Batman: TAS On DVD

[Russkafin]

In the new issue of Wizard (#120), a fan writes in to Magic Words asking if the animated Batman series will be put out on DVD... they reply that Warner Bros. is planning to release "The Adventures of Batman and Robin" DVD collection in spring 2002!

[James Harvey]

THANK YOU LORD! THIS IS THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD SINCE I GOT THE JOB AS AN EDITOR! Ah man, this is such so great. Man...I'm getting all excited just thinking about it...I gotta get that issue of WIZARD now...

[Beyond Batman]

All I can say is:


YAY :D

[Frozen]

Praise be - but let's not get too excited. I for one will beleive it when I see it...

[optimal321]

Yes!!! Now i gotta get a DVD player though...

[DR.MID-NITE]

If you want your feelings known to WB. Go to the Home Theater Forum. ( www.hometheaterforum.com ) They will be hosting a chat with a dvd honcho from Warner Bros. It will be sometime in the beginning of October, I am not sure of the date.
I was planning on asking if Batman & Superman animated (& Babylon 5) would be coming to dvd. This might be a good opportunity to let them know that we want ALL Batman episodes. Not "best of's" or only "Batman & Robin" episodes.

[Bruiser]

Sweet necter of the gods -- BTAS on DVD!

DG -- let us know as soon as you've confirmed this great piece of news.

Mmmm...boxed set...how cool would that be.:D

[Shriek]

Originally posted by optimal321
Yes!!! Now i gotta get a DVD player though...

HA HA HA HA HA HA! That's funny dude. But I can't wait for them to come out either.

[James Harvey]

I am in the middle of getting it confirmed officially trough traditional means, and through my inside sources. But we should know soonn either way. Some other Batman and DVD sites are also working on this, so I'll keep ya'll posted! But I think we got a DVD collection coming out way...

[Shriek]

Inside Sources. Amazing. You are the Canadian Clark Kent. But I think someone else called you this before.

[Jokerfish]

AWESOME...but 1 question....it said "The Adventures of Batman and Robin" DVD collection in spring 2002! My only question is...how do we know this is Batman:The Animated Series? Couldnt this be just 20 or so of The Adventrues of Batman and Robin? I mean, wouldnt you think the guy would say Batman:TAS DVDs instead of "The Adventures of Batman and Robin" DVDs? I HOPE he means ALL of them including TNBA :)

[James Harvey]

No one is really sure about that. I have a gut feeling this collection will be like the VHSs that were released in 1995 and 1997, where they used BTAS episodes, but used the new intro. I know WB won't just release all 114 eps at once. It's likely this is 'Volume 1.' of the series, like their Scooby discs.

[Clayface]

Originally posted by DR.MID-NITE

I was planning on asking if Batman & Superman animated (& Babylon 5) would be coming to dvd.

I can't remember where I read it now (Previews mag maybe?), but its already been confirmed that B5 is coming to DVD.

[DR.MID-NITE]

Clayface, yes Warner has hinted that 2 of the movies were coming to dvd. It was suppose to be in Aug or Sept. But, no word since then. And no word on the rest of the episodes. So hopefully, we will get some definitive info from the them at the chat.

[Calhoun07]

I am too jaded by previous exciting announcements that went no where, and I also will believe this when I see it. I hardly consider the letters column in Wizard an official announcement.

[James Harvey]

While it's not the best place to make an announcement, alot fo special announcements have been made in the letters page that have happened. I'm optomistic that this will happen, and I know it will.

[Calhoun07]

When is truly the question, and in what format? Box set, hopefully. But I will be more excited when I see it up for sale. I've been waiting for Twin Peaks on DVD for a lot longer, and have been let down in the past. that's not to say it isn't being worked on, of course, but I question the date given for release.

[James Harvey]

It's to early to tell. I think they'll just release them like they do SCOOBY-DOO. One or two every once and while.

[Calhoun07]

Well, if they don't put them out in order, that's no biggie, just as long as they get ALL of them out on DVD. No skimping!

[James Harvey]

Yeah. I just want the episodes. As long as I get them, it'll do.

[Mr. Eye]

Originally posted by Russkafin
In the new issue of Wizard (#120), a fan writes in to Magic Words asking if the animated Batman series will be put out on DVD... they reply that Warner Bros. is planning to release "The Adventures of Batman and Robin" DVD collection in spring 2002!

How did you get your hands on the new WIZARD so early? It's supposed to come next week, no?

And not to sound pessimistic or anything, but why would such a big announecemnt be made in the letter's column of WIZARD?

Mr. Eye

[Mr. Eye]

Personnally, I hope they release the episodes in ORDER. What they could do is make three boxed sets, one with the 65 episodes (10 disc set: 8 eps. on each disc, plus the remaining ones on the other 2 with all these extras). Following that, they should release the Adventures of Batman and Robin collection, and finnally the New Batman Adventures. That would be great!

Mr. Eye

[James Harvey]

WIZARD probably doesn't consider it a big deal. Besides, the announced stuff like ongpoing HARLEY series in the letter page. But I think this is the real deal, and I'm trying my hardest to get this confirmed as soon as possible. But since it's the weekend, it may take a day or two.

[Calhoun07]

I have confidence this announcement is real, but I question the when of it all. I've seen too many good announcements for release dates change rahter easilly.

[James Harvey]

Yeah, the MASK OF ZORRO DVD keeps getting pushed back, dammit! Still, I'll be awaiting this with open arms.

[Calhoun07]

There are several DVDs that I've been waiting for that I keep hearing are in production. Twin Peaks is one, Buckaroo Banzai is another.

[James Harvey]

I'm actually awaiting the animated Spider-Man DVDs, which are in rumored production. And the long delayed MASK OF ZORRO. There is a bunch of stuff I want...

[Calhoun07]

There were several Spider Man cartoons. Which one is coming to DVD?

[Russkafin]

Mr. Eye asked.... "How did you get your hands on the new WIZARD so early? It's supposed to come next week, no?"

I get it early because I have a subscription. Here's the actual letter.
---------------
Jim,
Any chance the great minds at Warner Bros. might consider putting all the "Batman" animated episodes on one DVD collection? Thank you for your time.
Shaun Reiley
Brunssum, The Netherlands

Ask and ye shall receive: "The Adventures of Batman and Robin" are slated for a spring 2002 DVD debut courtesy of Warner Home Video. Look for a season-by-season rollout, with season one of the show (duh!) coming first.
---------------

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by calhoun07
There were several Spider Man cartoons. Which one is coming to DVD?

Universal wants to release the FOX KIDS Spider-Man cartoon from the early 90s, like what they're doing with their current X-MEN DVDs.

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Russkafin
Mr. Eye asked.... "How did you get your hands on the new WIZARD so early? It's supposed to come next week, no?"

I get it early because I have a subscription. Here's the actual letter.
---------------
Jim,
Any chance the great minds at Warner Bros. might consider putting all the "Batman" animated episodes on one DVD collection? Thank you for your time.
Shaun Reiley
Brunssum, The Netherlands

Ask and ye shall receive: "The Adventures of Batman and Robin" are slated for a spring 2002 DVD debut courtesy of Warner Home Video. Look for a season-by-season rollout, with season one of the show (duh!) coming first.
---------------

A season by season roll out? Man - this is exactly what I was hoping they were gonna o - and it looks like we may get it!!

[DR.MID-NITE]

I hope they release the early 90's fox version of Spiderman on dvd. Also, I really hope they release ALL of the Batman animated episodes.

dickgrayson, did they give any type of timeline for a Spidey release. I figure sometime next year to cash in on the new Spidey movie.

[James Harvey]

Universal will either (if they get the liscense) release DVDs to coincide with the movie, or coincide with the DVD release. Universal released the first animated X-MEN disc to coincide with the DVD/VHS release. I bte they'll do the same again!

