The DCAU is one of the most popular and beloved DC adaptations of all time and includes some of the most critically acclaimed animated shows such as Batman: The Animated Series. Despite the DCAU’s popularity during the 90s and early 2000s, the franchise might have never existed if it weren’t for legendary film director Steven Spielberg.
According to the DCAU head Bruce Timm, Spielberg entered the animation medium at a crucial juncture, and his involvement helped pave the way for some of the best entries in the DCAU. As a result, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Spielberg saved the DC Animated Universe from spiraling into obscurity, and here is why.
Steven Spielberg’s Collaboration With Warner Bros. Animation Likely Saved the DCAU
Steven Spielberg‘s impact on the film industry has been undeniable. However, Spielberg also had a large if somewhat underrated impact on modern American animation, especially the string of classic DC Animated Universe shows.
In The Heart of Batman, a documentary series exploring the making of Batman: The Animated Series, the cornerstone of the DCAU, co-creator Bruce Timm highlighted Spielberg’s influence on modern animation.
“A lot of the earlier generation, the famous Nine Old Men, the star animators going back to the Snow White days, a lot of them were retiring or dying off and there didn’t seem to be a whole new generation of people who were being mentored.”
Timm made the above statement explaining the challenges faced by the animation industry during the late 80s and early 90s. Timm added that Spielberg entered the industry during this period and collaborated with Warner Bros. Animation.
Spielberg went on to produce the critically acclaimed Tiny Toon Adventures, which ran from 1990 to 1992, and Animaniacs, among other shows, which elevated the bar for the animation medium. Timm also revealed that having Spielberg onboard helped projects secure larger budgets. As a result, it is safe to say that the DCAU would not have existed without Spielberg’s foray into animation.
DCAU Spearhead Bruce Timm Once Bailed on a Steven Spielberg Project
Despite praising Spielberg for laying the foundation for the DCAU, Bruce Timm’s collaboration with the legendary director did not pan out as he would have expected. In an interview, Timm revealed that Spielberg was a fan of Batman: The Animated Series and reached out to the show’s creative team with an opportunity to collaborate.
Timm explained that he met Spielberg several times to develop the idea for an animated show, which eventually came to fruition as Freakazoid! However, Timm admitted that the show went in a different direction than he had envisioned, leading to him bailing on the project altogether.
“I bailed on it really early. It started out as an adventure show, but it ended up turning into more & more of a comedy show.”
Timm added that the concept originally started out as a grounded teenage superhero show. However, with each meeting with Spielberg, the concept would change and lean more into comedy. Timm noted that the final product was more in line with Spielberg’s comedic shows such as Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs.
