. But the first major superhero cinematic universe debuted on the small screen, not the silver one. Yes, before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there was the DC Animated Universe (Dcau). A series of interconnected cartoons with overlapping cast and crew, the Dcau ran for 14 years from 1992 to 2006.

That long run would've been impossible without the people who made these cartoons. The first Dcau cartoon, "Batman: The Animated Series," was co-created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski. Timm's distinctive art style (like Jack Kirby meets pin-up girl posters) became the Dcau standard.

A fan-favorite animated film featuring the voice of Alan Tudyk as Clark Kent/Superman will soon hit a major streaming platform. The versatile and prolific actor voices Dr. Phosphorus and Clayface in James Gunn's first Dcu project, Creature Commandos.

2014's Justice League: War, starring Tudyk as the Man of Steel, will arrive on Max on January 1. Directed by Jay Oliva and scripted by Heath Corson, the superhero film adapts Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's comic book Justice League: Origin, the inaugural story in DC's 2011 DC Universe relaunch. Justice League: War depicts the titular team's formation, necessitated by the New God and despot of Apokolips Darkseid (Steve Blum)'s invasion of Earth. Alongside Tudyk's Big Blue, the film stars Jason O'Mara as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Michelle Monaghan as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, Justin Kirk as Hal Jordan/Green Lantern, Christopher Gorham as Barry Allen/The Flash, Shemar Moore as Victor Stone/Cyborg,...

It's no secret that male superheroes dominate the box office. However, there are exceptional female characters who are well worth some solo screen time. It may have taken a bit of time, but female superhero flicks have had major success with audiences, and luckily, there are still more to come.

Despite male superheroes like Superman and Spider-Man hogging the spotlight for some time now, several female superhero movies out there deserve more attention, such as Black Widow and Captain Marvel. Whether movies are led by a female character or a female character has an especially prominent role, they've met increased success and have developed loyal fanbases.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on December 17, 2024: Female superhero movies are thankfully becoming more popular thanks to recent initiatives in the MCU and the Dcu. With female-led films like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and Thunderbolts* on the way, take a look at some of their best predecessors so far.

2024 brought us back to Gotham City as drawn by Bruce Timm with "Batman: Caped Crusader." Timm was co-creator of the much-beloved "Batman: The Animated Series" back in the 1990s. "Caped Crusader" has the same art style and banks on nostalgia for "The Animated Series," but it's not a sequel, a prequel, or otherwise connected to that show at all.

"Batman: The Animated Series" modeled its Gotham City on the 1930s, from the cars, clothes, and architecture, but it was officially set in the present day despite the timeless feel. "Batman: Caped Crusader" goes one step further and is literally, not just spiritually, set in the 1940s. The overlapping characters also have different designs; Batman's costume looks more like the "Golden Age of Comics" suit and less like "Bronze Age" one as he did in "Batman: The Animated Series." This Caped Crusader has a new voice too (Hamish Linklater taking over...

More than 500 actors reportedly auditioned to voice Batman in Batman: The Animated Series, yet the identities of most of them remain a mystery. Batman: The Animated Series debuted in 1992 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest animated shows of all time. Created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, the series redefined Batman for a new generation with its noir-inspired tone, mature storytelling, and iconic voice cast. Despite the show's enduring legacy and the immense popularity of Kevin Conroys portrayal of DCs Dark Knight, only two other actors are known to have auditioned for the part.

One of the key contributors to Batman: The Animated Series was Andrea Romano, the series casting and voice director. Romanos role was pivotal in assembling the stellar ensemble of actors to bring Gothams characters to life. While Romano quickly found the perfect voices for characters like Mark Hamills Joker and Arleen Sorkins Harley Quinn,...

Notable for his stints in renowned soap operas such as General Hospital and Ryan’s Hope, Emmy-nominated star Ron Hale recently passed away at the age of 78. The news of his demise was unwrapped by an obituary from St. George, South Carolina, which revealed that the actor died on August 27, but the reason behind his death is yet to be made public.

Ron Hale | Credit: General Hospital/ABC

Although the actor’s career was mostly defined by his portrayal of Mike Corbin in General Hospital, to Hale, working onscreen never came close to performing on stage.

