The Many Faces Of Batman On Display In Upcoming Animated Projects

Batman, DC’s iconic “Dark Knight,” is one of the most recognized characters in the world: a grim agent of justice locked in never-ending battle against crime. But nearly 90 years after his debut, creators with their own perspectives and sensibilities still find ways to bend the mythology in new directions. That diversity is on full display with the current and upcoming animated projects from Warner Bros Animation, ranging from silly, kid-friendly treatments to an R-rated animated feature film hailing from Mexico.

“Batman has a unique ability to transcend cultures, borders and demographics,” says Michael Uslan, originator and executive producer of the Batman movie franchise and newly-inducted member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. “He has no superpowers, so everyone can relate to him; he has the best origin story and the best villains, and of course everyone loves the car!”

One test of that adaptability is turning the deadly serious crimefighter into a vehicle for comedy, something Uslan says is possible because of the universal familiarity with the Batman persona.

Bat-Fam, a new animated series that just dropped on Prime Video on November 10, offers this more lighthearted view of Batman, contrasting the Caped Crusader’s heroic exploits with a more chaotic domestic life. The premise of the show is that a bearded Bruce Wayne (Luke Wilson), has to deal with a raft of houseguests and roommates at Wayne Manor, including his young son Damian (Yonas Kibreab), Aflred (James Cromwell), Alfred’s niece Alicia (London Hughes) and a range of other sometimes familiar, sometimes random characters.

Showrunner Mike Roth, who directed the well-liked all ages special Merry Little Batman (2023), characterized the tone as “action-comedy,” closer to the anarchic feel of 1990s NickToons than the atmosphere fans often associate with the dour Dark Knight. Humorous takes on Batman over the years, from the campy 1960s live action TV show to the often hilarious animated Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008-2011), can be successful on their own terms, especially when they contrast the earnestness of Batman with absurd or ridiculous things happening around him.

Responses to Bat-Fam have so far been mixed, as you might expect from a character with an opinionated fanbase. Though Batman fans have always bristled at the world laughing at the world’s greatest detective (as in the 1966 TV series), Uslan says there is now room to laugh with Batman, as in series like this or the LEGO Batman films, particularly when there are other versions available in media offering the more straightforward treatment of the character.

Another fun take on the character is Batwheels, a 3D animated show aimed squarely at young kids, that stars Batman’s vehicles and equipment as the main characters, with the humans like Batman (Ethan Hawke) in more cameo roles. In Batwheels, “Bam” (the Batmobile, voiced by Jacob Bertrand) is the leader of a squad that includes Red (Robin’s car), Bibi (Batgirl’s motorcycle), Buff (the Bat-Truck) and Wing (Batman’s plane, the Batwing). Uslan says having an entry point for young viewers is essential to the long-term viability of the franchise, as well as a good launchpad for licensed merchandise like toys and costumes.

Developed by Michael G. Stern and producer Simon J. Smith, Batwheels has so far run two seasons of 11 minute mini-episodes on Cartoon Network and HBO Max. A third season is set to debut December 5.

At the other end of the spectrum from these shows is Batman: Azeteca: Choque de Imperios (Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires), from director Juan Meza-León, an R-rated animated feature originally produced for the Mexican market, which did so well that it got a theatrical release in Latin America and an English version direct to video from Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment, now streaming on HBO Max.

The 89-minute film reimagines Batman in 16^th Century Mexico during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire. Yohuali Coatl, a young Aztec boy, is orphaned in a murderous attack by Spaniards, and grows up to adopt the cape and cowl of the Bat to fight for justice for his people against “Two-Face” conquistador Hernán Cortés. Various other figures from the Batman mythology turn up in various guises.

Batman: Azeteca fits into the subgenre known as “Elseworlds” stories, which reimagine DC characters like Batman in different historical or fictional scenarios, apart from regular continuity. There have been a number of good animated Batman features produced in this genre, including the steampunk Gotham By Gaslight (2018) and the martial-arts oriented Batman: Ninja (2018, with a sequel released in 2025), all aimed at adult audiences.

“Batman: Azeteca is one of the most significant, bold Batman ventures because of its ability to rise above cultures,” says Uslan. “It demonstrates how Batman can be adapted into any mythology and folklore around the world with great, unique storytelling. I’m hoping this is the beginning of seeing Batman integrated more deeply with other cultures and traditions worldwide.”

Of course DC is not neglecting the classic version of Batman, whose definitive animated incarnation was the 1990s-era Batman: The Animated Series. That character, voiced by the late Kevin Conroy across a number of different series, games and other adaptations, shaped generations of fans’ and creators’ idea of what Batman should be.

Batman: Caped Crusader, featuring Hamish Linklater voicing Batman, carries the banner of that tradition, with Batman: TAS showrunner Bruce Timm serving as Executive Producer alongside J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves (director of 2022’s The Batman live action feature). The series turns the clock back to the earliest days of the character, with a setting evoking the 1930s and both the characterization and art direction leaning heavily into Batman’s roots in pulp fiction.

The first season, which landed on Amazon Prime Video following disruptions at Warner Bros during the transition from ATT’s ownership to that of Discovery, features a suspenseful, atmospheric and very violent rendition of Batman, intended for adult audiences. A second season is set to debut in 2026, according to showrunner James Tucker.

So whether you like your Batman grim and gritty, bearded and witty, steeped in indigenous culture, or ready for all-ages fun, the current state of the animated Dark Knight gives people lots to choose from.