How JOEL SCHUMACHER Changed the Animated Batman...Forever

Joel Schumacher directed two of the most divisive Batman movies in history, "Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin." But these movies, strangely enough, helped define the style and tone of the Batman animated series...and vice versa.
Patreon ➡️ / dcauwatchtower
Twitch ➡️ / dcauwatchtower
Facebook ➡️ / dcauwatchtower
Twitter ➡️ / dcauwatchtower
Instagram ➡️ / dcauwatchtower
Merch Store ➡️ teespring.com/stores/dcauwatc...
Discord ➡️ / discord
"Legacies of the DCAU" - our webcomic!
www.legaciesdcau.com
Edited by Coral Yew
/ coralyew
/ coralbluenumbah2
/ coralbluptdeaux
Stay tuned for exciting weekly DCAU video content, here at the Watchtower Database.
DISCLAIMER
The Watchtower Database and its creators are unaffiliated with Warner Bros., DC Entertainment, or any other official DC Animated Universe producer or source. WDb is a fan-run, non-profit website and does not claim to own any of its presented properties. "Batman: the Animated Series," "The Adventures of Batman & Robin," "The New Batman Adventures," "Superman: the Animated Series," "The New Batman/Superman Adventures," "Batman Beyond," "The Zeta Project," "Static Shock," "Justice League," "Justice League Unlimited," and all related names, logos, and indicia are trademark and ©1992-2006 DC Comics and Warner Bros. All rights reserved.
Hashtags:
#Batman #BatmanForever #ReleaseTheSchumacherCut
Extra tags:
dcau, dc animated universe, batman, batman the animated series, batman forever, batman and robin, batman & robin, the new batman adventures, batman cartoons, batman movies, joel schumacher, joel schumacher batman, batman and robin mr freeze, mr freeze, mr freeze arnold schwarzenegger, arnold schwarzenegger, paul dini, bruce timm, the adventures of batman and robin, dc animated movies, batman subzero, tim burton batman, val kilmer batman, george clooney batman

[@rmhartman]

If Hamill had taken Riddler, that would have given him *three* DC villians, as he played the Trickster in the first live action Flash TV series (with Jon Wesley Shipp as the Flash)

[@BATMAN-gh1nf]

He also voiced the Trickster on Justice League Unlimited. In fact, in the DCAU, Mark Hamill voiced the Joker, the Trickster, and Solomon Grundy.

[@BATMAN-gh1nf]

www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Mark-Hamill/

[@alansotigerheart3473]

Hamill has played many DC villains. You should check his IMDB page, he's in a ton of interesting roles

[@projekttaku1]

@@BATMAN-gh1nf he legit played the trickster in 3 different shows. I thinks he's a fan.

[@dustinkarns7710]

He reprised his roie on the new flash show too!

[@Facade953]

Fun Fact: Joel's " backup plans " in case Arnold refused, were Sylvester Stalone and Hulk Hogan.😂😂😂😂

[@MassHystarix]

Why not Patrick Stewart

[@FlossyBottoms]

"Let me tell ya something, Batman!"

[@Facade953]

@@FlossyBottoms Batman: Hey, Freeze! The Heat is on. Mr.Freeze: This doesn't work for me...BROTHER!

[@Facade953]

@@MassHystarix He would have been perfect for the role. He even has the head shape and facial features of Freeze!

[@GenericProtagonist118]

Why buff action actors for a tragic scientist?

[@TheAzulmagia]

It's sad Schumacher never got to make the Batman: Year One film he wanted to make without executive meddling. He wanted to make a serious Batman story for the fans, and in the end he got corporate meddled to the point that the fans consider him the person who temporarily killed any chance of people taking Batman seriously.

[@josephsmotherman2077]

Ummmm he fucked up twice….he didn’t deserve another chance.

[@TheAzulmagia]

@@josephsmotherman2077 He "fucked up twice" because the people in charge told him "make the movie we want". It's the reason why Tim Burton, Michael Keaton, and Val Kilmer left the project. There was a ton of Hollywood meddling to ensure the movie was as sanitized and kid friendly as possible in order to sell merchandise to children.

[@DemonicRemption]

@Azulmagia So it truly wasn't his fault. I love Schumacher's Batman films as they're tied to some happy childhood memories. But I had no idea he wanted to make a serious Batman film, and I think studios should've allowed it. I don't think Schumacher would've done what Burton did. This might be a bias painted by his lighter Batman films, but I feel if he understood how replicate the tone of the Adam West series, he might've understood how to replicate a darker tone without going the length Burton did in Batman Returns.

