Everyone knows and loves a super-serious Batman, but too few today really appreciate the comical side of the character. These people need to check out "Batman Unlimited."
When most think of a lighthearted portrayal of the dark knight, they think of the 1960's live-action TV series, "Batman" starring Adam West and Burt Ward. That show was instrumental in bringing about the character's current level of popularity, and it created a campy superhero legacy that still lives on to this day through the "Batman Unlimited" films.
The "Batman Unlimited" brand began as a line of toys. The Mattel-produced line of action figures redesigned major DC characters and quickly was ordered to film. The first of these films, "Batman Unlimited: Animal Instincts" was released in May of 2015 and has since been followed by two sequels, "Monster Mayhem" and "Mechs vs. Mutants." Each of these films comes jam-packed with characters from DC comics as they follow a basic formula that involves Batman teaming up with a group of heroes to take down a group of villains.
This setup yields exactly the sort of results one might expect from an animated feature based on a toy line that is loaded with heroes and villains. The plots are a bit messy and some iconic characters get the short-end of the screen-time stick. Still, these films feature something important: fun. In a way they're the perfect adaptation of what Batman action figures are really used for: an excuse to make big, wild fights happen between heroes and villains. While DC's live-action films, animated series, and comics continue forward with a dark, serious, and brooding tone; the "Batman Unlimited" films offer something that feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air. It's a chance to simply sit back and watch Batman , Green Arrow, and Flash take on an army of robotic animals without having to think about it too much. It won't win any awards, but it's a great reminder of why we all fell in love with superheroes as kids; cool characters punching each other. It's something that often feels lost in today's high stakes superhero stories.
The sillier side of Batman is just as important as the dark one and it seems to be making a comeback right when we need it most. The "Batman Unlimited" films are soon to be joined by an animated film starring Adam West and a theatrical "LEGO Batman" spin-off of "The LEGO Movie." For anyone that feels burned out on the seriousness of "Batman v. Superman" or "Batman: The Killing Joke" I recommend checking out the "Batman Unlimited" films.
