"Batman: Caped Crusader (Amazon Prime)" Animated Series News & Discussion Part 3 (Spoilers)

[Frontier]

I think it's okay.

The music is good, but it's mostly just reusing footage and background shots so it doesn't really have the excitement or dynamism of, say, B:TAS, Brave and the Bold, or even Beware.

 

[-batmat-]

I think it's okay.

The music is good, but it's mostly just reusing footage and background shots so it doesn't really have the excitement or dynamism of, say, B:TAS, Brave and the Bold, or even Beware.

Gone are the days of opening titles having so much importance that they'd put too much effort in them. This is not something to complain to Caped Crusader, 99% of shows are like that now.

I feel this intro conveys the vibe perfectly, love the black and white, the old picture effect and the eerie music fits so well.

But yeah, it's obviously a far cry from BTAS. They all are. I think TBATB had an amazing song but visually it was very boring, just Batman running around colored names. BTB was the reverse, slightly more interesting visually but I hate that song!

One thing I think we can all agree though is... you never skip the opening titles!

 

[Frontier]

Gone are the days of opening titles having so much importance that they'd put too much effort in them. This is not something to complain to Caped Crusader, 99% of shows are like that now.

I feel this intro conveys the vibe perfectly, love the black and white, the old picture effect and the eerie music fits so well.

But yeah, it's obviously a far cry from BTAS. They all are. I think TBATB had an amazing song but visually it was very boring, just Batman running around colored names. BTB was the reverse, slightly more interesting visually but I hate that song!

One thing I think we can all agree though is... you never skip the opening titles!

I mean, My Adventures of Superman has a pretty good intro with all new animation. X-Men '97 had a complete recreation of the original theme and recreating iconic scenes from the show in the intro that they cycled through across the season.

TBATB had a lot of energy and impact in my opinion because of the music, Batman in motion, and spotlighting all the heroes and villains Batman would be dealing with via their names and character cut ins.

The Batman intro used footage from the actual show but it had that gothic edge to it in the first few seasons and the Superhero peppiness of the later seasons along with effective scene cuts that made it work.

This is just...kind of low-energy film Noir.

 

[Millicay]

Yeah, the intro could be better. I don't think reusing footage is a dealbreaker (even if it's not my favorite, I still love the STAS intro) but in here there's some really cool shots and then there's... table. And tunnel. And maybe that's to set up an atmosphere but it kills the flow a bit.

On the positive side, I love the theme and really like the black & white with film grain aesthetic. Almost makes me wish Caped Crusader kept it throughout the whole show, as in Strange Days. I imagine a black & white animation would be a tough sell for any streaming service but I wonder if that was ever in the cards...

Anyway, here's hoping that the intro will be changed a bit for Season 2.

 

[Yojimbo]

Dug the noir tune for the sequence. And the reuse of footage took me back to JLU. And the use of only those colors/palette. Really sets the tone. I'm digging it. All in all, really captures that 40s milieu they're going for.

 

[Sparklefan1234]

Amazon has released the opening titles for Batman: Caped Crusader's first season. Watch it below:

​

This opening is pretty cool

Thank you both for sharing! Wow! That was an AWESOME Batman intro!

 

[-batmat-]

I mean, My Adventures of Superman has a pretty good intro with all new animation. X-Men '97 had a complete recreation of the original theme and recreating iconic scenes from the show in the intro that they cycled through across the season.

TBATB had a lot of energy and impact in my opinion because of the music, Batman in motion, and spotlighting all the heroes and villains Batman would be dealing with via their names and character cut ins.

The Batman intro used footage from the actual show but it had that gothic edge to it in the first few seasons and the Superhero peppiness of the later seasons along with effective scene cuts that made it work.

This is just...kind of low-energy film Noir.

Most shows don't have an elaborate opening titles anymore. Of course there's some examples that do something a bit extra, but most shows these days don't. Heck, a lot of them are simply a title card with the series' name.

I loved both themes for The Batman but visually they could feel a bit overloaded, specially the later seasons intro.

And yeah, it's supposed to be something low energy! It's setting up the noir atmosphere... I think an energetic intro like TBABT or TB would feel completely out of place.

On the positive side, I love the theme and really like the black & white with film grain aesthetic. Almost makes me wish Caped Crusader kept it throughout the whole show, as in Strange Days. I imagine a black & white animation would be a tough sell for any streaming service but I wonder if that was ever in the cards...

With things like Zack Snyder's JL and Godzille Minus One getting their black and white versions, you never know!

 

[Frontier]

Most shows don't have an elaborate opening titles anymore. Of course there's some examples that do something a bit extra, but most shows these days don't. Heck, a lot of them are simply a title card with the series' name.

I loved both themes for The Batman but visually they could feel a bit overloaded, specially the later seasons intro.

And yeah, it's supposed to be something low energy! It's setting up the noir atmosphere... I think an energetic intro like TBABT or TB would feel completely out of place.

I feel like they could come up with better scenes to use than scenes of a dudes' apartment, a static GCPD squadroom and interrogation room, and Batman just...walking.

 

[Millicay]

And yeah, it's supposed to be something low energy! It's setting up the noir atmosphere... I think an energetic intro like TBABT or TB would feel completely out of place.