[@UserAnonX]

@Azulmagia: source?

[@TheAzulmagia]

@@UserAnonX There have been multiple interviews about it, as well as deleted scenes from his full cut of Batman Forever that have leaked online.

[@AussieDragoon]

"Can't you just use your word processor to replace the word Bane with Mr. Freeze?" So that explains that scene in Sub zero where Freeze roided out and broke Batman's back across his knee.

[@PhantomObserver]

You know what’s missing? An explanation as to why Billy Dee Williams couldn’t reprise his Harvey Dent role for Batman Forever.

[@NewAlchemychan]

WB bought out his contract

[@Ted-Kendrick]

I had a bit all about recasting choices that got cut from the video for time. Tommy Lee Jones almost didn’t even take the part, but accepted after pressure from his son.

[@suarezguy]

Apparently Schumacher didn't think he was a good and/or popular enough actor, at least Tommy Lee Jones would be better. Burton may have already come to dislike the casting with him not including the character in BR.

[@Facade953]

How about the fact that Harvey Dent/Two-Face isn't black in the comics and animated series? Burton might had been a good director but he had some strange ideas, including a black Dick Grayson/Robin. I'm glad WB gave him the boot. He turned the Penguin into some animal/human hybrid and Catwoman into an undead, humanoid feline who matches Batman's fighting skills without ANY knowledge of martial arts. The guy was blackwashing and creating Mary Sues before it was the " norm " in Hollywood.

[@NewAlchemychan]

@@Facade953 look at this eejit. With his Doomcock rip off profile picture with the whole “gIrLs aRe mArY sUe and fOrCiNg bLaCk pEoPlE iNtO wHiTe rOleS” don’t have to love every choice Burton made but if Two Face and Robin being black pisses you, you’re the problem, not the director.

[@lightshiner3742]

Batman Forever was one of those cornerstone movies for me as a kid. Can't remember how many times I rewatched that VHS tape. So great

[@Wolfman7870]

I really dug the OST. Batman's theme in that movie is like caffeine for your ears, especially when they start going nuts on that trumpet during the action scenes. Kinda want to see that kind of outrageous depiction of Batman with all the neon lights and yes even the nipples again.

[@lightshiner3742]

@@Wolfman7870 😂 agreed

[@Facade953]

I STILL love Batman Forever and even Batman & Robin, up to this date! Those movies were my childhood.😁

[@Bobbybillybillbob]

Couldn't agree more. Jim Carrey Riddler was an icon to me as a child

[@GiubileiFernando]

I remember my dad watching Batman and Robin on TV and saying "they turned it into a popcorn flick for kids". I think it's to this day the only comment I've heard from him about a superhero movie, I didn't even know he'd watched the Burton films.

[@richardb6260]

The scene in Batman Forever where Batman comes through Chase's bedroom movie is right out of a Detective Comics story by Steve Englehart and Marshall Rogers where Batman visits Silver St. Cloud in her bedroom in the middle of the night.

[@probot6515]

Alfred and Gordon aren't the only connections to the Burton films. The whole reason why Bruce didn't want Dick to kill Harvey is because of his own experiences throughout the first two films. "You're parents weren't killed by a maniac", "Yes they were". The suit is also inspired by the suits Michael Keaton wore. Selina Kyle is alluded to in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. The silhouette of Jack Napier appears in Batman Forever. A lot of other references were cut from Batman Forever. #ReleaseTheSchumacherCut Batman 5 would have seen Joker and Penguin return as hallucinations, as you've acknowledged. Be cool to see an animated film of what could have been, but doubt anything will happen.

[@matane2465]

Riddler and Two-Faces suits appear in Arkham when Ivy breaks out Freeze.

[@probot6515]

@@matane2465 That's a reference from Batman & Robin to Batman Forever. Still cool.

[@supersaiyanjalil]

Definitely in the same universe, even if flash cuts them, I guess you could look at them as an alternate timeline.

[@probot6515]

@@supersaiyanjalil Crisis on Infinite Earths, man. Just say pre/post Crisis. It's actually confirmed the Schumacher films are in Earth-89, and obviously Bruce would have killed the Joker again without the Schumacher films, not just captured him.

