News
News on Batman Ninja movies. In most cases a link will accompany each headline back to the original article.
News on the DCAU originates from animation and comic book related news sites, personal staff forums or comic book conventions. Fans beware, in some cases, false news does get spread among the Internet.
Batman Ninja News
September 19, 2017: There is a Batman Ninja anime film slated for release in 2018. The crew includes director Jumpei Mizusaki, character designer Takashi Okazaki, screenwriter Kazuki Nakashima, and English-language screenwriters Leo Chu & Eric Garcia. There will be a first look at New York Comic Con on October 05, 2017 from 12:45 to 1:45 PM at Main Stage 1-D. NYCC post
October 5, 2017: Summary of First Look panel at NYCC. The movie takes place in medieval Japan, Nakashima, Okazaki and Mizusaki were approached by Warner Bros., performers acted out the fight scenes and the recorded choreography was used by the animators as a reference point, the Blu-ray will include both the subtitled original Japanese version as well as an English version, it is Batman through the eyes of the Japanese, the movie is a love letter to the Batman mythos and comes with a cache of easter eggs and surprises for fans, and it will be rated PG-13 for intense action. The teaser trailer shown features Batman confronting the Joker but Joker identifies him as a hero who can do everything but kill, Nightwing strikes the Penguin, Robin brandishes a sword, Poison Ivy takes out her own blade, Catwoman takes on Harley Quinn, A men-yoroi, facial armor, is removed and reveals Two-Face, and Gorilla Grodd reigns as a feudal lord. There was also a tease of an amazing fight scene. CB Article
October 5, 2017: The Joker is voiced by someone with the initials "T.H.". Meselyn Tweet
October 5, 2017: First look at Batman and Joker figures. DLohRidah Tweet
October 5, 2017: First look at Red Hood on poster. yourethestorm Tweet
October 5, 2017: The movie has been in the works for the last three years. Meselyn Tweet
October 5, 2017: The movie is not finished yet and not all the voice recording is done. Meselyn Tweet
October 5, 2017: Prime 1 Studios will be producing 1/4 scale figures of Batman, Joker, and more. Prime 1 Studio Facebook Post
October 6, 2017: Kamikaze Douga is the studio providing animation services and music by Yugo Kanno. Anime News Network Article
November 30, 2017: Trailer released. Comic Book Article
November 30, 2017: Footage from Tokyo Comic Con (Japanese and English sub versions) and poster art released. Kouichi Yamadera voice Batman, Wataru Takagi voices Joker, Ai Kakuma voices Catwoman, and Rie Kugimiya voices Harley Quinn. ANN Article
December 1, 2017: Gallery of screencaps from trailer. CBR Article
December 1, 2017: Prime 1 Studios posts photo of Batman figure. Prime 1 Studio instagram
December 2, 2017: Photos of figures on display at Tokyo Comic Con. Toys R Evil blog
January 23, 2018: Scans of magazine article from Figure King. The Batman figure releases in June and includes interchangeable portraits, interchangeable hands, a removable cape, and a sword. The Joker releases in July and looks to include interchangeable faces, interchangeable hands, a sword, and two fan weapons. Both are listed for 6000 Yen (or about $54). Toy Ark Article
January 26, 2018: On March 25, there will be a panel from 10:25 to 11:00 am at AnimeJapan 2018 with Ai Kakuma, voice of Catwoman. AnimeJapan Schedule
January 31, 2018: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action and for some suggestive material. WF Tweet
