Justice League (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Justice League |
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Promotional image of the JL by Bruce Timm
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| Genre |
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| Developed by | Bruce Timm |
| Directed by | Butch Lukic Dan Riba |
| Voices of |
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| Theme music composer | Lolita Ritmanis |
| Composer(s) |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 52 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Editor(s) | Joe Gall |
| Running time | 20-22 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Warner Bros. Animation DC Comics |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Release | |
| Original network | Cartoon Network |
| Picture format | 480i 1080p (Blu-ray) |
| Original release | November 17, 2001 – May 29, 2004 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | The New Batman/Superman Adventures |
| Followed by | Justice League Unlimited |
Justice League is an American animated television series which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. It is the seventh series 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. It serves as a prequel to Batman Beyond and as a sequel to Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures. After two seasons, the series was rebranded as Justice League Unlimited, a successor series which aired for three seasons.
Contents
Production
Bruce Timm, who co-produced Batman: The Animated Series and Superman: The Animated Series in the 1990s, became producer on an animated series focusing on the Justice League. The roster consisted of Batman, Superman, 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). Batman's costume was redesigned, but this time, his costume was a combination of his last three costumes. The same costume from The New Batman Adventures is retained, but with the blue highlights from the Batman: The Animated Series costume and the long-ears from the Batman Beyond costume are added to the costume. 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), 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".
Several actors who voiced members of the League's villains in previous DCAU shows also returned to reprise their roles, including Mark Hamill, Clancy Brown, Corey Burton, and Michael Ironside as the Joker, Lex Luthor, Brainiac, and Darkseid, respectively.
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. Charlie Schlatter, who voiced the Flash in one episode of Superman: The Animated Series, was unavailable to reprise the role and was replaced by Michael Rosenbaum. 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.
Episodes
Voice cast
Main cast
- Kevin Conroy – Batman / Bruce Wayne
- George Newbern – Superman / Clark Kent, D.J. Rubber Ducky
- Susan Eisenberg – Wonder Woman / Princess Diana
- Phil LaMarr – Green Lantern / John Stewart, Ed Reiss
- Michael Rosenbaum – Flash / Wally West, Arkkis Chumuck, Colonel Josef, André, Deadshot, Franzee
- Carl Lumbly – Martian Manhunter / J'onn J'onzz, Krizblack
- Maria Canals-Barrera – Hawkgirl / Shayera Hol, Livewire, Py'tar
Recurring characters
- Grant Albrecht – General Hoffman
- William Atherton – Doctor Destiny
- René Auberjonois – Kanjar Ro, Guardian, Galius Zed, Desaad, Steppenwolf
- Fairuza Balk – Penny Dee
- Dorie Barton – Audrey
- Kristin Bauer – Mera
- Xander Berkeley – General Brak
- Serena Berman – Cassie
- Earl Boen – Simon Stagg
- Powers Boothe – Gorilla Grodd
- Julie Bowen – Aresia
- Max Brooks – Howie
- Kimberly Brooks – Mrs. Saunders
- Clancy Brown – Lex Luthor
- Ian Buchanan – Ultra-Humanite
- Corey Burton – Brainiac, Forager, Metallo, Toyman, Weather Wizard, Dr. Blizzard
- Cathy Cavadini – Dr. Mary
- Greg Cipes – Jack
- Enrico Colantoni – Glorious Godfrey
- Gary Cole – J. Allen Carter
- Rickey D'Shon Collins – Chris McGee
- Olivia d'Abo – Morgaine Le Fay, Star Sapphire
- Keith David – Despero
- Dana Delany – Lois Lane, Maggie Sawyer
- Michael Dorn – Kalibak
- Richard Doyle – Dr. Louis
- Brian Doyle-Murray – Artie Bauman
- Larry Drake – Colonel Vox
- Fred Dryer – Sergeant Rock
- Patrick Duffy – Steve Trevor
- Lisa Edelstein – Mercy Graves
- Ashley Edner – Trina, Jennifer
- Héctor Elizondo – Kragger
- Robert Englund – Felix Faust
- Shelley Fabares – Martha Kent
- Mike Farrell – Jonathan Kent
- Oded Fehr – Doctor Fate
- Carlos Ferro – Radocko
- Efrain Figueroa – Copperhead (1st Voice)
- Soren Fulton – Mordred
- Brad Garrett – Lobo
- Brian George –Guardian, Parasite, Mr. President, Morgan Edge
- Peri Gilpin – Volcana
- Michael Gough – Professor Henry Moss
- Richard Green – Orm
- Pam Grier – My'ria'h
- Julianne Grossman – Phillipus
- Kim Mai Guest – Katma Tui
- Nicholas Guest – Luminus
- Jennifer Hale – Giganta, Killer Frost, Sroya Bashir, Black Siren, Inza
- Mark Hamill – Solomon Grundy, Joker
- Neil Patrick Harris – Ray Thompson
- Dennis Haysbert – Kilowog
- Grant Heslov – Doctor Patel
- Michael Ironside – Darkseid
- Robert Ito – Mr. Hama
- Jeffrey Jones – Sir Swami
- William Katt – Green Guardsman
- David Kaufman – Jimmy Olsen
- Udo Kier – Music Master
- Ted Levine – Sinestro, Bulldozer
- Virginia Madsen – Sarah Corwin
