Batman Anime and Wonder Woman Origins toon coming

[Raph's Girl]

http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=123595

WONDER WOMAN

On the mystical island of Themyscria, a proud and fierce warrior race of Amazons have raised a daughter of untold beauty, grace and strength – Princess Diana. When an army fighter pilot, Steve Trevor crash-lands on the island, the rebellious and headstrong Diana defies Amazonian law by accompanying Trevor back to civilization. Meanwhile, Ares (the god of War) has escaped his imprisonment at the hands of the Amazonians and has decided to exact his revenge using the mystical “Hand of Rage,” an ancient artifact with the power to raise armies from the dead and infuse them with a thirst for blood. Ares intends to start a world war that will not only last for centuries – but will wipe out every lving being on the planet, starting with the Amazons! It is up to Princess Diana to save her people and the world – by using her gifts and becoming the ultimate Wonder Woman!

Target: Males 18+, women 18+, and girls 9-17.

Proposed rating: PG-13

DVD street date: Q4 2008/Q1 2009


BATMAN ANIME

Targeted Audience:
Dual: Core fans and tween boys
Rating: PG-13 (anticipated)

Release:
2-4 weeks in advance of The Dark Knight film release.

Overview:

Set in the period between BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT, this brand new adventure follows BATMAN as he unravels a mystery over six original stories done in the style of Japanese Anime. Each of the six original stories has been written by a highly respected screenwriter or comic book creator. The talent includes Academy Award nominee Josh Olsen (The History of Violence), screenwriter of the Blade films and Batman Begins David Goyer, and famed comic book writer Brian Azzarello, among others.

The Batman Anime DVD is viewed as a perfect companion piece to BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT. The original stories introduce a number of classic characters from the DC Comics BATMAN universe as well as following up on characters and storylines that were introduced in BATMAN BEGINS.

Raph's Girl note: SW33T!! :o

[DrSpengler]

Well, as long as the Batman "anime" is being written by Americans it should be good. I shudder to think of what the Japanese would turn Batman into. Would they give him a giant robot like they did Spider-Man?

Well, Kia Asamiya's Batman: Child of Dreams was actually alright. Not steller, but alright. Asamiya's a different animal, though, as he's a total addict of American comic books and understands how they're written and drawn...unlike most Japanese creators who try to take on American properties and totally **** them up (the Ninja Turtle OVAs come to mind).

[Mecha Cow]

unlike most Japanese creators who try to take on American properties and totally **** them up (the Ninja Turtle OVAs come to mind).

SAINTOOO MUUUTATIONNN!

[Drtooth]

Well, as long as the Batman "anime" is being written by Americans it should be good. I shudder to think of what the Japanese would turn Batman into. Would they give him a giant robot like they did Spider-Man?

I dunno... but they did give the dumb Filmation series a kick ass opening theme...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uEFeB7qLDVs

BTW, look at who comes up when the singers say "Midnight lover"

[DrSpengler]

Heh. I'd actually seen that before. I'm not a big fan of J-Pop, particularly their consistent reliance on non-sensecal Engrish (LET'S FIGHTING LOVE!), but that opening is awesome for it's hysterical value.

[Krang]

unlike most Japanese creators who try to take on American properties and totally **** them up (the Ninja Turtle OVAs come to mind).
I can't speak for other properties since I haven't seen too many other examples, but I still don't see what was so bad about the TMNT OVA. Like the original cartoon, it was an action-comedy with most of the focus on comedy and parodies. The plot wasn't all that different from what you may see in a cartoon episode, and I can't think of any examples offhand of the characters acting too differently from their OT counterparts.

I'm not a big fan of J-Pop, particularly their consistent reliance on non-sensecal Engrish
While it's true that some J-Pop does use nonsensical English, that certainly doesn't apply to all of it. Some uses perfectly intelligible English, and some uses no English at all. It depends on the lyricist.

(LET'S FIGHTING LOVE!)
As I'm sure you know, that's just a parody. :P

[Barkworm]

That South Park ep was pure genius.

[Drtooth]

I can't speak for other properties since I haven't seen too many other examples, but I still don't see what was so bad about the TMNT OVA. Like the original cartoon, it was an action-comedy with most of the focus on comedy and parodies. The plot wasn't all that different from what you may see in a cartoon episode, and I can't think of any examples offhand of the characters acting too differently from their OT counterparts.

