Though Batman: The Brave and The Bold is drawing to a close this year on Cartoon Network, Batfans won't be without an animated incarnation of the Caped Crusader for long. The CG animated Beware the Batman is coming in 2013, as revealed by Warner Bros. Animation executive vice president for creative affairs Sam Register this past weekend at the MIP Junior conference in Cannes, France. This version of Batman is pictured facing villains like Professor Pyg and Mister Toad with the help of a tough-looking Alfred and new partner Katana (who is apparently not necessarily a full-fledged Robin replacement). Glen Murakami (Ben 10, Teen Titans) has been named as the show's executive-producer. Like Green Lantern: The Animated Series set to debut in early 2012, Beware the Batman seems to adapt Bruce Timm's signature style in CG.
Along with Beware The Batman, Cartoon Network viewers can expect to see an assortment of other DC Comics content soon including Batman claymation shorts from Aardman Animation (Wallace and Gromit), Plastic Man shorts, Doom Patrol shorts, and Super Best Friends Forever, a series of Batgirl/Supergirl/Wonder Woman shorts by the creator of The Hub's My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic animated series. Register also briefly mentioned that Warner Bros. was working on a project with Conan O'Brien's production company, which could mean more Flaming C.
Yeah, I get it: No one has seen it yet, so don't judge... Batman Beyond taught me that with DC animation from WB studios... The Batman reaffirmed that notion; it was not bad at all... I actually pretty much like THBATB right away with the tongue in cheek approach... but none of those shows started out featuring a gun toting Alfred Pennyworth. I can put aside almost any other aspect of this show as its being pitched and wait and see what they do with it... but John Woo Alfred is just wrong. It just seems to me like they're going to have to do a lot of backpedaling from the direction these promos lead to make it something good.
You know what? When DC announced The Batman!, folks were sure it would be terrible. It wasn't. It wasn't great, but it was fine...just not B:TAS. When Brave and the Bold was announced, people seem to forget how badly it was savaged by the Internet, sure that a 'lighter' Batman would be terrible and kiddie-fodder, especially in light of the Nolan films. Did anyone expect Lord Death Man or 'mazing Man? I think not. Now a few years later, the cylce repeats.
I have no idea if 'Beware the Batman!' will be any good. But I'm willing to wait and see. Because as animated superheroes go, Batman has a stronger track record than most. DC recognizes the value of the character and the franchise and I'm willing to give them a chance to have fun with it.
I just watched the last episode of Batman TBATB today. The ending of TBATB came as a little bit of a surprise, but it had a good run. Disappointment didn't truly kick in until I learned about "Beware the Batman" as its intended replacement.
As a long time fan of DC on Cartoon Network I'm really disappointed in the new treatment of such a beloved character. I hate to say this without giving the show a chance first, but the whole concept of the new show is so absurd that you are doubtlessly going to instantly alienate Batman fans everywhere. I'm not comic fanboy or anything, but for crying out loud, have a little respect for the characters and what people love about them.
I Hate to put a harsh on the producers'/creators' "let's do something new" buzz, but people who have any affinity for Batman whatsoever want Joker stories, not professor pyg! Also, Alfred carrying guns is not only the most utterly ridiculous character reinvention ever, but its an affront to the whole idea of Batman, whose character is supposed to despise firearms! Honestly, a guy who watches his parents get shot is going to go out crime fighting with the beloved butler who kind of raised him but who now dispenses justice in the form of hot lead?!?!? Come on!!! It really seems like DC, and cartoon network have gone out of their way to create something that anyone who knows anything about Batman will NOT want to watch...
The show isn’t even out yet. Stop trashing on it. Haven an open mind, be open to change. I think that this show will be good. I’m looking forward to it with a clear and open mindset.
I think that the new show 'Beware The Batman' is actually going to be kind of epic.
Batman featuring her as his sidekick in this isn't new. Katanade debuted in The Brave and the Bold comics issue #200 in July 1983 and helped Batman in the book Batman and the Outsiders.
Now if only we could get an animated Catwoman/Batgirl show on Cartoon Network sooner rather than later.
I'd rather see more TB&TB too, but I try not to hold that against the creatives on the new show. (Similarly, I really miss Spectacular Spider-Man, but I'm gonna do my best to enjoy USM.)
And, sadly, LOTS of cartoons understand the appeal of superheroes more than a lot of comics.
Wow, whole lot of hate in this thread based on a single still promo image and absolutely nothing else.
Guys, I love Batman: TAS too. You know what else I love? Batman Beyond. And Justice League. And Teen Titans. And the last two seasons of The Batman. And Batman: The Brave and the Bold. And you know what? Young Justice is starting to get pretty good too.
It's disappointing (but not surprising) that people always turn up with pitchforks and torches every single time a new DC animated series comes along, despite the dozen years' worth of examples that the haters are wrong and the creators know what the hell they're doing.
Why, why, WHY is DC animation able to make appealing stories for a huge audience of kids, and DC comics somehow doesn't make the connection that THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING?!?
Brave and the Bold alone has made Green Arrow, Black Canary, Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle, and frickin' AQUAMAN into beloved characters among kids, something the comics seem pathologically incapable of doing. Now it looks like WB animation is going to make some actual use of DC's strong stable of female characters, plus MF'ing DOOM PATROL. The upcoming Green Lantern series may also take away the one character that the comics have managed to do better than other media lately. Meanwhile, what has DC comics given us? The New 52, full of sleaze, violence, and exploitation. Great job, gang!
When is Time Warner going to put some adults in charge over there?
I briefly wondered, on reading the post, why they didn't just put Timm, Murakami, et al in charge of the DC relaunch.
Of course, a moment's scrutiny gives the reason: because they're already making Warner money hand-over-fist on cartoons; risking that for the POSSIBILITY of a new audience in comics is not a move an exec wants to make.
On the one hand, yeah poor animation for the new Batman (and do we even really need a new Batman? Can't we have a show devoted to someone else for a change?)
On the other, far more awesome hand: Doom Patrol, Hell yeah! Yes please, give me more.
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