Batman is back, and he is cooler than ever. The New Batman Adventures picks up years after Batman: The Animated Series, and it brings together Batman, Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl to fight Gotham’s classic villains. The show revamps its earlier art style for more consistent animation and a look closer to Superman: The Animated Series, which ran at the same time.
The Cast and Its Focus
Kevin Conroy voices Batman and Bruce Wayne, and his return gives the show its center. Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl share the screen with him, and the show spends more time on them than the earlier series did. That shift changes the feel of the show from a Batman-led mystery to a wider story about the people of Gotham.
Guest characters arrive too, including Supergirl, Etrigan the Demon and The Creeper. These appearances set up later work in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. The show also ties into the 2001 video game Batman: Vengeance and its 2003 follow-up Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu.
The Style Change
The new look comes from revamping the art style used in Batman: The Animated Series. The goal was more consistent animation and a look closer to Superman: The Animated Series, since both shows ran together on Kids’ WB. The change gives the show a fresher look without losing the look fans expected.
The focus on Gotham’s inhabitants means the stories feel more personal. Episodes spend less time on Batman alone and more on how the group works together. That shift fits the show’s place in the DC Animated Universe, which treats it as the third season of Batman: The Animated Series and the third show in the line.
What Works and What Falls Short
The show holds up best when it lets its supporting cast carry the weight. Robin, Nightwing and Batgirl get room to share scenes, and their interactions with Batman feel different from the earlier series. The guest villains add variety, and Supergirl’s appearances in particular give the show a chance to reach beyond Gotham’s usual suspects.
The streamlined style does not always land. Some viewers miss the rougher, more detailed art of the earlier series, and the change in focus takes some getting used to. The show’s shorter run, 24 episodes over two seasons, means it never gets the chance to build the kind of long story arcs that defined Batman: The Animated Series.
By the Numbers
- Premiere: September 13, 1997
- Finale: January 16, 1999
- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 24
- Network: Kids’ WB
- Voice of Batman: Kevin Conroy
- Creator: Rich Fogel, Paul Dini, Bruce Timm
- Followed by: Batman Beyond (1999–2001)
Ranking the Seasons
- The focus on Gotham’s inhabitants gives the show its strongest identity.
- The streamlined style helps keep the look consistent.
- Guest characters like Supergirl and Etrigan add color.
- The shorter run limits how far the story can go.
The New Batman Adventures is a solid, if slight, addition to the Batman animated line. It gives Gotham’s inhabitants more screen time, and it holds onto the show’s familiar look even as it changes its style. The change in focus is a mixed trade, but the stories mostly justify it.
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