Bruce Timm Explained

Birth Name:Bruce Walter Timm
Birth Date:5 February 1961
Birth Place:Oklahoma, U.S.
Area:Artist, animator, writer, producer, director, voice actor
Art:y
Write:y
Notable Works: (1992–1995)
(1993)
(1996–2000)
Batman Beyond (1999–2001)
Justice League (2001–2004)
Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006)
Awards:Inkpot Award (2013)[1]
Children:1

Bruce Walter Timm (born February 5, 1961) is an American artist, animator, writer, producer, and director. He is best known for contributing to building the modern DC Comics animated franchise, most notably as the head producer behind (1992–1995), (1996–2000), The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999), Batman Beyond (1999–2001), Justice League (2001–2004), and Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006).

He also co-created Freakazoid! (1995–1997) alongside Paul Dini and developed (2012–2013). Following the conclusion of the DCAU, Timm went on to produce several DC animated films under the DC Universe Animated Original Movies line, such as Wonder Woman (2009), (2010), (2010), Justice League Doom (2012), Superman vs The Elite (2012), The Dark Knight Returns (2013) and (2015).

Outside of animation, Timm has also drawn and written several comic books. Timm and Dini collaborated on , which won the Eisner Award for Best Single Story in 1994, which told the origin story of Harley Quinn.

Early life

Bruce Timm was born on February 5, 1961,[2] in Oklahoma, the third of four brothers. His father was an engineer and his mother worked for the phone company. Timm's family first moved to Ohio when Timm was two years old, and then to California when Timm was five or six.

Timm began drawing from a young age and developed a serious interest in comics around age 12 or 13. His first exposure to superhero media was the 1960s Batman television series. Timm went to college for only one year before dropping out due to bad grades. After dropping out, he began working full-time at Kmart until he saw a Filmation ad inviting new artists to take a layout test. Timm applied in mid-1980, but wasn't offered the job and went back to working for Kmart. The next year, Filmation began hiring again. Timm passed the layout test on his second try and from that point on began working in animation.

Career

Animation

1985–1989

Timm's early career in animation started at Filmation, working on the layout of Blackstar, Flash Gordon, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, its spin-off , and The Lone Ranger. He also did background work on G.I. Joe.[3] He also worked for numerous other employers, including Ralph Bakshi and Don Bluth Productions, and attempted to find work at Marvel Comics and DC Comics, but was unsuccessful. During an animators strike in 1982, Timm found himself out of work and went back to Kmart for about half a year, before being hired by Don Bluth to help work on The Secret of NIMH. In 1987, he was hired by John Kricfalusi to do layouts for , which Timm called "artistically and creatively the most fulfilling job that I'd had in the animation business". He worked at DIC Entertainment on The Real Ghostbusters for one season in 1988, then joined Warner Bros. in 1989. At Warner, Timm worked on Tiny Toon Adventures.

1992–2006

Timm was one of the creators and producers of the animated series based on various DC Comics superheroes, known as the DC Animated Universe. The DCAU has also named the "Timmverse" or "Diniverse", after both him and Paul Dini, a writer and producer.[4] Along with his Tiny Toons partner Eric Radomski, Timm co-created and produced the Emmy Award-winning , which premiered on September 5, 1992, through which he and Dini co-created the character of Harley Quinn, and went on to co-create and produce (premiered in September 1996), The New Batman Adventures (premiered in September 1997), and Batman Beyond (premiered in January 1999), through which he and Dini co-created Terry McGinnis, the teenage Batman of the future, and his supporting cast.[5] He also served as producer on the feature-length (2000)[6] before taking the helm as creator and producer of the animated version of Justice League, which debuted in November 2001; the series continued in the form of Justice League Unlimited in July 2004.[7] Timm was also the producer and creator of (premiered in November 2011).[8] Along with Dini he created the animated series Freakazoid! (premiered in September 1995).[9]

Timm created virtually all the original character designs for Batman: The Animated Series himself, with the exceptions of Mr. Freeze and the Riddler, who were designed by Mike Mignola, and the characters Man-Bat and the Mad Hatter, who were designed by Kevin Nowlan. He shared character designer duties on Superman: The Animated Series and Justice League with James Tucker.[10]

