Batman: The Animated Series was a tough act to follow. Fueled by a beautifully gloomy atmosphere and wielding themes and emotions that helped rejuvenate superhero animation, BTAS stands on many lists as one of the finest examples of televised American animation ever made. Concocting a sequel seemed impossible, and the general conceit of Batman Beyond looked doomed. But despite the odds, when Batman Beyond debuted in 1999 it proved almost as adept at fitting Batman into a horrific, tech-obsessed future as BTAS was at placing him in a noirish pseudo-past.