February 13, 2018: Releases on April 24 in digital and on May 8 on Blu-ray Steelbook, Blu-ray Combo Pack, and DVD. A 4K UHD for a Digital only release is planned for Summer 2018. Runtime is 85 minutes. Special features listed. "East/West Batman" explores combining eastern and western animation. "Batman: Made in Japan" has the filmmakers talking about the Japanese character models, influences, and designs. "New York Comic Con Presents Batman Ninja" is a recording of the panel from last year. 1:33 trailer, still of Batman and Joker, front cover, logline, and English cast released. Roger Craig Smith voices Batman, Tony Hale voices the Joker, Grey Griffin voices Catwoman, Tara Strong voices Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy, Fred Tatasciore voices Gorilla Grodd and Deathstroke, Yuri Lowenthal voices Robin, Adam Croasdell voices Nightwing and Alfred, Will Friedle voices Red Robin and Red Hood, Tom Kenny voices Penguin, Eric Bauza voices Two-Face. WF Article
February 14, 2018: Matt Yang King announces he is part of the cast and confirms he could be heard in the trailer. maddking Tweet
February 14, 2018: First look at Steelbook. World's Finest Tweet
March 9, 2018: Premieres at Wonder Con on March 24 from 10:15 am - 12:15 pm in the Arena. Panel includes Jumpei Mizusaki, Kazuki Nakashima, Takashi Okazaki, Leo Chu and Eric Garcia, actors led by Roger Craig Smith. Coming Soon Article
March 16, 2018: Releases in theaters in Japan on June 15. New 30 second teaser posted on website. New cast info for Japanese version: Takehito Koyasu as Gorilla Grodd, Atsuko Tanaka as Poison Ivy, Junichi Suwabe as Deathstroke, Cho as Penguin, Toshiyuki Morikawa as Two-Face, Kenta Miyake as Bane, Yuuki Kaji as Robin, Kengo Kawanishi as Red Robin, Daisuke Ono as Nightwing, Akira Ishida as Red Hood, and Houchu Ohtsuka as Alfred. Crew includes: Part Director: Shinji Takagi, Junichi Yamamoto, Shuhei Morita; Storyboards: Romanov Higa, Junichi Yamamoto, Shuhei Morita; Mechanical Design: Yoshihiro Sono, Daisuke Sajiki, Takashi Okazaki, Akira Gonpei, Shinji Aramaki; Concept Art: Michi Suzuki; Imageboards: Fuminori Kizaki, Jooyo Chang; CGI Director: Satoshi Sawada, Takanobu Mizuno; Chief Modeler: Yuuki Ishikawa; Chief Robo Modeler: Akira Gonpei; Animation Chief: Ryuusuke Sakamoto, Kouichi Yoshino; Texture Chief: Hiromitsu Saitou; Color Design: Satoko Kimura; Art Director: Masanobu Nomura; Editing: Kiyoshi Hirose (EditZ); Composite Director: Miho Sakina; Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami; Sound Effects: Yasumasa Koyama; Setting Research: Mitsuyasu Sakai; Animation Producer: Tetsuro Satomi; Producer: Kazutatsu Shimizu; and Production Cooperation: Lapiz. ANN Article
March 17, 2018: New Japanese trailer. Warner Bros. Japan YouTube
March 17, 2018: Back cover art released. World's Finest Tweet
March 22, 2018: Tech check at Wonder Con photo posted. Gary Miereanu Tweet
March 24, 2018: Summary of Wonder Con panel. SyFy Wire Article
March 25, 2018: 28:19 Recording of Wonder Con panel. Malice Corp YouTube
March 26, 2018: Summary from Wonder Con panel. The three stereotypes of samurai, ninjas and transforming robots were implemented by Japanese crew, Chu and Garcia talk about differences between English and Japanese dialogue, Bane's lines were kept the same, and there are easter eggs like Two-Face's coin. CBR Article
March 27, 2018: Recording of Wonder Con Q&A with cast. GWW Article
April 16, 2018: 30 second promo clip posted. WBHE Tweet
April 19, 2018: First 2 minutes 30 seconds of movie posted. PlayStation Tweet
April 20, 2018: Still of Poison Ivy posted. WBHE Tweet
April 20, 2018: Dubbed clip of Batman vs. Joker samurai posted. ANN Article
April 20, 2018: Still of Joker posted. There will be news on Monday. Gary Miereanu Tweet
April 20, 2018: 1:55 featurette posted. Google Play YouTube
April 23, 2018: Dubbed clip of Batman vs. Joker. ComicBook Article
April 23, 2018: Still of Harley Quinn posted. News pushed to Tuesday. Gary Miereanu Tweet
April 24, 2018: 00:41 clip "Heroes Assemble" released. On May 1, there will be a screening and panel discussion in New York City at The Directors Guild of America. Screening starts at 7 pm. On May 2, there will be an appearance/signing by filmmakers and key voice cast at Kinokuniya Bookstore followed by a Q&A with the audience starting at 5:30 pm. WF Article
April 24, 2018: 00:42 clip "Forest Fight" released. Otaku USA Magazine YouTube
April 24, 2018: 1:11 clip of Joker and Harley taunting Batman. SyFy Wire Article