Ron Hale Always Preferred Theatre Over the Other Two Mediums A still from Ryan’s Hope | Credit: ABC

While Ron Hale’s decades-long stay in showbiz saw him landing several flicks and TV shows, with his last acting gig being in 2017’s The Ghost and The Whale, the actor always held theatre close to his heart.

Looking back, the early nineties were the best of times and worst of times for Batman fans. In 1989, fans got their first big-budget Hollywood Batman movie, followed by the 1992 sequel Batman Returns. Both of these films boasted A-list talent and made huge money. But they weren’t really interested in Batman, at least not the guy that comic book readers loved.

But 1992 saw the launch of Batman: The Animated Series, a cartoon that gave fans some of the best ever tales of the Dark Knight, in any media. Created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, The Animated Series took some visual cues from Burton’s movies, especially in its designs for Catwoman and the Penguin, but it was grounded in the Bronze Age comics by Dennis O’Neil and Neal Adams as well as 1940s cinema.

Taking a lead from the Fleischer Brothers’ Superman cartoons, Timm and Radomski insisted upon smooth animation for their project,...

Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox stands tall as the greatest animated Dcau film. The movie features a dynamic storyline with three-dimensional characters and outstanding voice actors. Besides the rich narrative and well-written characters, the voice cast of the film has done a fantastic job. At the same time, there is quite an interesting story behind the casting of the role of Superman.

A still from Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox

In the animated series, Clark Kent was voiced by Tim Daly, the actor always the right choice to voice the character. His voice radiated warmth, determination, and passion, which is necessary to play the iconic DC superhero. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, he could not voice the superhero for this movie. Instead, his son did the work, and surprisingly, very few fans noticed the difference.

Sam Daly Opens Up About How He Was Chosen To Voice Superman in The Dcau...

Jerry Seinfeld’s Bee Movie was destined to be one of the most entertaining and hilarious films ever created. The film featured itself with an absurd and intriguing plot, and remains a top-notch product of Seinfeld’s humor, as he showcased his wit with clever wordplay. As a result, the animated film was loved by its young and old audiences.

Jerry Seinfeld. Source: Wikimedia Commons

To add to the film’s success, it became a never-ending meme factory. While the animated film was meant to be a family-friendly movie, it featured several erotic undertones when Barry B. Benson and Vanessa Bloome were shown together. Jerry Seinfeld realized his mistake, but but he was too proud with his work, hence, he decided to give a half-baked apology which might not resonate well with some of its viewers.

Jerry Seinfeld Gives a Lukewarm Apology for Having “S**ual Undertones” in His Bee...

No matter how dire the circumstances, Batman is known for his unwavering “no-kill” code, which forbids him from taking a life in DC Comics. However, in Injustice God Among Us: Year Three, Bruce Wayne breaks his own rule to protect one of his dearest friends, Superman.

As everyone knows, the Joker from DC is one of the vilest, vicious, and most depraved supervillains. Nevertheless, Superman is restricted by the same code that keeps Batman from killing the Clown Prince of Crime. For similar reasons, both DC superheroes have strong moral codes prohibiting them from killing their enemies. Yet, in recent years, DC comic writers have endeavored to differentiate between the two.

Batman in comics (Credit: DC)

So, Superman had a dream in Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Three that Batman had stopped the Joker before he reached Lois Lane… and his unborn child.

Exploring the Aftermath: Batman’s Incarceration for...

Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series, which kickstarted the DC Animated Universe (Dcau) is regarded as the best adaptation of the Caped Crusader by many. Besides the plot, one of the primary reasons for its popularity was the iconic voice castings. The late Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill as Batman and Joker have left an indelible mark on the viewers’ minds.

Kevin Conroy’s Batman and Mark Hamill’s Joker

While Conroy is often hailed as the best Batman ever, Mark Hamill’s performance is considered even more praiseworthy than the critically acclaimed live-action works. However, the Star Wars star was not the first choice to play a Dcau role. It was only for voice director Andrea Romano, that Hamill could give us the legendary Joker performance.

How did Mark Hamill get the role of Dcau’s Joker?

