This is a promotional image for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, a currently-airing series on Cartoon Network that debuted last year. The bright, colorful visuals in this image may have some die-hard fans of the dark, gritty Caped Crusader trembling with fear, but any fan of this series knows that this is a very different take on Batman, one that has a lot more fun with the character than most modern renditions of the Dark Knight. Overall, this show is very much a throwback to the Silver Age of Comic Books, which spawned the likes of Superfriends and the 60s TV show. What immediately sets The Brave and the Bold apart from those productions (aside from a basic level of respect for the Batman comics) is its post-modernism and self-awareness. In other words, imagine Superfriends if the comedy was actually intentional, and you pretty much have Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

All-in-all, there's a lot I've enjoyed about this series, but the true standout has been the animation. It's simply terrific. The animation does a great job of emulating the show's fun, light-hearted atmosphere with its vibrant colors, simple character designs, and cartoonish aesthetic. Being a TV series, it's not as polished as what most feature films have to offer, but it is several cuts above what most animated TV shows of recent years have on store. The characters, despite being rather simply-designed, are expressive and colorful, with their designs emulating their unique personalities. The various locales also show creativity, ensuring that things stay fresh and interesting. Gotham City is especially impressive, mixing up aspects of darker elements such as the Tim Burton Batman films and Batman: The Animated Series with more light-hearted touches, allowing it to fit in with the show's lighter tone while remaining the Gotham that Batman fans everywhere know and love. Overall, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is a well-conceived and highly entertaining series, boasting colorful characters, diverse locales, and polished animation that manages to fit in all aspects of Batman mythology. I'm looking forward to seeing more.