Batman: Caped Crusader is the return of the classic Batman: The Animated Series evoking nostalgia of the original groundbreaking animated series. I remember watching the debut episode of Batman: The Animated Series and was blown away by the leaps in its animation and storytelling. Even as an early teen, I could tell this was storytelling meant as much for adults as it was for kids. Batman: Caped Crusader is much of the same with a story that has moments that feel a bit too adult for kids but overall, it’s a dark, more mature series all can enjoy.
Batman: Caped Crusader evokes that original series with a look and style that’s a little different. While the design of Batman and the characters are slightly different, it still very much feels like a successor of a series. The animation, look, vibe, music, will take fans back to the early 90s. Though not a continuation, at its heart, it truly is.
The series is a fresh restart with a classic look. Harvey Dent is not Two-Face. Barbara Gordon is a lawyer. Batman is still an unknown entity.
The first episode has Batman on a mission to find out who’s behind a series of explosions that takes him into battle with a new take on the classic Penguin. By the end, there’s teasers of a greater story that’ll likely play out through multiple episodes. The debut shows a world beyond a single episode, but one that’ll live and breathe and evolve beyond what’s in front of viewers. Decisions and results in one episode impact the world of Gotham driving future stories.
Batman: Caped Crusader‘s only shortfall is the voice talent. While most of it is excellent, let’s face it, Batman is going to get compared to the amazing Kevin Conroy. Hamish Linklater is good as Batman/Bruce Wayne but it doesn’t stack up.
The series is sure to anger many with where it differs. Oswald Coppelpot is now Oswalda Cobbelpot, voiced by Minnie Driver. Commissioner Gordon and Barbara Gordon too have been switched as well with their race. Watch heads explode, which is a shame because all of their characters are great, again nailing a “classic” feel, and feature solid voice acting. Diedrich Bader as Harvey Dent is great all around, an actor I wouldn’t have thought about but in one episode, I’m in.
In one episode, Batman: Caped Crusader has me back as a kid watching brand new episodes after school excited to see if it was a new one or a repeat. It nails the nostalgia factor while doing its own thing. It’s a welcome return that has me wanting to go back and watch the original in order after experiencing this love letter to a classic.
Batman: Caped Crusader debuts August 1 on Prime Video.
Overall Rating: 8.5
