HBO Max is kicking off the New Year on the right note -- with the addition of numerous DC animated series. Arriving today, January 1, on the streaming service is Batman Beyond, Batman: Beyond: The Return of Joker, Batman: Bad Blood (2016), Batman: Hush, and -- perhaps the greatest adaptation of the Caped Crusader of all time -- Batman: The Animated Series.
Batman: The Animated Series ran from 1992 to 1995 and consists of 85 episodes. The series is widely regarded as one of the best comic book television shows of all-time and has been praised for its thematic complexity and darker tones, as well as the modernization of Batman's crime-fighting origins. The series features numerous adaptations of various Batman comic stories and is considered to be more adult-oriented than other superhero cartoons.
Joining Batman: The Animated Series is another popular cartoon about the Caped Crusader, Batman Beyond. Batman Beyond is actually set in a futuristic version of Gotham City and focuses on the teenaged Terry McGinnis (voice of Will Friedle) as Batman, guided by an elderly Bruce Wayne (voice of Kevin Conroy). The series ran from 1999 to 2001, consisting of 52 episodes, and also received critical acclaim. It was also praised for its dark, mature storytelling as it dealt with topics like emotions, personal relationships, and fear of the unknown.
Numerous animated Batman movies have also hit the streaming service today including 2016's Batman: Bad Blood, 2019's Batman: Hush, and 2020's Batman: Death in the Family.
Bad Blood is a sequel to the 2015 film Batman vs. Robin. With Bruce Wayne missing, Nightwing and Robin are tasked with keeping Gotham City safe, while Batwoman investigates the disappearance of Batman. Batman: Hush is a loose adaptation of the comic book story arc of the same name and follows Batman, Catwoman and others as they face the mysterious new villain, Hush, who uses Gotham's Rogues Gallery to destroy Bruce Wayne's crime-fighting career as Batman as well as his personal life.
Batman: Death in the Family, which is a follow-up to Batman: Under the Red Hood, is also based on the comic book story of the same name. It's an interactive experience in which viewers are presented with choices and given 10 seconds to make a decision. There are apparently seven alternate endings that are determined based on the viewer's choices throughout.
Many of these shows and movies were hosted on DC Universe but with the streaming service transforming into a comics-exclusive platform, HBO Max will be their new home. Additional shows and films still on DC Universe will continue to make their way to HBO Max throughout the month.
As previously announced:
HBO Max will be the home for premium video content that will include new DC series, key DC classics and DC UNIVERSE originals like Young Justice Seasons 1-4, Titans Seasons 1-3, Doom Patrol Seasons 1-3, and DC’s Stargirl Season 1. Additionally, HBO Max has ordered a third season of Warner Bros. Animation’s critically acclaimed DC UNIVERSE adult animated comedy series Harley Quinn, starring Kaley Cuoco, who also served as executive producer during the first two seasons along with Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker, Dean Lorey, and Sam Register. Harley Quinn will be a Max Original going forward, and all three seasons of the show will be available.
HBO Max currently costs $14.99 a month. In addition to all this DC animated goodness, members also have access to the live-action shows and films as well as HBO originals and tons of other classic and fan-favorite shows. It was also recently announced that Warner Bros. will be releasing all of its 2021 films on simultaneously on HBO Max and in theaters.