[Calhoun07]

Season by season should keep fanboys very happy indeed. Could it be they actually paid attention to the petitions? I think this one will sell well, and very well at that.

[James Harvey]

It definately will be very, very awesome. I'm pretty pumped to see these sets. I only wish X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN were being released like this.

[Calhoun07]

If it's as nice as the Black Adder set, we will be in for a real treat.

[James Harvey]

If it's as awesome as the DIE HEARD trilogy set, then I may cry for hours with happiness! Then again, it is WB, so they'll muck it up somehow.

[Calhoun07]

That's confidence for you! I think Warner is learing after all these years, but my only fear is that it will be like that lame Friends set. My only beef with the Friends set (not that I bought it, but I did see it at the video store I work at) is that it's a nice looking box on the outside and crapper cases inside. And that's my fear, that we waited so long for this and it will only come in crapper cases.

[James Harvey]

The crapper cases are just awful. It's hard to stack those damn things sometimes! I have to make a section especially for those damn cases. But with NEW LINE abandoning them, and TW owns them, there may be a happy ending...

[Calhoun07]

The only real happy ending would be if they replaced all our existing crapper cases with keep cases. What I hate most about the crapper cases is that after a while, they can be hard to snap back shut, and that plastic thing that's supposed to snap down just kinda swings back and forth loose.

[James Harvey]

Even if they do, I won't be buying them. I'll stick witht he cases I have no. I'm not gonna repurchase the same movie just for a better case. I just hope we get keep cases ASAP.

[Calhoun07]

I didn't mean buying them. Heck no. I meant that they should have to be forced to replace them for us, free of charge. Why not? Blockbuster can be sued because people don't like paying late fees, and movie companies can be sued for using movie reviews on posters, this would be a worthwhile lawsuit!

[James Harvey]

It would be interesting to see how'd that plays out. I just can't wait to get my grubby mits on those DVDs.

[Calhoun07]

I already told my boss at the bank that I need to go to lunch at 10am on September 25, so I can be one of the first ones at Best Buy to get the Simpsons box set. I imagine I will likely make the same request when the Batman DVDs come out!

[Mr. Eye]

Kinda off-topic. Cal, I know it says you're a banker in your profile, but you said in some of your posts that you work at a video store. Can you clear this up for me?


Mr. Eye

[James Harvey]

Cals got two jobs, like most everyone I know. I think I may ditch first class to pick up THE SIMPSONS and BATMAN. Usually, I have no classes on Tuesday, which gave me plenty of time to hit the malls and get the movies, or CDs, I wanted. Not this year...

[Calhoun07]

Yes, and I would have replied myself, Mr Eye...IF I WASN'T AT WORK TONIGHT! Oh well. yeah, it's two jobs. That's how I can afford all those wonderful toys.

[James Harvey]

With all these DVD hitting this year, it's gonna be expoensive. I wonder how big the first box set will be, of BATMAN. It is 65 episodes...and it will be big...

[Mr. Eye]

Originally posted by calhoun07
Yes, and I would have replied myself, Mr Eye...IF I WASN'T AT WORK TONIGHT! Oh well. yeah, it's two jobs. That's how I can afford all those wonderful toys.

Oh ok then. You just replied to my follow-up question too :). I WAS gonna ask you how you can afford all those DVD's and comix you buy each month..........but my question has already been answered. :)

Mr. Eye

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
With all these DVD hitting this year, it's gonna be expoensive. I wonder how big the first box set will be, of BATMAN. It is 65 episodes...and it will be big...

How many episodes were in the first season?

The good news, kinda, is that there is virtually nothing coming out in the next month on DVD that I want to get. I browse the upcoming releases at the video store, and the next time I see anything I want to buy is August 21st, with Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. Til then, zip. That'll give me some good time to catch up on the DVDs I have.

[James Harvey]

The first season was 65 episodes. If they put 8 eps per disc, then it'd make a 10 disc set with extras. I wonder if they'll split up season 1 or something.

[Calhoun07]

How did they manage that? There are only 52 weeks in a year, and I thought most season orders would be for 13 or 26 episodes.

[Mr. Eye]

Originally posted by calhoun07
How did they manage that? There are only 52 weeks in a year, and I thought most season orders would be for 13 or 26 episodes.

Well it was on everyday. And the thing is they ordered 65 for the first batch. They do that a lot.

Mr. Eye

[Calhoun07]

But even if they ordered that many episodes at once, they didn't show a new episode ever week, I would imagine, and according to the Batman Animated book, the show aired over a period of two years or there abouts. So didn't they break those 65 episodes up into seasons? They didn't all air in one year.

[Mr. Eye]

Actually the first season aired in a span of around 13 months. I got this from an episode guide at pazsaz.com. I can't seem to get into the Worlds' Finest website.

Mr. Eye

[James Harvey]

Season 1 - 65 eps
Premiered September 6th, 1992 and ended on May 24th, 1993.

Season 2 - 10 eps
Premiered September 13th, 1993 and ended on May 23rd, 1994.

Season 3 - 5 eps
Premiered September 10th, 1994 and ended on November 26th, 1994

Season 4 - 5 eps
Premiered September 11th, 1995 and ended on September 15th, 1995

Season 5 - 13 eps
Premiered September 13th, 1997 and ended on July 11th, 1998

Season 6 - 11 eps
Premiered September 14th, 1998, and ended on January 16th, 1999

The first DVD will be BIG.

[DR.MID-NITE]

I really hope they do this right. I wonder if they will use the original opening for the BTAS. I hope they don't do best of's or use the same generic opening for all the episodes. I am not even concerned about extras(although, they would be nice). I just want all of them uncut and in good shape. Then I can finally get rid of my sp vhs tape copies.

[Calhoun07]

I never expect much for bonus features from a TV DVD. If they do special features, I hope they put the majority of them on one disc alone, and leave as much room for episodes. I know they could at least get 8 episodes on one DVD.

[James Harvey]

I wouldn't care if they are as bare as the X-MEN: TAS DVDs as long as I get them one way or another.

[Joker85]

This is very exciting!!! If they come out with ALL of the TAS on DVD in box sets(preferably in order) then I can sell my Columbia House VHS and get all that money back.:)

[James Harvey]

How much did those videos cost? Musta beena fortune!

[Joker85]

I think it's about $24 a tape. Anyways, if i could sell all of them and then get the DVDs, I would come out on top!!! :) Could probably sell them on E Bay

[Govan]

Alright, this is such cool news! I was hoping this would happen. I hope this becomes a reality so I don't have to kill myself ;) jk
Ever since I saw the first episode back in '92 I've loved this series.

BTW, I'm a new member guys. Here's to looking forward to discussing all related animation on this board.

BTW#2, I came across this site that has some pretty cool B:TAS related stuff on it, like commentary by Paul Dini, storyboard sketches, model sheets, background designs, etc. It's at:

http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/doc/batman/index.html

I'm sure you already know about this, being such HC fans, but I thought I'd post it anyway in case you hadn't seen it yet.

Cya

[Mr. Eye]

Welocme to WF, Govan! It's great to see fresh faces here. Anyway, enjoy your stay......

Mr. Eye

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Govan

BTW, I'm a new member guys. Here's to looking forward to discussing all related animation on this board.


Hey,

welcome to the boards, man! Just follow the rules (which I suggest you read ASAP) and yer gonna like it here. This place is full of hardcore yet very friendly and nice fans - quite possibly the best fans online. We enforce the rules around here so be careful. :) I created these boards way back in late 1998 and it's been a great place, ackowledged by fans & creators of the shows we love. There are alot of boards here that I'm sure you'll really like! And that cartoonnetwork.com site is very cool, eh?

[Calhoun07]

Glad to have you around, Govan! Hope to see more of you here!

[Govan]

Thanks for the welcome, guys. I went to the rules page but it didn't load. Is it just me or is there something wrong with it?

