The film was startlingly bleak for the network, with several references to death and outright torture. In its uncut state, Joker was released with a PG-13 rating- a first for both Batman cartoons and Warner Bros. To commemorate the show’s 18th anniversary, we decided to scan the Batcomputer and dig up some dirt on the world’s greatest detective (and his protegé). Here are Screen Rant’s 15 Things You Never Know About Batman Beyond.īesides being one of the most revered animated films in comic history, Return of the Joker also broke censorship ground. That and the fact that Return of the Joker (2000) is one one of the best Batman stories ever told. The odd pairing of Bruce with knucklehead newcomer Terry Mcginnis gave fans a relationship they had never seen before, and it’s a big reason why the show is so fondly remembered today. It does everything a great spin-off should do: integrate the past, enrich the overall universe, and take storytelling risks. As both a worthy successor to Batman: The Animated Series and a standalone in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), the series made a futuristic leap without losing a step of creativity. Thankfully, it was for the better.īatman Beyond is a triumph. There was nothing subtle about this Dark Knight continuation- it was going to be a total rehaul, for better or for worse. All the classic Batman villains were gone, and so was the original Batsuit.

The show recast Batman as a punk teenager, reimagined Gotham as a techno dystopia, and relegated Bruce Wayne to being an ageing mentor. On paper, Batman Beyond was a big gamble.

Paul dini and bruce timm