Although Batman is a complicated role model, he demonstrates courage in the face of his enemies and ultimately battles for good over evil.
Positive Messages
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In a lot of ways, Batman behaves similarly to his enemies. The Caped Crusader has always been a dark superhero, willing to bend morality and the law to accomplish his goals (though he refrains from killing the baddies he deals with).
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Batman: The Animated Series -- like all shows and movies centering on the Caped Crusader -- is dark and violent. Batman is a deeply conflicted hero who doesn't hesitate to use his fists to settle a disagreement (though he never kills his targets). Although the content is of high quality overall, the complicated messages and frequent fights mean this series isn't for the littlest viewers.
I grew up on this show, and still enjoy it as an adult. I feel like common sense got some things wrong in their own review. Firstly, there is kissing in this show and some slight innuendo. I say slight because I don’t think that kids under the age of 16 will be able to get it but it is there. But more importantly, they claim that this show has no positive messages and I highly disagree. It is true that this show and Batman in general deals with some mature subject matter. However, I think that the way it handles these topics is very well done and is usually used to teach a positive message.
One episode in particular involves a drug kingpin who turns over a new leaf after realizing the harm he does to his community. The show doesn’t glorify violence and crime and I would argue that it tackles it a lot better than some “mature” adult movies out there.
You could say that kids should not be exposed to mature subject matter like this, but the reality is that some kids are. If you were an inner-city kid, you got the whole speech about not talking to strangers and avoiding certain areas. I grew up with crime in my neighborhood and Batman was a great role model for me. The bad guys in this show aren’t these larger than life villains, they are real people with real problems and those problems are handled with a great amount of sensitivity.
Not every parent has the opportunity to shelter their kid from bad things in the world, and some kids are going to have to grow up a lot quicker. While I don’t think that exposing your kids to violence is necessarily a good idea, I think that watching this show with your kid and being involved as a parent can lead to some good conversations and can be an opportunity to teach things as a parent, instead of learning without any parental guidance. Obviously what you want to expose your kid to is up to your discretion, but I’d certainly rather have my kid learn this stuff from me as opposed to someone else.
When I was about sixteen, I watched episodes of this with my six year old brother. Joker supposedly makes up a story that his father abused him as a child. Later you see Harley Quinn with hardly anything on. Joker doesn't treat her right at all. There was other stuff and to me it seems like you need to have more knowledge to watch it, kids really don't need to learn this stuff from an animated series.
What's the Story?
BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES follows the adventures of Bruce Wayne and his alter ego, Batman. This cartoon version, which originally ran from 1992-1995 (it still airs in syndication and is available on DVD), closely mirrors most other takes on the Dark Knight: Bruce comes from one of the most affluent and generous families in Gotham City. As a child, he witnessed his parents' murder -- an event that ultimately leads him to become Batman. As an adult, Bruce (voiced by Kevin Conroy) is left carrying the responsibility of the family mansion and the family business, Wayne Enterprises; but most of all, he's left carrying guilt, since he blames himself for his parents' deaths. With the help of servant-turned-father figure Alfred (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.), Bruce creates Batman to get his revenge on all the criminals in Gotham. Later on, he's joined by sidekick Robin (Loren Lester).
Overall, this complex, well-made series is further proof (if anyone still needs it) that animation isn't always automatically kid friendly. Batman: The Animated Series is a fairly violent cartoon. Guns, knives, and other weapons make frequent appearances, and all of the characters -- including Batman himself -- handle conflicts with their fists rather than their conversational skills. Also, some episodes focus heavily on Bruce's would-be playboy image, which includes some tame womanizing.
Most concerning, though -- at least for parents of young children -- is the show's overall grim quality: Bruce's melancholy and anger are the driving force behind the entire series, and some of the show's dark, intellectual plot twists could easily scare some younger kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Batman: The Animated Series compares with other Batman TV shows and movies?
What are the responsibilities of being a hero? What is a hero? Is Batman a hero, a martyr, or both? Why is Batman so grim? Why does he feel responsible for the citizens of Gotham?
How does Batman demonstrate courage in Batman: The Animated Series? Why is this an important character strength?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