April 24, 2018: Still of Catwoman incognito posted. Grey Griffin Tweet
April 25, 2018: Still of Catwoman posted. Gary Miereanu Tweet
April 25, 2018: Sneak peek and interviews from Wonder Con. DCAA YouTube
April 30, 2018: Clip featuring Grodd released. WBHE YouTube
May 8, 2018: Clip featuring Batman and Joker in a sword fight. WBHE YouTube
May 30, 2018: The movie will be adapted as a manga by artist Masato Hisa and launches Friday in Japan in Monthly Hero's magazine. ANN Article
September 15, 2018: Batman Ninja will be available on Netflix starting October 26. ComicBook Article
October 7, 2018: Photo of XM Studio's Batman figure. Retail price is $990. herokomplex instagram
October 7, 2018: Photo of XM Studio's Catwoman figure. Retail price is $1099. herokomplex instagram
October 7, 2018: Photo of XM Studio's Deathstroke figure. herokomplex instagram
October 7, 2018: Photo of XM Studio's Batgirl figure. Retail price is $1099. herokomplex instagram
August 7, 2019: Manga ends on September 1. ComicBook Article
February 20, 2020: The movie is being adapted into a stage play in Japan that runs from October to December 2020. ComicBook Article
February 27, 2025: A 4K edition of Batman Ninja reportedly releases on April 15. Blu-ray Forum post
March 23, 2025: A 4K edition of Batman Ninja confirmed for April 15. Cover and specifications included. WF Article
Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League News
May 30, 2024: A sequel titled Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League has been announced. Logo revealed. Junpei Mizusaki and Shinji Takagi will co-direct. Kamikaze Douga returns to animate. Returning staff include scriptwriter Kazuki Nakashima, character designer Takashi Okazaki, and composer Yugo Kanno. Kaoichi Yamadera will reprise Bruce Wayne/Batman. More details will be revealed at Warner Bros. Japan's panel at Anime Expo on July 4. ANN Article
July 4, 2024: 30 second Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League teaser posted. DC YouTube
July 4, 2024: Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League poster released. Character posters for Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, and Green Lantern also released. ANN Article
July 4, 2024: Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League is 90 minutes. Batman Ninja Tweet
July 25, 2024: Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League clip will be shown at Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada this weekend before the screening of "A Samurai in Time". Batman Ninja Tweet
July 30, 2024: Recording of Anime Japan panel posted. Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League begins one day after the ending of Batman Ninja. Batman discovers the Justice League is missing and the world is ruled by the Yakuza. At the top is the Yakuza League and they attack Batman. Kazuki Nakashima reveals everyone intially thought the Suicide Squad would be Yakuza and we wrote up a plot but it was rejected. They all started thinking what if the Justice League grew up differently. Warner Bros. Japan Anime YouTube
September 17, 2024: As part of a Bats in Translation panel at New York Comic Con, there will be a sneak peek and conversation with the creative team of Batman Ninja vs Yakuza League. It will be on October 17 from 3-4 pm at the Main Stage. Panelists will be director Jumpei Mizusaki, director Shinju Takagi, and writer Kazuki Nakashima. TV Insider Article
September 20, 2024: Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League character clip posted featuring the Bat Family. Robin is voiced by Yuki Kaji. Red Robin by Kengo Kawanishi, Nightwing by Daisuke Ono, Red Hood by Akira Ishida, Alfred Pennyworth by Hochu Otsuka, and James Gordon by Masaki Terasoma. Warner Bros. Japan Anime YouTube
October 3, 2024: Joker and Harley Quinn will return in Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League. Wataru Takagi and Rie Kugimiya will reprise their roles, respectively. Batman Ninja Tweet
October 17, 2024: 1:30 Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League trailer released. Movie comes out in 2025. DC YouTube
