The subsequent Batman cartoon, 2004’s “The Batman,” adopted the extra severe tone of “The Animated Sequence.” Nevertheless, it additionally had a glossy, trendy sheen (courtesy of artwork route by Jeff Matsuda), fairly completely different from the gothic “darkish deco” of the earlier sequence. Regardless of the variations, it is a good present in its personal proper: I am particularly keen on the reinvented Riddler, voiced by Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund.

“Batman: The Courageous and the Daring,” then again, took a lighter and extra comedic strategy. Batman was voiced by Diedrich Bader (channeling Adam West) and the sequence is crammed with visible cues from the 1966 “Batman” sequence. Nevertheless, it wasn’t shoddily produced like earlier Batman cartoons. As an alternative, it blended self-aware humor with a honest love for even the wackiest elements of the DC universe.

In “The Courageous and the Daring” episode “Legends of the Darkish-Mite,” Bat-Mite visits a fourth-walling breaking conference of Batman followers. He declares to dissatisfied followers clamoring for one thing much like “The Animated Sequence” that: “Batman’s wealthy historical past permits him to be interpreted in a mess of how. To make certain, it is a lighter incarnation, but it surely’s definitely no much less legitimate and true to the character’s roots than the tortured avenger crying out for mommy and daddy.”

The lesson of “Batman: The Animated Sequence” is not that Batman cartoons have to be darkish to be good. What they actually need is artists who care about what they’re making.