The New Adventures of Batman | |
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![]() Title card | |
Based on | Batman by |
Directed by | Don Towsley |
Voices of |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 16 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Don Christensen |
Running time | 25 minutes |
Production companies | |
Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
Original release | |
Network | CBS |
Release | February 12 May 28, 1977 | –
The New Adventures of Batman is an animated series that aired on CBS from February 12 to May 28, 1977, featuring the DC Comics superheroes Batman and Robin, and Batgirl. The series was a Filmation and DC Comics production in association with Warner Bros. Television (whose current parent company is WarnerMedia).[1]
Plot[]
In The New Adventures of Batman, the "Dynamic Duo" fights crime in Gotham City, encountering the classic Batman rogues gallery as well as some original villains.[2] Complicating matters is Bat-Mite, a well-meaning imp from another dimension called Ergo, who considers himself Batman's biggest fan.[3] As a result, he wears a variant of Batman’s costume and attempts to help him, only to often create more problems. Missing is Alfred, the faithful butler of Batman's alter ego Bruce Wayne; also notable in this series are the inverted colors of the circled "R" on Robin's costume.[4]
Voice cast[]
- Adam West as Batman / Bruce Wayne
- Burt Ward as Robin / Dick Grayson
- Melendy Britt as Batgirl / Barbara Gordon, Catwoman / Selina Kyle
- Lou Scheimer as Bat-Mite, Batcomputer, Clayface / Matt Hagen (1st and 2nd Times), Lucky's Henchman (in "The Chameleon")
- Lennie Weinrib as Commissioner Gordon, Joker, Penguin / Oswald Cobblepot, Mr. Freeze (in "The Deep Freeze"), Electro (in "Bite-Sized"), Chameleon (in "The Chameleon"), Dr. Devious (in "The Chameleon"), Zarbor, Clayface (3rd Time), Moonman / Scott Rogers (in "The Moonman"), Professor Bubbles (in "The Bermuda Rectangle"), Flow (in "The Bermuda Rectangle"), Lucky Luger (in "The Chameleon"), Professor Frost (in "The Deep Freeze"), Boyd Baxter (in "Curses! Oiled Again!")
Production[]
Development[]
In September 1968, before The New Adventures of Batman, Filmation Associates had created and aired an animated Batman series (pre-Bat-Mite), named The Batman/Superman Hour, for CBS. This series, the first Saturday Morning vehicle for the Caped Crusader, paired up new Batman and Robin adventures with old Superman/Superboy episodes. In 1969, it was repackaged into 30-minute episodes without the Man of Steel and renamed Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder.
The New Adventures of Batman was produced concurrently with Super Friends, which was produced by the competing Hanna-Barbera Productions and included Batman and Robin as members, marking a rare occurrence in animation history which saw two studios simultaneously producing series featuring the same characters. The main distinction was that in Filmation’s series, Batman and Robin were voiced by Adam West and Burt Ward, the lead actors of the 1960s Batman series. Hanna-Barbera's Batman and Robin were voiced by Olan Soule and Casey Kasem, who also voiced the Dynamic Duo for Filmation's 1968 version, The Batman/Superman Hour.
Airdates[]
The New Adventures of Batman premiered February 12, 1977, on CBS. The episodes from this series were later aired along with other Filmation shows—such as Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle (1976, CBS) —as part of: The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour (1977–1978 CBS), Tarzan and the Super 7 (1978–1980 CBS), and Batman and the Super 7 (1980–1981 NBC).
Villains[]
Just like on the prior Filmation produced Batman series, no backstory or alter ego were presented for Catwoman within the four episodes that she appeared in. The yellow and orange costume design used was unique to the series.
Penguin frequently rolls his 'r's and laughs in a manner similar to Burgess Meredith's portrayal, although he has a high-pitched posh accent. He appears in "Reading, Writing and Wronging", "Birds of a Feather Fool Around Together", and "Have an Evil Day, Parts 1 and 2".
Mr. Freeze appears the episode "The Deep Freeze". Unlike his appearance in the show's opening credits, Mr. Freeze is shown without the helmet that goes with his freeze suit. He and his henchman Professor Frost plot to steal the N-1000 (a superfast submarine) to pull off the "Crime of the Century". When Batman and Robin raid his hideout, Mr. Freeze manages to freeze both of them and takes Robin with him as he escapes. When Freeze and Professor Frost steal the N-1000, they steer it to the North Pole. When Batman, Robin and Bat-Mite face Mr. Freeze and Professor Frost at the North Pole, Batman and Robin fire a beam that reverses the polarity of Freeze's freeze gun so that it warms up. They then apprehend Freeze and Professor Frost where they are both placed into prison.
