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DC Animated Universe/Characters/Batman the Animated Series


A list of DCAU characters who first prominently featured in Batman the Animated Series.


Batman (Bruce Wayne)

Voiced by: Kevin Conroy

Arguably the least-changed character from his comics counterpart, the DCAU Batman has generally the same origin: his parents were shot dead after the three of them went to see a movie, and he decides to avenge them by becoming the vigilante Batman, complete with Batmobile and a handy utility belt.

This version of Batman, in particular, is notable for being an amalgam of the Golden Age, Silver Age and Dark Age versions of the characters. He's dark and brooding, but also an excellent Parental Substitute and even gets a few witty one-liners (as well as being caught in the occasional Death Trap).

As a member of the Justice League, Batman usually serves as Mission Control more than anything, due to his lack of superpowers, and is not as openly active as his Justice League allies, preferring to work alone and from the shadows. Nonetheless, he has a vested interest in the group's activities, as it is Bruce Wayne's finances that paid for their Watchtower headquarters and Javelin ship. And as the Series Finale of JLU showed, he can still kick ass if need be.

See here for tropes applying to him in Batman Beyond.

  • Ace Pilot: He has a seemingly endless supply of Batwings. Notably, he does get shot down by other pilots on occasion, but typically that's because he's outnumbered more than anything else.
  • Anti-Hero: Type II
    • In a subversion of his role in most other mediums, Batman is probably the least anti-heroic member of the Justice League aside from the Flash. Justice Lord Batman was the only member of the the parallel League to see how corrupt his world had become, and normal Batman called Superman out on his ethically questionable handling of Doomsday.
    • Batman can also dip into Type III Anti-Heroism on occasion such as when he interrogated a thug in front of his wife and young son.The tendencies for Batman to become Good Is Not Nice, including the interrogation incident previously mentioned, is at least partially what made Dick Grayson give up being Robin and become Nightwing, as detailed in "Old Wounds".
  • Badass: Come on, it's BATMAN!

The Joker: There's nothing mere about that mortal.

Diana: No dating for the Batman. It might cut into your brooding time.


Batfamily

Robin I/Nightwing (Dick Grayson)

Voiced by: Loren Lester

Much like his comic counterpart, Dick was a member of The Flying Graysons, a family of circus acrobats. His parents were killed by a mobster named Tony Zucco (not Zuko). After being taken in by Bruce Wayne, he eventually finds out his secret and takes up the role of Robin. Eventually, he grows up and strikes out on his own, taking a new name: Nightwing.

Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)

Voiced by: Melissa Gilbert in Batman the Animated Series, Mary Kay Bergman in Sub-Zero, Tara Strong in The New Batman Adventures, Stockard Channing on Batman Beyond seasons 1 and 2, Angie Harmon in Return of the Joker and BB Season 3

The daughter of Police Commissioner Gordon, Barbara first takes up the Bat cowl in an attempt to impersonate Batman, giving the impression of his support at a rally for her father. When she gets involved in a drive-by shooting that hits the rally, she is partially unmasked by Robin when he rips the back of her cowl, freeing her hair and leaving the city wondering "Who is Batgirl?"

Barbara operates independently in her appearances in Batman: The Animated Series, but is officially inducted into the Bat-Family by The New Batman Adventures.

In Batman Beyond, a much older Barbara has put aside the cowl and picked up the badge, taking her father's place as Police Commissioner of Gotham City. As fate would have it, the long-retired Bruce Wayne has just taken on a protege as the new Batman. See here for tropes applying to her in that show.

Robin II (Tim Drake)

Voiced by: Matthew Valencia, Dean Stockwell [older]

This Tim Drake is a combination of both the comic version and Jason Todd, the Robin before him. The son of a two-bit crook who betrayed and was murdered by Two-Face, Robin falls into Batman's world while fleeing Two-Face's thugs who are chasing him over something left by his father. Like Grayson, Tim finds out Batman's identity, steals the Robin costume, and ultimately helps bring Two-Face down.

