Big O
 

Why does it remind me so much of Batman in the art direction? An intentional homage?

Definitely. It isn't mentioned much, but Batman: TAS was a big hit in Japan. X-Men too... they even made a new animated intro for it when it ran on Japanese TV.

Since it started up again on Adult Swim, I'm just seeing the opening sequence for the first time- it really clashes with the rest of the show. Looks like it would be more at home in some Sentai show, or maybe the Adam West Batman.

Yeah, Batman was a huge influence on Big O. My friends and I joke about it by saying Big O is what Batman would have been if he were in Japan, instead of a Bat-shaped car and jet, he gets a huge battle robot.

I thought that the same people who animated the batman series also animated Big O as well.

I really think the intro to big o was good, perhaps cause it was a bit campy and had that awesome song.

As stated before:

Big O = Batman with a robot

what Big O equals, is crap! I LOVE cartoons of all shapes and sizes, but Big O is just horrible. we watched it just to mock the imitated style, lack of plot ,and nonsensical storylines!

bah to you, strange woman. anything with giant robot fights = good. ;)

and yeah, roger's car is the shit... i'd love to have one.

sorry im with cheers.. Big O is one of the worst newer series to hit the U.S. shores.. people just like ti because of the giant robot.
You'll learn after you get a couple of dozen anime series under your belt that Giant robots= Crap plot..
for example... there is this one series caled Evangaleon.... :)

I agree with Phred.. Mecha=good