If you are wondering why the highly acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series was cancelled, the actor who voiced the Caped Crusader has your answer. The series ran for three years, beginning in 1992 and ending in 1995. When it ended, the animated series had 85 episodes under its utility belt. The show was not shy on success, so why did it end? According to Kevin Conroy, this is the answer:
They didn't stop making the shows because the audience wasn't there or the actors weren't there, they stopped, really, because the creators ran out of ideas for stories. And they didn't want to compromise on the quality of what they had and start creating kind of silly stories
There you have it. Creative integrity was at the core of the decision. Kevin Conroy made the disclosure at the MCM Comic Con London on May 26, and that's not the only tidbit from Conroy that ComicBook.com reported on. The actor said he we would "love to" play Batman if there was a reboot of the series. Such a move would certainly not be a stretch for him. The actor currently voices Bruce Wayne/Batman in the animated series Justice League Action.
Kevin Conroy went on to explain that the creators chose to "re-imagine the characters" in Batman Beyond and later, Justice League, in a bid to create new storylines. It sounds a bit similar to the game plan used by anthology series.
To this day and beyond, Batman: The Animated Series is held in high regard, including by critics. Since it ended, the show's fan following has only grown. While fans were probably frustrated that the series ended after such a relatively brief time on the air, they are probably happy it did not mire its legacy by polluting it with stories that were not up to par with the ones it became revered for during its run. If there is anything worse for fans than premature cancellation, it is a series' notable creative decline.
Batman: The Animated Series did give rise to three feature-length films, one of which made it to theaters. As for the television show, its story continued with The New Batman Adventures. That series premiered in 1997 and lasted two years, ending in 1999 with 24 episodes. With fan interest in a reboot apparently present, a few questions remain.
Have the creators of Batman: The Animated Series truly run out of ideas? Or could they launch a reboot of the show? There is certainly no lack of interest from fans, but with 23 years having passed since the end of the series, you have to believe that the expectations for a potential reboot would be hard to satisfy. Of course, that is no reason not to try.
If you want more superhero series, we have you covered with CinemaBlend's guide to all of the new and returning super series set to air in 2018. If you want to know what other new television to expect, then check out our guide to TV's summer premieres.
