Batman: The Animated Series is one of the most iconic pieces of television of all time, having laid the foundations for the DCAU as well as revolutionized storytelling in animation. One of the biggest reasons for its success has to be its co-creator, Bruce Timm, who has an innate understanding of the characters he portrays, which also helped him create other beloved projects like Justice League, Batman: Beyond, and Superman: The Animated Series.
Despite these, the original 1992 series has to be one of his most significant works to date. Despite being as successful as it was, it is a difficult truth that the series was canceled due to a decline in its hype and quality. Since the release of its final season, however, its viewership has only grown, and it still stands as one of the best-animated works of all time.
With these in mind, many have been trying to get the series rebooted for another season, and it would seem that Timm is also on board. He does have one condition, though.
Batman: The Animated Series’ Universe Gets A Visitor
In 2017, Batman and Harley Quinn were released, and the film was quite reminiscent of the 90’s classic animated series, Batman: The Animated Series. Not only does the animation look the same, but the Caped Crusader and Nightwing are also voiced by Kevin Conroy and Loren Lester, respectively, who voiced these characters in the series as well.
“Early on we decided we were going to set the movie in the classic, Batman: The Animated Series universe. That meant the character designs and bringing Kevin [Conroy] and Loren [Lester] back to play Batman and Nightwing.” said Timm.
This has caused many to raise the question of whether the movie is placed in the same universe as the series. Bruce Timm actually explained this during an interview with Comicbook, revealing that he does not have a concrete answer. Although the similarities are not a coincidence and were very much made as a nod to the 1992 series, he could not confirm that the 2017 movie was a continuation of the older story.
“I don’t really know. I personally kind of think that it is, but I’m not actually in control of what’s in continuity and what isn’t because there’s been several other classic Batman animated-style movies that I didn’t have anything to do with, so technically they’re canon even though I didn’t have anything to do with them, so technically this could be continuity or it could just be head-canon. I don’t know.”
Despite this, he personally believes that the film is placed in the same universe, especially because he was involved in both of them.
Bruce Timm’s One Condition
In another interview with Comicbook, Bruce Timm was promoting the Harley Quinn film when he was asked if there was a possibility for Batman: The Animated Series to get renewed. The animator revealed that there was one specific condition that could make the series, which was canceled more than two decades ago, make a comeback.
“I’m sure that if it does really really well, the home video people will say, ‘Yeah! let’s do some more in that classic style!” said Timm.
Timm revealed that if the audience showed how much they loved coming back into the world of the 1992 series through Batman and Harley Quinn, there might be a chance to make DC Studios consider renewing.
Unfortunately, the movie failed to impress fans, having a rating of only 50% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the show’s 100%.
