Prior to a book’s release, it’s helpful for an author to gather endorsements from prominent individuals, who are given advance reader copies for their review. These are the accolades I’ve received for Batman: The Animated Interviews. I’m grateful for all of them:
“Bob Miller’s highly researched and thoroughly engaging history, Batman: The Animated Interviews, is a testament to a terrific writer who clearly loves storytelling and animation as he chronicles the gargantuan efforts to develop, produce and showcase the multi-Emmy award-winning Batman: The Animated Series. These books should be part of the curriculum of any school or university teaching writing, production and animation. Bob’s books describe the perseverance, passions and unfettered commitment to quality from all those engaged to deliver a truly great series, from the ‘upstart’ network, FOX Kids, to the remarkable creative output of the teams at Warner Animation. We all truly believed this Batman series would be great and Bob’s penetrating questions, which rendered thoughtful answers, help the readers and fans understand how the series was made, and why it worked so well. It was like a perfect storm. Everything came together … not easily, but magnificently.”
—Margaret Loesch, President & CEO/Vice-Chairman, Fox Kids Networks Worldwide, 1990-1998. Winner of five Daytime Emmy Awards. Responsible for bringing Batman: The Animated Series, X-Men, and the Power Rangers franchise to Fox Kids television.
“Holy-hairdo – Bob Miller has compiled an incredible collation of factual knowledge and an extraordinary thesis that fully captures the depth and breadth of this groundbreaking series. Bob has skillfully allowed the reader to share in the wonderful creative process that the show creators went to in the production of this show – and he has opened up a greater understanding for all fans of the Batman animated series of why it has entered the pantheon of television production and animated series. Congratulations to Bob for another stellar publication, and for keeping the flame burning so brightly for the craft of TV animation.”
— Richard Taylor, CEO/Creative Director, Wētā Workshop (Wellington, NZ).
“Bob Miller is a true fan and a true insider who knows how great things are made, and his creator interviews uncover deep and real insights. The perspectives contained in these volumes are fascinating and delightful!”
—Aaron Ehasz and Justin Richmond, Emmy Award-winning producers and co-creators, The Dragon Prince.
“For decades, I’ve known Bob as one of animation scholarship’s most ambitious, meticulous historians. So I knew that when he compiled his Batman interviews in book form, he’d do the job right. What he’s produced exceeds even my expectations. Every legendary TV series deserves a tribute as loving, wide-ranging, and authoritative as what he’s created.”
—Harry McCracken, technology editor, Fast Company and former editor, Animato
“You didn’t know how much you didn’t know. The ultimate definitive guide to Batman: The Animated Series.”
—Jean MacCurdy, President, Warner Bros. Animation, 1989-2001. Winner, two Daytime Emmys, one Primetime Emmy, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Burbank International Children’s Film Festival.
“I know of no one more dedicated to the history of animation than W.R. Miller, and the work he has done here on Batman is truly encyclopedic.”
—Alan Burnett, Writer/Producer, Warner Bros. Animation, 1991-2017. Winner, three Daytime Emmys, one Primetime Emmy, two Humanitas Prizes, and the Animation Writers Caucus Animation Award.
“Bob Miller paints an incredibly vivid picture of the creation of Batman: The Animated Series, skillfully using the voices of those who worked on the groundbreaking series as his brush. Digging far deeper than one would expect, here Miller creates an illuminating depiction of one of the best cartoons ever made that’s impossible to put down.”
—James Harvey, Webmaster, The World’s Finest and Toonzone
“This collection is a treasure. While a handful of bits of commentary make their way in from our videos at the Watchtower Database YouTube channel, there is just so much I’ve yet to read that I’ll be flipping through here for weeks … and that’s a good thing! For all our research through interviews old and new, to try and stay as objective as possible for our DC Animated Universe-themed videos and other projects, Bob has done the unthinkable: put the vast majority of it in one place. I know I’ll be referencing these essays for years to come!”