- Jason Marsden – Snapper Carr
- Karen Maruyama – Tsukuri
- Bruce McGill – General McCormick
- Ted McGinley – Tom Turbine, Burns
- Stephen McHattie – Shade
- Michael McKean – Sportsman, Sergeant O'Shaughnessey
- Danica McKellar – Sapphire Stagg
- Scott Menville – King
- Alfred Molina – Gustav
- Richard Moll – Java
- Garrett Morris – Al McGee
- Phil Morris – Vandal Savage, Gorilla City General
- David Naughton – The Streak
- Rob Paulsen – Lightray
- Khary Payton – Ten
- Elizabeth Peña – Paran Dul
- Ron Perlman – Clayface, Orion
- Diane Pershing – Poison Ivy
- Robert Picardo – Blackhawk, Amazo
- Sheryl Lee Ralph - Cheetah
- Jan Rabson – Professor Erlich
- James Remar – Manhunter
- John Rhys-Davies – Hades
- Kevin Michael Richardson – General Wells, Imperium
- Victor Rivers – Hro Talak
- Eric Roberts – Mongul
- Mark Rolston – Firefly
- Stephen Root – Cat Man
- Scott Rummell – Aquaman
- Mitchell Ryan – Highfather
- Pepe Serna – Shifflet
- W. Morgan Sheppard – Merlin
- Tom Sizemore – Metamorpho
- William Smith – Draaga
- Arleen Sorkin – Harley Quinn
- David Ogden Stiers – Solovar
- Tara Strong – Sera, Queen
- Susan Sullivan – Hippolyta
- Dave Thomas – Harv Hickman, Ernst
- Lauren Tom – Chung
- Hynden Walch – Ace
- Tracey Walter – Mophir
- Michael T. Weiss – Etrigan the Demon/Jason Blood
- Maggie Wheeler – Antiope
- Michael Jai White – Doomsday
- Jose Yenque – Copperhead (2nd Voice)
- Keone Young – Dr. Chin
- Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. – Alfred Pennyworth
- Rob Zombie – Icthultu
Home media
From 2006 to 2011, Warner Home Entertainment (via DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Family Entertainment) released the entire series of Justice League on DVD and Blu-ray, and presented in original broadcast version and story arc continuity order.
Season releases
| DVD/BD name | Release date | Ep # | Additional information |
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| Season One | March 21, 2006 | 26 | 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 One | August 19, 2008 | 26 | 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 Two | June 20, 2006 | 26 | Contains 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 Two | July 26, 2011 | 26 | Warner Home Video released Season Two on a two-disc (50GB each) Blu-ray set. |
Warner Home Video also released another DVD set titled Justice League: The Complete 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. This was later re-packaged and sold as a 10-disc set without the bonus documentary.
- Individual releases
| DVD name | Release date | Additional information |
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| Justice League | April 23, 2002 | Contains all three parts of "Secret Origins". A mini-DVD version of this disc has also been released. |
| Justice on Trial | April 22, 2003 | Contains "In Blackest Night" and "The Enemy Below". |
| Paradise Lost | July 22, 2003 | Contains "Paradise Lost" and "War World". |
| The Justice League Collection | April 13, 2004 | Contains previous "Secret Origins," "Paradise Lost," and "Justice on Trial" DVDs in a three-pack with a slipcase. |
| Starcrossed The Movie | July 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 Bold | October 19, 2004 | Contains 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". |
Soundtrack
A 4-disc soundtrack of musical highlights from both seasons of Justice League was released by La-La Land Records in July 2016. It is a limited edition of 3000 units and can be ordered at the La-La Land Records website. The set includes tracks from fan-favorite episodes like A Better World, Hereafter, Wild Cards and Starcrossed.
La-La Land are hoping to release a soundtrack for Justice League Unlimited as well, provided that sales of the Justice League soundtrack improve significantly and that there is sufficient demand from fans. A second Justice League volume may also follow if fans support the existing release.
Cancelled film and reboot
Circa 2004, Bruce Timm announced that a direct-to-video Justice League feature film was in the works. The film was intended to make a bridge between the second season of Justice League to the first season of Justice League Unlimited. The film was planned to reveal how Wonder Woman acquired her Invisible-Jet, and also planned to feature the Crime Syndicate as the main antagonists, an idea that was originally conceived for the two-part episode "A Better World", until the Syndicate was replaced by the Justice Lords. Dwayne McDuffie wrote the script and Andrea Romano assembled the cast, but Warner Bros. finally scrapped the project. However, in 2010, the film's plot was used for the non-DCAU film Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, but removing all references to the continuity of the DC animated universe, and replacing John Stewart with Hal Jordan as the Justice League's Green Lantern.
Adaptations
Justice League Adventures
DC Comics published a series of 34-issue numbered comics based on the television series, between 2002 and 2004.
- #34 (2004-08-04): Guardians Against Darkness!
Compilations
- Justice League Adventures: The Magnificent Seven (2004-01-01): Includes #3, 6, 10–12.
See also
In Spanish: Liga de la justicia (serie animada) para niños