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi...

The late Kevin Conroy is known for his various incarnations of Batman in various mediums. He embodied and became the voice of the character starting from Batman: The Animated Series, and has since gone on to voice him in many Batman-related projects over the years. He transitioned to appearing as Bruce Wayne in the Arrowverse in 2019.

Ruby Rose and Kevin Conroy in Crisis on Infinite Earths

He starred as an aged and damaged Batman in the episode Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two alongside Ruby Rose’s Batwoman. Fans were surprised with the dark iteration of the character and were impressed with Conroy’s live-action performance. The actor was supposed to return as the character in the show Gotham Knights but was unable to do so due to his illness.

Kevin Conroy Was Originally Planned to Be a Part of Gotham Knights

Kevin Conroy’s Batman was originally included in...

Although there has been a plethora of onscreen adaptations of the Batman mythos, to many, the 1992 series still remains the definitive version of the character and his rouges’ gallery. While most of it had to do with Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s brilliance, one cannot undermine the contribution of the amazing voice cast, which involved the likes of Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Arleen Sorkin, etc.

For that, we have Andrea Romano to thank, who served as casting and voice director on the acclaimed show. However, getting the tone of the show right took Romano a while, as this was unlike anything she had been part of before.

Getting Bruce Timm’s Vision Right Took Andrea Romano a Few Episodes

Andrea Romano | Credit: Wikimedia Commons

It’s hard to separate Batman from his dark brooding identity nowadays, but this wasn’t exactly the case three decades back. Andrea Romano, who...

Batman: The Animated Series remains one of the most definitive adaptations of the character in modern media. The cast and crew that worked on the show would go on to become seasoned Batman veterans and produce multiple versions of the character in and outside the Dcau.

Batman | Source: Batman: The Animated Series

Andrea Romano was a key contributor to the Dcau, being a powerhouse for the franchise, looking towards casting the iconic voice talent that would become synonymous with the show and the characters that they play. However, there was another key matter in which Romano’s contribution was invaluable, one that has been since discontinued, and left the industry for worse.

Andrea Romano was a big fan of ensemble readings

Batman: The Animated Series [Credit: Warner Bros. Animation]There are a lot of things that are unique about the animated medium, especially when it comes to the production of projects...

Despite the mysticism of voice-over acting and the mysterious voices behind the animated parts, there remains a strong attraction to the medium of animation for actors who strive for real creative potential beyond the allure of recognition and glamor. Kevin Conroy stands out, among the millions of other faceless heroes, as one of the most respected and famous voice actors whose contribution to the DC comics lore has made him synonymous with Batman.

Kevin Conroy at the 2019 Sdcc for Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary [Photo: Gage Skidmore]Kevin Conroyʼs enigmatic foray into the world of DC is well-known to all who have even a basic understanding of the Dark Knight mythology. The origin of the Adam West serial that turned the IP into a cartoonish, campy, caricature was viewed through the lens of vengeance and brooding melodrama. For the first time, “I am Batman” instilled ice-cold terror in the listenerʼs veins rather...

Ever since X-Men ’97 was revived by Marvel Studios, the superhero landscape has entered into a pseudo-nostalgic era, where audiences have begun to reminisce about the good old days, when animated series were the go-to format for good superhero fiction. Almost immediately, there was a demand to bring back other animated series, not just from Marvel, but other studios that had previously produced great superhero content like Batman Beyond.

Batman Beyond [Credit: Warner Bros. Television Animation]Among calls to bring back superhero animated shows, there seems to be a Batman: The Animated Series sequel in development with Warner Brothers, which has increased the possibility of a Batman Beyond revival. The casting and voice director of the show, Andrea Romano, might just have told fans how they could get it if they wished for it enough.

Andrea Romano has called for a campaign from fans for a Batman Beyond revival

Batman Beyond

Andrea Romano,...

Whenever it comes to the Dcau, fans often look back to Bruce Timm’s masterful work on Batman: The Animated Series, which by many is still considered the peak of the caped crusader. However, the Dcau isn’t just limited to Btas, as there have been several different interpretations of the iconic character in the realm of animation, with one of them being The Batman.