I guess what bugs me about the TMNT OVA is I don't know if they were attempting parody or if they really were meaning to make the Turtles transform on purpose. If someone said they meant to do some of that as parody (I.E. they were trying to satirize Saint Seiya in part 2) I would respect it a lot more.

As for that Batman... I love the attempts at English puns. But man- clearly a bad pun on their end. They use the same sound for our short U (Uh) as they do for short a (ah). The Engrish lyrics are quite silly, but I think the beat is pretty danceable. Considering the original opening was just Batman and Robin talking.

[AquaParade]

I'm super exicted about the Batman anime, can't wait until we get more info on that. Batman stories written by acclaimed writers, drawn in anime style, and set in the world of Batman Begins has huge potential to me.

[Drtooth]

wait a second... Written in the US and animated in Japan? Didn't they do that with half of Batman TAS?

[Raven]

wait a second... Written in the US and animated in Japan? Didn't they do that with half of Batman TAS?

Yeah, I believe most of the first season was animated by a japanese studio.
I'm glad to hear that Azzarello is going to be writting one of the stories, cant wait to see what he'll be throwing in there.

[gobo]

I'm not a big fan of J-Pop, particularly their consistent reliance on non-sensecal Engrish (LET'S FIGHTING LOVE!), but that opening is awesome for it's hysterical value.
This is actually why I love "Summer Fighter" by Kamogawa (ED1 for the JP 2K3 dub). "WE ARE IN STAR RISE AND BEACHY SIDE, OH IN THIS SUMMER NONSTOP HOLIDAY" WTF, huh? :lol:
I can't speak for other properties since I haven't seen too many other examples, but I still don't see what was so bad about the TMNT OVA. Like the original cartoon, it was an action-comedy with most of the focus on comedy and parodies. The plot wasn't all that different from what you may see in a cartoon episode, and I can't think of any examples offhand of the characters acting too differently from their OT counterparts.
Exactly my thoughts on the OVA. It's no less absurd than half of season three or the syndicated part of season four (the string of episodes I most consistently dislike). The OVAs are less appealing as I have to be reading the screen the whole time to follow the story, and the Engrish subtitles are just plain irritating. But, this is also my gripe with anime in general, they're humor is more weird than funny. I'd have to familiarize myself with Japanese culture more so than I already have to fully understand their take on humor. So, I just don't understand how any unbiased individual can sensibly say that the Japanese screwed up the Turtles. That's just crazy talk.


And, ON TOPIC: I'm eager for this Wonder Woman anime. I Wonder what the reason is for making it though? Is the rumored movie already being worked on? O_o

[Raph's Girl]

And, ON TOPIC: I'm eager for this Wonder Woman anime. I Wonder what the reason is for making it though? Is the rumored movie already being worked on? O_o

That WW live action film aint ever gonna get green lit. They can never agree on the fraking script. We'll see her in the live action JLA movie tho.

[gobo]

I thought they couldn't get her for JLA because of the person with the rights to do a WW movie. Has he lost the rights now?

[Raph's Girl]

I thought they couldn't get her for JLA because of the person with the rights to do a WW movie. Has he lost the rights now?

Dunno... I read today that WW is one of the characters in the JLA movie.

[ZariusTwo]

I like to place the OVA somewhere after the series ended, even if it sounds implausible, The Techodrome has been destroyed before and rebuilt over the course of one season (season four/seven's "european tour" arc). This time they succesfully have a transportable Portal that sends the thing back and fourth, that simple.

Shredder's ever changing body and facial apperances I can't explain, unless something in Dimension X finally infected him, coupled with finally cracking.

The second part of the OVA is much better than the first, the Turtles actually get to act more like themselves and are "in their element" with fellow Ninjas than they were as Sentai parodies.

[Drtooth]

Yeah, I believe most of the first season was animated by a japanese studio.
I'm glad to hear that Azzarello is going to be writting one of the stories, cant wait to see what he'll be throwing in there.

Ah, the good old days when American cartoons were animated by Japanese studios. TMS especially had some beautiful limited TV animation (especially on Disney shows).

