Beware the Batman

**Beware the Batman** is an American computer-animated superhero television series based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, created by Mitch Watson, developed by Glen Murakami, Sam Register, Mitch Watson, Butch Lukic, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment. The series premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network on July 13, 2013, as part of their DC Nation block, replacing *Batman: The Brave and the Bold*.

The entire series was made available at launch.

## **Premise**

*Beware the Batman* is set during Bruce Wayne's early years as the Batman, following his initial period of battling organized crime. Over the course of the season, he hones his skills with the assistance of his butler, Alfred Pennyworth. Bruce is introduced to Alfred's goddaughter Tatsu Yamashiro. Tatsu is a martial arts swordsmaster hired to act as Bruce's bodyguard, but also recruited to act as a superhero partner to Batman.

## **Production**

### Conception

After *Batman: The Brave and the Bold* ended its run in November 2011, a new series went under production, so that Batman could return to a more "serious tone". With Batman receiving a new sidekick, Outsiders member Katana, Register even commented that "Katana is gonna be his new Robin, but not necessarily."

### Development

The series was animated in a computer-animated format, similar to the earlier *Green Lantern: The Animated Series*'s animation style.

> "*The way these guys have constructed the city itself—I mean, they're still building it; they're building Gotham City itself—it's not just a couple of sets*."
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> --Series creator Mitch Watson, 2012.
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The requirements of 3D animation at times necessitated that inanimate objects such as ships and city streets were built, rather than simply drawn, creating a need for the completion of entire set designs. This would increase production times, but later allow the developers to bring cinematic qualities of lighting and camera play to the series. Batman's utility belt was fully recreated from cardboard and worn by producer Glen Murakami's design team, to test how the belt would function while in motion. "If you really built it, it would work", said Watson. Batarangs were designed to flip-open and function when retrieved from the belt. The Batmobile was also subjected to scrutiny, as a "certain amount of weight" was added to it as it moved on city streets, out of concern that it would be unbelievable otherwise.

### Release

In the wake of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting, which occurred during a screening of the Batman movie, *The Dark Knight Rises,* it was announced that the series content would be altered in order to make the firearms in the show look less realistic.

In promoting the series, Warner Bros. debuted a trailer a month prior to the series premier, featuring action sequences from the first three episodes, highlighting Batman, Professor Pyg and Toad, Magpie, and Anarky. On July 2, the opening title sequence was released to *Entertainment Weekly*, a week prior to the series premiere. It depicts Batman, Alfred, Katana, and the Batmobile, in a stylized red background with stark red lighting effects, contrasted by dark shadows and silhouettes. The show's opening theme is composed by the indie rock band, the Dum Dum Girls.

In addition initial announcements for the series were accompanied with promotional art that was not intended for public release, depicting Alfred as a gun-toting butler. This upset fans of the Batman mythos, who argued against Alfred's participation in Batman's exploits, and his use of deadly firearms as against the Batman's principles. In response to fan criticism, producer Glen Murakami acknowledged that this poster image was an inaccurate representation of what the character's actual role would be. He elaborated that the poster was intended to be an action-themed shot that displayed the cast of characters, but that Alfred's portrayal had been misleadingly made more exciting. "You can't have an action pose of a guy standing with a tray", joked Murakami. Mitch Watson also noted the problem presented if Alfred were fighting alongside Batman, as he would be recognized as Bruce Wayne's butler, and thus reveal the identity of Batman.

Regardless, both producers insisted that Alfred would remain true to his intended characterization as a mentor to Batman, who could potentially help Batman if a story plot called for it. Scott Thill, technology and pop culture commentator for *Wired* magazine, praised the initial choice to debut the villain Anarky on television, claiming the character was relevant following the rise of the Occupy movement and the hacktivist activities of Anonymous.

### Broadcast

Three months after the series premiere, *Beware the Batman* was pulled from the Cartoon Network schedule and put on hiatus on October 23, 2013. Cartoon Network did not provide an official explanation, leading fans to believe that the series had already been cancelled. Cartoon Network then moved the series to the Toonami block on the network's late-night Adult Swim showcase. Toonami first aired the series on Saturday, May 10, 2014, during the early-morning time slots. Cartoon Network then declared the series a financial failure and decided to "write it off". On September 28, Toonami ran a marathon consisting of the final seven previously unaired episodes.

The show made its Canadian premiere on October 11, 2013 on Teletoon.

## **Reception**

### Awards

*Beware the Batman* was nominated by the 2013 *Annie Award* for 'Best Animated TV/Broadcast Production For Children's Audience' category, and simatenously nominated by the 2014 *Daytime Emmy Awards* for 'Outstanding Children's Animated Program' category, 'Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special' category, 'Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program' category, and the 'Outstanding Main Title and Graphic Design' category.

## **Trivia**

* This is the first "Batman" television series to be animated completely on computer animation.