Not to be confused with Matt Reeves’ The Batman, The Batman Animated Series was a fun reimagining of Batman and its coterie of supervillains, which scored well critically throughout its run. One thing that fans found odd about the show was the introduction of Batgirl as Bruce’s first sidekick, but the writers can’t be blamed for this decision.

The Batman Animated Series Wasn’t Initially Allowed to Use Robin

The Batman Animated Series | Kids’ WB

Robin has been put on ice in live-action...

DC’s animated shows have garnered widespread acclaim, captivating audiences with their diverse narratives and exceptional performances from the cast. Much of the credit for assembling such an outstanding ensemble, including luminaries like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, goes to Andrea Romano the legendary voice director renowned for her uncanny ability to match actors with their animated counterparts.

Batman: The Animated Series | Warner Bros.

When asked about her ability to consistently select the ideal actors for each role, Romano revealed her preference for actors with stage experience when casting for animation projects, asserting that they possess a unique potential to excel in voice acting.

Andrea Romano Revealed Her Casting Secrets For Dcau

In a conversation with Bleeding Cool, Andrea Romano opened up about the casting process for the animated shows, sharing that she looked for actors with genuine talent and the ones who were willing to take risks to push boundaries.

From Adam West in the ’60s to Robert Pattinson in 2022, a plethora of iterations of Batman have been presented onscreen since the character’s inception. But while most of them are great in their own right, nobody quite embodied the spirit of the caped crusader like the late Kevin Conroy, who is still considered by many to be the definitive version of Batman.

However, Conroy wasn’t the initial choice to voice the character, and even when he was considered for the part, the actor was interested in voicing other characters, which ended up frustrating Andrea Romano.

Kevin Conroy’s Interest in Other Characters Frustrated Andrea Romano

Batman: The Animated Series | Fox Kids

While Troy Baker, Will Arnett, and Jensen Ackles have proven to be pretty great when it comes to voicing the caped crusader, for most, Kevin Conroy is Batman’s voice. But back in the ’90s, when voice...

Kevin Conroy became a sensation among superhero fans in no time after voicing Batman in Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series. The animated show gave us one of the best adaptations of the Caped Crusader to date. Bruce Timm, the co-creator of the animated series revealed that he had to make Conroy forget everything he knew about Batman to land the role.

Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series

Surprisingly, Kevin Conroy knew nothing much about the Gotham Knight when he went for a script reading for the role. However, the late actor nailed in the very first attempt and shocked the entire team. He went on to voice the superhero for three decades across animated movies, television series, and the Arkham games.

How did Bruce Timm make Kevin Conroy the greatest version of The Dark Knight?

Joker and Batman in Batman: The Animated Series [Credit: Warner Bros. Animation]When...

Kevin Conroy has worked with some of the most incredible voice actors because of his legendary work as Batman. The many villains he had to face, either minor or major, all impacted him in one way or another. The cast was a variety of enormous talent all mixed in one big familial project. Andrea Romano, the voice director of Batman: The Animated Series had a lot to say about the cast as well.

Kevin Conroy voiced Batman starting with Batman: The Animated Series (Credits: HBO Max)

With the talented actors she had managed to get cast, one would wonder if there was one that she wanted to get but couldn’t. An array as extravagant as this would make that very factor impossible. However, Romano had other plans.

“Kind of like Michael Keaton, but kind of not”: Bruce Timm Had to Make Kevin Conroy ‘Forget’ Everything He Knew About...

There is no denying that any animated project is as good as its voice-over artists. Luckily, the Dcau has never come across an ‘L’ when it comes to finding the right person to voice the characters. They have Andrea Romano to thank for that. The Goddess of Casting has worked across many, many projects as a casting director, including Popeye and Son, Batman: The Animated Series, Justice League Unlimited, and so on.

Kevin Conroy’s Batman in Dcau’s Batman: The Animated Series

Needless to say, she has worked with a ton of voice-over artists, and picking a favorite amongst them has got to be like finding a needle in the hay. However, there was one actor who held a special part in her heart and if you think that is Kevin Conroy, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Andrea Romano Would’ve Loved to Work with This Actor in...