Remember when B:TAS was on before the Simpsons on Sunday nights? Those were the days... :)

[Clayface]

Originally posted by Joker85
I think it's about $24 a tape. Anyways, if i could sell all of them and then get the DVDs, I would come out on top!!! :) Could probably sell them on E Bay

Yeah, stick 'em up on e-bay - sometimes you can sell the Columbia house vids for more than what you got 'em for. I once sold one for $40!

By the way, I don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but IGN has also stated that the eps are coming to DVD, based on another source.

[James Harvey]

For $40? Really? Yer making like a $10 profit off that! DO you have them all still, or slowly selling them. And could ya post the link to IGN? I'd like to read that.

[Clayface]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
For $40? Really? Yer making like a $10 profit off that! DO you have them all still, or slowly selling them. And could ya post the link to IGN? I'd like to read that.

Yep, $40. I don't think many people out there know that these episodes have been released to tape, and when they see 'em, they're pretty willing to snatch 'em up for whateverprice. I actually still have all of mine - the one or two I sold were ones that Columbia House let me keep after sending me a replacement.

As far as the ign thing goes, here it is:
http://dvd.ign.com/articles/301759p1.html

[James Harvey]

Thanx for the really quick reply. I'm glad that more and more sites are reporting this news! The season by season rollout is gonna be great!!

I'm suprised about the lack of knowledge of the COLUMBIA HOUSE set. I read on another board that Columbvia House didn't include "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?", "The Demon Reborn", and (oddly) "World's Finest Part 3. Man, they should make a 29th volume and just a repeat an episode like they did with "Love is a Croc".

[Joker85]

I know!! Well, now that it is a pretty sure thing about the DVDs I think i am gonna sell mine.

[Govan]

It's really funny, I was about to buy all those Columbia videos (because I don't have any Batman episodes on tape), but the same day I was going to get them, I read about the B:TAS DVD that's coming out! Good thing I didn't actually buy them, I woulda gone nuts! :D

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Joker85
I know!! Well, now that it is a pretty sure thing about the DVDs I think i am gonna sell mine.

I'd wait just a bit longer about selling those tapes. I'm a pretty cautious person and I'd wait until at least we get a press release from WB. Imagine if this was all a hoax and ya sold them all? Ouch!

[Govan]

Aaaak! Don't say such things, man! :)

[James Harvey]

Damn yer right -- I'll jinx it! OKay..it's coming, it's coming, it's coming, it's coming....

[Joker85]

Don't worry DG, I won't start selling until I see the DVDs in person. If I did and they didn't come out, I would probably go into a deep depression;)

[James Harvey]

More and mire DVD sites seem to be showcasing the news so it does look 100% authentic. I just wanta press release from WB, which we won't get until September or October at the earliest.

[James Harvey]

BUMP. 3 more sites posted similair animated BATMAN DVD news! :)

[Govan]

What sites are they? I'd be interested in reading the stories!

[James Harvey]

www.animationondvd.com
http://dvd.ign.com
www.davisdvd.com

The enws has been pushed down on some, and erased on another.

[Govan]

Thanks for posting the links! Gives me something to do while I eat breakfast :/

[DR.MID-NITE]

Does anyone when approximatly the dvd's will be out in 2002 (ie-1 quarter, 2nd, etc)??

[Mr. Eye]

But how can we be sure if all these sites didn't take the news from the WF newspage?

Mr. Eye

[JLU Dude]

Aw, man I don't have a DVD player. I wish I did.

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Mr. Eye
But how can we be sure if all these sites didn't take the news from the WF newspage?

Mr. Eye

This is why we are still waiting for the official word from Warner Brothers./

[James Harvey]

DVD sites usually say where they recieved some information. IGN.com didn't list, but they don't exactly have a crystal clear rep. WIZARD mag had this news up, so I know they heard it from WB. We won't get an official word until Ocxtober at the earliest. I say it's happening.

[Maxie Zeus]

I had taped all the old BTAS episodes, but they were crappy copies. It will be SO GREAT to get these on DVD.

Although, like some other posters here, I'll have to get the player first. . .

[Calhoun07]

But what better reason to break down and buy a DVD player? I suspect DVD player sales are going to increase now.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07
But what better reason to break down and buy a DVD player? I suspect DVD player sales are going to increase now.

Oh, I've been meaning to do this for a long time. My first real paycheck in Sept, and I'm off to get one.

The problem is that there are too many DVDs I'm going to be aiming at in too short an order: a bunch of Hitchcock, and a bunch of Hawks, some random individual stuff like "Casablanca" and "Superman" and a "Power Puff Girls." And looming on the horizon like a thundercloud: The Simpsons and now BTAS. Like Homer says at the candy convention: "I feel like a kid in some kind of a store!"

[Calhoun07]

Do what I did...start buying DVDs now. That way you have a nice small collection when you get your player, and also you're not buying the titles on VHS so you have to replace them later on.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07
Do what I did...start buying DVDs now. That way you have a nice small collection when you get your player, and also you're not buying the titles on VHS so you have to replace them later on.

Been a long time since I bought a VHS, though I still do a lot of taping off of TCM (and AMC, when they're not showing "Godzilla Beach Blanket Surf Nazis A Go-Go" or some similar dreck.)

But I couldn't do the "accumulate DVDs" strategy either. I really couldn't afford the player for a long time, and to have a stack of DVDs without a player would have driven me bonkers.

[James Harvey]

Y'Know Maxie,

I planned to buy some DVDs before I got it for Christmas (I new it was coming becuase a) it was the only thing I asked for and b) I overheard them consider it) but then I reaslized it would drive me insane not being to view them. I'm a movie nut and I buy movies I know I'll repeatedly watch. But to have movies I could watch for more than 2 months would slowly drive me over the deep end! So, I saved about $150 dollars and bought a few the day after I got a player. I received 6 for Christmas, and bought 7 more the next day.

[Calhoun07]

I only started to by DVDs about thirty days before I was able to get everything I needed for it. I got a couple DVDs first, then I went out and bought my DVD player, and then I had to get a new TV before I could hook it up, which took a tad longer. But in that time, I did buy DVDs before I could watch them. Since MOST of them were replacements for favorites I had seen on VHS, the wait to watch them wasn't nearly that intolerable. What was intolerable was the night I got everything hooked up and wanted to watch my DVD of Mallrats something bad. I could not figure out how to get the DVD picture on my TV. I went to bed frustrated and dejected. It wasn't until the next day I realized I had to hit the VIDEO button on my DVD player. But not being able to watch the first DVD I wanted to see the night I got everything hooked up, yeah, that was nearly enough to drive me over the edge!

So IF you do buy DVDs before you get a player, make sure it's stuff you've already seen before!

[Clayface]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
But to have movies I could watch for more than 2 months would slowly drive me over the deep end! So, I saved about $150 dollars and bought a few the day after I got a player. I received 6 for Christmas, and bought 7 more the next day.

HA! You'd go nuts in my place, DG! I still have a stack of CDs sitting in my corner that I got 2 X-mases ago that I have yet to open! Not to mention a stack of DVDs - many of which I've had for 8-10 months and haven't even pulled out of the wrapper.

But, I did the same sort fo thing you guys are talking about - I new my new computer was going to have a DVD drive, but it would be several months before I got it. So, I started slowly accumulating DVDs in advance. Had 6 or 7 before I ever got the DVD player, and the collection just keeps growing now.

[James Harvey]

I got an upgrade on my RCA DVD player from AD- 500 to AD- 1500, and it's awesome. I can finally play MP3s on the damn thing. Anyways, I'm quite proud of my every growing collection. I am few shy of 60 DVDs, but I'll likely have 100 before Christmas comes. I just can't wait to add these Batman discs to my collection.

