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Fans of Batman The Animated Series are surely familiar of the series’ sequel titled The New Batman Adventures (often seen as series 3) which debuted with Holiday Knights, a compilation of Christmas-time stories. The first story, the most memorable, is also the most interesting with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn taking advantage of billionaire Bruce Wayne, who unknowingly happens to be Batman.
This monumental episode has a new look and feel compared to the typical Batman animated series episodes and appeared on a new network, switching from FOX TO WB. But it also seems to be more loose from the get-go, having Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn scantily clad in crop tops, despite it being cold weather with snow falling outside an open window.
Ivy is wearing yoga-style tight pants with her belly showing when the episode starts, and Quinn is lying on the bed wearing underwear. Even the presence of a nude woman fountain statue was something that was not commonly tolerated with media intended for kids. (The video game series Castlevania comes to mind, which censored statues and villains when brought from Japan to the United States.) And since it was aired on what was called “Kids’ WB” on Saturday mornings with other cartoon shows, there is no question that it was intended for kids to watch.
Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy in Holiday Knights
Focusing on the first story of the episode, we see that Quinn and Ivy are hiding out in a seedy hotel during the Christmas season. When Quinn complains about no holiday gifts or fun, Ivy comes up with a clever plan.
Bruce Wayne (Batman and notable billionaire) is at a holiday party when a mysterious woman (obviously Ivy) appears from the shadows and steals a kiss. When Bruce tries to go to his car, Quinn and Ivy insist that he enters a limousine with them inside. Apparently with mind-controlling lipstick (like in Dark Knight Returns) the two women have Bruce give them a free shipping spree, buying clothes and jewels.
The scene reflects a fantasy of endless shopping. The first place they stop is the shoe section (verbally stated), followed by a montage of them trying on various silly outfits and hats. Ivy fans out Bruce’s credit cards as Harley watches. Bruce, comically, signs off on all the credit card charges against his will.
When the lipstick’s abilities wear off, Bruce seemingly accidentally falls down an elevator shaft, but returns as Batman and chases the villains into a toy store where they are captured from a fallen Christmas tree.
Comic Book Adaptation
What’s interesting about Holiday Knights, the premiere episode of The New Batman Adventures, is that much of it was adapted into a comic book. Titled The Batman Adventures Holiday Special (affiliate link), we get slight variations of the same stories, but with some of the original charm of the original animated series returned. Poison Ivy is back in her original costume and skin color, and the characters are more rounded than angled.
It’s hard to ignore that the comic shows even more sensuality with the women. Harley Quinn in the same aforementioned story is more clearly on the bed wearing smaller panties than before. In another story in both Holiday Knights and the comic book, Officer Montoya shivers in a skimpy elf outfit. The comic shows her saying she feels cold in the outfit, which draws attention to how little it covers.The same story also shows Barbara Gordon changing into her Batgirl costume in more detail.
Criticism of New Batman Adventures
The network wanted the Batman show to match the look of its Superman counterpart, so the team simplified the style even more than before. The artists replaced the clear hand drawn look with a digital look. Poison Ivy’s womanly figure, along with a detailed bodysuit made of leaves and spandex leggings, changed to a ghostly white figure and a simple dark green bodysuit with exposed arms and legs.
As mentioned before, more apparent sexuality has been introduced since the show switched networks and titles. (Although, ironically, Poison Ivy appeared more seductive when her hair, face and body were more detailed in the original series.) The Joker’s iconic appearance was drastically changed to look arguably much worse and less menacing. Batman’s sidekick Robin actually looks like a prepubescent kid, and his voice and appearance are completely different.
Changes In Gotham And The Look Of The Show
Another noticeable change in The New Batman Adventures comes from how Gotham City looks. The backgrounds use fewer details and softer colors. The city feels less dark than before, which you can really see in Holiday Knights. Although the Christmas setting could get somewhat dramatic, the show keeps things simple. The art team focused on clean shapes and bright lights, which I am sure makes animation easier to accomplish, but also makes things look crappier than ever before. They also do not put the same deep shadows from the older series.
The way characters talk also feels different, and scenes move fast and cuts come quick. The older show let moments breathe, but this new style makes the world feel more like a cartoon. Some fans enjoy the energy, while others miss the slow mood from the first series. I take note of how this change affects the tone, as It makes the episode feel very different from the older seasons.
How Redesigns Change The Villains
The redesigns also change how the villains come across. Poison Ivy, for example, loses many small details that made her stand out. Her new appearance feels simplistic and less tied to plants. Harley Quinn keeps her classic colors, but her face looks sharper and looks like her face was bleached. Compare this to the first season of the original series, where we see Pamela Isley as a total smoke show, literally turning heads. These small changes get very clear when you watch scenes back to back. They do make the characters easier to draw, but they also take away some charm.
The new style also affects how the show uses humor. Holiday Knights leans into jokes more than before. The shopping spree scene plays like a comedy sketch. Bruce Wayne gets dragged around and forced to sign things, and the tone feels light and silly. The toy store fight also uses big props and bright colors. These choices put the episode closer to a holiday special than a crime story.
How Supporting Characters Fit Into The Episode
Holiday Knights uses many side characters, but they do not get much time. Gordon, Montoya and Bullock all appear for short moments. They help set the holiday mood, but they do not get deep scenes. The older show often gave even small characters strong moments. This new style moves fast and does not stop for long talks, as evident in the first episode. It is apparent why the show made this choice, as it keeps the pace quick for younger viewers.
However, the episode still gives Gotham a warm feel. You see people shop, party and deal with holiday stress. These small scenes make the world feel alive, and also give the villains and heroes a break from the usual dark tone. I really enjoy how the episode shows a softer side of Gotham. It helps the story feel fresh, even with the terrible new art style.
Why Holiday Knights Still Stands Out
Holiday Knights remains a key episode for fans who want to see how the show changed. It shows the new art style, the new pacing and the new tone. It also brings Harley and Ivy together in a fun way. The episode gives a look at how the show tried to grow on a new network, which you can see from watching both versions of the series. You get a clear view of how the team changed their ideas.
The episode also works as a holiday story. It mixes crime, humor and winter themes in a simple way, while not trying to be deep. Rather, it tries to make viewers smile and enjoy the season, which was a decision that helped the episode stay popular. Fans still talk about it because it feels different from the usual Batman stories and is more light-hearted.
In Closing
Holiday Knights shows how The New Batman Adventures tried to move forward while keeping the heart of the older show. The new designs, fast pacing and bright colors make the episode feel very different. The story still gives fans a fun look at Gotham during the holidays, and also shows early signs of the Harley and Ivy team that fans love today. Anyone who wants to understand the shift between the two series should watch this episode. It gives a clear look at what the show wanted to do and how it tried to make a new style for a new time.