[@Danbo22987]

I don’t know, we did get the Adam West animated films, it’s not an impossibility

[@daleksec4636]

I always felt Schumacher's Nygma had more similarities with the DCAU's Jervis Tetch in "Mad as a Hatter" with his obsessive behavior, fascination with the mind, and a workplace dynamic that more closely resembles what we see in the '95 film.

[@loudboy317]

Nygma's brain-drain machine reminds me of Hugo Strange's mind-reading machine in "The Strange Secret of Bruce Wayne". In both the animated series and the '95 film, Nygma and Strange record a video of what's inside Bruce's mind and present it to Two-Face.

[@braxtonwages195]

Totally. I always thought he was more Mad Hatter than Riddler. All they would have to do is change his name and it works the same.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

Yeah and the DCAU Tetch was a WayneTech employee like the Schumacher Nygma.

[@nicolasmontes7207]

George Clooney did produced "Insomnia" though, which allowed Chris Nolan to have a good relationship with WB and pitch his Batman vision right after that. So, Clooney´s debt its paid in my book.

[@2HackFrauds]

Or if you're someone who's not a fan of Nolan's Batman his debt it quadrupled

[@fakereality7315]

I like how realistic and grounded Nolan's Batman was, even if the fight choreography was straight outta wack. The villains were amazing, too.

[@duckie730]

It’s so amazing to see how Batman the animated series was inspired by movies but was so influential that it inspired movies and shows to come.

[@RbkARI]

God damn, that "Harvey! No...." caught me by surprise.

[@velociraptor4you3291]

R.I.P. Joel Schumacher. :( However you feel about his two Bat-flicks, one can't deny that he, in some way, *did* contribute to the character's ever-growing/changing history. #ReleaseTheSchumacherCut of "Batman Forever." Out of the two, that's my personal favorite, and after seeing Channel Awesome's 'FanScription' episode of what a Tim Burton-directed "Batman Forever" might have been like, I have become interested in a different version of that particular one.

[@TheCrazyHedgehogLady]

Agreed on both counts! 👍🏻🦔

[@velociraptor4you3291]

@@TheCrazyHedgehogLady 👍😊

[@DemonicRemption]

@velociraptor4you Wow, I just looked it up after reading this comment. I had no idea Joel Schumacher passed away last year. Can't belief this is how I'd learn of his death too. This is a blow to my childhood. R.I.P Schumacher and thanks for the memories.

[@velociraptor4you3291]

@@DemonicRemption I didn't believe it at first either, but it's unfortunately true. :( I thank him for the memories, too. I for one thank him for "Batman Forever:" for me, that was how I got introduced to Batman.

[@alexandredion2151]

I LOVE the animated version of Batman & Robin's characters seen in the thumbnail. Had them on puzzles and coloring books as a kid. That black suit is 🤘

[@SlashManEXE]

I never thought of TNBA as being more kid friendly between the modern firearms and being allowed to show blood onscreen. There was also no "child endangerment" clause that prevented a young Robin from being used this time around. Always thought of the style redesign to be more of a budget issue than an appeal to kids. But the more whimsical elements and larger action set pieces are totally there. Huge kudos to the BTAS team for turning a limitation of being more "kid friendly" into yet another strength for the series.

[@p.d.l7023]

"Violence", says they?! Batman punches people in the face, it's what he does. It's not freaking Care Bears.

[@MetroXLR99]

Ironically, my mother never let me watch Care Bears as a child as she didn't think it was "appropriate."

[@Reivanhist]

The fact that Schumacher's films are inspired by West's Batman is a common misconception, he wanted to show the Batman of the Silver Age, and was against the excessive cartoonishness of what was happening. links to previous films were cut from the film. Part of Bruce's arc was that he didn't like what he'd become, especially the fact that he'd killed people, he remembered that, and the city remembered that, demanding his resignation, saying that he only spawned villains. That's why he doesn't want Dick to be Robin. Well, according to Schumacher's scenario, Batman did not kill Two-Face, there was an accident. Schumacher believed that Batman should not kill.

[@Electrify85]

I think for the "Batman never kills" purists out there, Schumacher's direction was really sharp. In the earliest comics, Batman kills a lot, like in the Burton films. However a few years into the run they had him tell Robin that they must never kill, very much like in Forever. While it is assumed that Bruce/Batman was realizing that killing was taking him down a path he did not like, seeing this fleshed out in Forever would have been very interesting.

