The Animated Joker

The Animated Joker

The over-looked Joker needs to be discussed!

Editorial Opinion
By ecksmanfan - Sep 25, 2009 07:09 PM EST
Filed Under: Fan Fic

When I first heard that Heath Ledger had been cast as The Joker in "The Dark Knight," I, like a lot of you, had my doubts. It came out of left field and was quite unexpected. However, after seeing the film and the amazing performance that Heath gave us, I was forced to "eat crow." That performance is arguably one of the best we've seen from any actor in any role in the last twenty-five years. But...I'm not here to talk about his spectacular work.

I've been watching some of the animated Batman features ("The Batman vs. Dracula" and "Batman: Mask of the Phantasm") and was blown away by the Joker and the voice work by none other than Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill. He is awesome! That laugh of his can be quite chilling at times...exactly the way you think it should be. Not to mention his ability to embody the craziness that is The Joker...by only using his voice.

Add to this talent the stellar work by THE BEST Batman, Kevin Conroy, and any of the films that these two star in are anything but boring to watch. The interaction between the two is unmatchable.

I don't mean to take away from Ledger's performance, but the two are completely different, just as Jack Nicholson's and Ledger's performances are different. Each actor brings a new life and a new version to this iconic character.

I just needed to give Hamill credit for giving us such a fun and wacky version of this character.

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supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 9/25/2009, 7:34 PM
I had a complete nerdgasm when I found out that Mark Hamill played the joker. Imagine, Luke skywalker playing the clown prince of crime! I nearly creamed my Khakis! Hamill is awesome at what he does and definitely deserves credit for it
flames809
flames809 - 9/25/2009, 7:43 PM
Kevin Conroy aint the best batman bale is Kevin is the best voice actor for the batman and heath is the best joker yet and Hamill is the same as Kevin only a voice actor t
TheUnknown
TheUnknown - 9/25/2009, 7:55 PM
When I was told it was Hamill, it took me weeks, if not months, to believe it. But yeah, every portrayal almost creates a different Joker from Romero to the most recent Jeff Bennett.
Imran
Imran - 9/26/2009, 2:31 AM
Sweet article.. Hammil's Joker is immense! That voice is amazing! It was good to see him back for Arkham Asylum :-D
SabretoothTiger
SabretoothTiger - 9/26/2009, 10:28 AM
his voice is soooo crazy ill sit there and listen to the jokers interview tapes on the arkham asylum demo and its creepy in some parts lol but i have to disagree with you that even though mark hamill has done an amazin job you cant be the best joker or batman or any other character by just doin there voice unless there isnt a live action adaption of the character i mean christian bale embodies batman if he was standin by your window in your room when you walked in you would shit your pants he just portrays that fear and darkness that is batman also heath is the joker hands down but i think that someone will come along and do him one better its just a matter of time especially since batman will be remade until the end of days
Roscoe182
Roscoe182 - 9/26/2009, 10:41 AM
@ supermario indeed as did i have a nerdgasm wen io found out luke skywalker was the joker he has the best voice ever 4 the joker i love him
Minotauro
Minotauro - 9/26/2009, 11:38 AM
I still believe that Joseph Gordin-Levitt should still be the joker in the next one!
AshleyWilliams
AshleyWilliams - 9/26/2009, 5:19 PM
That show rocked in every aspect!
SGA
SGA - 9/26/2009, 11:52 PM
Nothing against Heath, but Hamill's Joker is my favorite, probably because of TAS, cuz I grew up watching that show.

I especially loved him in Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. It gave you a bit of a deeper look into the Joker's psyche and why he tormented Bruce so much.
InSpace
InSpace - 9/27/2009, 11:40 AM
The Batman VS Dracula isnt from Batman TAS.
Monstawain
Monstawain - 9/27/2009, 1:08 PM
InSpace is right. Mark Hammil did not do the voice in "The Batman vs Dracula" or on "The Batman" show. It was Kevin Michael Richardson. Although originally I also believed it was Hammil. They sound similar and are both great. Being a huge Star Wars fan, its amazing to hear Mark's amazing voice talents.
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 9/27/2009, 9:03 PM
@roscoe, it's funny 'cause the producers' original choice to play the joker was tim curry! imagine if he got the part! in the end though, hamill got it, and we were rewarded with that voice.
FalconX2
FalconX2 - 9/28/2009, 12:59 AM
Hamill is hardly the over-looked Joker. I don't think I've ever been in a single discussion about the incarnations of Joker that did not involve the Bruce Timm Animated Universe.

If anything, Cesar Romero of the 1966 version of Batman, is the over-looked Joker.

Though I will stand by you in Kevin Conroy being the best Batman and Hamill the best Joker. Just because they never did a physical portrayal, doesn't mean they are any less Batman and Joker. If anything, being voice actors mean it takes more to be the character. 90% of communication is body language. They have to do everything with their voice, then the animators will draw the animation based on the voice.

Imagine trying to read an article where 90% of the words are missing, or talking to someone on the phone when 90% of their voice drops out. Voice acting is no small feat, and Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are two of the best.
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 9/28/2009, 1:03 AM
that's for damn sure
flames809
flames809 - 9/29/2009, 6:23 PM
i still said ledger is the best joker ever
TheBumblingIdiot
TheBumblingIdiot - 10/2/2009, 12:50 AM
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE KEVIN C AS BATMAN CAN ANY OF U MAKE SOME FAN ART A ARTIST RENDERING OR SOMETHIG I THINK IF ZAKE DOSE GET TO DO THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS KEVIN SHOULD PLAY BATMAN WHO ELS NOWS BATMAN OR BRUCE FOR THAT MATTER BETTER NO ONE Y NOT GIVE THE GUY A SHOT IM A FAN SO SUE ME
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