| Beware the Batman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Developed by |
|
| Directed by |
|
| Voices of |
|
| Theme music composer | Dum Dum Girls |
| Opening theme | "Beware the Batman", performed by Dum Dum Girls |
| Ending theme | "Beware the Batman" (Instrumental) |
| Composer | Frederik Wiedmann |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 26 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer |
|
| Producers | Glen Murakami Mitch Watson |
| Editor | Joe Gall |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production companies | Warner Bros. Animation DC Entertainment |
| Distributor | Warner Bros. Television Distribution |
| Original release | |
| Network |
|
| Release | July 13, 2013 – September 28, 2014 |
Beware the Batman is an American computer-animated television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. The series premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network on July 13, 2013,[1] as part of their DC Nation block, replacing Batman: The Brave and the Bold.[2] The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. The series ran on Cartoon Network until it was pulled from the schedule four months after its premiere, without official explanation. After the series was put on hiatus, the remaining episodes of the season began to air on Adult Swim's Toonami block, from July 27 to September 28, 2014.
Synopsis[]
The series is set during Bruce Wayne's early years as the Batman, following his initial period of battling organized crime. Over the course of the season, he hones his skills with the assistance of his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce is introduced to Alfred's goddaughter Tatsu Yamashiro. Tatsu is a martial arts swordsmaster hired to act as Bruce's bodyguard, but also recruited to act as a superhero partner to Batman.
Production[]
Background[]
Initial promotional art for the series depicted Alfred armed with guns and fighting alongside Batman. This upset fans of the Batman mythos, prompting a response from producers.[3]
After Batman: The Brave and the Bold ended its run in November 2011, a new series went under production, so that Batman could return to a more "serious tone".[4] With Batman receiving a new sidekick, Outsiders member Katana, Register even commented that "Katana is gonna be his new Robin, but not necessarily."[1] The series was a 3D computer-animated format, similar to the earlier Green Lantern: The Animated Series's animation style.[5][6]
In the wake of the 2012 Aurora shooting, which occurred during a screening of the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises, it was announced that the series content would be altered in order to make the firearms in the show look less realistic.[7] In addition initial announcements for the series were accompanied with promotional art that was not intended for public release, depicting Alfred as a gun-toting butler. This upset fans of the Batman mythos, who argued against Alfred's participation in Batman's exploits, and his use of deadly firearms as against the Batman's principles. In response to fan criticism, producer Glen Murakami acknowledged that this poster image was an inaccurate representation of what the character's actual role would be. He elaborated that the poster was intended to be an action-themed shot that displayed the cast of characters, but that Alfred's portrayal had been misleadingly made more exciting. "You can't have an action pose of a guy standing with a tray", joked Murakami. Mitch Watson also noted the problem presented if Alfred were fighting alongside Batman, as he would be recognized as Bruce Wayne's butler, and thus reveal the identity of Batman. Regardless, both producers insisted that Alfred would remain true to his intended characterization as a mentor to Batman, who could potentially help Batman if a story plot called for it.[3] Scott Thill, technology and pop culture commentator for Wired magazine, praised the initial choice to debut the villain Anarky on television, claiming the character was relevant following the rise of the Occupy movement and the hacktivist activities of Anonymous.[8]
In promoting the series, Warner Bros. debuted a trailer a month prior to the series premier, featuring action sequences from the first three episodes, highlighting Batman, Professor Pyg and Toad, Magpie, and Anarky.[9] On July 2, the opening title sequence was released to Entertainment Weekly, a week prior to the series premiere.[10] It depicts Batman, Alfred, Katana, and the Batmobile, in a stylized red background with stark red lighting effects, contrasted by dark shadows and silhouettes. The show's opening theme is composed by the indie rock band the Dum Dum Girls.[11]
3D development[]
Mitch Watson, 2012.[12]
The requirements of 3D animation at times necessitated that inanimate objects such as ships and city streets were built, rather than simply drawn, creating a need for the completion of entire set designs. This would increase production times, but later allow the developers to bring cinematic qualities of lighting and camera play to the series. Batman's utility belt was fully recreated from cardboard and worn by producer Glen Murakami's design team, to test how the belt would function while in motion. "If you really built it, it would work", said Watson. Batarangs were designed to flip-open and function when retrieved from the belt. The Batmobile was also subjected to scrutiny, as a "certain amount of weight" was added to it as it moved on city streets, out of concern that it would be unbelievable otherwise.[12]
Broadcast[]
