Batman Beyond has many things to recommend it. The animation is generally superb, with highly imaginative sequences. Likewise the voice artists are excellent bringing an authenticity to each character. The writing is very good too, with fully rounded characters and (generally) well thought out situations.
However, after the excellent Batman series, this sequel does not live up to expectations
First, the setting. A futuristic Batman is a fantastic premise and, with a bit of imagination, we could have had a Batman operating in, say, a societal breakdown or an authoritarian government. The possibilities are endless. But here we have a future which is exactly the same as the present day only with a few more gadgets (but not many).
This leads me on to the second point, the lacklustre villains. This rather ordinary future is run by evil Capitalist Derek Powers, basically a Lex Luthor wannabe who soon becomes glow-in-the-dark man. Almost all villains in season 1 are in someway relatable to him, something which becomes incestuous after a while.
Of the villains, Inque, despite the dull name, is the best. Otherwise we have revivals of hardly stellar silver age villains (The Royal Flush Gang and Spellbinder), a sonically powered villain called Shriek, and a veiled middle Eastern woman with a scimitar oddly called Curare, a name that has nothing to do with her appearance or her powers.
So not much in the way of originality in the 1st season and it is fitting that the best episode is Heroes which affectionately pastiches the silver age (but strangely Marvel not DC's silver age) not merely for a parody of The Fantastic Four but also a nod to Spiderman issue 33.
However the makers seem to be aware of the failings and season 2 is an improvement. Derek Powers disappears and the series grows mightily because of it. Here the future trend predictions become interesting. A gang of anti-social Joker imitators called Jokerz who appeared in series 1 as minor vandals develop some real menace. The theme of gene splicing is explored. And Batman battles his own suit.
The villains however remain pretty ordinary and there seems to be some pandering. In mid season 2, Batman is saved 3 times in a row but females, one a child. This diminishes the character of Batman.
Verdict: great animation but very average scripts.
However, after the excellent Batman series, this sequel does not live up to expectations
First, the setting. A futuristic Batman is a fantastic premise and, with a bit of imagination, we could have had a Batman operating in, say, a societal breakdown or an authoritarian government. The possibilities are endless. But here we have a future which is exactly the same as the present day only with a few more gadgets (but not many).
This leads me on to the second point, the lacklustre villains. This rather ordinary future is run by evil Capitalist Derek Powers, basically a Lex Luthor wannabe who soon becomes glow-in-the-dark man. Almost all villains in season 1 are in someway relatable to him, something which becomes incestuous after a while.
Of the villains, Inque, despite the dull name, is the best. Otherwise we have revivals of hardly stellar silver age villains (The Royal Flush Gang and Spellbinder), a sonically powered villain called Shriek, and a veiled middle Eastern woman with a scimitar oddly called Curare, a name that has nothing to do with her appearance or her powers.
So not much in the way of originality in the 1st season and it is fitting that the best episode is Heroes which affectionately pastiches the silver age (but strangely Marvel not DC's silver age) not merely for a parody of The Fantastic Four but also a nod to Spiderman issue 33.
However the makers seem to be aware of the failings and season 2 is an improvement. Derek Powers disappears and the series grows mightily because of it. Here the future trend predictions become interesting. A gang of anti-social Joker imitators called Jokerz who appeared in series 1 as minor vandals develop some real menace. The theme of gene splicing is explored. And Batman battles his own suit.
The villains however remain pretty ordinary and there seems to be some pandering. In mid season 2, Batman is saved 3 times in a row but females, one a child. This diminishes the character of Batman.
Verdict: great animation but very average scripts.