[DR.MID-NITE]

My dvd collection is well over 400. My wife keeps asking if I have enough? I tell her simply. "It's never enough." But, I don't go to the movies as often as I used to. With tickets costing over eight bucks where I live. If I go with my wife to the movies it would cost over $30, including popcorn & drink, but not including babysitter. I would rather wait a few months and get it on dvd for $15-20 and I can watch whenever. I have a home theater set up in my basement with movie seats. The only problem know is that my kids love watching in there and I get relegated to the smaller set up stairs. :rolleyes:
I cannot wait for next year. Batman:Animated, Babylon 5 and Star Trek:TNG should all start coming out then.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by DR.MID-NITE
My dvd collection is well over 400.

I have a home theater set up in my basement with movie seats.

:: drool::

[Maxie Zeus]

I just noticed that this computer I'm using has a DVD drive. Does that mean I can play DVDs on it? The monitors almost as big as my TV . . .

Damn. Looks like I'm going to have to buy a DVD to find out. Hmmm. "Psycho" or "Vertigo"?

[Govan]

Nine times out of ten, it should say "DVD-ROM" on the PC if you have a DVD drive.

Or, right click My Computer on your Desktop, then go to Properties, then go to the Device Manager tab, then click on CDROM. It should probably list it there, too.

[Calhoun07]

PSYCHO!

I want a DVD player that plays MP3s!!!!

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Govan
Nine times out of ten, it should say "DVD-ROM" on the PC if you have a DVD drive.

Or, right click My Computer on your Desktop, then go to Properties, then go to the Device Manager tab, then click on CDROM. It should probably list it there, too.

Yep, that's what it says.

Stand back. I think I'm gonna wet myself.

[Govan]

Zeus, you should get some good DVD programs for your PC since you'll be using your PC for playing them (right?)

DVD Genie is good for changing the region of your DVD player back and forth to whatever you like on your PC.

Good DVD programs that I like are Power DVD and CineMaster.

BTW, I'd get Psycho (the original).

[James Harvey]

Psycho is the way to go. You can't go wrong with this classic. Forget that iffy remake a few years back. YOu will definatly dig yer DVD player!

*Can't wait for Batman*

[Govan]

I can't wait for Batman on DVD because I haven't seen an episode of TAS since about 1996. I watched a few episodes of TNBA but I didn't like it as much. I hope they get included on the DVD so I can give them a second chance though :(

What I want to do once it comes out is put a few of the discs in a multi-disc DVD player, and hit "Shuffle" :) Then I can reexperience all those classics I've long forgotten about, like Robin's Reckoning, Feat of Clay, Mad as a Hatter, The Mechanic (for all the jokes my friends and I made about that one, like Batman driving his beat up Pontiac, or whatever it is, up to Earl on the street)...wait, I'm remembering too many :/

I have a couple of months to "reforget" about them though!

[Calhoun07]

When you select "shuffle" on a DVD player, it would shuffle the chapters, right? So if you had three or four chapters stops in one Batman animated episode, when you shuffle it, it won't play the entire episode before it suffles, just one chapter. I don't know for sure, as I have never tried this out, but isn't that the way it would work?

[Robin2099]

Hopefully someone hasn't mentioned this already, but if the episodes go in order of how they premiered, remember at the end of each episode in the first season, where it showed the fron page of a newspaper then showed clips form the next episode? I'd like that included becuase it'd be cool to be able to watch the preview then get to see the episode.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Govan
Zeus, you should get some good DVD programs for your PC since you'll be using your PC for playing them (right?)

DVD Genie is good for changing the region of your DVD player back and forth to whatever you like on your PC.

Good DVD programs that I like are Power DVD and CineMaster.

Actually, it's not my computer. I'm doing a one year replacement for a full time member of the local faculty, and am using the computer in his office. And I just got a note back from Steve saying he could never get the DVD thing to work because there was a conflict with some other application or other. I'll see if I can lick it, tho.



BTW, I'd get Psycho (the original).

Oh, please. I sat thru that godforsaken remake hating every second of it. (I finally got up and left after Arbogast was sliced and diced.) The only way I'd buy the remake is so I could deface it.

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Robin2099
Hopefully someone hasn't mentioned this already, but if the episodes go in order of how they premiered, remember at the end of each episode in the first season, where it showed the fron page of a newspaper then showed clips form the next episode? I'd like that included becuase it'd be cool to be able to watch the preview then get to see the episode.

I can't believe you remember those! They were teasers for the next episode and I loved looking forward to them! They only did them for the first season, though. They were so cool. I'd love to see those as a bonus./ I can't belieev I forgot about those! I can still remember the one for TWO-FACE Part 2 perfectly!

God, I hope this is a great set. My expectations for it rise everyday.

[Calhoun07]

I hate to sound pessimistic, but I am afraid I can't allow my hopes to get too high up there for this one. Not that I don't WANT it to have all this cool stuff you're talking about on the DVDs, but I just know that their best set so far is probably the Black Adder set, and while that is quite nice on bonus features, it doesn't even touch where you all hope to see the Batman animated DVDs go. So while I hope for a great set, I am trying to keep my expectations around what I expected from the Black Adder set. Hopefully, that way, I will be in for a good suprise if they put more on it.

[James Harvey]

We know this cool stuff won't likely get on, but we can dream, can't we? All I want are the episodes. That'll do it for me.

[Govan]

Oh, please. I sat thru that godforsaken remake hating every second of it. (I finally got up and left after Arbogast was sliced and diced.) The only way I'd buy the remake is so I could deface it.

Maxie: I said "(the original)" after it because I meant that you should buy the original version, NOT the remake! :/



When you select "shuffle" on a DVD player, it would shuffle the chapters, right? So if you had three or four chapters stops in one Batman animated episode, when you shuffle it, it won't play the entire episode before it suffles, just one chapter. I don't know for sure, as I have never tried this out, but isn't that the way it would work?

Calhoun7: AFAIK, if you have a multi-disc DVD player, where you can insert multiple discs at the same time, then you can set it so that shuffle would select an entire episode (in this case) randomly for you, not a chapter. If someone else knows for sure though, do tell!

[Calhoun07]

If it would shuffle an entire episode, and not just chapters, then I would be all over that bad boy! I could put in several TV DVDs all at once and let the DVD player choose my viewing for the evening!

I am going to have to try this with one of my TV DVDs and see if it works. I do know I tired the shuffle feature once on a movie, and it started to play the chapters all out of order, and I thought, "WTH? What good will this ever do me?"

[Govan]

Let us know how it goes dude! I don't have any TV DVD's or else I'd try. What I know about this subject comes from hearing from friends' experiences, so I could be wrong :/

And it's high time this becomes standard if it isn't, as who wants to watch chapters of a film out of sequence as opposed to randomly selected episodes of a show?

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by Govan
Maxie: I said "(the original)" after it because I meant that you should buy the original version, NOT the remake!

Yeah, I knew that. I was just emphasizing my agreement with you by ragging some more on the remake.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07
When you select "shuffle" on a DVD player, it would shuffle the chapters, right? So if you had three or four chapters stops in one Batman animated episode, when you shuffle it, it won't play the entire episode before it suffles, just one chapter. I don't know for sure, as I have never tried this out, but isn't that the way it would work?

I dunno. It might be kind of neat, in a Dada-ish sort of way, watching them all shuffled up like this.

I remember someone once noticed small references in some eps to events in others, suggesting that many of the BTAS adventures were shoved together cheek-by-jowl (or even overlapped) in real time. A chapter shuffle might be a good way of recreating the real time feeling (as it appears to Bruce) on your TV: "Great, still have to stop the Joker from killing Bullock, but now Clock King has kidnapped Mayor Hill. I hope I can get there before Two Face knocks over the Gemini Club again!"

[Govan]

Anyone have any guess as to what the price might be of the TAS DVD's?

I mean, in terms of television complete season DVD sets, you have the Simpsons, at $30, then you have the X-Files at the other end of the spectrum at $115+! Both sets have around the same number of episodes on them. Anyone know anything I don't as to why the two above-mentioned sets vary so much in price?