Bruce Timm is known for having very unique approaches to the characters he brings to life. On top of his innate understanding of comics, he also brings a sense of uniqueness to each of his projects, which has made him one of the best people in the DC Animated Universe. Unfortunately, not everyone can understand his approach very easily.

Bruce Timm’s All-Star Superman

Sometimes, the producer has to fight for his vision or explain it to the actors so that they can perfectly capture what he wants them to do. However, often, even language fails, and no amount of explanation can get the point across.

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Being the legend that he is, it would seem that Timm also has a go-to plan for such a situation, using his skills as an animator and artist.

Anthony Lapaglia...

Superman has always been the most hopeful and powerful hero, whether it is about DC, or Marvel. With the many adaptations of the Kryptonian hero, some get regarded as masterpieces while others die before they can even reach the surface. Adaptations find key elements that please the audiences and the DC Animated Universe is by far excelling the most in that.

All-Star Superman

All-Star Superman is a film that came and went by with powerful performances and a gripping story. Adapted from the comic book series of the same name, it had various voice actors who gave their very best. In most cases, these performances are backed by other works that manage to impress voice directors.

Andrea Romano, the voice director of the film, sought out Christina Hendricks for the role of Lois Lane because of another fan-favorite series.

Christina Hendricks Made Her Way Into All-Star Superman with Another Role

Andrea Romano,...

What Kevin Conroy was for Batman, Tim Daly was for Superman, who voiced the character in the ’90s Superman: The Animated Series. While the show itself isn’t as fondly remembered as Batman: The Animated Series, whose success paved the way for the show on the first hand, Daly did hit it out of the park with his performance as Clark Kent.

However, the acclaimed voice artist didn’t connect with Superman from the get-go, as it wasn’t until his later years that saw him developed a keen understanding of the character. But following the current landscape of superheroes, the Wings Star expressed his desire to get back to playing the Clark again, stressing the entertainment industry has gravitated way towards darkness.

Tim Daly Wants Superman Back in the Limelight

Man of Steel | Warner Bros. Pictures

Following in the footsteps of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, WB...

In the world of superheroes and their adversaries, few characters stand as iconic as Superman and his arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor. However, Tim Daly, who voiced Kal-El in Bruce Timm’s Superman: The Animated Series has shared a special affinity for another DC supervillain, who is often described as an anti-hero and a dark reflection of the Kryptonian superhero, Bizarro.

Superman: The Animated Series

He has made recurring appearances in the DC Animated Universe and has been voiced by numerous actors over the years. Daly also gave his voice to the character in The Animated Series, which offered him an insight into the character. The 67-year-old actor expressed empathy towards the villain, as he fondly recalled his time portraying the complex character.

Tim Daly Shared His Experience Working With Bizarro

Introduced in Superboy #68, Bizarro has been frequently seen as an antagonist clashing with Superman and has taken on the role of an anti-hero as well.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series were probably the best animated shows of the ’90s. While the former is a Marvel show, the latter is a part of the Dcau. Although it has been years since the last seasons of these shows aired, fans still go back to them from time to time.

Besides being one of the best animated shows out there, Spider-Man: The Animated Series was the first project to introduce the Spider-Man Multiverse which inspired numerous comics and other projects in the 21st century. On the other hand, Batman: The Animated Series was so good that it won several Daytime Emmy Awards and even a Primetime Emmy Award.

While there is no competition between the two because both have excelled in their own way, here are 3 reasons why each of the two shows is great.

Spider-Man: The Animated Series Managed to Impress Fans Despite...

Kevin Conroy, who passed away on November 10, 2022, after a private battle with intestinal cancer, was widely known for voicing the DC superhero Batman in multiple animated series. Conroy started with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, which was highly appreciated by the audience and the critics.

The actor, as a part of DC Comics’ 2022 Pride anthology, wrote Finding Batman, which was made free for the audience at the time of his unfortunate demise. The beloved actor’s short story won the 2023 Eisner Award for Best Short Story. Before his passing, Kevin Conroy had spoken about the unexpected success and fame that voicing Batman brought him.