2008–present

The 2008 project is a departure from the "Timmverse" style, with Timm in a producer role collaborating with Japanese animators on a direct-to-DVD anthology that takes place between the live-action Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008) films.[11] In 2013, following the release of The Dark Knight Returns animated feature, Timm stepped down as DC animation supervising producer; James Tucker was named as his replacement.[12] Timm still works at Warner Brothers, and executive produced the DC Universe Original Animated Movies[13] (2015)[14] and Batman: The Killing Joke (2016),[15] and series (2015).[16] He was a writer and executive producer for Batman and Harley Quinn (2017).[17]

Timm worked with Man of Steel director Zack Snyder in creating a 75th anniversary short of Superman in 2013.[18] In 2014, he released , an animated short celebrating the 75th anniversary of Batman and an homage to one of Hugo Strange's first appearances in the comic books.[19]

During DC FanDome 2021, Timm was announced to be executive producing a new Batman animated series titled alongside J. J. Abrams and Matt Reeves. Comparing the new series to Batman: The Animated Series, Timm stated, "There were certain limitations on what we could do in terms of adult content; in terms of violence and adult themes. My idea is basically to say, 'OK, it's 1990 again, I get to do what I want to do this time, and I got JJ and Matt backing me up.'"[20]

Acting

Timm has played several characters in the animated series he has been involved in. His cameos include the 1992 episode of , "Beware the Gray Ghost", playing the toy shop owner,[21] as himself in the 1997 episode of The New Batman Adventures, "Holiday Knights", and as the leader of the Jokerz gang in Batman Beyond, which he joked he did under duress and was "Emmy Award-winning material".[22] He subsequently appeared in an animated form in the 2009 episode of , "Legends of the Dark Mite", in a comic book convention parody scene, in which he wore Joker's costume, alongside Paul Dini in Harley Quinn's costume. He played a guard in the 2000 direct-to-video animated film .[23]

Timm made a cameo appearance in the 2009 film as Bug Boy. He played The Riddler in the 2010 film and appeared as Galius Zed in the 2011 film .[24]

Comics

Outside of his work in animation, Timm's first ambition was to become a comic-book artist and has thus produced several one-shots and miniseries, mostly for DC Comics. His earliest comic book work was drawing He-Man and other Masters of the Universe mini-comics that would be packaged with Mattel toys in the 1980s.[25]

In 1994, Timm and writer Paul Dini won both the Eisner Award for Best Single Story and the Harvey Award for Best Single Issue or Story for Batman Adventures: Mad Love.[26] Timm won the same Eisner prize the next year as well, for Batman Adventures Holiday Special, (a one-shot with several Christmas-themed stories) with Dini, Ronnie del Carmen, and others.[27] Later, Timm was involved with Batman Adventures and has also worked on Avengers and Vampirella.[28]

In 2000, he did the art for an issue of DC's Vertigo imprint horror title, Flinch.[29]

Timm co-created Harley Quinn (with Dini), working from Dini's original design.[30] Harley's popularity on television led to her inclusion in the mainstream DC Universe. In 2004, Timm and Dini (assisted by Shane Glines as inker) released a three-issue Harley and Ivy miniseries, which was in the works for years.

Timm also drew the 1999 Avengers 1½ special for Marvel Comics, written by Roger Stern. In 2005, he contributed artwork for two comics. One was a short story in Conan #18, titled "Conan's Favorite Joke". The other was a Black Canary short story in Birds of Prey #86. Timm provided the art work for a short two-page Harley Quinn origin story for Dini's Countdown in 2008.

Timm was featured in "Conan Gets Animated", a skit in the December 9, 2010, episode of the TBS late night talk show Conan, in which host Conan O'Brien enlisted his help in designing a new superhero, based on O'Brien's specifications. The superhero, who was designed to resemble O'Brien, included a typically muscular superhero body and costume with chest insignia, as well as idiosyncrasies such as an oven mitt, a jai alai glove, golf shoes, sock garters, and fishnet stockings.[31] One month later, O'Brien aired a clip on his show in which the character, named "The Flaming C", appears in Young Justice.[32]

In 2013, Timm provided the cover artwork for Adventures of Superman #4.[33]