[James Harvey]

The reasoon why the prices vary is becuase X-FILES is a 7 disc set and Simpsons is only 3. Also, X-FILES episodes are 44 minutes long and Simspons are only 22. AND there are 22 X-Files episodes and 13 Simpsons episodes. Big differences there.

If WB puts all 60 first season episodes onto one disc, it'll be at least an 8 disc set, and will likely cost around $120 at the very least. That's my guess!

[Calhoun07]

Whatever the SRP is, this set will undoubtedly be offered for lower prices on line. You can bet I will be looking it up on entertainme.com once it is available for pre order!

[James Harvey]

Two seasons of Batman were only 5 episode slong. How is that gona work out. Well, I guess a nice 2 disc set.

[Calhoun07]

Who said they were being put out in season sets, though?

I tried my "random" button on my DVD player, and it does allow for my DVD player to play entire episodes at random. Pretty nice, but I don't have a multi disc player. Now if I can figure out a way to get it to play all the titles on my DVD in order, I would be happy, as the X Files DVDs don't have a "play all" feature, but now I wonder if it can be turned on via my remote?

[James Harvey]

Who? Well, all the sites that have announced have said they'd be released in season box sets. Jim McLaughlin of Wizard initially reported they'd be in box sets. IGN.com did. Hell, WFH even got a couple emails saying they would be.

[Govan]

The reasoon why the prices vary is becuase X-FILES is a 7 disc set and Simpsons is only 3. Also, X-FILES episodes are 44 minutes long and Simspons are only 22. AND there are 22 X-Files episodes and 13 Simpsons episodes. Big differences there.

I had seen pictures of the number of discs the X-Files sets have, and I knew the SImpsons was on 3 discs, but I can't believe I was so stupid as to forget that the X-Files epps are twice as long. Ah-duh, check please!

[Govan]

I tried my "random" button on my DVD player, and it does allow for my DVD player to play entire episodes at random.

Thanks for confirming this, Calhoun!

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
Who? Well, all the sites that have announced have said they'd be released in season box sets. Jim McLaughlin of Wizard initially reported they'd be in box sets. IGN.com did. Hell, WFH even got a couple emails saying they would be.

That's cool, but it strikes me as unbalanced...65 episodes in one set, 5 episodes in another? I wonder if they will try to spread these apart some? Again, I really don't care. I am with you all, just as long as we get ALL the episodes on DVD!

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Govan


I had seen pictures of the number of discs the X-Files sets have, and I knew the SImpsons was on 3 discs, but I can't believe I was so stupid as to forget that the X-Files epps are twice as long. Ah-duh, check please!

But if the episodes of the Simpsons are half as long as the X Files,, that means they can get twice as many Simpsons episodes on one DVD!

[James Harvey]

If it's season by season, then definatly be unbalanced, but I predict they may split up season 1.

[Calhoun07]

I will certainly depend upon who their target audience is. They know not alot of kids are going to be rushing out to buy X Files box sets upon impulse, so they seem to price those and market those to adults who are collectors. I'd prefer to see a collector's set with all the lavish bells and wistles (like the Toy Story set) marketed to adults and collectors, and bare bones DVDs sold separately for those who aren't so much into the collecting DVDs as just wanting to see these shows on a good format.

[James Harvey]

Agreed. I'm hoping they'll release VHS for the kiddies who want them. I don't knopw any 8 year old with a DVD player. And have the DVDs for the collectors and older fans, like us.

[Calhoun07]

I doubt there are many 8 year olds out there who care if they get all the episodes, tho. This thing would probably be marketed to collectors.

[Govan]

Like most other people, all I really want/expect are all the episodes on the DVDs. That and an end to my back pain...

But of course extras galore would be fantastic.

[James Harvey]

Agreed, Gov. I just want the episodes. I have the the three X-MEN DVDs and now I'm aching for Batman. I'm just so sure that this will be a great set. Never so sure in my life.

[James Harvey]

Well, I hate seeing this thread dissapear so BUMP! I'm curious, if WB releases these in 'theme' format. What theme would you like to see?

[DR.MID-NITE]

Please don't say theme sets!!!! If they want to release them along with season box sets, thats one thing. But, I will be very disappointed if they only release theme or best of sets.

[Calhoun07]

The theme I'd like to see is the season by season theme! Or all the episodes in order theme! And on one of those ten hour DVDs too, as I posted about on the DVD board.

(plug, plug)

[Govan]

I was about to bump it too, if it dropped any lower :/

Aaaaaanyway, you guys know how those Warner Home Videos are also called "The Adventures of Batman and Robin"? You know, the ones that are titled: "Penguin," "Joker," Two-Face," etc. Well what if that's what they're planning on doing? Just releasing those videos on a one DVD or two? Didn't the Wizard letter response say that was the title of the DVD set to come out next year?

But for goodness's sakes, I doubt they'd do that. What's the point of putting these on DVD? Most real fans probably own all those videos anyway, plus the Columbia ones. My guess is that they're going to be releasing all the episodes, and that the title will remain the same because kids like Robin so much, and so they can put in all the episodes that came out after the name change in the middish 90's. What do you think? Am I being crazy or practical? :)

[Calhoun07]

No, I don't think they will do it like they did those VHS collections from a few years ago. The petition drive to get us this far was very heavilly for the release of ALL the episodes in season sets, and the Wizard piece did say that's how they would be released.

[James Harvey]

I just want all 109 Batman Episodes. Plus I'd really like those 5 Superman/Batman episode as well. THose would make killer easter eggs, actually.

[Govan]

There was a petition to get Warner to put all the epps on DVD? Nice. I haven't been following this issue at all up until a few weeks ago, so it's news to me.

[Calhoun07]

it was posted at http://www.animationondvd.com/. And this link was also at the DVD Discussion board.

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Govan
There was a petition to get Warner to put all the epps on DVD? Nice. I haven't been following this issue at all up until a few weeks ago, so it's news to me.
There's been three to my knowledge. This site did one, animaitonondvd.com did one. Also 123petitions.com did one. And they were all pretty successful.

[Govan]

Really? Did Warner Bros. ever address the petition(s) specifically with some from of an answer?

[James Harvey]

I never got a reply. I emailed and snail-mailed the petitions to WB but never got a reply back. But it shows that these do have an effect. Look at that recent Spider-Girl fiasco. These things help!

[Govan]

Yeah, just because they never answered you doesn't mean they didn't read and listen to what you sent. Sometimes they take these things under consideration without responding to them (I can think of many non-comic character related items that played out as such).

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Govan
Yeah, just because they never answered you doesn't mean they didn't read and listen to what you sent. Sometimes they take these things under consideration without responding to them (I can think of many non-comic character related items that played out as such).

Good point. I estimate that with those three petitions maybe 10 000 poeple signed them, which is quite a chunk of the fanbase.

[Calhoun07]

when the drive went up to keep Star Trek back on the air in the late 60s, I heard NBC felt each letter they recieved from fans represented 1000 viewers. I wonder if they would feel the same today? 10,000 signatures represents 1000 people for each signature? That's a butt load of people!

[Govan]

I remember reading somewhere, possibly on this site, that at its peak, the ratings for Batman: TAS topped off at around 10 million people. That's pretty damn good for an afternoon cartoon!

[Calhoun07]

That is good! Even if the DVD set sells only a fraction of that, it should be a great seller! Hopefully it will provoke WB to put other cartoons on DVD, like Animaniacs, Men in Black, Superman, and Batman Beyond!

[James Harvey]

It reached 10 million viewers I think during it's brief Sunday slot, whic I think it's great. It had a great pre-Simpsons slot and tv viewership was way up back in the early nineties. I can't remember where I read that, but I'll search it down. If 10% bjuy those DVDs, that 1 million copies right there.

[Calhoun07]

The premire of Batman Beyond also did great numbers in that pre Simpsons slot. Why doesn't WB learn from this and put good animation in that time slot? THe least they should have done was left Batman Beyond in prime time at that slot.