The Matt Hagen incarnation of Clayface must apply his special potion daily to maintain his powers as Clayface and often took on the forms of animals. In the episode "Dead Ringers", Hagen forces former criminal-turned-acrobat Kit Martin to help him kidnap Arabian Oil Minister Basil Oram and hold him for a #10 million ransom in exchange for not telling Martin's boss of his criminal record. When Batman attempts to intervene, Clayface stages a car accident to knock the Dark Knight out and stow away in the Batmobile to infiltrate the Batcave, where he learns Batman developed amnesia and uses this to discover Batman's secret identity. However, Bat-Mite distracts Clayface long enough for the Bat-Computer to create an antidote for Batman's amnesia. Clayface escapes by water, but Batman pursues him in his Bat-Boat until the former's potion wears off and he nearly drowns due to his inability to swim. Batman saves Hagen and hands him over to the police. In the episode "Curses! Oiled Again", Clayface collaborates with Catwoman to steal a shipment of oil bound for Gotham City during a cold snap and steal the country's oil supply. However, Batman, Robin, Batgirl, and Bat-Mite intervene and defeat the villains. In the two-part episode "Have an Evil Day", Zarbor enlists Clayface, Catwoman, the Joker, and the Penguin to keep the Dynamic Duo busy while he steals America's nuclear power plants.
Missing villains[]
The Riddler and the Scarecrow were off-limits to the show, as Hanna-Barbera already had the rights to the characters for Challenge of the Super Friends (though the Riddler does appear in the opening credits of the show in a pink-colored costume, and was mentioned being arrested at the beginning of the episode "The Deep Freeze"). This is also the reason why the Joker could not appear in Challenge of the Super Friends, though he was planned as a Legion of Doom member.[5]
Episodes[]
No. | Title | Villain(s) | |
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1 | "The Pest" | The Joker | |
The Joker steals an experimental hydrogen-powered car, disguising himself as the inventor, but without his knowledge of the car's weakness. | |||
2 | "The Moonman" | The Moonman | |
Bruce Wayne's college friend, the astronaut Scott Rogers, has been infected with space waves that cause him to turn into the super-powered Moonman during the full moon. | |||
3 | "Trouble Identity" | Catwoman | |
Catwoman steals a machine that changes trash into fine fabrics, and frames Batgirl for the theft. | |||
4 | "A Sweet Joke On Gotham City" | Sweet Tooth | |
A villain exclusive to the show, Sweet Tooth, executes a plot 4 out of 5 dentists would reject: to turn Gotham City's water supply into chocolate syrup for a $10 million ransom. | |||
5 | "The Bermuda Rectangle" | Professor Bubbles | |
A villain named Professor Bubbles and his henchman, Flow, capture ships carrying pieces to a weapon he can use to take over the world. | |||
6 | "Bite-Sized" | Electro | |
The alien villain Electro shrinks Batman and Robin, controlling them with mind control to help him steal government secrets. | |||
7 | "Reading, Writing & Wronging" | The Penguin | |
The Penguin opens a crime school and steals Batman and Robin's utility belts. | |||
8 | "The Chameleon" | The Chameleon, Dr. Devious | |
A shapeshifting villain named the Chameleon plans to shut down Gotham City's new lunar/solar collector. The Chameleon actually turns out to be a robot created by an evil professor named Dr. Devious. | |||
9 | "He Who Laughs Last" | The Joker | |
The Joker escapes from prison, planning to get revenge on Batman and Robin by giving them a series of clues linked to his crimes. | |||
10 | "The Deep Freeze" | Mr. Freeze | |
After seeing a news bulletin where Gotham City Police has announced the capture of the Joker, the Riddler, and seven of the most wanted criminals by Batman and Robin, Mr. Freeze and his henchman Professor Frost plan to steal the N-1000 (a superfast submarine) to pull off the crime of the century. | |||
