the batman adventures holiday special 1 paul dini

Crime fighting never takes a holiday after all and Batman, Robin, and Batgirl try to keep the peace against The Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Clayface. The second Christmas themed episode in the DCAU, based on The Batman Adventures Holiday Special comic, is an anthology story that follows the Bat-Family throughout the jolly season up until New Years Day. “Holiday Knights” (The New Batman Adventures Season 1, Episode 1) may not reach the classic festive heights of “Christmas With The Joker”, but from its amazing animation to its enjoyable story structure to its heartwarming ending, this is one of the best BTAS episodes ever. I love you so much, thank you for everything, and you’ll forever be mine and many peoples Batman. I got very emotional rewatching this episode for the first time since his death and I couldn’t think of a better way to honor Kevin’s legacy than reviewing the first episode I ever watched featuring his Batman.

He was such a big part of my life and will continue to be for many years to come thanks to his amazing library of work. He changed my life forever and for the better. Since Kevin’s passing in November there hasn’t been a day that goes by where I don’t think about him. I don’t like using the word definitive because frankly the word is overused in today’s pop culture landscape, but in this case Kevin Conroy was and will forever be the definitive Batman.Įven though I’m 26 now, every time I watch this beautiful anthology episode I feel like that 5 year old kid again discovering Kevin’s Batman for the first time.

This particular episode doesn’t get enough love, but things like his heartwarming closing scene with Gordon at the diner emotionally resonates with me every time I revisit it. Even though I was only 5 at the time, I knew just through his epic voice how much he loved the character. That has to do with Bruce Timm’s timeless animation style, the vibrant color palette, Shirley Walker's iconic musical score, and Dan Riba and Paul Dini’s wonderful direction for this particular Christmas episode. That was even before I knew these episodes were a part of a larger series in one of the greatest shared universes of all time. I was 5 years old then and I knew who Batman was, but this was the moment, watching “Holiday Knights”, where I became a die-hard fan for life. I was just in time for an hour of Batman: The Animated Series which featured “Holiday Knights” and “Over the Edge” (My now favorite BTAS episode of all time). It was about 10 PM when I hit Cartoon Network’s Toonami Block.

It was December 2001 and I was dipping through the channels trying to find something to watch. It’s not only the first episode of The New Batman Adventures, it was the first time I ever heard Kevin Conroy’s brilliant voice. “Holiday Knights” holds a special place in my heart.

The batman adventures holiday special 1 paul dini