[James Harvey]

The ratings for BB's prime time premiere was 3.6/12, which equals about 3.5 million viewers, damn good for WB. But this was when WB still had WGN. But I read that WB will be putting out more BEST OF compilations in the next month, beginning with Friends. This makes me worry about the Batman DVDs...

[Govan]

Well, all we can do is play the waiting game. Wizard did say season by season sets, so all we can do is hope. Maybe with the Simpsons Season 1 DVD already being the biggest selling DVD in history, WB will go the way we want them to.

[Mr. Eye]

Where did you hear that the Simpsons DVD is the best selling of all-time?

Mr. Eye

[DR.MID-NITE]

I hope this does not bode well for season box sets of Batman. But. Warner brothers is releasing 2 more "best of's" for the tv show Friends and South Park. They originally said they would probably do season sets because of demand. But, I guess not. I really hope this isn't the same for Batman.

[Calhoun07]

You know, WB will STILL probably do season sets for Friends and South Park. This is their way of getting people to buy the same thing twice. They just want to make more money. I am not a Friends fan, but even if I was, I would refuse to buy a best of set. They have a best of DVD of the Wonder Years, a show which I want on season sets, but I refuse to buy it. They don't get my money until they do it right.

[James Harvey]

WB is known for making the best of descisions. Still, I am still confident we'll get season by season. WB has been having alot of Batman theme VHSs since 1994, so maybe their hitting the next stage of the TV DVDs.

[Govan]

Where did you hear that the Simpsons DVD is the best selling of all-time?

I heard this on a site that was talking about the Simpsons DVD's extras and packaging. They mentioned that fact at the same time. Pretty good for something that isn't even out yet.

My earlier prediction for the Batman: TAS DVD's was that they'd put the VHS tapes which are also titled "The Adventures of Batman and Robin" onto DVD, but I hope this doesn't turn out to be the case.

[James Harvey]

I am dreading that. 100% dreading that. I would love to see HEART OF ICE and ON LEATHER WINGS in DVD with great 5.1 surround sound. I tell ya - this DVD set will be hot if they do it right.

[Govan]

Yea, it'll sell more if they do it right. If they bring out only a handful of episodes on DVD, and wonder why it's not selling, they have only themselves to blame, IMO.

[Robin2099]

Boy I'm getting worried about the WB possibly screwing this DVD set up. WB can't seem to listen to the fans and want they want. As opposed to Fox which almost won't do anything without checking out fan approval first.

[Calhoun07]

I have yet to be disappointed in a Powerpuff Girls DVD. WB can do these DVDs right, from time to time. The important thing is to let them know what we want. Of course, it's been said before, I don't care if they do season sets or not, just as long as they get ALL the episodes to us on DVD. And I mean not skipping one!

[James Harvey]

Very true. If WB is curious as to why things don't pan out good, is becuase they're screwing it up themselves. A box set is the way to go. All the way.

[Calhoun07]

What gets me is they got it like sooooo right with their BBC material on DVD, season by season sets, keep cases, loads of bonus materials.... It strikes me they have a higher esteem or something for their BBC target audience but think they can pass off shoddy collections to everybody else. That's why I am saying people need to be NOT buying their best of sets and let them know they want season by season collections. It's not like they can't do it, cuz they are with their BBC material!

[James Harvey]

WB also does a good job with their HBO Video DVDs. I don't understand how they can make those work nicely, yet can't put 2 and 2 togethor for everything else.

[Calhoun07]

I had no idea the HBO DVDs came from Warner Bros. Wow.

[James Harvey]

Yup. HBO is a division of AOL Time-Warner. Amazing, they don't use the same company for their DVD releases.

[Govan]

Speaking of realizations, (I know this has been said before), but I wonder when they'll start using GOOD DVD cases!

I mean seriously...

[Joker85]

Probably when Hades freezes over:D

[James Harvey]

Originally posted by Govan
Speaking of realizations, (I know this has been said before), but I wonder when they'll start using GOOD DVD cases!

I mean seriously...

Lord I hope soon. I read that WB gets the most complaints about their poor cases, yet continues to do nothing about them.

[Joker85]

kinda makes you wonder doesn't it?:)

[Govan]

With everyone else using keep cases, WB look really cheap when I go to Tower Records and see all the WB snap case DVD's clumped together in a corner for <$20.

[Joker85]

sad isn't it:(

[Calhoun07]

I guess public perception isn't all that important to them.

[Robin2099]

I don't think public perception matters to them at all. It almost seems like they always decide to do the exact opposite of what everyone wants them to do. They must really have some big blinders on.

[DR.MID-NITE]

I believe the reason they use the cardboard cases is because they own part of the company that makes them.

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by DR.MID-NITE
I believe the reason they use the cardboard cases is because they own part of the company that makes them.

That's the explanation, but that's far from an excuse.

[James Harvey]

WB isn't doing good with alot of their recent dumb descisions. The snap cases look incredibly cheap. It's nice to see NEW LINE trying to break the chain with their INFINIFILM releases. If the Batman movies are in a box set....

[Govan]

Look at the Godfather set that's coming out in October...that's an example of a good-looking box set. They have a big amount of extras in it, and the transfer is sure to be great. Until Warner issues a press release, I'm extremely doubtful as to how the AS episodes will appear. I'm leaning towards to only seeing a handful of episodes appearing (due to the recent WB trend), but maybe they'll surprise me. In any case, just gotta stay positive :/

This is one case where I want to be proven wrong.

[James Harvey]

I really hope to be proven wrong here, also. WB has been making all the wrong descisions lately and I definatly want to see this turned around. My fingers are crossed, baby!

[Calhoun07]

I just had a horrific thought...what if WB puts Batman out in season sets in Japan and Europe and gives us BEST OF SETS ONLY????? AAAAAGGGGHHHH, I just woke up in a cold sweat!

[Govan]

We're not safe...even in our dreams! (clenches fist) :D

[Joker85]

Originally posted by calhoun07
I just had a horrific thought...what if WB puts Batman out in season sets in Japan and Europe and gives us BEST OF SETS ONLY????? AAAAAGGGGHHHH, I just woke up in a cold sweat!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Cal, don't even think such horrific things!! It will give you nightmares for weeks!:eek:

[James Harvey]

I wouldn't be suprised. They're already releasing that kind of stuff overseas.

[Calhoun07]

If they did that to us, that would be the release that would provoke me to get a multi region DVD player once and for all.

[Govan]

I wouldn't be suprised. They're already releasing that kind of stuff overseas.

What kind of stuff are we talking about here? :/

[James Harvey]

They've released three volumes of LOONEY TUNES cartoons. The discs are sorta random, but not themed. A couple SYLVESTER & TWEETY and TOM & JERRY stuff, also.

[Govan]

Oh yea, I remember reading that somewhere else (in this thread possibly...). Thanks for the info though!

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Govan


What kind of stuff are we talking about here? :/

I also know they have season sets of Friends and ER available on DVD over seas. I think there is more, but I didn't stay around at the region 2 DVD site I was at to remember them all. It was too depressing. Not that I WANT Friends or ER on DVD, but it still upsets me just the same when they put out the best of Friends DVDs here and season sets over seas. And if they did that to us with Batman, fur would have to fly.

[James Harvey]

www.cartoonresearch.com did a report on the WB overseas DVD which caused a huge influx of mail towards WB. Not Suprisingly WB didn't reply or anything.

[Calhoun07]

In a perfect world, everybody would handle their DVDs and pay attention to feedback from viewers the way Fox does. Does WB have the ostrich syndrome here or what? WHAT MORE OF A CLUE DO THEY NEED?

[Joker85]

I would love to have Looney Toons epps on DVD!! I actually would like to have ER on season sets DVD. Oh well, just have to wait and see what happens.

[Calhoun07]

I am sure we will see these season sets released here eventually, but I am not holding my breath. The shows have to run thru their syndication contracts before they can come out on DVD.