11 | "Dead Ringers" | Clayface | |
Clayface poses as Batman and forces a reformed criminal turned circus acrobat to pose as Robin in order to abduct Arab oil minister Basil Oram. | |||
12 | "Curses! Oiled Again!" | Clayface, Catwoman | |
During a cold snap, Catwoman and Clayface join forces to steal oil. At the same time, a TV newscaster named Boyd Baxter seeks to show up Batman. | |||
13 | "Birds Of A Feather Fool Around Together" | The Penguin, the Joker | |
In order to win a criminals' election against the Joker, the Penguin invents the "Crime Slime", which can turn people into criminals. It makes him and Bat-Mite switch bodies and seems to affect Batman and Robin, too. | |||
14 | "Have An Evil Day (Part 1)" | Zarbor, the Joker, the Penguin, Clayface, Catwoman | |
Zarbor, a criminal from Bat-Mite's home dimension of Ergo, comes to Earth, enlisting Batman's enemies to keep the Caped Crusaders busy while he steals America's nuclear power plants. | |||
15 | "Have An Evil Day (Part 2)" | Zarbor, the Joker, the Penguin, Clayface, Catwoman | |
Batman and Robin, the villains, and Bat-Mite follow Zarbor back to Ergo, hoping to foil his takeover plans, and recover the stolen nuclear power plants. | |||
16 | "This Looks Like A Job For Bat-Mite!" | Zarbor | |
Zarbor escapes jail in Ergo and returns to Earth, planning to become its ruler – with help from the Dynamic Duo. |
Home media[]
The New Adventures of Batman was released on DVD on June 26, 2007, by Warner Home Video (via DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Family Entertainment); all 16 episodes are collected, and are presented in its original, uncut broadcast presentation and original airdate order. A retrospective detailing the creation of the series titled "Dark Vs. Light: Filmation and The Batman" featuring Filmation historian Michael Swanigan and Filmation founder Lou Scheimer is included as well.
One episode (the first one, titled "The Pest") was released, along with an episode of Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, in the Saturday Morning Cartoons: The 1970s Vol. 1 DVD, also released by Warner Home Video.
Legacy[]
Homage was paid to The New Adventures of Batman in a 1998 episode of Bruce Timm's The New Batman Adventures. In the DVD release audio commentary for the 1998-1999 season, Timm and the rest of the series creators (writer Paul Dini, director Dan Riba, artist Glen Murakami, and storyboarder James Tucker) explain that the first segment of the October 10, 1998, episode "Legends of the Dark Knight" purposely makes use of the same designs The New Adventures of Batman used for the Joker, Batman and Robin, as well as the same color schemes and shading in a nod to both The New Adventures of Batman and to Batman artist Dick Sprang, whose style heavily influenced the visuals of the Filmation cartoon (along with Neal Adams). They further explain that the episode segment also purposely makes use of the trademark silliness and corny tone of the original series (which differs from the darker, serious tone of Timm's series) and also mimics the low frame rate animation style used by Filmation.[6]
References[]
- ↑ Rodgers, Will (2016). The Ultimate Super Friends Companion. BRBTV. pp. 293–299. ISBN 978-1539767626.
- ↑ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. pp. 114–122. ISBN 978-1476665993.
- ↑ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
- ↑ "The New Adventures of Batman". DVD Talk. http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/28992/new-adventures-of-batman-the/.
- ↑ http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2011/07/super-70s-and-80s-super-friendsdarrell.html
- ↑ Legends of the Dark Knight (DVD). 4. "Information stated by the 1990s Batman Animated series Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Glen Murakami, Dan Riba and James Tucker, in the audiocomments."
