The Batman

The Batman is an American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It ran for five seasons consisting of 65 episodes from September 11, 2004 to March 8, 2008, on the Saturday morning television block Kids' WB.

Although the series borrows many elements from previous Batman storylines, it does not follow the continuity set by the comic books, the film series, nor that of Batman: The Animated Series and its spin-offs. The character designs were provided by Jackie Chan Adventures artist Jeff Matsuda; he also directed the ending. The series won six Daytime Emmy Awards.

The series premiered on Cartoon Network's Toonami block on Saturday, April 2, 2005.

Plot
A young Bruce Wayne is in his third year of trying to establish himself as Batman, protector of Gotham City. Living in Gotham, a metropolis where shadows run long and deep, beneath elevated train tracks. This younger Batman will confront each of his familiar foes for the first time.



Characters
Batman/Bruce Wayne - Both identities are based on the comic book character of the same name and follows the same premise and origin: having his parents murdered in front of him at a young age and swearing vengeance on criminals. In the show he has recently started his career as a masked vigilante.

Batgirl/Barbara Gordon - Introduced in season 3, the character is based on the Barbara Gordon version of Batgirl from the comic books. Her origin in the two-part "Batgirl Begins" deviates slightly from the comics in her acting as Batman's sidekick prior to the introduction of Robin and being younger when starting than in the comics. The episode "Artifacts" included sections set in the year 2027 with the character appearing as "Oracle" based on the current role Barbara Gordon fills in the comics.

Dtective Ethan Bennett/Clayface - Bennett was created specifically for the series as one of the three recurring police officers to interact with Batman. He is a supporter of the Batman and is Bruce Wayne's old friend within the Gotham City Police Department. At the end of the first season, fumes from the Joker's "Joker Putty" gives him the ability to reshape himself like clay. Taking the name Clayface, he becomes an outlaw.

Commissioner Jim Gordon - Introduced in season 3, Gordon is based on the comic book character of the same name, he serves a similar function here as Batman's contact within the Gotham City Police Department. Unlike in the comics, the character is a later cast addition rather than a character from the beginning. According to producer Jeff Matsuda, Gordon is the young officer seen in the flashback in the episode "Traction".

Robin/Dick Grayson - Introduced in season 4, the character is based on the Dick Grayson version of Robin from the comic books, he also borrows elements from the Tim Drake version, such as costume design and computer aptitude. His origin in "A Matter of Family" follows Grayson's from the comic books with the exception of his being Batman's second sidekick but his first official sidekick. The episode "Artifacts" included sections set in the year 2027 with the character appearing as Nightwing, based on the superhero the comic-book Grayson became as an adult.

Chief Angel Rojas - Rojas was created specifically for the show as one of the three recurring police officers to interact with Batman. He is the head of the precinct where Yin and Bennett work and most of the episodes are set. He believes the Batman is the worst aspect of the criminal element and makes capturing him a priority.

Detective Ellen Yin - Yin was created specifically for the show as one of the three recurring police officers to interact with Batman. She is a new transfer to the Gotham City Police Department who does things by the book. Initially she has misgivings about the Batman, which over the course of the show changes to a grudging respect.

Alfred Pennyworth - Based on the comic book character of the same name, he serves the same function, as Wayne's butler, aide-de-camp, and surrogate parent.