[@SlashManEXE]

Came here to say something to that effect. Schumacher's Batman was not trying to be the 60s Batman, but the similarities are a result of parallel thinking. They were both drawn from the same influence; the 50s comic books. I don't think Joel Schumacher gets enough credit for actually being a fan of the comics well before taking on a Batman feature film.

[@loudboy317]

I thought that Schumacher's Batman films were more inspired by the animated series since they borrowed heavily from the show. Although, the films did pay homage to Adam West's Batman with Robin's "holy rusted metal" line and the ending where Batman and Robin are running together.

[@Reivanhist]

@@loudboy317 Batman and Robin took a lot of things, Schumacher had almost no control over the film there. Batman Forever is another matter. The final frame is not Schumacher's idea and the result of reshoots. His version of the film ends less epic. Chase leaves the hospital, waiting for Bruce, but sees only Alfred with a car. While they are driving, she asks "will it ever end?" Alfred answers "not in this life." Next comes the plan for Gotham, the signal lights up, and we are shown a gargoyle on which Batman and Robin are standing, making homage to the end of the first film.

[@radi2986]

he deserved one more movie imo

[@Everik-ct6pg]

I wish the Schumacher movies weren't as hated as they still are. Batman Forever is my favorite Batman movie, and I kind of like Batman & Robin too. Batman can be both dark and campy, we shouldn't shame these movies for focusing on a different take on Batman.

[@freddyjosereginomontalvo4667]

Well. This can be very subjective. But in general the dark and deep stories are perfect for batman, look at the dark knight trilogy, the arkham game, the snyderverse, the Burtonverse (1 and 2 only) the under the red hood movie. And just think that the Batman Tas was considere very dark and deep for his age. I think that the batman mythology is perfect for a dark a deep atmosphere. I mean just look at the videos of the canceled movie for Darren Aronofsky' Batman year one and all of the darkness that this movie try to do

[@dnmstarsi]

True but I think the problem was that in certain aspects, Schumacher's movies were continuing off of the Burton movies so logically it's kinda silly how we went from Dark to Too Dark to a mixture of both but mostly light to somewhat 60s Light. Personally they're not awful but universe, it kinda feels off for some.

[@righteousrawb7225]

Batman Forever I can understand, but why on God's green earth would you like Batman & Robin? Answer me damn you 😂

[@Everik-ct6pg]

@@righteousrawb7225 i like some of the scenes, the costume design (besides the nipples) the absolutely incredible set design, and the score.

[@probot6515]

@@righteousrawb7225 It's bombastic, batshit, and an utterly a good time. It's fun with the right mindset.

[@h_nt_r]

If Val Kilmer ever voiced an animated Batman then it would be amazing

[@toddbonny3708]

Strangely his only cartoon voice was Moses, another role later played by Christian Bale

[@ThatJohnKillion1970]

Batman & Robin was the giant toy commercial the studio demanded and that ruined Joel Schumacher's name and career afterwards.

[@foldabotZ]

Well, Batman Forever is my dad's favorite Batman movie and I liked it most between the Schumacher movies. I would like to see this fabeled "Schumacher Cut" and how much different it is from the one we got.

[@michaelcurtin524]

That part with Kevin Conroy brought a tear to my eyes

[@chrisanderson2204]

I remember Timm said they featured Batgirl more in TNBA as they wanted people to forget her appearance in Batman and Robin

[@hallowicked9995]

Just imagine Batman pulling in McDonald’s drive thru and ordering food lol

[@sladetuner8661]

I WANT A BIG MAC WITH FRIES AND A LARGE COCA COLA PLEASE!!

[@somerandomname3124]

@@sladetuner8661 "Can you speak more clearly sir, your voice is too hoarse to understand that."

[@photobygil]

I've watched plenty of videos exploring the why's & what if's regarding the Tim Burton & Joel Schumacher Batman movies. This one is excellent. It's nicely paced, & touches on all the crucial elements regarding changes, good & bad. Best of all, you don't come off as snarky or arrogant, like so many KZbin reviewers. As for Batman 5, at the time, I had hoped for the Scarecrow & Manbat scenario. Special effects by this point could create a realistic & frightening Manbat, & Ifigured Scarecrow's fear toxin would allow "dead" bat-foes to appear as Batman's hallucinations. Anyway, this was a terrific video!

[@andrewcozzini8259]

Maybe, I'm the only one, but I still think those Timm-style renders of the Batman & Robin designs are pretty cool! I'd say especially so the Robin one, but I quite like that suit anyways.