Three months after the series premiere, Beware the Batman was pulled from the Cartoon Network schedule and put on hiatus on October 23, 2013. Cartoon Network did not provide an official explanation, leading fans to believe that the series had already been canceled.[13] Cartoon Network then moved the series to the Toonami block on the network's late-night Adult Swim showcase. Toonami aired all 26 episodes in order on Saturday, May 10, 2014, during the early morning time slots.[14] Cartoon Network then declared the series a financial failure and decided to "write it off". On September 28, Toonami ran a marathon consisting of the final seven previously unaired episodes.[15]
The show made its Canadian premiere on October 11, 2013 on Teletoon.[16]
Characters[]
Crime-fighting vigilante Batman teams up with swordmistress Katana and his ex-secret agent[6] butler Alfred Pennyworth to face the criminal underworld led by Anarky, Magpie, Ra's al Ghul, Tobias Whale, Phosphorus Rex, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad, Lady Shiva, Key, Killer Croc, and Humpty Dumpty.[1][2][6] Anarky, in particular, was intended to be the main villain in the series.[17]
Glen Murakami, 2012.[3]
While the developers allowed themselves license to stylize the characters' appearances, the villains were particularly designed to be "over the top".[12]
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Annie Award[18] | Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children's Audience | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Daytime Emmy Award[19] | Outstanding Children's Animated Program | Sam Register, Glen Murakami, Mitch Watson, Amy McKenna | Nominated |
| Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special | Andrea Romano | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program | Butch Lukic, Curt Geda, Sam Liu, Rick Morales, Andrea Romano | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design | T.J. Sullivan | Nominated |
Home video[]
On February 18, 2014, the first 13 episodes of the series were released on Blu-ray and DVD in a collection titled Beware The Batman: Season 1 Part 1-Shadows of Gotham.[20] The twelfth and thirteenth episodes (titled "Attraction" and "Fall") had yet to air, despite being released on this collection.[21] A second collection, titled Beware The Batman: Season 1 Part 2-Dark Justice, was released on September 30, 2014 containing the remaining 13 episodes of the show's only season.[citation needed]
See also[]
- Program lists
- List of animated television series of 2013
- List of programs broadcast by Cartoon Network
- List of television series based on DC Comics
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Harvey, James. ""Beware The Batman" CGI Animated Series Coming For 2013, "DC Nation" Updates". The World's Finest. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Thill, Scott (July 20, 2012). "SDCC 2012 – Beware the Batman Interview". Pixelatedgeek.com. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ G-Man (July 24, 2010). "Comic-Con: Brave and the Bold & Young Justice Panel". Comic Vine. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Lesnick, Silas (March 28, 2012). "Cartoon Network Wants You to Beware the Batman!". Superhero Hype. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Beat, The (March 29, 2012). "Beware the Batman leads new Cartoon Network lineup". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on May 28, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
{{cite web}}: ; deadurl - ↑ Wallenstein, Andrew (July 27, 2012). "Warner Bros. tones down 'Batman' TV toon". Variety. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Thill, Scott (April 18, 2012). "Beware The Batman's CGI Teaser Surfaces, But When Will Anarky Arrive?". Wired. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Cartoon Network Releases 'Beware the Batman' Sizzle Reel, Images". Comic Book Resources. June 19, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Franich, Darren (July 2, 2013). "First look at 'Beware the Batman' opening titles". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ ""Beware the Batman" Title Sequence Hits Online". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 SDCC 2012: DC Nation – Beware The Batman – Mitch Watson & Glen Murakami Interview (video podcast). Misfitsofscifi.com. July 17, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCmQB5vh70g.
- ↑ "'Beware The Batman' Might Have Already Been Canceled". Gamma Squad. October 22, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Beware the Batman Joins Toonami Line-Up Starting Saturday, May 10th, 2014". World's Finest. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Good News/Bad News Batman Fans". toonami.tumblr.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Beware the Batman". Teletoon Canada. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Veronese, Keith (July 19, 2012). "Bruce Wayne goes back to his detective roots, in Beware the Batman". io9. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "“Beware The Batman” and “Teen Titans Go!” Score 2013 Annie Award Nominations". World's Finest Online. December 2, 2013. http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/2013/12/beware-the-batman-and-teen-titans-go-score-2013-annie-award-nominations/. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- ↑ "The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Announces the 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy® Award Nominations" (PDF). National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. May 1, 2014. http://cdn.emmyonline.org/day_41st_nominations_v03.8.pdf. Retrieved September 30, 2015.
- ↑ "'Beware the Batman' Season 1, Part 1 coming to Blu-ray and DVD on February 18 - Batman News". Batman News.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "'Beware The Batman' Blu-Ray Will Feature Unaired Episodes". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014.