Art books

In 2012, Timm released a book of erotic art, "Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm," showcasing more than 300 pencil, line, and full color erotic drawings of women.[34] In 2020, he released another book of erotic art, "The Big Tease: A Naughty and Nice Collection," showcasing more than 208 pencil, line, and full color erotic drawings of women.[35]

Drawing style and influences

Timm's minimalist, аngular style is heavily based in his love of 1950s- and 1960s-era comics and Art Deco architecture style. He is also self-taught, having never received any formal art schooling. Timm lists his artistic influences as Jack Kirby, Harvey Kurtzman, Jim Steranko, John Buscema, Wally Wood, Frank Frazetta, Dan DeCarlo, and Alex Toth.[36]

Personal life

Timm is married to his wife, Marta.[37] They have one daughter.[36]

Filmography

Film, as writer

YearTitleCredited asNetworkNotes
WriterProducerDeveloper
1993colspan=2 Warner Brothers
2000colspan=2
2007
2008
2008
2009Wonder Woman
2009
2009
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010All-Star Superman
2011
2011Batman: Year One
2011
2012
2012Superman vs The Elite
2012The Dark Knight Returns Part 1
2012The Dark Knight Returns Part 2
2014
2015colspan=3
2016Batman: The Killing Joke
2017Batman and Harley Quinn
2016
2019Justice League vs. the Fatal Five
2019
2020
2020
2021

Television, as writer

YearTitleCredited asNetworkNotes
WriterProducerDeveloperShowrunner
1992–1995colspan=2
1995–1997Freakazoid!colspan=2
1996–2000colspan=3
1997–1999The New Batman Adventurescolspan=2
1999–2001Batman Beyondcolspan=2
2001–2004Justice Leaguecolspan=2
2004–2006Justice League Unlimitedcolspan=2
2011–2013colspan=2
2024colspan=2

Film

+ List of voice performances in filmsYearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2000GuardDirect-to-video
2009Wonder WomanAttackerDirect-to-video
2009Bug BoyDirect-to-video
2009MongulDirect-to-video
2010Uncle Super (credited) / Captain Super Jr. (uncredited)Direct-to-video
2010The RiddlerDirect-to-video
2011Galius ZedDirect-to-video
2012AceDirect-to-video
2012Superman vs. The EliteMI-5 AgentDirect-to-video
2012The Dark Knight Returns Part 1Thomas WayneDirect-to-video
2016Batman: The Killing JokePatrolmanTheatrical release
2017Batman and Harley QuinnMichael J. Carter / Booster GoldDirect-to-video
2018Arkham Radio ManDirect-to-video
2019Justice League vs. the Fatal FiveTwo-FaceDirect-to-video

Television

+ List of voice performances in television seriesYearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1992–1993Red / The Mad Bomber / Ted Dymer2 episodes
1999–2001Batman BeyondJ-Man / Jokerz Leader / Top Hat Joker5 episodes
2003Justice LeagueSoldierEpisode: "The Terror Beyond"
2004Justice League UnlimitedSolomon Grundy / Stew / Husband (uncredited)2 episodes

