Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

Dir: Rick Morales

2016

****

DC animations in recent years have been of mixed quality. The Batman cartoons are usually pretty good with some being exceptional but I can't say the same for most of the Justice League members’ outings, including and in particular, that Kryptonian chap. There was considerable hype for DC's other big Batman film of 2016, Batman: The Killing Joke but I thought it was an abomination of the original story with the only highlight being that Mark Hamill returned to voice the Joker. So there was apprehension when Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders was first announced but all doubt was quashed after the first few minutes of watching. Having Adam West, Burt Ward and Julie Newmar reprise their roles as Batman, Robin and Catwomen respectively, was a stroke of genius that totally paid off. It's not just the original voices that gave the film the authenticity it needed however, the animators and writers got the visuals and story spot on and it really did feel like an episode from the original series. It's hugely tongue in cheek and all the better for it. It's rather subtle and sophisticated in its self-awareness and actually, revisiting the format isn't as easy as I think people might believe it to have been. Adam West joked that it took him around 20 seconds to get back into character but the story itself felt like it could have been written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. himself. It is the fitting 50 year anniversary celebration that it was intended to be and then some and while it feels just like a longer episode of the original series, it also has an epic feel about it. Obviously more can be done within the realms of animation but the visuals are never over the top, just refined and open to more impressive compositions. It's also really funny. Although I loved watching the original, I don't remember laughing that much but with Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders I found myself chuckling throughout, and not just out of nostalgia and the self-awareness. The lines are killer and the script is delivered brilliantly by all voice cast members. There are some sadly absent members of the original cast but the new actors did a fine job, as did the animators, in keeping their likeness and characters alive. It's an absolute pleasure that I don't think anyone saw coming and clear message that DC have some interesting new ideas up their sleeves.