Kevin Conroy voiced Batman starting with Batman: The Animated Series (Credits: HBO Max)

Kevin Conroy calls Batman an ‘iconic character’ and a part of the American cultural landscape

In an interview with DC with Tim Beedle back in 2014, Kevin Conroy, who had very well established himself...

Kevin Conroy, was one of the most celebrated actors in the entertainment industry who gained recognition after he voiced the character of Batman in 1992’s Batman: The Animated Series. He had appeared in various television series, including Search for Tomorrow, Dynasty, Ohara, and more, but what made him stand out was being the voice behind one of the most loved characters in DC Comics.

Kevin Conroy’s voiceover performance for Batman has helped in defining and extending the Batman legacy over the years. The actor had no idea that a voice over role could bring him the success and fame. But the actor revealed that it was not the character of Batman that he wanted to voice when he went to audition.

Kevin Conroy had no idea voicing Batman would bring him the success he received

Kevin Conroy revealed that voice director Andrea Romano convinced him to voice Batman

In...

It was the winter of 1992 when Kevin Conroy voiced the iconic character of Bruce Wayne aka Batman in Batman: The Animated Series. Based on DC Comics and airing on Fox Network, the series was quite popular at that time.

But who knew that the animated series would have an effect on the kids watching the show at that time? In an old interview, Kevin Conroy talked about the reception he got when he voiced the character of Batman in Batman: The Animated Series!

Batman: The Animated Series

Kevin Conroy Felt Humbled By People’s Love For Him!

There is no doubt that Kevin Conroy’s voicing of Batman is one of the finest castings that the world has ever seen. Voicing the character of Batman for two decades, Conroy ultimately passed away in 2022 and the world mourned the actor’s loss.

Kevin Conroy’s Batman and Mark Hamill’s Joker...

The late actor Kevin Conroy earned worldwide recognition after he voiced the character of DC Comics superhero Batman in various animated series, starting with Batman: The Animated Series, which premiered in 1992. He continued to voice the character in animated series including The New Batman Adventures, Batman Beyond, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited.

Without showcasing his face on-screen, the late actor managed to impress the audience with his deep and raspy voice, which helped define the character for the audience for almost three decades. The actor passed away at the age of 66 on November 10, 2022, following a private battle with intestinal cancer. Before his passing, Kevin Conroy had shared a technique he used to nail Batman’s voice.

Kevin Conroy voiced Batman in Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series (Credits: Warner Bros. Youtube) Kevin Conroy talks about the secret behind Batman’s voice

Actor Kevin Conroy’s voice for Batman:...

“Batman Beyond” takes fans to a Gotham City decades in the future, into a neon-drenched metropolis teeming with high-tech gadgetry and lurking new threats. Bruce Wayne is now older with his crime-fighting days behind him. But when a hot-headed teenager named Terry McGinnis stumbles upon Bruce’s secret, a new era of the Dark Knight is ignited.

A still from Batman Beyond

It is a thrilling animated series that reimagines the Batman mythos for a new generation. The series ran from 1999 to 2001 and has been a blockbuster hit. A huge part of its success also goes to its voice cast who gave a lot of weight to these animated characters.

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Will Friedle Was Cast For The New Batman After More Than 250 Auditions

Will Friedle || Boy Meets World...

Bruce Timm co-created Superman: The Animated Series, which ran for four seasons and remains the defining depiction of the Man of Steel for an entire generation. However, unlike most kids’ shows of the 90s, the series takes an interesting approach to storytelling, particularly when it comes to exploring Superman’s origin story.

Superman: The Animated Series created by Alan Burnett and Bruce Timm

Superman: The Animated Series explores the titular hero’s origin story over three episodes, which was surprising for an animated series in the 90s. However, Timm explained how the idea came to be because the creative team faced little to no pushback from the executives. As a result, Timm admitted that the series was able to explore the full scope of Superman’s origin story, and here is how.

Bruce Timm Admitted to Receiving No Pushback Over Superman’s Origin in Superman: The Animated Series

Superman: The Animated Series...

Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett’s Superman: The Animated Series, premiered in 1996, and followed the adventures of Superman while he defended the Earth from evil. The popular animated series, which was followed by the success of Batman: The Animated Series, ran until 2000. It is also known as the first animated series in Dcau to feature multiple superhero guest stars.

