“Batman: The Animated Series” Finally Comes to Blu-ray

Batman: The Animated Series was my favorite cartoon as a kid. But it still holds up today, thanks to its incredible design and a commitment to story, no matter how dark or not "kid-friendly" it was. Fans have long wanted the terrific animation to be remastered, and they've finally got their wish with this box set.

The 12-disc package includes high-def versions of all 85 episodes of the original show, all 24 episodes of The New Batman Adventures, as well as the two top-notch features Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero. Amazon also has a limited edition that includes three figurines. That's a lot of excellent Dark Knight content, and fans are sure to want to pick this up (or add it to their wish lists) for the holidays.

The set also includes a retrospective feature-length documentary called The Heart of Batman, which features interviews from all the behind-the-scenes talent, including producer/mastermind Bruce Timm. Both versions are available now at retailers nationwide and online.

About Kip Mooney

Like many film critics born during and after the 1980s, my hero is Roger Ebert. The man was already the best critic in the nation when he won the Pulitzer in 1975, but his indomitable spirit during and after his recent battle with cancer keeps me coming back to read not only his reviews but his insightful commentary on the everyday. But enough about a guy you know a lot about. I knew I was going to be a film critic—some would say a snob—in middle school, when I had to voraciously defend my position that The Royal Tenenbaums was only a million times better than Adam Sandler’s remake of Mr. Deeds. From then on, I would seek out Wes Anderson’s films and avoid Sandler’s like the plague. Still, I like to think of myself as a populist, and I’ll be just as likely to see the next superhero movie as the next Sundance sensation. The thing I most deplore in a movie is laziness. I’d much rather see movies with big ambitions try and fail than movies with no ambitions succeed at simply existing. I’m also a big advocate of fun-bad movies like The Room and most of Nicolas Cage’s work. In the past, I’ve written for The Dallas Morning News and the North Texas Daily, which I edited for a semester. I also contributed to Dallas-based Pegasus News, which in the circle of life, is now part of The Dallas Morning News, where I got my big break in 2007. Eventually, I’d love to write and talk about film full-time, but until that’s a viable career option, I work as an auditor for Wells Fargo. I hope to one day meet my hero, go to the Toronto International Film Festival, and compete on Jeopardy. Until then, I’m excited to share my love of film with you.