Batman The Animated Series

[rocinante]

Has there ever been any mention of this coming to blu? Ive never owned it, Ive been wanting to watch all 3 seasons again, so Im wondering if I should just buy all the DVDs for about $60 from amazon.

On the other hand, Id hate to buy them and then find out its coming to blu in the somewhat near future.

[Moviefan2k4]

I missed out on the Complete Series DVD release, and have avoided the individual sets because I can't stand flipper discs. If the series were put on Blu-Ray, I'd grab it as quick as I could.

[tenderheartbear]

There weren't any flipper discs in the individual season sets.

Superman: TAS had them, but Justice League/Unlimited didn't either.

[Tyger]

I'd love to have it on Blu-ray. Blu-ray specific news aside, I'm really surprised I haven't heard any sort of rumblings about commemorating the 20th anniversary of the show in any way, which is surprising and disappointing.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

I missed out on the Complete Series DVD release, and have avoided the individual sets because I can't stand flipper discs. If the series were put on Blu-Ray, I'd grab it as quick as I could.

Yeah me too! I've got S1 & S3 on dvd, but would definitely buy this on BD!

[matTHEw molENDa]

Never going to happen.

[Moviefan2k4]

I found the first DVD volume for $20 at Wal-Mart, and grabbed it. The only disappointment is that some episodes appear to be out of order, and playback on my Blu-Ray player gets a little shaky at times (don't know why). Still, this brings me right back to my teens; an awesome show, as always.

[insomniac013]

If crap like Friends can get a Blu Ray release, why not Batman: TAS?? Seriously WB, you gotta step it up!

[The_Donster]

I don't think it has anything to do with WB, but possible Timm's. He mentioned in one of the commentaries that it wouldn't make it to BD because it is a homage to the old Fleischer cartoon's. I cannot remember which disc or if it was even on BTAS commentary, but I remember him saying that. Can anyone back me up on this or I could ask him when he's up here for our Emerald City Comicon at the end of the month

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

I don't think it has anything to do with WB, but possible Timm's. He mentioned in one of the commentaries that it wouldn't make it to BD because it is a homage to the old Fleischer cartoon's. I cannot remember which disc or if it was even on BTAS commentary, but I remember him saying that. Can anyone back me up on this or I could ask him when he's up here for our Emerald City Comicon at the end of the month

I wouldn't know about that comment, although it sounds legit. If true, I don't understand why he would want to do that. Is a HD presentation somehow offensive to the older genre? To me, no...but I suppose it is to the powers that be!
If you do get a chance to ask him, and if you remember, please post it! It would be greatly appreciated!

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

I don't think it has anything to do with WB, but possible Timm's. He mentioned in one of the commentaries that it wouldn't make it to BD because it is a homage to the old Fleischer cartoon's. I cannot remember which disc or if it was even on BTAS commentary, but I remember him saying that. Can anyone back me up on this or I could ask him when he's up here for our Emerald City Comicon at the end of the month

I think you're thinking about one of the DVD commentaries on I'm pretty sure Volume One of Batman: The Animated Series. He didn't mention Blu-ray or HD at all, since those DVD's came out in '04. He was talking about not cleaning it up like some classic cartoons because he thinks they end up looking weird. That being said, I'm pretty sure on the same commentary and I know many of the others, he and the other participants lament Batman's "white mole". I think they can bring the series to Blu-ray respectfully, but it's going to be expensive. I wouldn't doubt that they'd make a profit though.

[Batmon77]

Batman Beyond Box came out in 2010. And that wasnt on BD.

I dont see BAS getting an upgrade.

[Tyger]

The Batman Beyond boxset is just a repackage of the season set discs that have been out since '06/'07 and I don't think they have HD masters lying around for that show either.

I think both shows could get them though, at least I'll never give up hope.

Hopefully the movies and Justice League sets have been selling well. I'm scared if they're not doing anything for the shows 20th anniversary, we might not get Mask of the Phantasm next year like I was hoping.

[Gilmourfan]

The source material is 4:3 SD. The Blu-ray release is never going to happen.

[Tyger]

4:3 doesn't automatically mean a BD won't happen and I'm pretty sure they didn't animate on videotape

[Gilmourfan]

Originally Posted by Tyger

4:3 doesn't automatically mean a BD won't happen and I'm pretty sure they didn't animate on videotape

Yes they did.

[HDMe]

It's all a question of what resolution the original source was... If they did all the editing on videotape, they may very well have not kept the original animation cells (and the cells may or may not have been printed to film OR scanned at a high enough resolution).

I haven't heard anything one way or another.

Justice League was a different animal, since they were at least thinking about widescreen and HD when they started that series even if season 1 was aired (and released on Blu) in 4:3 aspect it still was rendered at higher resolution than the original airings.

Batman: the Animated Series predates a lot of the typical stuff where forward-thinking would have been involved... and since it was not live-action, there's no automatic reason to assume they have higher resolution masters around.

Maybe they do... but unless we hear something about it, I wouldn't hold out hopes.

Besides... they don't have a history of putting out HD releases of the stuff that we know they can do yet (Green Lantern, Young Justice, Brave & the Bold, Justice League) and ones that I suspect they could do (The Batman!, Teen Titans).

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by Taro

Yes they did.

Originally Posted by HDMe

It's all a question of what resolution the original source was... If they did all the editing on videotape, they may very well have not kept the original animation cells (and the cells may or may not have been printed to film OR scanned at a high enough resolution).

I haven't heard anything one way or another.

Justice League was a different animal, since they were at least thinking about widescreen and HD when they started that series even if season 1 was aired (and released on Blu) in 4:3 aspect it still was rendered at higher resolution than the original airings.

Batman: the Animated Series predates a lot of the typical stuff where forward-thinking would have been involved... and since it was not live-action, there's no automatic reason to assume they have higher resolution masters around.

Maybe they do... but unless we hear something about it, I wouldn't hold out hopes.

Besides... they don't have a history of putting out HD releases of the stuff that we know they can do yet (Green Lantern, Young Justice, Brave & the Bold, Justice League) and ones that I suspect they could do (The Batman!, Teen Titans).

I'm holding out hope. Everybody was impressed with the animation, the show was an instant hit, even playing on primetime, and it's Batman so WB had to know they could sell it forever. I'm really hoping they kept and properly stored the cells or have them on film. There were rumors a couple years ago that WB was thinking about a BD release. I'm sure it'd take time and money, but it'd be worth it to current fans and new generations of fans to have HD masters for BD and syndication.

And yes, Warners' history of not releasing current shows on BD is frustrating. I don't care if they do "soccer mom DVD's" first, but I wish they'd eventually do season/complete series sets on Blu-ray.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Tyger

I'm holding out hope. Everybody was impressed with the animation, the show was an instant hit, even playing on primetime, and it's Batman so WB had to know they could sell it forever. I'm really hoping they kept and properly stored the cells or have them on film. There were rumors a couple years ago that WB was thinking about a BD release. I'm sure it'd take time and money, but it'd be worth it to current fans and new generations of fans to have HD masters for BD and syndication.

And yes, Warners' history of not releasing current shows on BD is frustrating. I don't care if they do "soccer mom DVD's" first, but I wish they'd eventually do season/complete series sets on Blu-ray.

Well between the release of TDK and now the upcoming TDKR would be the best possible time to release this series...but seeing as nothing has been mentioned, I fear this won't be happening. At least anytime soon.

[Tyger]

It's bigger than a tie-in, especially to those movies. This is its 20th anniversary, I was hoping we'd see something big to commemorate it, but it's not looking good