[@dcauwatchtower]

You’re not the only one!

[@andrewcozzini8259]

@@dcauwatchtower Good to know! (👍) What's funny is that the Batman one actually looks more like the "Forever" batsuit, as it's got the yellow oval.

[@ramoncitomercader4223]

I had that coloring book and stickerbook back when I was a child. I totally loved it. Hoping to see the designs in an action figure format in some time soon.

[@rexred7149]

Rest in peace Schumaker even though he didn’t make it Batman movies he did make some good movies life

[@whoisyouranime]

People can say what they want about Joel Schumacher. But give the guy credit that he made references to the Batman Animated Series and put it in B&R. Also, Batman fans hate him so much that they don't even know many of his other brilliant works, like Falling Down, Flatliners, The Client, A Time to Kill, 8 mm, Bad Company and Phone Booth. And my favorite of Joel's movies is "The Lost Boys". If there was a movie to introduce people to vampires and to rid me of the memory of the atrocious Twilight films, The Lost Boys is the ultimate Vampire Movie to do that.

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Hear, hear!

[@radi2986]

the biggest issue with nolans, snyders and reeves batman movies, is the faluire to showcase and embrace that batman is a comic book hero, while joels movies did also the studio didnt joel fully envsion his ideas. burtons movies were good but failed to match joels batman character

[@michaelandreipalon359]

@@radi2986 I'd rather embrace some dark liberties to the character than accept more cringey camp, to be honest.

[@darrellsadler2848]

I adore his style of animating the classics! I was often late for my shift at work, barely making it on time from having to watch the WB Batman, Superman , Static Shock and Xmen animated tv shows while getting ready back in the mid 1990's!

[@Danbo22987]

I felt Batman Forever was *almost* the tone and style I want out of a Batman film. Fun but serious enough. The issue was the casting and script, just needed a few changes and we really could’ve had a banger film.

[@Joshua-lz9sk]

Works on paper but with real life humans it just won’t sell well enough.

[@DarthZevrel66]

Batman Forever is severely underrated

[@avace917]

I first saw the DCAU styled Batman and Robin tie in drawings used in Paris at a French fast food chain called Quick Burger. This was in early 1998. When I came back, my girlfriend bought me the window decals you mentioned.

[@dcauwatchtower]

I just bought the decals on eBay! Couldn’t resist.

[@abdelali9279]

21:38 hey I had those bedsheets and pillow covers when I was little, I always wondered from which show they were because I never watched but then completely forgot until I saw them here, it really hit me like a truck, man so in the end they are from Batman Forever but the merch people decided to make the movie characters look like if they were from the DCAU, man now I can finally put that mistery to rest, pun not intended.

[@dcauwatchtower]

"Batman & Robin," but yep!

[@wdcain1]

Batman Forever is still my favorite Batman movie and I wish Sugar & Spice would make it into the comics.

[@Electrify85]

I don't know if I like it more than Batman 89, but I certainly like it more than Returns. I know the "WHY DID YOU SAY THAT NAME" edgelords disagree, but Returns was a Tim Burton movie first and a Batman film second.

[@leeshapiro9311]

The title "Batman: DarKnight" was a play on words. Since the main villain was the Scarecrow, it was used as an homage to the movie, "Dark Night of the Scarecrow" (1981), which is about a vigilante getting revenge from beyond the grave. Also, the spelling of the title that way was mostly intended for marketing materials (posters, etc.). And two considerations for the role of the Man-Bat were Cuba Goofing, Jr. and Kiefer Sutherland.

[@thebombsquad4653]

This is a great video can’t believe you actually had to analyze both of these movies.

[@thebombsquad4653]

Also you kept your sanity

[@Ted-Kendrick]

It was definitely a chore.

[@BilSande4]

I remember going to see "Batman Forever" at the earliest screening, which was a midnight showing. A group of us went including my wife, and a bunch of friends, most of them guys I hung out with at my LCS. We were all very excited to see it. Then I remember we were about 10 minutes or so into the opening scene with Two-Face robbing the vault, when my friend (who owned the comic book store I went to) turned to me with a look on his face like "Uh oh!" And then we both just shook our heads slowly with the understanding that "This is going to suck big time!" And of course it did. I think Tommy Lee Jones thought he was playing the Joker instead of Two-Face.

