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 The High Level of Censorship
Spider-Man: The Animated Series, also known as Spider-Man TAS, was written by John Semper and aired for five seasons, from November 1994 to January 1998. Fans of the show will remember how the violence never really went out of hand like some other Fox Kids cartoons.
In response to complaints regarding the nature of the violence shown in cartoons like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Spider-Man TAS was prohibited from having its characters punch each other. Additionally, only laser guns could be used, Sinister Six had to be renamed to Insidious Six, and broken windows or glass could not be shown. Despite these rules, the show was action-packed and kept viewers hooked.
Spider-Man TAS Did Not Veer Away from the Source Material
The issue with most shows, whether animated or not, is that they veer away from the source material. Staying true to the source material is something that creators often fail to do, which results in the show’s eventual cancellation.
Luckily, Spider-Man TAS was not one of those shows as it featured many notable comic book writers such as Len Wein, J.M. DeMatteis, Gerry Conway, Marv Wolfman, and many others. In fact, every episode featured a storyline from the original comics.
Female Characters Had a Strong Presence in Spider-Man TAS
The female characters from the Spider-Man Universe like Aunt May, Mary Jane, and Felicia Hardy played a huge role in Peter Parker’s character development. They are not merely for the sake of presence in the show.
Aunt May is not depicted as the weak-hearted old lady in the show. Instead of being an airhead, Mary Jane is a mature and independent supporting character. Traces of Gwen Stacy’s nature are also seen in Jane because Stacy doesn’t actually appear in the show. In short, they make appearances as better versions of themselves.
Batman: The Animated Series Tried New Things While Staying Rooted in the Past
Batman: The Animated Series (Batman TAS), produced by Warner Bros. Animation, aired for two seasons from 1992 to 1995. Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski developed the series. It gained critical acclaim for various reasons, but one of the most prominent ones is that it took a modern take on its source material.
Not only did the show keep trying new things while sticking to the source material but also made sure to keep the characters flexible. Further, it refines certain elements of the comics that could be adapted as canon; case in point: the character of Dr. Freeze.
Batman TAS Character Designs Were Simple But Effective
The designs of the characters in the show were simple and streamlined which allowed them to have a variety of ranges. The backgrounds painted onto black paper using light colors also added to the beauty of the show even though this was not the animation industry standard.
The voice cast of the show was incredible, thanks to the hard work of the voice director Andrea Romano. She read 250-300 actors for each of the show’s core roles without giving any importance to celebrity status or if the actor was primarily a voice actor.
Batman TAS Writers Were the Same as the Ones Who Wrote Comics
Writers play a great role in the making of any show or movie whether it is live-action or animation. The show enjoyed the luxury of having the writers of the Batman comics as creators. This gave it the upper hand on other animated series as it ensured better quality of scripts.
Further, the artists also played a great role in shaping the show. Producer Bruce Timm worked on the designs of most of the characters. In fact, most of the show’s art was done by Timm.
Spider-Man: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series are available for streaming on Disney+ and Max respectively.