Superman: The Animated Series included appearances from Batman, Hawkgirl, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and more. The audience and the critics appreciated the series, especially for its writing, voiceover performances by the actors, and the modern take on Superman. Bruce Timm discusses how they were able to cast actors whose voices sit perfectly with the characters on-screen.

Bruce Timm and Alex Burnett’s Superman: The Animated Series

Bruce Timm says the cast for Superman: The Animated Series was perfect, by chance

During his interview with Cbr, in honor of celebrating...

Mark Hamill is one of the most popular actors of this generation, known for portraying the role of Luke Skywalker in the evergreen Star Wars franchise. Following his massive success and popularity in the first three Star Wars films, he transitioned to voice work, contributing to significant projects like Castle In The Sky, A Fuller Life, and Batman: Mask of The Phantasm.

Batman: The Animated Series

Interestingly enough, a DC star demanded he be in a Justice League Unlimited reunion project as well, which would have been a great thing considering he portrayed the role of The Joker for so many years.

A DC Star Really Wanted Mark Hamill In A Justice League Unlimited Reunion Project Justice League Unlimited

While Warner Bros. Studios struggled to assemble the legendary heroes of DC Comics on the big screen for decades, their animation studio achieved this feat back in 2001 on Cartoon Network with Justice League.

Lex Luthor is one of the most celebrated villains of all time. Superman’s arch-nemesis is a genius, billionaire, and one of the most power-hungry characters in the comic-book world. The legendary character was portrayed to perfection by actor Clancy Brown in the Tim Daly starring animated show Superman: The Animated Series.

Bruce Timm’s follow-up to his Batman: The Animated Series was a Superman for a new generation as it became an influential piece of media for many other adaptations. It saw a much more vulnerable Superman, who did not smile or perpetually be optimistic like he was in the comics. However, Superman would have been completely different as Brown reportedly first auditioned for the role of Clark Kent in the show.

Tim Daly Got The Job For Superman Very Quickly Tim Daly as Superman in Superman: The Animated Series

Bruce Timm’s Superman: The Animated Series is one...

Mark Hamill is already well-versed in the Batman franchise due to his iconic voiceover of the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. However, getting the Clown Prince of Crime role was not an easy feat as the actor had to fill in the role when the animators had already worked on some of the episodes.

Mark Hamill in Batman: The Animated Series (1992). Credit: Warner Bros. Animation

He’s undoubtedly the best Joker in the animated world, which would make one naturally interested in how he landed the role in the first place. His audition story is quite intriguing which would spark a desire among fans to see him portray the character in live-action.

Mark Hamill Had Big Shoes to Fill in for Joker in Batman: The Animated Series

In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com, voice and casting director Andrea Romano, who enlisted the actor as Joker in Batman: The Animated Series...

The Joker is considered by many to be the greatest villain with respect to not only Batman, but all of DC, or even the superhero industry. Some even go to the length of calling him the most iconic villain in all of fiction. He is a villain so legendary, that his maniacal laugh and twisted sense of humor are instantly recognizable.

A still from Batman: The Animated Series

Among many names that have taken the role of The Joker, Mark Hamill remains the most surprising one. The good guy of the Galaxy Far, Far Away has been voicing Batman’s biggest enemy for many years now. While he might now be known as the Voice of Joker, he wasn’t the first choice for the role at the time.

Suggested“How did they fumble this so bad”: Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker 2 Update Upsets Fans as Sequel Aims to...

Los Angeles, CA – Eight-time Emmy Award winner Andrea Romano further cemented her reputation as the greatest voiceover director in animation history on Sunday night when she was inducted into the prestigious Children’s & Family Emmys’ inaugural Silver Circle during a ceremony at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.

The Silver Circle recognizes those professionals who have performed distinguished service within the television industry for 25 years or more. But the recognition goes well beyond their longevity – they are honored for making an enduring contribution to the vitality of the television industry and for setting standards of achievement the rest of the industry hopes to emulate. These honorees also give back to the community as mentors, educators and volunteers.