October 17, 2024: Ayane Sakura voices Green Lantern and Akio Otsuka voices Aquaman. Batman Ninja Tweet
October 17, 2024: Nobuyuki Hiyama voices The Flash and Romi Park voices Wonder Woman. Batman Ninja Tweet
October 17, 2024: Kazuhiro Yamaji voices Ra's al Ghul. Batman Ninja Tweet
October 17, 2024: New York Comic Con panel live stream. 12 minutes of footage and a sizzle reel were shown. The former has not been released yet. The crew is still working on the last part of the movie. Popverse YouTube 4:42:20-5:11:12
November 19, 2024: World premiere set for Toyko Comic Con on December 7 at 7:15 pm. TokyoComicCon Tweet
November 23, 2024: Aquaman still posted. Batman Ninja Tweet
November 27, 2024: A screening for the Kamikaze Douga staff was held on November 26. kamikazenosyain Tweet
December 4, 2024: The 4K/Blu-ray reportedly releases on March 4, 2025. We Love Physical Media Tweet
December 7, 2024: Takaya Kamikawa voices Hagane no Kuraaku. ANN Article
January 3, 2025: A recording of the New York Comic Con was officially released. Popverse Article
January 31, 2025: Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League airs in Japan on Cartoon Network on March 21 at midnight. Natalie Mu Article
February 18, 2025: 4:28 trailer in English and Japanese for Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League released. Warner Bros. Entertainment YouTube
February 18, 2025: Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League releases on digital on March 18 and on 4K and Blu-ray on April 15. The movie will also be available as a 2 movie digital collection with Batman Ninja. Cover art and synopsis released. Special features are "Bringing Justice to Japan" and "Anime Action: Choreographing the Fights". Run time is 89 minutes and rated PG-13 for some violence and language. WF Article
February 28, 2025: 2:03 clip of Nightwing vs. Green Lantern and Batman vs. Aquaman released. IGN YouTube
March 14, 2025: 0:59 "Go! Bat Phoenix" promo released. WB Japan Anime YouTube
March 16, 2025: Kouichi Yamadera, the voice of Batman, and Yuki Kaji, the voice of Robin, will be promoting Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League at an event at 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo on April 16. Batman Ninja Tweet
March 18, 2025: 8:49 clip, both Japanese and English version, released. WB Entertainment YouTube
March 18, 2025: James Marler provided additional voices in the English dub. James Marler Tweet
March 18, 2025: Annie Wild voiced Green Lantern in the English dub. Annie Wild Tweet
March 18, 2025: Aaron Campbell voiced Superman in the English dub. Aaron Campbell Tweet
March 18, 2025: Bryson Baugus voiced Robin in the English dub. Bryson Baugus Tweet
March 18, 2025: Joe Daniels voiced Batman in the English dub. Joe Daniels Tweet
March 18, 2025: Cyrus Rodas voiced Aquaman in the English dub. Cyrus Rodas Tweet
March 18, 2025: Nathan Wilson voiced Red Robin in the English dub. Nathan Wilson Tweet
March 18, 2025: Molly Searcy voiced Wonder Woman in the English dub. Molly Searcy Tweet
March 18, 2025: Karlii Hoch voiced Harley Quinn in the English dub. Karlii Hoch instagram
March 20, 2025: Cast and crew for the English dub posted. Kyle Colby Jones Tweet
March 25, 2025: 4:27 "You Came Back" clip posted. WB Entertainment YouTube
April 2, 2025: 1:19 opening title sequence posted. WB Japan Anime YouTube
April 8, 2025: Comments from Yugo Kanno. ComicBook Article
April 9, 2025: 0:41 "Green Lantern" character clip posted. WB Japan Anime YouTube
April 10, 2025: 0:28 "Aquaman" character clip posted. WB Japan Anime YouTube
April 10, 2025: 9:06 Choreographing The Fight Scenes special feature posted. WB Entertainment YouTube
April 11, 2025: 0:41 "The Flash" character clip posted. WB Japan Anime YouTube
April 12, 2025: 0:43 "Wonder Woman" character clip posted. WB Japan Anime YouTube
April 13, 2025: 1:40 "All Alone" character clip posted. WB Japan Anime YouTube
April 17, 2025: Superman poster released. Batman Ninja Tweet