Hm, probably low energy was the wrong way to put it. There are a lot of intros I love that are not "energetic" at all, like Dexter or True Detective, a better way to say it is that I just don't find -some- of the visuals that interesting in the current intro.

 

[-batmat-]

I don't think you're supposed to marvel at an empty room, or Batman walking, but rather it creates a certain vibe, and it also gives more attention to the music. I don't mind it.

Then again, I love background art so much that it could be just me that I don't mind looking at an empty room at all!

The opening shot with Batman crouching on that gargoyle is beautiful, and so is that shot of Gotham seen from the alley. It feels like those two plus the empty room and the boiler room were created specially for the intro, while the others seem to be clips from the show.

 

[RoyalRubble]

If that's the case, the intro is also kind of similar to the one from Superman TAS, using clips from episodes and possibly scenes made only for the opening titles.

I still think it's pretty cool overall and I look forward to seeing the episodes as well. They're almost here.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

While I am quite intrigued by Bruce Timm's approach to Batman in this show, aiming for a more detached, silent, cold creature of the night... a comment from TV Guide's review does highlight my concern about it:

Oddly enough, Caped Crusader puts less thought into its conception of Batman and Bruce Wayne. Linklater switches easily between the hero's two identities, but his characterization on the page can best be described as "standard Batman." He punches goons. He lurks in the shadows. Occasionally, he employs his himbo socialite persona to get in and out of scrapes. But otherwise, we don't see much in the way of psychological insight or distinctive personality.

I certainly hope that, as the show develops, Batman himself gets to evolve and he doesn't remain fully at arms length from the audience. The BTAS Batman felt distinct and well defined, guiding viewers through the challenges of facing the worst elements of Gotham City without ever losing his humanity or drive. We rooted for him to succeed... both in stopping the bad guy, but also saving the bad guy where he could.

I'm all for the cold, pulp-inspired wraith that Timm wants here, I just hope it's enough to sustain viewers interest over time.

 

[Rick Jones]

But yeah, it's obviously a far cry from BTAS. They all are. I think TBATB had an amazing song but visually it was very boring, just Batman running around colored names.

I always looked forward to seeing Batman driving like a maniac at the end. That moment alone, combined with the theme, was enough to get me charged up for the episode.

Caped Crusader is kind of low key and somber. It makes me feel like I'm sitting back to watch one of the British detective shows I watch with my sister whenever I visit her family. I'm kind of here for it.

Somehow this feels shorter than the 30 seconds it actually is but I guess it makes sense. I've gotten so used to lame 8 second intros now. I won't complain too hard since I've become the guy that skips the intro when I binge, especially when watching anime on Hulu when the intro might be 2+ minutes long.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

A Wonderful homage

 

[RoyalRubble]

Rotten Tomatoes posted a sneak peek.

 

[Otaku-sempai]

Rotten Tomatoes posted a sneak peek.

Nice! Though I wish the show was even more visually distinct from the DCAU (especially from B:TAS).

 

[Karkull]

There's a sweet little clip of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle interacting in a new post at DiscussingFilm.

 

[Frontier]

While I am quite intrigued by Bruce Timm's approach to Batman in this show, aiming for a more detached, silent, cold creature of the night... a comment from TV Guide's review does highlight my concern about it:



I certainly hope that, as the show develops, Batman himself gets to evolve and he doesn't remain fully at arms length from the audience. The BTAS Batman felt distinct and well defined, guiding viewers through the challenges of facing the worst elements of Gotham City without ever losing his humanity or drive. We rooted for him to succeed... both in stopping the bad guy, but also saving the bad guy where he could.

I'm all for the cold, pulp-inspired wraith that Timm wants here, I just hope it's enough to sustain viewers interest over time.

I did get the sense that part of Batmant's stoicism and detachment characterization-wise was so the supporting cast could develop around him rather than developing him specifically, but we might need to actually watch it for ourselves to see how it plays out .

Also apparently it's "kid-friendly" despite the fact that there are explicit dead bodies and language .

A Wonderful homage

I gotta respect them committing to this, if nothing else .

Rotten Tomatoes posted a sneak peek.

Firebug looks like a psycho for sure .

Are we about to see the first meeting between Batman and Commissioner Gordon ?

There's a sweet little clip of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle interacting in a new post at DiscussingFilm.

I could listen to Christina Ricci as Selina all day. And I love it when Bruce and Selina flirt as much as Batman and Catwoman do .

It sounds like she's actually been arrested for theft before she started dressing up as Catwoman but she's never gotten more than a slap on the wrist for it .

Poor Mr. Kyle getting treated like he's dead when he's just in prison. Though I guess his daughter takes after him in terms of crime .

 

[b.t.]

All of us were already fans of Christina’s and knew she’d be great as Selina, but she’s GREAT — she gave us exactly what we were hoping for, and more. And Jackie Hoffman is a hoot as Selina’s live-in maid, Greta.

You’ll all get to see what I mean in just a few short hours…

 

[RoyalRubble]

In a thread on X/Twitter, they revealed the episode titles and included animated title cards. Possible spoilers, I guess.