I thought I’d post a quick comparison between the 2004 DVDs of Batman The Animated Series and the just-released Blu-ray collection.

Obviously I’ve just sampled one episode (“On Leather Wings”)- so please keep that in mind.

The DVDs appear to be mastered from a composite source, which I’m guessing was the master for the broadcast, as a result there are occasional cross color artifacts present in the picture, these seem to be largely well controlled suggesting perhaps a 3D comb filter was used when the master was digitized. I also noticed a couple of instances of what might possibly be video drop outs on the source, but these were relatively minor.

The Blu-rays are a back-to-the negative scan which looks fantastic. In general details barely visible in the DVD version are clear and sharp on the Blu-ray, there is no artifacting even in areas of high motion. A faint grain patter is present throughout as are specs of dust and lint on the original animation cels.

Batman The Animated Series – DVD on the left, Blu-ray on the right. DVD images have been scaled to HD size.

If I had to pick flaws with the Blu-ray they are as follows: there is some occasional light banding, also colors are a little shifted compared to the DVDs in places, and the brightness seems a little different scene to scene compared with the DVDs.

It is my understanding is that the series was shot on film, then telecine-d to video tape, during the telecine color corrections were applied, and brightness levels adjusted – it’s here that the variance between the Blu-ray and DVD/broadcast-master comes from.

To be clear I don’t find the differences objectionable and they are often slight – and in fact often work to show-off the artwork to better effect.

In conclusion, the new Blu-rays look awesome, but are a little different in places from the original broadcast masters, but unless you are comparing side-by-side you are unlikely to notice. Recommended.