[@forty_two42]

Was that Odo? Nobody told me Odo had multiple Batman roles. Quark is gonna be soooo jealous lmao

[@dcauwatchtower]

Odo has roles all over the DCAU!

[@axolotlsworkbench6996]

I'll never get over how he pronounces luchador

[@dcauwatchtower]

Ted says some words

[@black.sasuke.uchiha]

21:08 The ad break at this moment was STELLAR!

[@Elementa2006]

Yeah, a video on how the Christopher Reeve films influenced STAS would be great.

[@Dreadjaws]

Batman Forever gets a bad rap, but from the old Batman movies is the one that has the potential to be the most comic-accurate of them all. It's really a shame that studio intervention basically gutted it. You can see some of the deleted material in the DVD extras, and most of those scenes would have improved the film exponentially. For instance, the movie has a subplot where Batman feels guilty about his parents' death that gets outright abandoned in the middle of the film, but the deleted scenes show it being resolved in a very satisfying way, building into the character's personality.

[@CAM8689]

comic accurate(and that's debatable) does not make good not even close

[@vigneshsubramanian2511]

Joel Schumacher Batman movies are goated. He knew what he was doing.

[@ericcooley9407]

Enjoyable look. Thanks for your work.

[@Calypso694]

oh that taco bell line brings back memories. still have the flashlight somewhere and the batman on ice...on ice.

[@julianegameplaysrepeated.5682]

i remember i had one of those batman and robin coloring books.

[@Bobbybillybillbob]

Would love to see the script of the cancelled Bane animated film they wrote

[@jonathanwarrdddedcxddeecec4787]

I’d love a full cut of Batman forever. I have such a soft spot for that film. It’s so goofy but it oozes style that’s like gothic meets neon I love the look and they have so much fun with it I can’t hate it

[@anonymousanonymous5732]

Jesus... I have some of those macdonalds toys. Like the Catwoman car. I totally had no idea it was from the movie.

[@sasamichan]

I think its dumb when people base the success of a TV series off the success of a movie they are clearly two different things but movies still effect The Batman, Green Lantern, Smallvile and Arrow. People are smart enough to know these are two different worlds. So what's up with studios? Heck even The Speed racer film influenced plans for unrelated things to change. I wish we had gotten the 5th movie those were fun ideas. its upsetting that parents wanted a child friendly movie and fans wanted a dark film and the result was no films.

[@koolestani]

That Green Lantern figure is DOPE!!!!

[@mr_nevermind]

I had those coloring books and drew those versions of those characters a lot when i was a kid

[@RetroKidReviews]

Well this was a long time coming

[@MrDman21]

Great video. Even if you're not a Batman fan, there's some good information on here about how weird the entertainment industry can be.

[@theotakux5959]

... Now I want figures of the DCAU-style Batman & Robin characters...

[@dcauwatchtower]

Check out Zelu1984 on Instagram! They've made some custom figures of those versions.

[@blakethebeast3174]

I propose "Rubber Lips and Rubber Nips" would be an acceptable alternate title if it wouldn't get the video demonetized.

[@JaguarCats]

Talk about your miss cast! You have Arnold Schwarzenegger! Mister Universe! And instead of casting him as Bane! the physically strongest villain in Batman's rogue gallery! And instead you cast him as Mr. Freeze?!!

[@Hurtle885hu8bu]

1:11 I love how this article describes The Penguin as “a fish-eating humanoid” as if eating fish somehow makes his biting off another man’s nose even worse.

[@motherplayer]

It is always worth bringing up that the supposed "films so adults don't feel bad for watching stuff mainly regulated to a child audience" were more cartoon-ish than the actual cartoon adaptations of the time. One side of the coin was getting this dark, tragic tale of what could have been for Bruce, and the other side was more like a neon light show with the stakes and consequences of the 66 versions(not dissing the 66 series, mind you, I have my respects for it.)

[@Joshuadmathews]

Another thing, which I didn't know until rather recently, is that it appears that Kilmer's voice is an adaption of Conroy's. You don't hear Kilmer talk as Batman that much but listening to it over again I do hear some of the animated influence in his direction, now.

[@TheHeroHaven]

R.I.P Joel Schumacher

[@skarloey1214]

Great Arnold Impression Mattie.

[@MrW781]

Courtney Love as Harley Quinn is just typecasting. I love it!

[@jasonelliott7977]

This is great and brought back many memories.

