Question about Batman animated movies.

[Divv]

As many of you may or may not know, I am new to the DC animated universe and have only just started watching B:TAS. I've seen every episode so far up until 'Robin's Reckoning'. I have just purchased 'Batman: Mask of the Phantasm' on DVD and was wondering whether it was safe to watch it now or should I wait to see some more episodes for background story. Same goes for Return of the Joker, World's Finest and Sub-Zero, which episodes do they fit in between chronologically? Thanks.

[Naraht]

Erm, MotP should be safe to watch, though it's been awhile since I've seen it...

Subzero is iffy, cause it has Batgirl in it....

RotJ...do NOT watch it until you've seen enough TNBA do know the new characters, and seen enough if not all of Batman Beyond...@least the 1st season...otherwise you WILL be lost...

[Divv]

Well the only Batman Beyond I've seen is what is on the DVD 'Batman Beyond: The Movie'. Although Cartoon Network Europe will begin showing it from season one starting next week so I'll start watching the rest then. It looks like I'd be as well just waiting for the uncut Return of the Joker since it'll be by that time I'm able to watch it anyway. Same goes for Sub-Zero. Thanks very much for the info.

[Toddman]

Hey Divv,

I don't know what kind of access you have to all of the DC Animated series, but if you can manage to see everything at any given time, here is the order I would recommend....

First) Batman:The Animated Series If you have seen all the episodes up to "Robin's Reckoning," you will be safe seeing "Mask of the Phantasm." It was actually released in between the episodes "Paging the Crime Doctor" and "House and Garden," but it can fit in almost anywhere during the BTAS run.

Second) Sub-Zero This is the last story that was made in the original BTAS style. As long as you watch it after "Deep Freeze"(the last BTAS Mr. Freeze episode) and "Batgirl Returns"(the last BTAS Batgirl episode) and before "Cold Comfort" from The New Batman Adventures, you should be okay.

Third) Superman But just the first season. These can be watched simultaniously with BTAS, unless your looking for a break from Batman. But you need to see at least the first season of episodes before you watch...

Fourth) World's Finest And that would be a nice lead into...

Fifth) The New Batman Adventures and the remaining seasons of Superman.

Sixth) Batman Beyond While you don't need to see any of 2-5 above to really enjoy it, it might make a few things easier to understand.

Seven) Return of the Joker This was released during the third season of BB. You might even want to save it for last. If that's not possible, and you have already seen the first few episodes of BB, you should be able to enjoy it anyway. Just make sure you have seen the first few shows from TNBA (if not all of them) also.

Eighth) Justice League Really as long as you have seen some episodes of BTAS, Superman and World's Finest, this should all make sense.

I hope this helped. Good Luck!

Toddman

[TimTwoFace]

Yeah, with MASK OF THE PHANTASM, the only background you need to know in that movie is that Batman is a superhero, the Joker is the big bad-guy (though he isn't REALLY in this particular movie.) The movie explains everything else.

As with the other two, you should fill yourself in with a good chunk of animated episodes (HEART OF ICE, DEEP FREEZE, SHADOW OF THE BAT, and BATGIRL RETURNS) for SUB-ZERO, and all of season one of BATMAN BEYOND and a handful of BTAS episodes (featuring Tim Drake, preferrably) to understand the backstory to RETURN OF THE JOKER.

Then again, each movie provides enough information within in order to understand it; however, the more background you get, the more you'll enjoy it.

-Tim

[Divv]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm gonna get to see Batman Beyond seasons one and two every night starting Sunday and will have seen the entire run of Batman: The Animated series by the time Sub-Zero comes out. Superman: The Animated Series isn't currently being broadcast in the UK, but most of the first season is available on VHS so it looks like I'll just have to bite the bullet and buy them (and I swore to myself I'd never buy another video tape after I bought my DVD player. Oh well! :rolleyes: ). I'm looking forward to settling down and watching MotP tommorow night now.