Justice League (TV series)

Justice League
Genre Superhero
Science fiction
Action/Adventure
Created by Bruce Timm
Paul Dini
Starring María Canals
Kevin Conroy
Susan Eisenberg
Phil LaMarr
Carl Lumbly
George Newbern
Michael Rosenbaum
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 52 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 20–23 minutes
Production company(s) DC Comics (2001–2004)
Warner Bros. Television Animation (2001–2003)
Warner Bros. Animation (2003–2004)
Release
Original network Cartoon Network
Original release November 17, 2001 (2001-11-17) – May 29, 2004 (2004-05-29)
Chronology
Preceded by The New Batman/Superman Adventures and Static Shock (the latter took place within episodes)
Followed by Justice League Unlimited
Related shows Super Friends
External links
Website

Justice League is an American animated television series which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. It is part of the DC animated universe. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics. After the second season, the series was replaced by Justice League Unlimited, a successor series which aired for three seasons.

History

Animator Bruce Timm, who co-produced Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series in the 1990s, became executive producer on an animated series focusing on the Justice League. The roster consisted of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), The Flash (Wally West), Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz), and Hawkgirl.

According to audio commentary on the DVD release of Season 2, the second season finale "Starcrossed" was expected to be the final episode of the series. However, in February 2004, Cartoon Network announced a follow-up series, Justice League Unlimited, which premiered on July 31, 2004 and featured a larger roster of characters.

Casting

Kevin Conroy reprised his voice role as Batman from Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999), and Batman Beyond (1999–2001). Tim Daly, who voiced Superman in Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000) was initially involved but was unable to continue his role due to involvement with The Fugitive (a short-lived remake of the original 1963 TV series),[1] and was replaced by George Newbern. Superman was initially redesigned to have a bit of a squint to his eyes and slight wrinkles that was also meant to make him look older, in addition to having a noticeable shining streak to his hair; he was redesigned to appear larger in physical girth than in the previous series. Fans did not like the older appearance and in the second season the streak was toned down to the point of almost disappearing and the squint was removed, in essence reverting Superman to his earlier animated look. As an in-joke, Superman's season one facial designs are used for an older Jor-El in the Justice League Unlimited episode "For the Man Who Has Everything".

Cover art for the comic Justice League Adventures #1 (2002).
Art by Bruce Timm and Alex Ross.

Most of the characters retained their general comic book origins and continuity, with Wonder Woman being the notable exception. In the Justice League series continuity, the premiere story arc "Secret Origins" revises the plot of Diana's competition against her fellow Amazons to be the ambassador of peace to man's world, and she is referred to as a "rookie" superhero during her first encounter with the League. (Subsequent episodes touched on her attempts to adjust to her new world). In an interview segment on the Season One DVD, Bruce Timm stated that he initially ran into some legal issues in using the Wonder Woman character, but was adamant that she be used in the series. Additionally, the character of The Flash was portrayed as somewhat younger and significantly more brash than his comic book counterpart, taking on a number of personality traits of Plastic Man, who provides a similar comic relief function in the JLA comics. Major changes were also made to the Hawkgirl character. The character of Hawkgirl became romantically involved with the John Stewart Green Lantern as the series progressed. A romantic relationship between Batman and Wonder Woman was also "shown" (hinted at but never "official" unlike Hawkgirl/Green Lantern) by the show's creators, who disliked pairing Wonder Woman with Superman despite fan requests. Robin is not paired with Batman in this animated series like he was on Super Friends. Although the series itself is animated in traditional 2-dimensional style, the opening credits are rendered in 3D with toon shading. The intro is a "stock" intro used throughout the series until Justice League Unlimited premieres.

Reception

In January 2009, IGN named Justice League Unlimited as the 20th best animated television series of all time.[2]

Cast

Main cast

Recurring characters

Home releases

Season releases

DVD/BD nameRelease dateEp #Additional information
Season OneMarch 21, 200626 Contains a set of 4 DVDs with all of the episodes from the first season as well as audio commentaries, interviews, and other special features.
Season OneAugust 19, 200826 Season One has been re-mastered and re-issued as a set of 3 Blu-ray Discs (in full 1080p and with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound) with everything included on the prior release.
Season TwoJune 20, 200626Contains a set of 4 DVDs with all of the episodes from the second season as well as audio commentaries and a panel discussion involving the production team of the series (although the set packaging indicates a featurette hosted by voice actor Phil LaMarr, it is misprinted, the featurette is on Disc One instead of Disc Four). Despite the show having been produced in a widescreen format this release lacks anamorphic encoding.
Season TwoJuly 26, 201126 Warner Home Video released Season Two on a two-disc (50GB each) Blu-ray set.

Warner Home Video also released another DVD title Justice League The Complete Animated Series. It contained all 91 episodes of Justice League and Justice League Unlimited on a 15 disc set with the 15th disc containing a bonus documentary.

Individual releases
DVD nameRelease dateAdditional information
Justice League April 23, 2002Contains all three parts of "Secret Origins". A mini-DVD version of this disc has also been released.
Justice on TrialApril 22, 2003Contains "In Blackest Night" and "The Enemy Below".
Paradise LostJuly 22, 2003Contains "Paradise Lost" and "War World".
The Justice League CollectionApril 13, 2004 Contains previous "Secret Origins," "Paradise Lost," and "Justice on Trial" DVDs in a three-pack with a slipcase.
Starcrossed The MovieJuly 13, 2004 Contains "Starcrossed" in both widescreen and fullscreen. A mini-DVD version of this disc has also been released with only fullscreen.
The Brave and the BoldOctober 19, 2004Contains episodes "The Brave and the Bold" and "Injustice For All".
Challenge of the Super Friends to Justice League:April 13, 2004 Contains the previously released "Justice League" (Secret Origins) DVD along with two Super Friends discs in a slip-case.
Justice League: 3-Pack Fun July 19, 2011 Contains "The Brave and the Bold" and "Injustice For All", as well as the Justice League Unlimited episodes "For The Man Who Has Everything," "The Return," and "The Greatest Story Never Told," and the Young Justice episodes "Independence Day," "Fireworks," "Welcome To Happy Harbor," and "Drop Zone".

Broadcast history

The show was aired in the Republic of Ireland on TG4 from 2002 to 2007.[3] It Has Also Aired on Cartoon Networks Retro Sister Channel Boomerang(TV channel) On January 2006 until 2010

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dimino, Russ (October 2007). "The Many Faces Of... Superman". KryptonSite.com. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  2. ↑ "IGN - 20. Justice League Unlimited". Tv.ign.com. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  3. ↑ RTE Guide, September 2002.

External links

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