Bibliography

Dark Horse Comics

DC Comics

Art of Fiction

Eternity Comics

Flesk Publications

Image Comics

Pied Paper

Dynamite Entertainment

Marvel Comics

TwoMorrows Publishing

First Comics

H. H. Windsor


Accolades

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot Inkpot Award
  2. Web site: Bruce Timm . . May 3, 2017.
  3. Web site: Bruce Timm's secret origin: He-Man & the Masters of the Universe . Arrant . Chris . October 14, 2013 . Comic Book Resources . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170531003954/https://www.cbr.com/bruce-timms-secret-origin-he-man-the-masters-of-the-universe/ . May 31, 2017.
  4. Web site: What Was So Great About the DC Animated Universe? Just About Everything . Parkin . John . August 7, 2016 . Comic Book Resources . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516041132/https://www.cbr.com/what-was-so-great-about-the-dc-animated-universe-just-about-everything/ . May 16, 2017.
  5. Web site: Batman Beyond celebrates 20 years at SDCC and announces a fully remastered series set . Kaye . Don . Silliman . Brian . July 18, 2019 . Syfy Wire . January 27, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127112419/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/sdcc-2019-batman-beyond-anniversary . January 27, 2022.
  6. Web site: Batman Beyond: Details of Scrapped Return of the Joker Sequel Revealed . Hickson . Colin . July 18, 2019 . Comic Book Resources . July 18, 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190719132913/https://www.cbr.com/batman-beyond-scrapped-return-of-the-joker-sequel-catwoman/ . July 19, 2019.
  7. Web site: Batman: The Animated Series & Every Other Show In The DCAU . MacReady . Melody . July 23, 2020 . . July 23, 2020.
  8. Web site: NYCC: Bruce Timm Animates "Green Lantern" . Amaya . Erik . October 21, 2011 . Comic Book Resources . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814222437/https://www.cbr.com/nycc-bruce-timm-animates-green-lantern/ . August 14, 2019.
  9. Web site: Freak Out! Everything you didn't know about Freakazoid! . June 11, 2020 . . June 11, 2020.
  10. Web site: Why Batman The Animated Series Is The Best Version (So Far) . Morrison . Matt . September 7, 2020 . . September 7, 2020 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200912180523/https://screenrant.com/batman-animated-series-best-version-dark-knight-why/ . September 12, 2020.
  11. Web site: Timm talks "Batman: Gotham Knight" . Jones . Seth . July 10, 2008 . Comic Book Resources . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170927193758/https://www.cbr.com/timm-talks-batman-gotham-knight/ . September 27, 2017.
  12. Web site: Bruce Timm Releases The Reins Of Warner Bros. Animation's 'DC Universe' Features . Wilson . Matt D. . March 29, 2013 . . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170214122824/https://comicsalliance.com/bruce-timm-steps-down-dc-animation-james-tucker/ . February 14, 2017.
  13. News: Melrose. Kevin. Bruce Timm Steps Down as DC DVD Producer. Newsarama. May 27, 2013.
  14. Web site: Bruce Timm Talks 'Justice League Gods & Monsters,' Harley Quinn & More . Dyce . Andrew . June 8, 2015 . Screen Rant . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170426214053/https://screenrant.com/justice-league-gods-monsters-reboot-interview/ . April 26, 2017.
  15. Web site: Bruce Timm on building a story around Batman: The Killing Joke . Moore . Trent . January 13, 2016 . Syfy Wire . May 5, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171016185553/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/bruce-timm-building-story-around-batman-killing-joke . October 16, 2017.
  16. Web site: Exclusive: Bruce Timm on Gods And Monsters, Suicide Squad's Harley Quinn . Sagers . Aaron . June 26, 2015 . Syfy Wire . May 5, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180731233814/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/exclusive-bruce-timm-gods-and-monsters-suicide-squads-harley-quinn . July 31, 2018.
  17. Web site: Batman And Harley Quinn animated movie pressing ahead . Howard . Kirsten . April 20, 2017 . Den Of Geek . May 28, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170421214052/http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/batman-and-harley-quinn/48854/batman-and-harley-quinn-animated-movie-pressing-ahead . April 21, 2017.
  18. Superman: 75 years of heroic history in one 2-minute animated short . Breznican . Anthony . October 14, 2013 . . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427213010/https://ew.com/article/2013/10/14/superman-75-years-of-heroic-history-in-a-2-minute-animated-short-exclusive/ . April 27, 2017.
  19. Web site: Exclusive Interview: Bruce Timm On His Return to Batman With 'Strange Days' [Video] ]. April 9, 2014 . ComicsAlliance . October 31, 2016 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160828110821/https://comicsalliance.com/bruce-timm-batman-strange-days-interview-animation-dc-nation-75th-anniversary-short/ . August 28, 2016.