{{cite web}}: ; deadurl
External links[]
- Beware the Batman at the Internet Movie Database
- Beware the Batman at the Big Cartoon DataBase
- Beware the Batman at The World's Finest
- Beware the Batman at Legionsofgotham.org
- Beware the Batman at Batman-On-Film.com
| Cartoon Network original programming | ||
|---|---|---|
| Former | 1990s debuts | The Moxy Show (1993–2000) • Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1994–2001) • What a Cartoon! (1995–97) • Dexter's Laboratory (1996–2003) • Big Bag (1996–98) • Johnny Bravo (1997–2004) • vCow and Chicken (1997–99) • I Am Weasel (1997–2000) • The Powerpuff Girls (1998) (1998–2005) • Ed, Edd n Eddy (1999–2009) • Mike, Lu & Og (1999–2001) •
Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999–2002) |
| 2000s debuts | Sheep in the Big City (2000–02) • Time Squad (2001–03) • Samurai Jack (2001–17) • Grim & Evil (2001–02) • Justice League (2001–04) • Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? (2002–03) • Codename: Kids Next Door (2002–08) • The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2003–08) • Evil Con Carne (2003–04) • Teen Titans (2003–06) • Duck Dodgers (2003–05) • Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003–05) • Megas XLR (2004–05) • Justice League Unlimited (2004–06) • Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (2004–09) • Baby Looney Tunes (2004–06) • The Batman (2004–06) • Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi (2004–06) • Krypto the Superdog (2005–06) • The Life and Times of Juniper Lee (2005–07) • Camp Lazlo (2005–08) • Firehouse Tales (2005–06) • Sunday Pants (2005–06) • My Gym Partner's a Monkey (2005–08) • Ben 10 (2005) (2005–08) • Squirrel Boy (2006–07) • Class of 3000 (2006–08) • Out of Jimmy's Head (2007–08) • Chowder (2007–10) • Transformers: Animated (2007–09) • The Mr. Men Show (2008–09) • Ben 10: Alien Force (2008–10) • The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (2008–10) • Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–13) • The Secret Saturdays (2008–10) • Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–11) • The Othersiders (2009) • BrainRush (2009) • Destroy Build Destroy (2009–11) • Bobb'e Says (2009) • Dude, What Would Happen (2009–11) | |
| 2010s debuts | Pink Panther and Pals (2010) • Ben 10: Ultimate Alien (2010–12) • Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010–13) • Generator Rex (2010–13) • Mad (2010–13) • Regular Show (2010–17) • Sym-Bionic Titan (2010–12) • Tower Prep (2010) • Hole in the Wall (2010–12) • Robotomy (2010–11) • Young Justice (2010–13) • The Problem Solverz (2011–13) • The Looney Tunes Show (2011–14) • ThunderCats (2011–12) • Secret Mountain Fort Awesome (2011–12) • Level Up (2012–13) • Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2012–13) • Cartoon Planet (2012–14) • The High Fructose Adventures of Annoying Orange (2012–14) • DreamWorks Dragons (2012–14) • Ben 10: Omniverse (2012–14) • Incredible Crew (2013) • Beware the Batman (2013–14) • Uncle Grandpa (2013–17) • Mixels (2014–16) • Over the Garden Wall (2014) • Long Live the Royals (2015) | |
| Current | Adventure Time (since 2010) • The Amazing World of Gumball (since 2011) • Teen Titans Go! (since 2013) • Steven Universe (since 2013) • The Tom and Jerry Show (since 2014) • Clarence (since 2014) • Mighty Magiswords (since 2015) • We Bare Bears (since 2015) • New Looney Tunes (since 2015) • Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! (since 2015) • Bunnicula (since 2016) • The Powerpuff Girls (2016) (since 2016) • Ben 10 (2016) (since 2016) • Justice League Action (since 2016) • Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (since 2017) • OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (since 2017) • Wacky Races (since 2017) • Unikitty (since 2017) | |
| Upcoming | Summer Camp Island | |
| Warner Bros. Animation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| See also | List of Warner Bros. Animation productions • Warner Animation Group • Warner Bros. Feature Animation • Warner Bros. Cartoons • Warner Bros. Family Entertainment • Hanna-Barbera • Cartoon Network Productions (Cartoon Network Studios • Williams Street • Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe) • Unproduced projects • List of Warner Bros. theatrical animated feature films | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Animated TV series based on DC Comics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Former | 1960s debuts | The New Adventures of Superman (1966–1970) • The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure (1967–1968) • Aquaman (1968–1970) • The Batman/Superman Hour (1968–1969) |
| 1970s debuts | Super Friends (1973) • The New Adventures of Batman (1977) • The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977) • Challenge of the Super Friends (1978) • The World's Greatest Super Friends (1979) • The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show (1979–1981) | |
| 1980s debuts | Super Friends (1980–1983) • The Kid Super Power Hour with Shazam! (1981–1982) • Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984) • The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985) • Superman (1988) | |
| 1990s debuts | Swamp Thing (1990–1991) • Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995) • Wild C.A.T.s (1994–1995) • Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000) • The New Batman/Superman Adventures (1997–2000) • The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999) • Batman Beyond (1999–2001) | |
| 2000s debuts | Static Shock (2000–2004) • The Zeta Project (2001–2002) • Justice League (2001–2004) • Teen Titans (2003–2006) • Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006) • The Batman (2004–2008) • Krypto the Superdog (2005–2006) • Legion of Super Heroes (2006–2008) • Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–2011) | |
| 2010s debuts | Green Lantern: The Animated Series (2011–2013) • Beware the Batman (2013–2014) • Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles (2015) | |
| Current | Young Justice (2010–2013, 2018–) • Teen Titans Go! (2013–) • Vixen (2015–) • Justice League Action (2016–) | |