[@thebossjasonwilliams]

Actually in Batman forever. Riddler did kill his supervisor. Which was technically his boss because in Batman the animated series his boss that he won revenge on was at the time he stole the video game from Edward. Was his supervisor and that’s what made him the promotion to his head boss. So pretty accurate although different ways but very similar

[@firstnamelastname5716]

I’d love to see you guys make a theoretical MCAU to parallel the DCAU (I know there have been some but one that is more specifically a shared universe)

[@michaelandreipalon359]

So, the X-Men, Spider-Man, and Iron Man animated series of the 90s?

[@thomaswelbourn55]

I love Schumacher's Batman, they're good fun, especially when I was a kid, I wanted all the toys... Mainly the original versions of the characters, which were near impossible to find... But I really do like them, especially when you look at Schumacher's other works, they are so different, from anything else in film too. I really wish he was given the chance to do Batman Year One.

[@WitlessMass]

Always in for Superman content! I'd love to see a similar video for Supes

[@nicksorenson9645]

While Mask of the Phantasm was my first Batman movie overall, Batman Forever was my first live-action Batman movie even before I saw the Burton films. As my first real introductions to the character growing up (DCAU and Schumacher) I just remember liking both versions at the time, owning some of the books and toys, and not thinking much about their differences, cause as a kid it was all just Batman to me "and Batman is cool". Of course Jim Carrey's involvement in Forever was another thing that drew me to that movie, cause I was already becoming a big fan of him and his silly antics after my parents let me watch him in The Mask. Now that I'm older I definitely have a better grasp of what made Batman: The Animated Series so great and why the DCAU's Batman is one of the best portrayals of the character to ever exist, appreciating it even more as an adult to say that it's my favorite Batman period. Schumacher's Batman movies still have a soft spot with me cause they were just as integral for me growing up with the franchise, but over time they became harder for me to want to go back to, though that's moreso because of Batman & Robin. Forever always had the more redeemable qualities of the two, and my appreciation for the movie only grew the more I learned about the original cut that Schumacher had for the movie, with a lot of darker psychological elements that would have delved deeper into Bruce's traumatic past, and would just make Forever that much more watchable if WB were to decide to release that cut of the film. I was glad to see that there were so many other people in the fandom lately that have been showing just as much of a desire and interest as I do to want to see that darker cut of Batman Forever, especially in light of Schumacher's passing, so I am all for the campaign to #ReleaseTheSchumacherCut. Because hey, even Kevin Conroy said he wanted to see it. To end off, you probably should have mentioned how the 1995 VHS releases of The Adventures of Batman & Robin were clearly meant to help promote Batman Forever since the videos were centered around the film's main characters (aside from The Joker, who was just that popular).

[@Hazzard91]

That intro slaps so hard. ❤️

[@Emike-nc9ew]

Love your videos

[@Tyrannicus]

Video idea: Buying Guide - give an overview of the best ways to buy the shows, movies and comics right now. Like which are the best Blu Ray / DVD releases, which comics have and haven’t been collected in trade paperbacks, etc.

[@dcauwatchtower]

That’d be a bit of an undertaking, but not a bad idea!

[@DekaNovelist]

0:35-0:50 I love the intro of your video.

[@Baelor-Breakspear]

My dad took my brother and I to see Batman returns and we walked out when penguin bit that dudes face. I was like 3 and my dad thought it was super inappropriate and watching it now I probably wouldn’t take a three year old to see it

[@ericconnor708]

I love Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin. My favorite of the four films.

[@Mechasonicrocks]

??????

[@rankrodent2772]

I agree, it’s my favorite too

[@rankrodent2772]

@@MechasonicrocksI agree with him entirely, second favorite is forever, I just adore Schumachers batman

[@pirocetamol]

I had a T-shirt as a kid of the Kenner styled Batman (I'm from Argentina so we are used to having weird designs of popular American culture) I'm having all sorts of deja vu right now.

[@calebevans743]

I remember seeing Batman and Robin at a drive up theater as a little kid.

[@markeyiszra]

The thumbnail gave me of nostalgia how i got Batman & Robin Bruce Timm on Plate and Mug. And i still got it till these day.

[@dcauwatchtower]

Nice!

[@mutantx2372]

I would love to see more videos like this .

[@dcauwatchtower]

Check out our Burton one if you haven’t yet!

[@silverbullet1620]

René, Odo in Deep Space Nine, was also Desaad in Super Friends as well as JLU.