[DrSpengler]

TMS is probably the king when it comes to Japanese studios that "get" American animation. They actually got so good at doing Batman cartoons that by the New Batman Adventures they just sent the scripts to TMS and let them storyboard and direct the episodes themselves, which is pretty much unheard of with overseas animation. Heck, Bruce Timm and Paul Dini actually gave them their Emmy so they could display it in their studio, they were so proud.

It's a shame American studios don't outsource animation to Japan anymore and mostly just stick with cheaper and uglier Korean studios like the dreadful Akom, Sunwoo or Rough Draft. The only *really* good Korean studio I can think of is Dong Woo and they're pretty much the exception to the rule. Lotto Animation is pretty good, but I can't recall if they're Japanese or Korean based.

[Drtooth]

I think Rough Draft is pretty good, at least when it came to Futurama.

But exactly my seniment. All cartoons look alike to me now (except, Cureous George has the fullest most beautiful limited TV animation I have seen since Animaniacs was cancelled), and not even in a good way.

But then again, I also miss old animes looking grainy and dark like they were on film and having 2D ink and paint on cels. I love how it looked and felt. Now since everything is so perfect, animators became perfectionists and spend more time fixing a frame of animation than animating it.

it just looks dead to me.

On the other hand, ALF Tales had surprisingly beautiful animation.

[Spike Spiegel]

That Wonder Woman toon looks cool...and a Batman anime could be a great idea if handled right!

[AquaParade]

The second part of the OVA is much better than the first, the Turtles actually get to act more like themselves and are "in their element" with fellow Ninjas than they were as Sentai parodies.

Hmm...interesting, I watched the first part and was kinda weirded out by it:lol: , but I didnt think it was too bad. The animation was nice looking :) Maybe the second part is worth seeing then.

[DrSpengler]

I like to place the OVA somewhere after the series ended, even if it sounds implausible, The Techodrome has been destroyed before and rebuilt over the course of one season (season four/seven's "european tour" arc). This time they succesfully have a transportable Portal that sends the thing back and fourth, that simple.

I look at it as Japan and America having two diverging continuities much in the way of the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon.

Japan only aired 102 of the Old Toon episodes, ending their run at "Donatello's Bad Time" (they skipped some episodes and ran them completely out of order, hence how they only ran 102 episodes but ended on the 111th).

Of course, when Japan last left the Technodrome it was in the North Pole but when they next see it in the OVA it is at first underground and then in Dimension X. Wacky. The idea that they got it operational once more is probably the most likely scenerio.

[ZariusTwo]

I look at it as Japan and America having two diverging continuities much in the way of the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon.

With a continuity as lax as the original TMNT series and G1 TF in the states (thankyou oh mighty Unicron Singularity, TMNT needs something similar), I can forgive the inconsistencies in logic. Besides, treating them as seperate timelines is no fun (unless of course, like Japan's TF, it's either out of neccessity or just complete embarrasment)

[Godzilla]

Ah, yes. Wonder Woman and Batman.

Two of my fav comic book superheros. Definately looking forward to seeing both of these.

[Time Mistress]

Ah, yes. Wonder Woman and Batman.

Two of my fav comic book superheros. Definately looking forward to seeing both of these.

Same here! Finally some animated Wonder Woman on her own!

[Zog the Equalizer]

I am sceptical at best about batman becoming an anime. I have loved Batman for as long as I can remember and its always been a tie between him and the turtles as to who is my favorite comic book hero. I have come to despise MOST anime (while some is redeemable). I supose I have 4kids and more recent funimation to blame for that. I just realy hope this is done well.

[Drtooth]

As long as Batman doesn't transform into UltrasuperpowerGo Fight BattoMan, It's gonna be Okay.

Of course, i could care less about Wonder Woman. She's so.... dull.

[ZariusTwo]

Not when Miller is writing her

"Out of my way Sperm Bank"

The problem with Diana is that the writers always, ALWAYS, return to her "Kingdom Come" characterisation of a cold-hearted amazonian bitch because it's easier to write a hardened warrior than a woman. Then if female writers have a hold of her, they get the dynamic wrong and try to "humanise" her too much and she loses her strengths as both a stong willed female and as a warrior.

The best balance has come from her relationship with Superman in the comics, where she's the best friend, the girl next door who keeps Clark straight when Lois cannot. She can be the warrior in the heat of conflict where Superman is her equal, and then talk to him when the fight calms.