[James Harvey]

I can't wait for WBA to do his Paul DIni interview...I'd love to hear if he's involved...

[Govan]

WHAT MORE OF A CLUE DO THEY NEED?

What they need is more people refusing to buy their DVD's until they change their ways.

In Britain (where I'm from), I go back there every summer and see all kinds of shows on DVD. Like complete Friends series' for one (not that I'm a fan of the show, though). The only drawback is the prices they have there. Everything in Britain is so expensive! If something is $9.99 here, it's always £9.99 there. Hey, they don't call it "Ripoff Britain" for nothing... :/

But it's nice to see certain things over there that aren't available in NA.

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Govan


What they need is more people refusing to buy their DVD's until they change their ways.



My concern then is that thru their logic and ways of thinking, The WB execs would say, "Hey our best of TV DVDs aren't selling that well as we had hoped. I guess people don't want TV shows on DVD after all! WHEW, good thing we never put those out in season sets or we would really be roasting on the fire now!" And TV shows on DVD from WB would be dead in the water.

[Govan]

Exactly. So maybe if more people bought their DVD's, they'd start being more nice to us :/

[James Harvey]

But if everyone buys those 'Best Of' discs, then they'll think "Screw the season sets! More Best Of!"

[Govan]

Yep. So it's kinda a lose-lose situation.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07


My concern then is that thru their logic and ways of thinking, The WB execs would say, "Hey our best of TV DVDs aren't selling that well as we had hoped. I guess people don't want TV shows on DVD after all! WHEW, good thing we never put those out in season sets or we would really be roasting on the fire now!"

Trying to read the mind of WB execs is akin to trying to read a book with blank pages. There is nothing there to read!

IMO, there is no point in trying to anticipate their thinking and come up with a strategy to shape it. It's just a lot of random, Brownian motion out there in Burbank.

[James Harvey]

They should just skip to the box sets. The BATMAN box sets have great potential. If this comes to pass correctly, thiscould be a nice big step for mainstream animation.

[Calhoun07]

Yeah, everything with WB Execs is a catch 22. Man, I could see them thinking both ways! The best of sets sell great, so they keep pumping those out, but later on introduce the season sets to get people to buy many of the same episodes TWICE. I am sure that's what they are doing with Friends.

Anyway... in regards to Batman....do you think the success of the Simpsons set will influence WB at all? I know the X Files sets and the HBO sets have hardly influenced them in other areas, but if they are looking to see if animation on DVD can sell, the Simpsons should proove it.

[Govan]

...out there in Burbank.

Sigh... How I miss LA :(

Say what you want about it, but I love the LA/San Diego area.

[James Harvey]

WB is doing good and bad.

GOOD: The Sopranos & HBO Properties they release on DVD

BAD: Just about everything else.

This BATMAN set will be a major turn around if done right.

[James Harvey]

Bump. These DVD sets could be the great tie to the upcoming DTVs of Batman Good place to show some sneek peeks...

[Govan]

Or if one of them were actually coming out this century, one of the live action Batman films... :/

[James Harvey]

Goood one. We could see some set designs, costues, etc...These DVDs will be a great venue for upcoming products. DC should try and advertise some of their BATMAN comics on these.

[Calhoun07]

Trouble is by the time the DVDs come out, the animated comics will be dead. :(

[James Harvey]

Whose to say they will be?

ANyways, I'd love to see what packaging ideas they have for the box set. I'd love to see some nice Bruce TImm art grace the covers, or maybe some Templeton.

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by DickGrayson
Whose to say they will be?

You did, dude! Well, DC did, you just reported it, but I read it here first! They are cancelling the line! Batman Beyond is gone, Superman Adv will be outta here soon, and how much longer will GA survive? I guess we will still have JL, but that's what I was talking about. Those comics will be dead and gone before we see the DVDs come out.

[James Harvey]

Read more carefully. 2002 may be the last year for B:GA, but nothing is absolute. With these DTVs coming in 2002 they could help save the books.

[Joker85]

I hope so! As bad as B:GA has been lately, I'd hate to see it go out. Oh, well at least we'll still have the Justice League Adventures:)

[Calhoun07]

That is a relief. I don't want to see this book die either. It's the only Batman comic book I buy right now!

[James Harvey]

I agree with ya Joker! All this book needs is a nice shot on the arm!

[Joker85]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
I agree with ya Joker! All this book needs is a nice shot on the arm!

Yep, DG, B:GA needs a booster shot(a mix of more two-Face, Joker, and Catwoman-we haven't seen her in a while):)

[Calhoun07]

Just wanted to say....LOVE THE NEW AVATAR!!!!!!!!!! Way to go, Joker!

[Joker85]

Thanks Cal! :)

[Govan]

What'd be really cool, but there's no way in H-E-double-toothpicks we'll ever see, is commentary for every episode by Bruce Timm or one of the other co-creators or high profile people(s) who worked on the show. I've read the brief commentary on the episodes by Bruce Timm et al before, but to hear one of them talk about my favorite scenes/episodes from the series in depth would be cool.

Anyone else have any ideas for what they'd like to see in the way of any extras?

[Calhoun07]

well, if we can't have a commentary on each episode, I'd like to see a feature like they used on the Bring it On DVD, a kind of a pop up information thing that gives us back ground bits and facts and other pieces of info while we watch the DVD. I think a commentary for all the episodes on the Batman animated DVD would be out of the realm of realistic, but I do think they could pull this pop up idea off.

[Govan]

Yea, I know, it's very unrealistic to expect that (especially coming from WB!). That's why I said there's no way in Hell we're ever gonna see it on there :/ If this was being done by Fox, I'd have infinitely more faith about its trip to DVD...

Maybe we might see some general commentary about the series overall from Bruce Timm et al, as a feature though (if these ever come out).

[Vigo Sprax]

WB puts out Sopranos? Then any extra on these DVDs will be a surprise to me. Seeing as how its such a LARGE set I imagine such extras would end up costing an arm and a leg. I think perhaps the best solution for extras would be an additional disc of supplemental material such as animatics for an episode or two, some documentaries, interviews with the cast & crew, etc...

Also, I've never gotten around to watching those animated shorts, I think its called Girls of Gotham, but those should be included too.

[James Harvey]

I'd like to see Chip Kidd design the look for the box set. He did such a magnificent job with BATMAN: ANIMATED and BATMAN: THE COMPLETE HISTORY. He could pull this off nicely. And I'm getting more confidence this will happen. Why? Becuase WB is starting to release more season sets (ie: they just announced a box set for New York - a seven episode series from awhile back). The possibilities for this are boundless.

[Joker85]

Well, I'm not big on commentary's, but I would love to see interviews with all the main people who voiced the show( like Kevin, Loren, Efram, Mark...):)

[James Harvey]

I would like to see some documentaries. I'd love to see the rarely aired HBO FIRST LOOK at Mask of the Phantasm!There are a few on air promotions for Batman prime-timne which were cool. I know they did alot fo interviews for the show and movies and those would be great to recover.

[Joker85]

Does anyone remember when B:TAS used to air on a block called Action Theatre. I was going through some of my old tapes and noticed that.

[James Harvey]

I have a tape that still has that bumper on them! X-MEN also had a similair one (which ended with Wolverine slashing through the screen I think). The ACTION THEATRE thing wasn't bad. It looked pretty cool at the time, but crummy now. I go through my really old tapes sometimes and see the wierdest bumpers for the show. Like Robin saying 'FOX KIDS IS COOL!".

[Govan]

Lol, I remember that old "Fox Kids is what? Fox Kids is cool!" ad campaign. What was weirder was hearing Bats say that too.

You remember hearing Batman laugh on the show? I know I heard it a couple of times, and man, it just cracked me up! Something about it sounded so unlike him. I know it happened in the Joker episode with the fish toxin that made people laugh (remember how someone else dressed up as Batman and he got infected, and started to laugh?). I don't know where else it might have occured.

