The stepping down of Bruce Timm from WB animation a few weeks ago has made me rather introspective. It forced me to not only reflect on the impact he has had on animation as a whole, but also to recall my childhood and why I became interested in these characters in the first place. Taking a cue from the Tim Burton directed Batman films, Bruce Timm along with Paul Dini did something that no one ever thought possible - they took cartoons seriously. By respecting their audience and not talking down to them, this team accomplished something that has yet to be seen in animation today. The Timm/Dini Animated DC Universe could very well be a template to the upcoming DC and have been to the current Marvel Film Universe. If it isn't, it should be.
5. Batman: The Animated Series
Batman TAS was the first in a new generation of animation. It is the definition of a game changer. Inspired by Burton's Batman '89, this show revolutionized animation styles by being drawn on black paper as opposed to the traditional white. Also, it was the perfect example of a show being created for kids that adults can enjoy on an entirely independent level. This is very different from adults being able to appreciate a show while watching it with their children or looking back on it fondly. The show was dark, gritty, and gripping. It was based in realism but acknowledged the fact that there are just some things you can do in animation that you cannot do in live-action. Even more impressive, the show had a lot of ground to make up. Batman '89 and Batman Returns showed us that the character could be done seriously, but Batman TAS reached into the deep rogues gallery that they 60's TV show mined and nearly destroyed. In fact, the show was so highly regarded that in addition to spawning an entire universe, a major motion picture with a theatrical run was had in Batman Mask of the Phantasm. This was very rare at the time. The show reinvented several characters and gave weight to even more. Added to tight storytelling and compelling character development, Batman TAS broke ground in animation in a way that has yet to be duplicated.