The Batman focuses on Batman's earlier crime-fighting years, set three years after he began his career, in a continuity separate from previous comics, films, and animated shows like Batman: The Animated Series.

Jackie Chan Adventures artist Jeff Matsuda served as art director, providing new character designs that altered the traditional look of supervillains such as the Joker, the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Bane, and the Riddler.

Batgirl was introduced before Dick Grayson/Robin due to copyright issues, since Robin was simultaneously appearing in the Teen Titans series at the time.

Villain Hugo Strange was originally voiced by Frank Gorshin, who was later replaced by Richard Green following Gorshin's death.

Season 3 saw the destruction of Batman's original Batmobile, which was replaced with an updated design for the rest of the series.

The show's theme music was created by The Edge for seasons 1-2, then replaced with a new theme performed by Andy Sturmer starting in season 3, alongside an altered opening title sequence.

Jeff Matsuda and producer Michael Jelenic both left the show after the season 4 finale, marking the end of their involvement with the series.

In a June 2006 interview, writer Duane Capizzi mentioned plans for an unrealized Superman spin-off series set in the same universe as The Batman, a possibility hinted at by Superman's appearance in the show's fifth season; the spin-off was never made.

IGN noted that while The Batman didn't win over diehard fans the way Batman: The Animated Series did, it remained popular enough to run for five seasons, and its reputation has grown more positive over time, developing a cult following.

The series won six Daytime Emmy Awards out of twelve nominations over its five-year run, largely for its sound editing and mixing.