I remember one time back in 1993 when a TV show did a segment on TAS and they did an interview with Kevin Conroy and some other people who worked on the show. I can't remember which one it was (possibly Entertainment Tonight).

I also remember (a lot of remembers here :/) when Fox Kids had good shows. Now...well I won't even say it. But whenever I happen to catch a show included in their line up I just cringe. What's happened to animation these days? Los Lucho Dores? What the Hell is that?? God knows how many times they've redone Power Rangers (Hyper Mega Lost Galaxy Global Time Turbo Power Rangers Zeo!).

In 6th grade I was talking to my Science teacher about X-Men, and he goes "Yea, I like it too, but I wish they'd make some new episodes!" Oh well...

[Calhoun07]

Cartoon bumpers can be great fun. I really thought the ones on KWB during the Superman/Batman hour were great fun, the little fun short bits they would piece together. I'd love to see those on the DVD as a bonus feautre.

[Russkafin]

The best Batman promos were when Batman first came to Cartoon Network. Anyone remember those? They showed all these really dark images from the show, like the Wayne Grave, Batman screaming, rising up from flames, knocking stuff over... all with the Batman theme playing and sound bytes like Scarecrow saying "What keeps The Batman awake at night?" and, the classic line, "I am vengeance... I am the night... I am..." well, you know the rest. Those ads, and the fact that they aired at midnight, made the show seem freaking chilling, man.

[WBArchivist]

It is freakin chilling!

(ducks and runs)

I love those ads too!

[Joker85]

I found the very first tape that I made with Batman:TAS on it last night. It had On Leather Wings, Heart Of Ice,and Feat Of Clay 1&2. I think I must have recoreded it when it was on its first run because it had those Newspaper previews for the next episode and everything! It was really cool to see all those old previews loke that. I hope they put these on the DVD as Bonus Features.:)

[Govan]

When the show was on its first run, I didn't even have a VCR (!), but looking back on it today, I still remember everything as though I were an elephant or something :rolleyes:

Man, that was a looooong time ago... (sniff) !_0

[James Harvey]

Durin git's first season KWB did some nice promos for B/S. There's one I can remember where there's an orchestral music in the background and we just see these intense clips for thirty seconds just buoilding and building. I didn't really like some of the "funny" KWB promos, but they did do some rel nice action ones.

[James Harvey]

BUMP. I just don't want this thread to fall off the screen. It's a good thread and I think we should just let it continue. Now, what else can we get on these DVDs ya think?

[Calhoun07]

A couple ideas that come to mind that I enjoyed from the Toy Story set are "abandoned concepts." We know there were some "lost episodes" that never made it, and I'd like to see these surface on the DVD in one way or another, even if it's just story boards or scripts. Another thing I liked about the Toy Story set was the "Toy Box" feature, which had a guide to the hidden jokes. Now we all know there are hidden things in these Batman cartoons that would be fun to see listed under in one category.

[Joker85]

I hope they use the different theme songs. As much as I like the original it would be cool to see the other too as well. I especially like the one for TNBA(the Batman/Superman Adventures) :)

[Govan]

Yeah, I'd like to see each show open and end with it's respective intro/closing credits too (i.e. all 3 versions of the show had different intros and closing credits; why am I saying this, you guys all know that...geez, I'm an idiot).

I don't know about you, but maybe a bio of all the characters and villians with all their episode appearances, with each one having a direct link to all their episodes would be nice (except Batman, Robin, Alfred, Gordon, etc.). So you would see the names of their episode appearances, then you could click a link under their picture of whatever to jump to watch the episode.

[Vigo Sprax]

Well, episode links won't really work since the season has to be spread out on so many discs but I do agree in depth bios, featuring the heroes and villains on that disc, along with some still are and stuff would be good.

[Govan]

Yeah, I know it'll be spread out on many discs, but what I meant they could so is have the same bios on each disc, then have the links to the episodes on that particular disc. So the bios would hold constant on each disc, with only the names of the available episodes changing.

[Vigo Sprax]

Well with their only being like 5 episodes on each disc it wouldn't help that much. I think bios specific to the episodes on the disc would be better.

[Govan]

You mean only list the characters' bios who appear in episodes in that disc? I don't think that's such a good idea. Maybe since they're only a small number of episodes, having bios for every character in each disc would be good. Then you wouldn't need to bother about links to the episodes because there are so few. Good point.

[James Harvey]

I like the bios idea. They did a nice job on the ones on BB: ROPTJ DVD, but they were sorta spoiler filled. Bios would be a good idea, and cast & crew credits.

[Govan]

They did a nice job on the ones on BB: ROPTJ DVD, but they were sorta spoiler filled.


Thanks for the heads-up, DG! I'm going to watch the ROTJ DVD soon (it's on my ever-growing "to do" list :/), so I'll be sure to wait until after I've seen the film to look at the bios.

[James Harvey]

The extras are great. I really like the ROTJ teaser trailer. It's really, really nicely done and was cool to see it added on there. The bios will definatly ruin the movie...definatly...

[Mr. Obsession]

For extras I wouldn't mind commentary on selected episodes. It would be interesting to hear Dini's thoughts on recreating a character while watching "Heart of Ice" or what Adam West has to say about being typecast during "Beware the Gray Ghost". Or perhaps just some commentary on some of the cast and production teams favorite ep's.

Storyboards for scenes that were cut, and unused scripts would be nice.

Unused character designs.

Character and Production Crew and Actor bios.

The original trailer that was use to sell BTAS to Fox.

Selected tracks of background music.


I've been thinking and it should be quite easy to breakup the series in to box set "seasons" of about 20 ep's each -

Batman: The Animated Series
"season 1" - 22 ep's
"season 2" - 22 ep's
"season 3" - 21 ep's
"season 4" - The Adventures of Batman and Robin - 20 ep's
"season 5" - The New Batman Adventures - 24 ep's
and there we have all 109 ep's.

[James Harvey]

I'd really like to see character designs on there somewhere. I got to see some of the initial stuff and the designs that Mike Mignolia did were amazing. His Joker was so creepy looking.

[Govan]

You know what would be really cool? To have the option to watch the shows uncensored. I know that a lot of the stuff that was censored by BS&P was already actually in the show before it was cut (i.e. not simply on a storyboard level). So if they could let you watch the censored parts of a show (where applicable), the same way that you select to turn on deleted scenes for a movie DVD, I think that would be interesting. What do you guys think?

[James Harvey]

I'd love to have that in a sort of "follow the white rabbit" kinda thing. That would be so, so cool. Show which shots were censored and what was left out. That is an awesome idea, Govan!

[Govan]

Yeah, there's a lot of stuff that would be nice to see the storyboards for on the DVD, even if they weren't animated and intended to air.

My wish list includes:

-Alfred getting dumped on by the bat.
-Montoya going against the driller in P.O.V.
-The original opening scene in "The Forgotten," where Batman is wandering around the city, trying to find out why people were disappearing. It was staged with homeless people hanging around on sidewalks: families, mothers and kids. (But this was never shot :()
-Robin was originally intended to be shot in "I Am the Night"(!).
-Joker was supposed to steal a regular family in "Christmas with the Joker."
-In "See No Evil," Mojo's suit was going to explode, at the end.
-Poison Ivy's extended kiss in "Pretty Poison."

And I'm sure, countless, countless other stuff that we don't know about! :/ Anyone know of any other particularly interesting cuts?

EDIT: BTW, DG, you know how you said you were going to see if you could get this DVD story confirmed through your "other sources?" Well did you ever get any word from anyone else about the validity of the Wizard bit?

[James Harvey]

My inside sources replies range from "yes" to "possible" to "I dunno". I'm waiting for the WB Chat in October at a DVD website where I hope to ask them some point blank question. Hopefully the rep will be someone I know.

[Govan]

Gotcha. Thanks for being our voice! :)