What do you like about Batman? For me, I like the fact that he’s a superhero who doesn’t have superpowers. Instead of being bit by a spider or being born on an alien world, he uses his inner and outer strength to fight crime to avenge his parent’s murders. It also doesn’t hurt that he has an awesome suit, a great car, lots of money and a cave underneath his mansion. Oh, and he has a butler. And how could I forget…he can totally defeat Superman! How cool is that?
How can you make Batman any cooler? Well, I think Warner Brothers found the answer: Add a dash of anime.
In Batman Gotham Knight, we finally get to see Batman in a style that’s new to him. Warner Bros. decided to mix things up a bit - by combining the world of western comic books with anime. Surprisingly, it turned out to be a great combination…and avoided starting a war between fanboys and otaku. The story bridges the two films Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. By giving each segment a unique take on Batman, but retain the core ‘essence’ of the character. The only element that’s missing is The Joker…especially after you’ve watched The Dark Knight for the [insert number here] time!
Have I Got A Story For You
Batman The Shape Shifter. Would you trust your eyes if Batman suddenly jumped out in front of you while you were going about your daily business? Could you trust your memory? How would you describe the experience to your friends? In ‘Have I Got A Story For You’, we get to see how a group of kids see Batman, who changes from a ghost-like wraith to a robot. But wait…isn’t he a monster? Oh, maybe he was just an above-average guy?
Screenplay by Josh Olson, Directed by Shoujirou Nishimi, Animation by Studio 4°C
Crossfire
Batman the Cop. In Crossfire, we gain some insight into how mistrusted Batman is by the Gotham Police Department. This sets up The Dark Knight film quite nicely, even though Batman show’s which side he’s on…thanks to a good old-fashioned shoot-out between rival gangs. Along the way, we get to see Batman in action: smashing faces, walking through fire, smashing more faces and being mysterious!
- Screenplay by Greg Rucka, Directed by Futoshi Higashide, Animation by Production I.G
In Darkness Dwells
Batman the Monster Hunter. With a cannibalistic killer on the loose, who you gonna call? Lt. Gordon decides to call Batman. This story features the horrifying Killer Croc, along with a special re-appearance by Scarecrow. It’s a pretty chilling story but is a perfect showcase for the monstrous villains that Batman is up against. Keep an eye out for a scene in the sewers involving a coffin - it’s totally awesome (but no Joker)!
- Screenplay by David S. Goyer, Directed by Yasuhiro Aoki, Animation by Madhouse
Field Test
Batman the Adventurer. Field Test is a great commentary on Batman’s aversion to guns and has a few great high-tech gadget moments with Bruce Wayne’s pal Lucius Fox. The anime aesthetics are much more pronounced than they are in any of the other stories…which made it my favorite of the bunch.
- Screenplay by Jordan Goldberg, Directed by Hiroshi Morioka, Animation by Bee Train
Deadshot
Batman the Fighter. Deadshot is an expert marksman whose specialty goes against everything Batman stands for. So once he goes after a target, he’s most likely gonna hit it. Is Batman the ultimate prey for a sniper? Deadshot finds out he’s signed onto more than he bargained for. It’s an interesting mix of storytelling that feels strangely like an episode of Batman: The Animated Series. Which is probably due to the screenplay by Alan Burnett, who worked on the series.
- Screenplay by Alan Burnett, Directed by Jong-Sik Nam, Animation by Madhouse
Working Through Pain
Batman the Pain. Did you ever think Batman can’t show pain? Think again. Bruce Wayne learns how painful life can be in order to protect Gotham City. Told in a series of flashbacks, this story doesn’t paint Batman as a glossy, fantasy-themed character.
- Screenplay by Brian Azzarello, Directed by Toshiyuki Kubooka, Animation by Studio 4°C
Conclusion
Overall, Batman Gotham Knight is effective in portraying the many facets of Batman in an anime style. ‘Have I Got A Story For You’ does a great job of setting up the big themes that are explored throughout. I’d like to have seen a more pronounced anime aesthetic, but overall it was quite good. But I still missed The Joker.
What did you think about Gotham Knight?