  20. Web site: Batman: Caped Crusader Is 'Adult', 'Psychologically Complex', and Includes New Versions of Familiar Characters – DC FanDome 2021 . Skrebels . Joe . October 16, 2021 . . October 16, 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211016195509/https://www.ign.com/articles/batman-caped-crusader-adult-bruce-timm-jj-abrams-matt-reeves . October 16, 2021.
  21. Web site: Batman: The Animated Series – When the Dark Knight Met His Idol . Kendall . G. . August 5, 2017 . Comic Book Resources . August 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170807204835/https://www.cbr.com/batman-animated-series-gray-ghost-adam-west/4/ . August 7, 2017.
  22. Web site: 15 Things You Never Knew About Batman Beyond . Castro . Danilo . January 11, 2017 . Screen Rant . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170516214012/https://screenrant.com/batman-beyond-terry-mcginnis-facts-trivia-secrets/ . May 16, 2017.
  23. Web site: Behind The Voice Actors – Bruce Timm . Behind The Voice Actors . April 19, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170622121609/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Bruce-Timm/ . June 22, 2017. – green check mark indicates roles that have been verified by BTVA through closing credits
  24. Web site: WC11: "Green Lantern: Emerald Knights" World Premiere . Sikula . Dave . April 2, 2011 . Comic Book Resources . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125002239/https://www.cbr.com/wc11-green-lantern-emerald-knights-world-premiere/ . January 25, 2021.
  25. Web site: The Surprisingly Awesome Comics History of 'Masters Of The Universe' . Leslie . Lee . April 16, 2013 . ComicsAlliance . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170125201250/https://comicsalliance.com/masters-of-the-universe-comics-history/ . January 25, 2017.
  26. Web site: Revisiting the Little Known Sequel to The Joker & Harley's Mad Love . Kendall . G. . March 4, 2018 . Comic Book Resources . December 20, 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191220020639/https://www.cbr.com/batman-the-animated-series-the-joker-harleys-mad-love-revisited/ . December 20, 2019.
  27. Web site: On The Cheap: The 50-Page 'Batman Adventures Holiday Special' Is 99 Cents This Week . Sims . Chris . July 2, 2015 . ComicsAlliance . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170224100150/https://comicsalliance.com/batman-adventures-holiday-special/ . February 24, 2017.
  28. Web site: WHAT: 'Vampirella' Short Story By Bruce Timm And Ty Templeton [Preview] ]. Khouri . Andy . September 7, 2011 . ComicsAlliance . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170616071018/https://comicsalliance.com/vampirella-bruce-timm-ty-templeton/ . June 16, 2017.
  29. Web site: Just Making a Good Show: A Birthday Tribute to Bruce Timm . Wilson . Matt D. . February 8, 2016 . ComicsAlliance . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170615162038/https://comicsalliance.com/tribute-bruce-timm/ . June 15, 2017.
  30. Web site: Watch: Bruce Timm reveals the origin of Harley Quinn's origin story . Avila . Mike . September 25, 2017 . Syfy Wire . September 25, 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170926052655/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/watch-harley-quinn-co-creator-bruce-timm-reveals-how-her-origin-story-came-to-be . September 26, 2017.
  31. "Conan Gets Animated", Conan, TBS, December 9, 2010
  32. Web site: "The Flaming C" Returns! . . . January 11, 2011 . January 10, 2011 .
  33. Web site: New Digital-First Superman Series to Feature Timm, Hitch, Samnee, Sprouse and More with Out-of-Continuity Adventures . Khouri . Andy . February 7, 2013 . ComicsAlliance . May 5, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170615202539/https://comicsalliance.com/adventures-superman-digital-dc-comics-chris-samnee-jeff-parker-bruce-timm/ . June 15, 2017.
  34. Book: Timm, Bruce . 2012 . Naughty and Nice: The Good Girl Art of Bruce Timm . Santa Cruz, California . Flesk Publications . 978-1640410473.
  35. Book: Timm, Bruce . 2020 . The Big Tease: A Naughty and Nice Collection . Santa Cruz, California . Flesk Publications . 978-1640410312.
  36. Web site: Timm of the New Gods . Cooke . Jon B. . TwoMorrows Publishing . September 2, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413125700/http://twomorrows.com/comicbookartist/articles/sptimm.html . April 13, 2014.
  37. Romano . Andrea . Andrea Romano (voice director) . Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary . . October 6, 2019 . ""And then Bruce Timm's wife Marta said...".
  38. Web site: 1994 Harvey Award Nominees and Winners . Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac . September 1, 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131004213507/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/harvey94.php . October 4, 2013.
  39. Web site: The Winsor McCay Award . . August 21, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170821003337/https://annieawards.org/juried-awards/winsor-mccay . August 21, 2017.
  40. Web site: Inkpot Award . . December 6, 2012 . July 3, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170129155249/http://www.comic-con.org/awards/inkpot . January 29, 2017.