Toddman
10-09-2001, 03:15 PM
Which show do you feel had the best opening sequence, Batman: The Animated Series, The Adventures of Batman and Robin, Superman, The New Batman-Superman Adventures, or Batman Beyond? I'm not talking about any of the Cartoon Network/Toonami intros, just the original openers, that were originally shown on FoxKids and KidsWB!.
Here are my own picks, with a little explanation of what makes me like (or dislike) each one...
#1 Batman Beyond
Wow! Where do I start? Well I guess with the driving musical score. Techno-heavy metal really captured the flavor of the entire series. Very well performed and totally different from the previous animated musical styles. As for the visuals, it was all original animation used only in the intro. There was so much to look at and it all looked cool. The use of traditional cel animation combined with video graphics and CGI renderings was a very unique blend. Very slick, dark and sexy. I loved the way they put little graphic icons of many of Batman's advasaries into the opening. Only after having seen the particular episode they were in did I recognize the silhouette of Inque, the ace of spades representing the Royal Flush Gang, the "swirling eyeball" of Spellbinder, and the blazing skull of Blight right at the end. And I loved the way the music came crashing down at the end to give way to each episode's title. This one is definitely my favorite.
#2 Batman: The Animated Series
I have to admit that the very first time I saw it, I was all "eh, okay." It wasn't until later that I began to recognize and appreciate the flavor of the series that I started to understand the style of the opening. It shows the audience the mystery of the show (and the main character) as well as the style of the animation that we see in the shadowy Batman's movement. The music was a nice evolution of the movies' theme. I think the only two things that still bug me about the entire sequence are the awkward appearance of the WB-Shield into police blimp right at the beginning and the final shot of Batman right at the end. It's a static painting of him and it's really not that well done. I would have liked to see a cel drawing of Bats, closer to Bruce Timm's style. And while the title cards of each episode I guess aren't technically part of the opening, they're just too darn cool no to mention and they help place BTAS at number 2 for me.
#3 New Batman-Superman Adventures
While most of the imagery of this opening is taken from the contents of some of the actual episodes, there is enough original animation present in the sillouetted action and graphics to put this at number 3 for me. I was really surprised when I first viewed it to see the images of two dead bodies (Bruce's parents). And I really like the red and blue gels used for Bats and Supes respectively. The music was well written and very true to the characters' previous series. plus points are awarded for the letter box framing used.
#4 Superman
Well, there was only one segment of totally original animation (the stylized Superman flying over the Metropolis skyline) the rest was from episodes within the series. The music was great, totally new for Superman and very appropriate for the character. Otherwise there's just not enough new or exciting stuff going on here for me to rank it any higher.
#5 The Adv. of Batman and Robin
Hmmm... basically the same music from BTAS and no new animation (unless the opening shot of them walking towards the Batmobile is original, I can't place what episode that would be from). The scenes used from previous episodes were trying too hard to tell a story and it just didn't quite work for me. So that's why B&R are coming in at #5.
Well, I hope I wasn't too long winded. I'd love to see what everyone else ranks as they're favorites. AND I wonder what we'll be offered from Justice League's opening.....
Toddman
Here are my own picks, with a little explanation of what makes me like (or dislike) each one...
#1 Batman Beyond
Wow! Where do I start? Well I guess with the driving musical score. Techno-heavy metal really captured the flavor of the entire series. Very well performed and totally different from the previous animated musical styles. As for the visuals, it was all original animation used only in the intro. There was so much to look at and it all looked cool. The use of traditional cel animation combined with video graphics and CGI renderings was a very unique blend. Very slick, dark and sexy. I loved the way they put little graphic icons of many of Batman's advasaries into the opening. Only after having seen the particular episode they were in did I recognize the silhouette of Inque, the ace of spades representing the Royal Flush Gang, the "swirling eyeball" of Spellbinder, and the blazing skull of Blight right at the end. And I loved the way the music came crashing down at the end to give way to each episode's title. This one is definitely my favorite.
#2 Batman: The Animated Series
I have to admit that the very first time I saw it, I was all "eh, okay." It wasn't until later that I began to recognize and appreciate the flavor of the series that I started to understand the style of the opening. It shows the audience the mystery of the show (and the main character) as well as the style of the animation that we see in the shadowy Batman's movement. The music was a nice evolution of the movies' theme. I think the only two things that still bug me about the entire sequence are the awkward appearance of the WB-Shield into police blimp right at the beginning and the final shot of Batman right at the end. It's a static painting of him and it's really not that well done. I would have liked to see a cel drawing of Bats, closer to Bruce Timm's style. And while the title cards of each episode I guess aren't technically part of the opening, they're just too darn cool no to mention and they help place BTAS at number 2 for me.
#3 New Batman-Superman Adventures
While most of the imagery of this opening is taken from the contents of some of the actual episodes, there is enough original animation present in the sillouetted action and graphics to put this at number 3 for me. I was really surprised when I first viewed it to see the images of two dead bodies (Bruce's parents). And I really like the red and blue gels used for Bats and Supes respectively. The music was well written and very true to the characters' previous series. plus points are awarded for the letter box framing used.
#4 Superman
Well, there was only one segment of totally original animation (the stylized Superman flying over the Metropolis skyline) the rest was from episodes within the series. The music was great, totally new for Superman and very appropriate for the character. Otherwise there's just not enough new or exciting stuff going on here for me to rank it any higher.
#5 The Adv. of Batman and Robin
Hmmm... basically the same music from BTAS and no new animation (unless the opening shot of them walking towards the Batmobile is original, I can't place what episode that would be from). The scenes used from previous episodes were trying too hard to tell a story and it just didn't quite work for me. So that's why B&R are coming in at #5.
Well, I hope I wasn't too long winded. I'd love to see what everyone else ranks as they're favorites. AND I wonder what we'll be offered from Justice League's opening.....
Toddman