Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated for six others. Batman: The Animated Series, which is noted for its thematic complexity, darkness, and high artistic quality, has been praised by critics and fans alike as one of the most faithful adaptations of the character. IGN has called the series the best adaptation of Batman anywhere outside of comics, the best comic book cartoon of all time, and the second best animated series of all time.
It was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The visual style of the series, dubbed "Dark Deco," is based on the artwork of producer and artist Bruce Timm.
The original series aired on Fox from September 5, 1992 to September 15, 1995. When the first season of the series aired on weekday afternoons, it lacked an on-screen title, and was referred to within the series itself as simply Batman in open narration for the second half of a two-part episode ("Previously on Batman..."). When its timeslot was moved to weekends during its second season, it was given the on-screen title The Adventures of Batman & Robin. The series was the first in the continuity of the shared DC Animated Universe, and spawned the feature film Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993).
I always liked Rā's al Ghūl just because he's such a maniacal villain. His early appearances written and drawn by the O'Neil/Adams team are great.
It surprises me how many times Penguin and Riddler both have been portrayed as fairly weak villains in films, television series, and to some extent even in comics. I think both could be really great characters if they were treated seriously and shown to be truly villainous.