[@braedenblack6116]

And my boy Tim Drake is still getting treated like crap by WB.

[@projekttaku1]

the batman movie franchise can be described as this: goofy, dark, darker, goofy, goofier, dark, dark, dark, darker, goofier, and dark. (note, I am not counting the snyder cut since it was released on HBO max, but it counts as dark)

[@andrewcozzini8259]

Woah! I never knew or would've imagined that Mr. "Get back to work, Edward!" Stickley was also the guy from "Joker's Favor!" That poor guy would do better not to go off on so many supervillains! Lol.

[@comicfan1324]

Some days you just can’t get rid of a bomb

[@KevinLuper99]

Thank you, Joel. We didn't deserve you. ❤️

[@CyborgHorse]

The revolving Batmobile platform was in the 1989 film, the 66 show is the originator. We never get a clear shot of the resting place of the Batmobile in the 1992 movie but i'd assume they built one for the sequel too.

[@RunningToNotBeSeen]

Batman & Robin was my favorite movie when I was little and I had a Batman & Robin themed 5th birthday party. I still have paper plates and party favors in the faux-B:TAS style drawings of the B&R characters

[@tyrannosuperior5248]

Anyone disturbed by the way the helicopter blades go through the statue's eyes?

[@thenationaltimelyactionhou9328]

As a child I loved these movies, as a teenager I hated them!

[@ne3856]

How do you feel about them now?

[@rankrodent2772]

I’m the opposite, I love them more as time passes and yet another overly bleak batman adaptation is released

[@Be1lover]

I’m glad I’m not the only one aware of the pattern with Harvey’s coin!

[@calebowolabi6761]

Exceptional.

[@andrewcozzini8259]

Nice one, Ted! Personally, I still like a lot about both (yes both) Schumacher Batman films. "Batman: Forever" remains my favorite of the original 4 (and 2nd favorite, overall, only to "Begins") and even "Batman & Robin" isn't offensive to me or anything. Sure it's lighter in tone to the Burton movies overall, but "Forever" also is the most about Batman, himself, of the original series and the only one that really attempted to explain why he needed to be Batman outside mentioning the deaths of his parents. It also adapted the (imo more messed up and grizzly) murder of the Flying Graysons, which something like the '66 show mostly likely would've never. It was additionally pretty mature (conceptually, at least) in terms of assessing Batman's psychology/mental state, being in a sense more honest about his actions in the previous films (see his convo. with Dick, where he wants to join him). Long story short, while it was more loud and colorful with its villains, it definitely was more than dark and broody enough in places to be considered a worthy Batman movie. Even DCAU Batman (in all it's glory) understood breaking up the tone from time to time. Just look at Joker in TNBA, being all "Joker's Millions" one second and all "Mad Love" the next. While I may still appreciate these films a bit more than him, I think that's what Bruce Timm was getting at in that post about a variety of takes on Batman all still being valid. I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I find it really hard to dislike these films, especially since we've had two darker cinematic takes on Batman since. What do you all say?

[@andrewcozzini8259]

Oh, and #releasetheschumachercut!

[@codyeasonBGR]

Batman returns is a movie for the whole family at Christmas. It is a Christmas movie

[@Moonbeam143]

That Superman video would be neat.

[@RobertStMarie]

I know I'm gonna get rained on but I liked Clooney's Batman. I thought he managed to parody and pay homage to West's Batman.

[@darlalathan6143]

He played a very likeable and sensitive Batman.

[@kylehyde215CA]

On paper, tell me Clooney is not the perfect Bruce Wayne. In execution? Not so much.

[@SilverScarletSpider]

This was a great video, that was very detailed. It fully made me understand why I preferred BTAS Batman so much over TBNA. I’m also glad that you pointed out how Bruce Timm mistreated Batgirl’s character in the animated Killing Joke movie

[@jtbrash5382]

Batman and Robin could have been considerably better had they just cast Arnold as Bane and rewrote Bane as the comics version

[@darthgoku90]

Hey, I used to have that Batman action figure at 8:15 when I was little. I thought it was based on BTAS though all these years, not Batman Forever. Go figure. Forever was the first live action Bats movie I saw on video (Begins would be the first one I saw in theaters). Though I did like Forever a lot back then, especially compared to Batman & Robin, I've since become much more a fan of Tim Burton's movies and still consider BTAS to be the definitive version of Bats in general.