External links[]
- The New Adventures of Batman at Big Cartoon DataBase
- The New Adventures of Batman at the Internet Movie Database
- Filmation animated series
- AOL Television: In2TV: The New Adventures of Batman
- Japanese opening to New Adventures of Batman
- TVshowsondvd.com: DVD Release
- Batman: Yesterday, Today and Beyond - The Batman Homepage - The New Adventures of Batman
Batman (TV series) | ||
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Characters adapted for the series |
Alfred • Batgirl / Barbara Gordon • Batman / Bruce Wayne • Catwoman • Clock King • Commissioner James Gordon • Green Hornet • The Joker • Kato • The Mad Hatter • Mr. Freeze • The Penguin • The Riddler • Robin / Richard "Dick" Grayson | |
Characters created for the series |
Egghead • King Tut | |
Episodes | "Hi Diddle Riddle" • "Smack in the Middle" • "Fine Feathered Finks" • "The Penguin's a Jinx" • "The Joker Is Wild" • "Batman Is Riled" • "Instant Freeze" • "Rats Like Cheese" • "Zelda the Great" • "A Death Worse Than Fate" • "The Joker Goes to School" • "He Meets His Match, The Grisly Ghoul" • "True or False-Face" • "Holy Rat Race" • "The Penguin Goes Straight" • "Not Yet, He Ain't" • "Shoot a Crooked Arrow" • "Walk the Straight and Narrow" • "Hot Off the Griddle" • "The Cat and the Fiddle" • "Marsha, Queen of Diamonds" • "Marsha's Scheme of Diamonds" • "The Zodiac Crimes" • "The Joker's Hard Times" • "The Penguin Declines" • "Enter Batgirl, Exit Penguin" • "The Londinium Larcenies/The Foggiest Notion/The Bloody Tower" | |
Vehicles & gadgetry | Batmobile • Batboat • Batcopter • Batcycle • Batsuit • Batphone • Batcomputer • Batbelt | |
In-story locations | Gotham City • Batcave • Wayne Manor | |
Related topics | Shows | Legends of the Superheroes • The New Adventures of Batman • The Green Hornet |
Films | Batman • Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt • Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders • Batman vs. Two-Face | |
Other | "Batman Theme" • "Holy..." • Batman '66 • Batman XXX: A Porn Parody • Bat Pussy • Batusi |
Children's programming on CBS in the 1970s | ||
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First-run animated series | Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines (1969–1971) • The Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1969–1971) • Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969–1970; 1978–1979, as part of ABC's The Scooby-Doo Show) • Sabrina the Teenage Witch • Groovie Goolies • Josie and the Pussycats (1970–1971) • Harlem Globetrotters (1970–1971) • Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! (1971–1974) • The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1969–1972) • Archie's TV Funnies (1971–1973) • The Flintstone Comedy Hour • Bailey's Comets • The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan (1972) • The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972–1974) • My Favorite Martians • Jeannie (1973–1975) • Speed Buggy • Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (1972–1984) • Partridge Family 2200 A.D. (1974–1975) • Valley of the Dinosaurs (1974–1976) • The U.S. of Archie (1974–1976) • Clue Club (1976–1977) • Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle • The New Adventures of Batman • What's New Mr. Magoo? • The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour • The Robonic Stooges • The All-New Popeye Hour (1978–1983) • Tarzan and the Super 7 • The New Adventures of Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle | |
First-run live-action series | Captain Kangaroo (1955–1984) • In the News (1971–1986) • You Are There • CBS Children's Film Festival (1971–1978; 1982–1984) • Shazam! (1974–1977) • The Harlem Globetrotters Popcorn Machine • The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show • The Secrets of Isis • Far Out Space Nuts • The Ghost Busters • Ark II • Way Out Games • The Skatebirds (1977–1978) • Space Academy (1977–1979) • Wacko • 30 Minutes (1978–1982) • Jason of Star Command (1978–1981) | |
Rebroadcasts | The Jetsons • The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour (1968–1971; 1975–1978; 1978–1985) • The Monkees (1969–1972) • Wacky Races (1968–1970) • The New Adventures of Superman • Jonny Quest • Sylvester and Tweety (1976–1977) | |
Schedules | 1969–70 • 1970–71 • 1971–72 • 1972–73 • 1973–74 • 1974–75 • 1975–76 • 1976–77 • 1977–78 • 1978–79 • 1979–80 | |
Related programming and topics | Animation in the United States in the television era |
Animated TV series based on DC Comics | ||
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Former | 1960s debuts | The New Adventures of Superman (1966–1970) • The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967–1968) • Aquaman (1968–1970) • The Batman/Superman Hour (1968–1969) |
1970s debuts | Super Friends (1973) • The New Adventures of Batman (1977) • The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977) • Challenge of the Super Friends (1978) • The World's Greatest Super Friends (1979) • The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (1979–1981) | |
1980s debuts | Super Friends (1980–1983) • The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! (1981–1982) • Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984) • The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985) • Superman (1988) | |
1990s debuts | Swamp Thing (1990–1991) • Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995) • Wild C.A.T.s (1994–1995) • Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000) • The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997–2000) • The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999) • Batman Beyond (1999–2001) | |
2000s debuts | Static Shock (2000–2004) • The Zeta Project (2001–2002) • Justice League (2001–2004) • Teen Titans (2003–2006) • Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) • The Batman (2004–2008) • Krypto the Superdog (2005–2006) • Legion of Super Heroes (2006–2008) • Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–2011) | |
2010s debuts | Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011–2013) • Beware the Batman (2013–2014) • Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles (2015) | |
Current | Young Justice (2010–2013, 2018–) • Teen Titans Go! (2013–) • Vixen (2015–) • Justice League Action (2016–) |
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