“This industry has given me so much, from wonderful relationships with actors and marvelously creative individuals throughout the animation world to a lifetime of incredible memories and fulfilling work,” Romano said. “I’m so flattered that,...

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced its 2023 Gold and Silver Circle inductees, honorees who have significantly contributed to children’s television.

The inductees will be honored at the second annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Dec. 17.

According to NATAS, “the Gold and Silver Circle is a society of honor. Inductees have performed distinguished service within the industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership, and professional accolades for 50 or 25 years, respectively. They represent the best and the brightest in the television community.”

Gold Circle – 2023 Children’s & Family Inductees:

Peter Engel, Producer/Executive Producer (“Saved By The Bell,” “One World”) David Newell, Actor/Producer/Public Relations Director/Props/Manager/Talent Booker (“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” “My Tale of Two Cities”) Fred Seibert, Producer/Creator/Innovator/Creative Genius/Mentor/Mensch (“Adventure Time,” “The Fairly OddParents”)

Silver Circle – 2023 Children’s & Family Inductees:

Vicki Ariyasu, Senior Vice President,...

The Scarecrow, aka Dr. Jonathan Crane, is my favorite Batman villain. I've always been drawn to his eponymous motif, his horror-twinged stories, and how he contests Batman for the title "The Master of Fear." Hence, though "Batman: The Animated Series" holds a special place in my heart, I've always been disappointed that Scarecrow wasn't an A-list player.

Crane is the antagonist in only three episodes and in each one is mostly an obstacle for Batman to develop against. In his villainous debut, "Nothing to Fear," Batman is dosed with Scarecrow's Fear Toxin and haunted by an apparition of his father, leading to the Dark Knight's most famous line. In "Dreams in Darkness," the Fear Toxin drives Batman temporarily insane and he's locked in Arkham Asylum. He must escape both his physical and mental prison before Scarecrow can poison Gotham City.

"Batman: The Animated Series" has many superlative takes on...

One of Batman's most beloved animated films Mask of the Phantasm is celebrating its 30th birthday and to mark the occasion, DC and Warner Bros. Disney are releasing a remastered version of the cult classic.

Per Collider, while Phantasm may have proven to be a flop at the box office, it quickly became a hit amongst fans who will soon be able to own a 4K Blu-ray of the movie when it arrives on Sept. 12. This physical edition comes equipped with new artwork to commemorate the film as well as a slew of bonus features which have largely yet to be revealed. The new cover features Batman sprinting across a rooftop backed by Joker, the Phantasm and Andrea Beaumont, replacing the iconic image of the Dark Knight spreading his cape against a cloudy sky that's usually associated with the film.

Related: Kevin Conroy Starred in What Is Still the Best...

Though we sadly lost Kevin Conroy in 2022, his legacy as the definitive Batman voice actor is well and truly established. Conroy was part of the reason Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski's "Batman: The Animated Series" was as influential as it was. But it wasn't just his input that gave the show its enduring appeal. Aside from reimagining Batman for a whole new generation in the '90s, "Batman: Tas" is noteworthy for introducing Mark Hamill's Joker.

Hamill was so good in the role he turned a quick cameo into a career playing the Clown Prince of Crime. And quite the career it's been. The "Star Wars" actor has become just as well known for his Joker portrayal across the DC Animated Universe and beyond as he has for playing Luke Skywalker. His name is synonymous with the animated version of Batman's greatest foe, to the extent it seems...

One reason that "Batman: The Animated Series" was and remains so beloved was how it embraced case-of-the-week storytelling. This was perfect for showcasing all the different corners and characters that make up the wild world of Gotham City. Such a large cast of characters meant that the series brought in a lot of actors; voice director Andrea Romano sought actors of all stripes for parts big and small. On the Popcorn & Shield podcast, the late Kevin Conroy (the voice of Batman) described the casting process as thus:

"They were really looking for actors, rather than just voice people. They cast a really wide net. So there were TV people, film people, stage people. Every week going in it was like going to summer camp, the people I got to work with."

Series co-creator Bruce Timm, also being interviewed, agreed with Conroy's sentiment. "Every week there was always some special, you know,...