As undeniable as it is that Batman is one of the greatest superheros of all time, so it is that Batman: The Animated Series is one of the greatest adaptations of his character. As such, what better way is there to celebrate the Dark Knight's 75th anniversary than to have Batman's most recognized animator produce a homage to the hero's early years? The result is a new animated short that distills enthusiasm for the character's history into three dynamic minutes.
Batman: Strange Days loosely adapts one of five tales featured in Batman #1, the 1940 comic that introduced the Joker and Catwoman. The story at hand sees the diabolical Dr. Hugo Strange employing a monstrous giant as his henchman. Together they kidnap a young woman, from whom the good doctor needs every drop of precious blood for his latest experiment. Naturally, it's up to Batman to rescue her, as he intervenes on the outskirts of the mad doctor's laboratory.
In terms of narrative complexity, there is little here to latch onto. At three minutes, the short doesn't have room to develop a three-act story, and comes off feeling like the tail end of a larger plot. The woman in white has no characterization besides that of a damsel-in-distress plot device. We never learn why she is so important to the doctor's experiment, or even what his experiment is. But a simplistic plot is forgivable in an animated short that pulls off everything else so perfectly. Bruce Timm's critically acclaimed work on Batman: The Animated Series, which ran through most of the 1990's, and other works in the DC Animated Universe, makes him the perfect man to animate this period piece Batman escapade. A master at telling mature tales in cartoon form, seeing him back in action is the perfect treat from DC to celebrate Batman's birthday.
Delivering tight-paced action and a tone-perfect atmosphere is where Batman: Strange Days shines. The short's monochrome color plate lends it an old-school 1940's Noire movie look that befits Batman's gothic trappings. It's all very elegant and stylized, clearly drawing from the time period that gave birth to the Caped Crusader's mythos. Fluid animation and sleek character designs further complement the atmospheric setting. Little touches, such as the Hulk-like henchman irritably ripping the woman's dress after it's caught on a branch, show Bruce Timm's skill at delivering subtle characterizations through environmental storytelling. Likewise, the animation skillfully delivers topnotch set piece moments. Such as when Batman flies in on the Batplane blasting the ground with tear gas canisters fired from a mounted machine gun. Yes, he totally does that. Is it still any wonder why Batman is pop culture's favorite superhero?
Here the short does a good job showing Batman's tactical chops, The clouds of teargas provide Batman with the perfect backdrop to disorient and stalk Dr. Hugo Strange's hulking goon. We see Batman's combative talents on display as well, with fight scenes that are refreshingly physical for something aired on Cartoon Network these days. Batman smashes a rock on the giant's head, clubs him with a tree branch and rams his forehead multiple times against a cliff wall. What really drives the fights home are the robust sound effects that lend an acute impression of pain to each blow. Meanwhile, the theatrical score sets the mood for each scene, flowing perfectly with the action.
Dialogue in the short comes in brief snippets. Kevin Conroy of Batman: The Animated Series and Arkham Asylum fame reprise's his long-held role as Batman, and there is none more worthy of donning the cape and cowl than him. Conroy is Batman. No other performance can match his well-balanced and intimately likable take on the character. His Batman is intimidating, reflective, admirable, stern, confident and recognizably human all at once. He only has one line this time around, and yet it is all he needs to trigger a shuddering of nostalgic vibes. Seeing his voice paired again with the hero's design from Batman: The Animated Series is downright eerie -in a good way. The other voice work in the short is fully capable as well, but it's the one line from Conroy that runs home its authenticity.
Batman: Strange Days aired Saturday on Cartoon Network and has since been put up on DC's official YouTube channel for free viewing. If three minutes isn't enough to satisfy your appetite for Bruce Timm animated goodness, an additional Batman anniversary short is reportedly in the works, this one based on the futuristic Batman Beyond property. Although an actual continuation of Batman's DC Animated Universe storyline would have most Cape Crusader fans foaming at the mouth, (it would certainly more than make up for the apparent demise of Beware the Batman on Cartoon Network), we must enjoy what we can get as we get it. Batman: Strange Days is easy to enjoy. It's a gratifying for longtime fans of Bruce Timm's work, and an entertaining slice of animation on its own.
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