—James Strecker, Producer/Editor, Watchtower Database
“What a terrific read this is. There are so many great stories and such great insights into the making of that show that it’s astonishing. I can’t wait to read the next volume.”
—Craig Miller, Producer, Publicist, Writer, and first Director of Fan Relations at Lucasfilm.
“A definitive account detailing the creation and development of Batman: The Animated Series, its history and legacy, brilliantly compiled by Robert Miller. Entertaining, informative, and absolutely riveting, a must-read for all Batman fans and Animation historians. Bravo Robert, you’ve earned your place in the Batcave!”
—Randy Rogel, Emmy-winning writer on Batman: The Animated Series.
“You want to know about this classic series, this is the definitive source.”
—Joe R. Lansdale, Champion Mojo Storyteller. Inductee, The Texas Literary Hall of Fame, and winner of many honors including the British Fantasy Award, the American Horror Award, the Edgar Allen Poe Award, and eleven Bram Stoker Awards.
“I know Bob Miller to be a multi-faceted artist with a curiosity for and knowledge of pop culture matched only by his impressive skills and talents as a writer and artist. Bob is a creative soul to the core with a finely tuned microscope aimed keenly on the details. From my experience, Bob is an artist’s interviewer; he asks the questions of his subjects that demand thoughtfulness and truthful expression. It’s always a pleasure to be in conversation with him – he listens closely and reports truthfully.”
—Jason Simpson, actor, Leo and UBCP/ACTRA Award honoree, voice of Lord Viren and Barius on The Dragon Prince.
“On rare occasions, the right people come together at the right time for the right opportunity. That was the case for Batman: The Animated Series and its successors. Thanks to W.R. Miller, those people tell their stories about how this ground-breaking work was made, changing the face of TV animation forever.
“I have to say that I am extremely impressed with the thoroughness. Lots of animation-related interviews stick to the artists, but Miller has gone way beyond that and he’s given people a comprehensive idea of how an animated series comes together. Obviously, the fans will love this, but I think that the books have value for historians and for students. Anyone who aspires to get into the business will get a better picture of all that’s involved from these books than from anything else I’m aware of.”
—Mark Mayerson, animator, historian, and educator. Creator of Monster by Mistake and Tripp to the Stars.
“Bob Miller’s extensive research results in an incredibly comprehensive set of volumes about all things Animated Batman portrayed by Warner Bros. Animation. We’re thrilled these interviews and history are finally available to the general public and particularly to fans of the shows. We’re pleased to be a part of such a monumental work.”
—Michael McCuistion, Lolita Ritmanis, Kristopher Carter—The Dynamic Music Partners, composers. Daytime Emmy Award winners for Batman Beyond and many nominations for the Emmy, Annie and Jerry Goldsmith Awards.
“Bob Miller has done the impossible … he has managed to document the creation of the entire DCAU. I just can’t believe how extensive it is. I was there, but I learned so much I wasn’t aware of. This is now the definitive book on the creation of the DCAU.”
—Dan Riba, director, Annie Award nominee and three-time Emmy Award winner.
“He’s done it again! What a delight for any Batman fan, or indeed, lovers of the evolution of pop culture. From the very start you’re taken on a journey of discovery. Just like the caped crusader himself, no stone is left unturned. From ‘Pow’ to ‘Wow.’
“W.R. Miller emulates Batman himself with his very own forensic tenacity and attention to detail, charting the history of our hero’s animated life! This really has to be the most definitive timeline you can imagine. It’s like the Batman bible!”
—David Whiteley – British TV Anchor and Filmmaker
“These interviews are like a debriefing … and offer great insight into what we were thinking and doing in our combined effort to create something new from something existing … something comic book fans had very strong opinions about. This book delves into how we accomplished that goal. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I did!”
—Andrea Romano, casting and voice director, eight-time Emmy Award winner.
“Bob Miller’s superb books on the various Warner Batman animated series produced since 1992 shine a well-deserved spotlight (or should I say Bat-Signal) on the creatives behind these game-changing shows.”
—Jerry Beck, animation historian, June Foray and Inkpot Award winner.
