---
name: "Bruce Timm"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/bruce-timm"
roles: ["Producer","Director"]
born: "5 February 1961"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_as: "producer"
average_over: 0
updated: "2026-09-19T11:45:29.905219+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Bruce Timm

Producer and director. Born 5 February 1961 in Oklahoma, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Producer, Director
- **Born:** 5 February 1961, Oklahoma, USA
- **Active:** 1993–present
- **Also known as:** Timm Bruce, Bruce W. Timm
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 2: 1 directing, 1 writing
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 82 (1), 2020s 54 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Timm, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q369717, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0863622/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/34934

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Batman: Mask of the Phantasm*](https://film.one/film/batman-mask-of-the-phantasm.md) (82)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Bruce Timm

> Timm drew Batman as a slab of a man with small eyes against skies painted on black paper, and the look has outlasted every fashion. The 1993 feature *Batman: Mask of the Phantasm* is still the place to start.

The Gotham that Bruce Timm drew is a city at night even at noon. The backgrounds were painted on black paper, so the dark comes first and the art-deco towers and searchlights are laid on top of it like chalk on a blackboard. The people are built to match: shoulders like doorframes, jaws cut with a ruler, eyes reduced to two small marks. It is a look made to be animated and read at a glance from the back of a cinema, and it borrows from 1930s pulp and film noir without apologising to either. Timm has described it as putting classical animation technique on top of a comic-book style.

He came up through layouts at Filmation in the early 1980s, then Don Bluth, DIC and Warner Bros. on *Tiny Toons*, and the turn came in 1992 when he co-created *Batman: The Animated Series* with Paul Dini and Eric Radomski. What followed was less a run of films than one long programme under several titles: *Superman: The Animated Series*, *Batman Beyond* (1999), *Justice League* (2001) and *Justice League Unlimited*, all of them plainly the same world drawn by the same hand. He stepped down as supervising producer in 2013 and has stayed close since as executive producer or writer, most recently on *Batman: Caped Crusader* (2024).

Only one of these went to cinemas. *Batman: Mask of the Phantasm* (1993), co-directed with Radomski, runs 76 minutes on a PG certificate and spends most of them on Bruce Wayne rather than on Batman. It moved us more than a spin-off from a television cartoon had any business doing, and the reason is plain: it is about a man who once had the chance to be ordinary and turned it down. The drawing is handsome throughout. The movement is not always up to it: there are stretches where it is a cartoon that moves like one, and the hurry of the production shows. Timm knows it; he has said the film is "90 percent there" and that watching it makes him cringe. We are kinder than he is. Ninety per cent of this is more than a good many Batman films have managed.

What works is the discipline. Timm's stories go back to the pulp these characters came from rather than to the newer habit of treating them as gods with grievances, and the design keeps everyone in the same world. What works less well is that discipline can harden into habit. After enough years of square jaws and small eyes, a design stops looking like a choice and starts looking like a template, and movement, as *Phantasm* shows, was never the first thing on his mind. Start with *Phantasm*, then the 1992 series if it takes. He has been redrawing the same city for more than thirty years, and he is not finished.

## Biography

Bruce Timm is an American animator, producer, director, writer and comic book artist. Born on 5 February 1961 in Oklahoma, he began his career in animation in the early 1980s.

He co-directed *Batman: Mask of the Phantasm* (1993) with Eric Radomski. Timm was a central figure in the DC Animated Universe as producer, director and story contributor on *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992–1995) and its spin-offs, including *Superman: The Animated Series* (1996–2000), *Batman Beyond* (1999–2001) and *Justice League* (2001–2004). He has executive produced numerous DC animated films such as *Batman: Under the Red Hood* (2010) and the two-part *Batman: The Dark Knight Returns* (2012–2013).

Timm received an Inkpot Award in 2013.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

### Directed (1)

- *Batman: Mask of the Phantasm* (1993), Fi1m 82, Co-Producer, Director, Storyboard Designer — [page](https://film.one/film/batman-mask-of-the-phantasm.md)

### Wrote (1)

- *Joker: Folie à Deux* (2024), Fi1m 54, Characters — [page](https://film.one/film/joker-folie-a-deux.md)