Alfred Pennyworth

Voiced by: Efrem Zimbalist Jr.


Other Allies

Detective Harvey Bullock

Voiced By: Robert Costanzo

Officer Renee Montoya

Voiced By: Ingrid Oliu, Liane Schrimer

Commissioner James Gordon

Voiced By: Bob Hastings

Jonah Hex

Voiced By: William McKinney in Batman the Animated Series, Adam Baldwin in Justice League


Antagonists

Baby Doll (Mary Louise Dahl)

Voiced By: Alison Laplaca, Laraine Newman

The Joker

Voiced By: Mark Hamill

Harley Quinn (Harleen Quinzel)

Voiced By: Arleen Sorkin

  • Blue Eyes
  • Canon Immigrant: Started out as a DCAU character, then became part of the main DC universe.
  • Cute and Psycho
  • Genki Girl
  • Les Yay: Strongly hinted at with Poison Ivy.
  • Luke I Am Your Grandmother: Due in part to one of the character designers not bearing to kill Harley Quinn off, she was revealed to be the grandmother of the Dee-Dee twins, members of the Jokerz gang, nearing the end of Return of the Joker, and was scolding them.
  • Mad Love: I smell a Trope Namer...
  • Perky Female Minion
  • Punny Name: Harley Quinn. Even when not highlighting this out, her name sounds like "Harlequin".
  • The Dog Bites Back: Sometimes Mistah J will push her too far, which leads to...
    • Yandere: Fear her when she goes into this mode. Even the Joker is scared of her when she goes into this mode.
  • Villainous Harlequin: Probably the most classic example ever. She even provides the current page picture !

Two-Face (Harvey Dent)

Voiced By: Richard Moll

Ra's al Ghul

Voiced By: David Warner

  • Affably Evil
  • Big Bad: Sort of. He's not the overriding threat of the series, but his schemes tend most often to be arc-based, and Batman regards him as his most powerful and dangerous enemy.
  • The Chessmaster
  • Even Evil Has Standards: He's disgusted by the the cruelty his son Arkady Duvall shows towards underlings.
  • Friendly Enemy: One-sided. He genuinely seems to like Bruce and wants him as his heir. Batman disagrees, and as a result Ra's will use deadly force on him if neccessary.
    • The respect seems to be somewhat mutual, as evidenced in the Jonah Hex episode. It turns out the old man Ra's "kidnapped" is his son. Batman allows them to leave without a fight.
  • Immortality
  • We Can Rule Together
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist
  • Worthy Opponent

Mr. Freeze (Dr. Victor Fries)

Voiced By: Michael Ansara

Mr. Freeze: I'm beyond emotions. They've been frozen dead in me.

Dr. Gregory Belson

Voiced By: George Dszundza

Clayface (Matt Hagen)

Voiced By: Ron Perlman

Mojo (Lloyd Ventrix)

Voiced By: Michael Gross

  • Badass Abnormal: Compared to other villains, who are much more cunning and resourceful, he's pretty much a thug with an invisibility suit. That doesn't stop him from giving Batman a pretty bad beating.
  • Determinator: What more can you say about a guy who's willing to pose as his daughter's imaginary friend while stealing gifts for her, just so he can earn her trust?
  • Deadly Upgrade: It's revealed that the plastic he uses for his suit is toxic.
  • Invisibility
  • Not-So-Imaginary Friend
  • Jerkass
    • Jerkass Woobie: Despite his nature, he REALLY just wants to be with his little girl again.
  • Villainous Breakdown: When Batman tries to warn him about the suit(and right before he gets defeated), Lloyd replies:

"Who cares if it is? With this suit, I can take back my daughter whenever I want! Her mother won't stop me, and neither will you!"

Catwoman (Selina Kyle)

Voiced By: Adrienne Barbeau

Arkady Duvall

Voiced By: Malcolm McDowell

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