The way she treated Ted Kord's death was something of mild interest, and it's a pity he was killed off because the comedy that would stem from a limited series revolving around the trio of Booster, Beetle, and Diana would have made more money than "Countdown" guranteed.

[Leonardo Leads]

It would have been nice to see Wonder Woman have her own animated series (much like Batman and Superman TAS), but this is the next best thing :D

[Time Mistress]

It would have been nice to see Wonder Woman have her own animated series (much like Batman and Superman TAS), but this is the next best thing :D

I totally agree. I loved Wondy as a kid and am starting to rediscover my love of this character recently. I can't wait to see what Gail Simone has planned for her. My favorite versions of Wonder Woman so far have been the Lynda Carter series, George Perez's comic book run, and the Justice League cartoon.

[Leonardo Leads]

I totally agree. I loved Wondy as a kid and am starting to rediscover my love of this character recently. I can't wait to see what Gail Simone has planned for her. My favorite versions of Wonder Woman so far have been the Lynda Carter series, George Perez's comic book run, and the Justice League cartoon.
Never had the pleasure of seeing the Lynda Carter WW show

but George Perez's Arcs, and the Justice League animated series were definitely good stuff

[Serp]

Honestly, Anime or not. do we really need another Batman cartoon.

in less than 20 years we have had 3 Batman cartoons already.

[ZariusTwo]

Honestly, Anime or not. do we really need another Batman cartoon.

Yep. Shaddap.

[Serp]

Yep. Shaddap.



eh..no

we don't need yet another Batman cartoon.

[Dr. Doom]

I don't hear anyone else complaining.

[Drtooth]

Am I the only one who thinks that Wonder Woman is totally boring?

[Leonardo Leads]

Am I the only one who thinks that Wonder Woman is totally boring?

It can be very interesting given the right incarnation

[Serp]

I don't hear anyone else complaining.

You're right, I shouldn't speak for everyone.

I'm only speaking for myself.

[Raven]

eh..no

we don't need yet another Batman cartoon.

Why not? Dont you wont more batman begins goodness? I for one would love to know more about this world and the people in it, plus azzerrello is writting one of the stories so its made of total win!

Am I the only one who thinks that Wonder Woman is totally boring?

Pick up a Greg Rucka run and then ask that same question. She can have her ups and downs like any other character I just think people have a harder time getting into her stories because of the way she is portrayed by some writers.

[ZariusTwo]

eh..no

we don't need yet another Batman cartoon.

Yep. Shaddap.

[Leonardo Leads]

eh..no

we don't need yet another Batman cartoon.

Batman TAS = One of the greatest animated series' of all time

Batman Beyond = A Great animated show

The Batman = ...pretty terrible

but, I for one definitely wouldn't mind another try at a Batman cartoon (or animated film)

it would also be cool to see more DCU characters having their own show (Green Lantern Corps, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Blue Beetle)

[ZariusTwo]

Batman TAS = One of the greatest animated series' of all time

Batman Beyond = A Great animated show

The Batman = ...pretty terrible

Actually, TB's second and fourth seasons are better than Batman Beyond's second and third. BB is seriously overrated beyond it's first season, ROTJ, and Epilouge.

[Leonardo Leads]

Hmm... I saw the first few episodes of the Batman and hated it

...maybe I'll give it a second chance

[The Terror of Death]

Hmm... I saw the first few episodes of the Batman and hated it

...maybe I'll give it a second chance

You HAVE TO WATCH season four. Great stuff.

[Drtooth]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Until season 4, I really didn't like the series. Infact I rully hated season3, when they turned Jade from Jackie Chan Adventures into a teenage Cacausian girl and called her BatGirl (Damn you "positive female lead" dinks!)

Robin helped turn the series around, especially since it gave Batgirl someone besides Batman to talk to. Instead of being the annoying scrappy sidekick (note the use of the word "Scrappy"), there's a small element of sibling rivalry between the two that makes them work well together. Plus having Paul Dini write an episode? Amazing. He was able to get the stuff we loved about Batman TAS to work in the new The Batman universe.

I'd love to see another Batman cartoon, this time geared towards adults. An anime has that potential. But then it could be completely juvenile and he can transform into Ultrabattoman or something like that. I sure hope not.