Just hot after the release of Batman: Gotham by Gaslight, the latest DC Comics Universe Animated Original Movie based off the comic by Hellboy’s Mike Mignola, we are fast approaching the latest animated project by DC’s animation studio in the form of an anime. Barnum Studio teamed up with Warner Bros. Animation to bring an official anime adaptation of Batman set in ancient Japan entitled Batman Ninja. While a Japanese dub is already official, it seems that an English dub has also been confirmed based on the new trailer that has come out.
The English dub will actually feature several voice actors returning to familiar roles. Roger Craig Smith returns from his Arkham Origins days as the titular Caped Crusader. In addition, The Penguin will mark a reappearance of The Batman’s Tom Kenny, Catwoman with Arkham City’s Grey Griffin, and Harley Quinn with the current voice of Tara Strong.
Gorilla Grodd and Deathstroke will also be featured played by veteran voice actor Fred Tataiscore, whose roles range from his many roles as the current voice of Hulk, Solomon Grundy in Arkham City and to Overwatch fans, Soldier: 76. Will Friedle won’t be playing his popular role of Batman Beyond but instead be voicing two other Batman proteges in the form of Red Robin and Red Hood. Arrested Development’s Tony Hale will be voicing The Joker himself.
Jumpei Mizusaki, responsible for the astounding opening animation of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, directs the film with Gurren Lagann’s Kazuki Nakashima in charge of writing. Character designing was done by none other than the Samuel L. Jackson anime Afro Samurai’s Takashi Okazaki, with English scripting done by Afro Samurai’s screenwriters Leo Chu and Eric Garcia.
You can check out the trailer below:
The synopsis is as follows:
“Batman Ninja takes a journey across the ages as Gorilla Grodd’s time displacement machine transports many of Batman’s worst enemies to feudal Japan – along with the Dark Knight and a few of his allies. The villains take over the forms of the feudal lords that rule the divided land, with the Joker taking the lead among the warring factions. As his traditional high-tech weaponry is exhausted almost immediately, Batman must rely on his intellect and his allies – including Catwoman and the extended Bat-family – to restore order to the land, and return to present-day Gotham City.”
Batman Ninja will be available as a digital download on April 24th, while physical Blu-Ray releases will hit stores May 8th.