How Would You Fix the Animated Adaptation of The Killing Joke

[Thebestoftherest]

I assume you mean other than not to do it at all.

[Winter]

I assume you mean other than not to do it at all.

I will say that my preferred method would to just have been to let Mark Hamill do a Audio Narration or a Radio Drama with the DCAU cast but DC was always going to make a adaptation of TKJ so the question here is how to do it right so we don't end up with... what we got.

[BlackoutCreature2]

Here's the main problem with making an animated adaptation of The Killing Joke - it's not a story that translates well into animation. Alan Moore's work (much like Frank Miller's) is very much designed for the comic book, where the story is told through static images, lengthy dialogues and narration boxes. In modern animation the story is told through more subtle methods, short snappy dialogue, action beats, fluid movements, body language, etc. There's no better evidence of this then the difference between the "prequel" portion of the movie that Azzarello and Timm came up with that feels very much like a modern, slick, stylized, action-oriented Batman cartoon, and the main story which feels every bit of the gritty 80's comic it was based on.

There are stories that can cross this divide, but TKJ just isn't one of them.

But if you absolutely must animate it, the important thing to remember is that the people who will be watching it are just looking for a comic that they have an emotional investment in to be animated, nothing more. The story doesn't need to be expanded, Barbara doesn't need to be "fixed". I doubt anybody who championed this movie needs that, or wants it in the slightest. Just shoot her and be done with it, I don't like it anymore then you do but that's the story the people want.

If the material isn't long enough to get to a feature length, then find another Alan Moore story, animate it, and tag it to the end of the movie like a back-up story in a comic. Anything else it just gonna piss off the purists.

Also look into new voice direction. The characters had a tendency to talk in this rambling dull monotone. There's just no emotion or personality in their dialogue. And this problem isn't unique to TKJ, it's been a problem with DC animated movies for the last decade, it was really bad in The Long Halloween.

And finally, consider re-casting. With better voice direction Mark Hamill probably could've worked for the Joker, but not Kevin Conroy. I hate to say that because Conroy's Batman is easily my favorite of all time, but his even-toned intensity that works so well for so many other Batman projects just doesn't work with the Batman that Alan Moore wrote. It was a bad fit.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

It's an important story more than it is interesting, except for all the parts people are offended by.

The detective aspect is more an intended back burner to show what the other characters are doing.

It's not intuitive to me because Batman doesn't break down, he's just losing losing his ice cold wit, and it is only based on what WE know about the joker. No buildup, just angst. It feels out of character for anyone except Jim Gordon, and also the musical bit fits joker. I'm not a musical fan, but it's not bad! Just not convincing in intention.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Arkham Knight puts a spin on it by adding fear toxin and making it a sister subplot to a similar bat family story, but many people still don't catch the theme of Batman losing it there.