## Complete filmography (75)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League* (2025), Characters
- *Joker: Folie à Deux* (2024), Characters — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/joker-folie-a-deux.md)
- *Batman: Caped Crusader* (2024), series, Executive Producer, Story, Character Designer, Characters, Creator
- *Kite Man: Hell Yeah!* (2024), series, Characters
- *Suicide Squad Isekai* (2024), series, Characters
- *Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!* (2023), Characters
- *Batwheels* (2022), series, Characters
- *Batman: Soul of the Dragon* (2021), Executive Producer
- *Justice League Dark: Apokolips War* (2020), Characters
- *DC Showcase: The Phantom Stranger* (2020), Executive Producer, Director, Character Designer
- *Superman: Red Son* (2020), Executive Producer
- *Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)* (2020), Characters
- *DC Showcase: Sgt. Rock* (2019), Director, Executive Producer
- *Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles* (2019), Characters
- *Justice League vs. the Fatal Five* (2019), as Two-Face / Validus (voice) · Executive Producer
- *DC Super Hero Girls: Sweet Justice* (2019), Characters
- *Batman Ninja* (2018), Characters
- *Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay* (2018), Characters
- *Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold* (2018), Characters
- *Batman: Gotham by Gaslight* (2018), as Arkham Radio Man (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Batman vs. Two-Face* (2017), Characters
- *Batman and Harley Quinn* (2017), as Booster Gold (voice) · Characters, Story, Executive Producer, Screenplay, Storyboard Artist
- *The Lego Batman Movie* (2017), Thanks — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lego-batman-movie.md)
- *Batman: The Killing Joke* (2016), as Patrolman (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Justice League: Gods and Monsters* (2015), as Blockbuster (voice) (uncredited) · Executive Producer, Story
- *Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles* (2015), series, Writer, Director, Creator
- *Batman: Assault on Arkham* (2014), Characters
- *Batman Beyond* (2014), Producer, Series Writer
- *Batman: Strange Days* (2014), as Monster Man (voice) · Director, Writer, Producer, Character Designer, Storyboard Artist
- *Superman 75* (2013), Producer, Director
- *Batman: The Dark Knight Returns* (2013), as Thomas Wayne / Hydrant Fireman (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Teen Titans Go!* (2013), series, Characters
- *Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2* (2013), as Hydrant Fireman (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1* (2012), as Thomas Wayne (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Superman vs. The Elite* (2012), as MI-5 Agent (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Justice League: Doom* (2012), as Ace (voice) · Executive Producer
- *A League of One: The Dwayne McDuffie Story* (2012), Actor
- *Green Lantern: The Animated Series* (2011), series, Producer, Creator
- *DC Showcase: Catwoman* (2011), Executive Producer
- *Batman: Year One* (2011), as Thug #1 (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Green Lantern: Emerald Knights* (2011), as Galius Zed (voice) (uncredited) · Executive Producer
- *All Star Superman* (2011), Producer
- *Superman/Shazam!: The Return of Black Adam* (2010), Executive Producer
- *DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection* (2010), Associate Producer
- *Superman/Batman: Apocalypse* (2010), Executive Producer
- *DC Showcase: Green Arrow* (2010), Executive Producer
- *Batman: Under the Red Hood* (2010), as The Riddler (voice) · Producer
- *DC Showcase: Jonah Hex* (2010), Executive Producer
- *Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths* (2010), as Uncle Super / Captain Super Jr. (voice) · Executive Producer
- *DC Showcase: The Spectre* (2010), Executive Producer
- *Superman/Batman: Public Enemies* (2009), as Mongul (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Green Lantern: First Flight* (2009), as Bug Boy (voice) · Producer
- *Wonder Woman* (2009), as Attacker (voice) · Producer
- *Batman: Gotham Knight* (2008), Executive Producer
- *Justice League: The New Frontier* (2008), Executive Producer
- *Superman: Doomsday* (2007), Director, Producer, Story
- *Batman Begins* (2005), Thanks — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/batman-begins.md)
- *Batman Beyond: School Days and Spellbound* (2004), Producer
- *Justice League Unlimited* (2004), series, as Husband (voice), Solomon Grundy (voice) · Story
- *Teen Titans* (2003), series, Producer
- *Batman: The Animated Series - The Legend Begins* (2002), Producer
- *Justice League* (2001), series, as Soldier (voice) · Writer, Producer
- *Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker* (2000), as Guard (voice) · Screenplay
- *Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing Inque* (1999), Producer
- *Batman Beyond* (1999), series, as J-Man (voice), Jokerz Leader (voice), Top Hat Joker (voice) · Producer
- *Batman Beyond: The Movie* (1999), as Jokerz Leader / J-Man (voice) · Producer, Property Graphic Designer
- *The Batman/Superman Movie: World's Finest* (1997), Producer
- *The New Batman Adventures* (1997), series, Producer, Writer, Story, Creator
- *Superman: The Last Son of Krypton* (1996), Producer, Director
- *Superman: The Animated Series* (1996), series, Director, Creator
- *Batman: Mask of the Phantasm* (1993), Director, Co-Producer, Storyboard Designer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/batman-mask-of-the-phantasm.md)
- *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), series, as Ted Dymer (voice), Red (voice) · Producer, Director, Story, Creator
- *Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation* (1992), Character Designer
- *Tiny Toon Adventures* (1990), series, Writer, Story, Storyboard Artist
- *The New Adventures of Beany and Cecil* (1988), series, Director

## Gallery

- ![Bruce Timm at the 2019 WonderCon in Anaheim, California.](https://film.one/media/person/93017/gallery-6b3cb99c0caa.jpg) Bruce Timm at the 2019 WonderCon in Anaheim, California. — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Bruce_Timm_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Timm_by_Gage_Skidmore.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 WonderCon, for "Justice League vs. the Fatal Five", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to](https://film.one/media/person/93017/gallery-a3c6eaaa56ec.jpg) Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 WonderCon, for "Justice League vs. the Fatal Five", at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Please attribute to — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Bruce_Timm_%2833649313638%29.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Timm_%2833649313638%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo](https://film.one/media/person/93017/gallery-643545f44ea1.jpg) Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Bruce_Timm_%2848371759171%29.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Timm_%2848371759171%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo](https://film.one/media/person/93017/gallery-2eaf88d4c3ce.jpg) Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Bruce_Timm_%2848371790051%29.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Timm_%2848371790051%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo](https://film.one/media/person/93017/gallery-51d09bb626b1.jpg) Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Bruce_Timm_%2848371916872%29.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Timm_%2848371916872%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo](https://film.one/media/person/93017/gallery-84343ee045e9.jpg) Bruce Timm speaking at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International, for "Batman Beyond 20th Anniversary", at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Califo — Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Bruce_Timm_%2848371914337%29.jpg/1280px-Bruce_Timm_%2848371914337%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Inkpot Award 2013: Inkpot Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/bruce-timm