One Of Batman TAS Best Episodes Happened Because Of The Simpsons

One Of Batman: TAS’ Best Episodes Happened Because Of The Simpsons

“Harley’s Holiday” is one of the best Batman: The Animated Series episodes, and its story of Harley’s sanity was inspired by a Homer Simpson joke.

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One Of Batman TAS Best Episodes Happened Because Of The Simpsons

One of the best episodes of Batman: The Animated Series happened because of The Simpsons. Airing from 1992-1995, the highly acclaimed superhero show was heavily influenced by Tim Burton’s Batman films’ complex storytelling and dark vision for Gotham. The series is also credited for its tragic reinterpretation of classic villains like Mr. Freeze, which were then carried over into the comics.

Batman: The Animated Series also boasts the massive achievement of debuting Harley Quinn, voiced by Arleen Sorkin. Originally created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini as a one-off henchwoman for the Joker, Harley became a hugely popular character, having now been portrayed by Margot Robbie in three DCEU movies. The show explored Harley’s complex, abusive relationship with Mr. J, featured her helping Batman and form a friendship with Poison Ivy.

One of her strongest and most sympathetic episodes is “Harley’s Holiday”. Discussing the story on the Batman: The Animated Podcast with Justin Michael, Paul Dini revealed that he copied a memorable joke from The Simpsons. Although the animated sitcom has been on the air since 1989 and currently spans 32 seasons, he was surely referring to season 3’s “Stark Raving Dad”. Dini also commented on how he wanted to write a more openly comedic Batman: The Animated Series episode, and it’s fitting he was influenced by a show which is known for its innumerable pop culture references.

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In “Harley’s Holiday”, the ex-psychiatrist is released from the villain-infested Arkham Asylum and tries to live a normal life. However, a simple misunderstanding involving a clothing security tag spirals out of control, and she finds herself pursued by Batman and Robin, gangsters, the police, and the military. Early in the episode, Harley proudly displays a certificate that has been stamped with the word “sane”. Dini states it is “a gag I think I stole from The Simpsons”. This Batman: The Animated Series episode aired in 1994, while “Stark Raving Dad” dates back to 1991 and follows Homer being thrown into a mental institute for wearing a pink shirt to work. Homer’s hand is stamped “insane” before he is eventually released and, in a shot very similar to that of Harley, Homer innocently displays his own certificate labeling him “not insane”. It’s a fantastic visual gag that pokes fun at attitudes towards contemporary American healthcare. “Stark Raving Dad” is now controversial, but it’s clear why Dini would incorporate the joke in depicting the seemingly arbitrary working practices of Arkham.

After writing many serious stories, Dini wanted to gently poke fun at the Batman mythos, especially Arkham’s revolving door of criminals. However, he also didn’t want to outright parody the crimefighter, believing this had occasionally been pushed too far in the Adam West 1960s TV show. For a comedic episode to work without being tonally inconsistent with the rest of Batman: The Animated Series, it needed to center around a sympathetic villain. Harley is one of the most naturally humorous characters, lending herself perfectly to a screwball plot. Yet, like most golden age Simpsons episodes, “Harley’s Holiday” is still crafted on a strong emotional foundation of Batman striving to protect her from needlessly throwing away her newfound freedom. It’s ironic this story was inspired by The Simpsons after the sheer number of occasions the comedy has parodied Batman.

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Krusty once guest-starred on the 1960s Batman show, and in-universe superhero Radioactive Man pays homage with his own hilariously unsubtle, campy series. Meanwhile, Lisa receiving terrible braces from the dentist mimics Jack Nicholson’s Joker transformation, and Adam West danced the Batusi in season 4’s “Mr. Plow.” It’s a welcome surprise to see Batman: The Animated Series reverse this trend and copy Matt Groening’s The Simpsons. Although just one of several influences that include Monty Python, Homer’s innocent clothing mistake is strongly echoed by Harley’s disastrous attempt to merely purchase a dress.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/batman-animated-series-harley-quinn-simpsons-homer-inspiration/

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