"Merry Little Batman" and "Bat-Family" Animated Feature and Series

[ZariusTwo]

Amazon is pushing deeper into its animated Batman universe.

The retail giant and streamer has officially confirmed its previously reported two-season order for Matt Reeves, J.J. Abrams and Bruce Timm’s animated Batman: Caped Crusader series. Additionally, Amazon has picked up an original animated film, Merry Little Batman, and an animated spinoff series, Bat-Family, both of which — like Caped Crusader — hail from Warner Bros. Discovery’s Warner Bros. Animation and DC.

“Batman: The Animated Series helped pioneer in the evolution of superhero storytelling and defined the Dark Knight for a generation,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon and MGM Studios. “Batman: Caped Crusader will no doubt continue that tradition and, alongside Merry Little Batman and Bat-Family, we’re thrilled to collaborate with Warner Bros. Animation to offer a variety of takes of the Batman mythos to our global Prime Video customers.”

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The news comes after WBD-backed streamer HBO Max abandoned plans to move forward with Caped Crusader, despite its impressive creative pedigree. Amazon landed the series — which also was said to have included a larger deal for more animated Batman fare — in March amid bidding from other platforms.

Merry Little Batman is described as a family action-comedy that sees young Damian Wayne transforming into “Little Batman” in order to defend his home and Gotham from the villains who want to destroy the holidays. Mike Roth (Regular Show) directs the animated feature that features a screenplay by Morgan Evans (Teen Titans Go!). Roth also executive produces alongside Warner Bros. Animation chief Sam Register.

Spinoff series Bat-Family follows Batman, Alfred and young Damian Wayne — who has now taken on the mantle of “Little Batman” — alongside a few newcomers to Wayne Manor as they navigate the fun and frustrations of life as a super family. Jase Ricci, Mike Roth and Register executive produce the series.

“We are excited to partner with Amazon to begin an all-new animated chapter of Batman. From the cinematic noir storytelling of Batman: Caped Crusader to the comedic adventures of Merry Little Batman and Bat-Family, these new projects ensure that there will be an animated Batman story ready to excite fans of all ages,” said Register.

Setting the animated Batman universe at Amazon comes as DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran look to bring order to the comic book giant’s properties. The duo has plotted a 10-year plan to tell a unified story across film, TV, gaming and animation, though certain projects will fall outside of that main track. Those include Reeves’ The Batman: Part II and Max spinoff series The Penguin, and, naturally, fare like Caped Crusader that is distributed outside of the company.

Animation, meanwhile, remains a major area of investment for networks and streamers alike. In addition to repeating well on streaming platforms, in success, original ideas become extremely lucrative thanks in part to the ability to turn characters into lines of merchandising. (See The Simpsons, Rick and Morty, etc.) At Amazon, Batman: Caped Crusader and Bat-Family join a roster of animated fare that also includes Undone, Robert Kirkman’s Invincible, Fairfax, The Legend of Vox Machina and The Boys Presents: Diabolical.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv...on-1235402898/

[Autbot_Benz]

The animation from Merry little Batman looks awful. Alfred looks like Quasimodo from Hunchback

[oldmanwinters]

Man, anything really goes in today's novelty streaming world!

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Do viewers even waste their time watching small projects like these?

[Cowabung-Gal]

Why does Bruce look like Paul Bunyan?

[LeotheLateBloomer]

[IndigoErth]

I'm not sure how I feel about that...

I suppose as an outsider of that fandom I could take it as just some random dumb-for-fun thing and never think of it again. But the characterization is giving me uneasy Rise era-ish vibes. Something I've joked about someone doing to Batman and then see if it still seems acceptable, but I didn't think Batman would really ever be vulnerable to being given that treatment. If that's getting a series, well... best of luck, Bat fans.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

I'm not sure how I feel about that...

I suppose as an outsider of that fandom I could take it as just some random dumb-for-fun thing and never think of it again. But the characterization is giving me uneasy Rise era-ish vibes. Something I've joked about someone doing to Batman and then see if it still seems acceptable, but I didn't think Batman would really ever be vulnerable to being given that treatment. If that's getting a series, well... best of luck, Bat fans.

I guess you really can do anything with Batman. Unlike Velma though, people don't seem to be hating it in the comments. Maybe it's refreshing? I have to question if anyone watches content on Amazon Prime.

[CyberCubed]

Batman has been used in so many different ways over 80 years that it doesn't really matter. This looks like a fun movie, I'll catch it on the illegal streaming websites for free.

[Coola Yagami]

Yeah, Batman is one of those types that you can really do anything with and yet the mainstream knows the actual Batman in the comics is much more bad-ass and whatnot.

Unlike something more niche like the Turtles, they can't do too much to tarnish Batman's overall reputation.

[TheCanadiandrome]

Originally Posted by Autbot_Benz

The animation from Merry little Batman looks awful. Alfred looks like Quasimodo from Hunchback

Omg yes lol yes

The animation looks worse than anything from the 90s or hell 80s. The Addams Family cartoon had bad animation and this looks up there

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Something I've joked about someone doing to Batman and then see if it still seems acceptable, but I didn't think Batman would really ever be vulnerable to being given that treatment. If that's getting a series, well... best of luck, Bat fans.

Well at least if they start a fight with you, this will give you ammo.

It's so bizarre and strange that I can dig this. Plus it's not every day you see a happy and soft Bruce Wayne/Batman so...why not? As he says @0:43 "I like it."

[CyberCubed]

In just the last 20 years, there have been multiple animated Batman:

1. DCAU Batman ending with Justice League Unlimited in 2006.

2. The Batman from 2003.

3. Brave and the Bold Batman

4. Beware the Batman from 2013 (short-lived CG cartoon)

5. Justice League Action (short lived comedy/action cartoon)

6. Young Justice Batman

7. Harley Quinn series Batman

8. All the DC direct to DVD movie Batmen, which there are now 50+ of.


And this is not even counting cameos Batman made elsewhere like on Teen Titans Go or whatever.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

In just the last 20 years, there have been multiple animated Batman:

1. DCAU Batman ending with Justice League Unlimited in 2006.

2. The Batman from 2003.

3. Brave and the Bold Batman

4. Beware the Batman from 2013 (short-lived CG cartoon)

5. Justice League Action (short lived comedy/action cartoon)

6. Young Justice Batman

7. Harley Quinn series Batman

8. All the DC direct to DVD movie Batmen, which there are now 50+ of.


And this is not even counting cameos Batman made elsewhere like on Teen Titans Go or whatever.

And count 9, 10, and 11 for Batwheels and the upcoming Bat-Family and Batman Caped Crusader cartoons.

I'm sure we'll be seeing toys for those shows since that would help promote them for kids.