DC animation fans woke up to exciting news today with the announcement of not only a new Superman animated series, My Adventures with Superman, but also that legendary Batman: The Animated Series creator Bruce Timm is back with the new Batman: Caped Crusader animated series.
For the last 15 years, Timm has produced various DC animated direct-to-video films. His last DC animated series, the CG-animated Green Lantern: The Animated Series, though a hit with the fan lasted only 26 episodes due in no small part to the failure of the infamous live-action Green Lantern film.
Joining Bruce Timm as executive producers for Caped Crusader are filmmakers J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, the latter of whom is currently finishing the upcoming The Batman film set for release March 4, 2021. Abrams meanwhile continues to make waves with new projects since signing an exclusivity deal with WarnerMedia including the Superman film reboot written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and a Zatanna solo film penned by Emerald Fennell.
Official press release details for Batman: Caped Crusader below:
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, Bad Robot Productions and 6th & Idaho, and executive produced by Timm, Abrams and Reeves, Batman: Caped Crusader notably marks Timm’s return to Batman in animated episodic television after his iconic work on the Emmy-winning Batman: The Animated Series, which ran from 1992 through 1995 and spawned an interconnected animated universe that’s still growing to this day. Critically acclaimed and viewed by many as the gold standard of animated superhero storytelling, Batman: The Animated Series is considered one of the best depictions of the Dark Knight in any medium.
Now, nearly three decades later, Timm is returning to the world of the Bat, this time alongside two acclaimed filmmakers and fans: J.J. Abrams and The Batman director Matt Reeves. Utilizing state-of-the-art animation techniques and technology, Batman: Caped Crusader promises to once again reinvent Batman and his super-villains with sophisticated storytelling, nuanced characters and intense action sequences all set in a visually striking world.
“We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City,” said Timm, Abrams and Reeves in a joint statement. “The series will be thrilling, cinematic and evocative of Batman’s noir roots, while diving deeper into the psychology of these iconic characters. We cannot wait to share this new world.”
Batman: Caped Crusader has received a straight-to-series order by HBO Max and Cartoon Network. The announcement was made this morning by Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics and Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios ahead of WarnerMedia’s 2021 upfronts presentation.
“Batman: The Animated Series was a masterpiece that shaped the perception of the character for an entire generation of fans,” said Register. “It is in that spirit that we are bringing together three master storytellers in J.J., Matt and Bruce—each with their own intuitive understanding and affection for the character—to create a new series that will continue in the same groundbreaking legacy.”
Meanwhile, the Man of Steel is also back with his own animated series entitled My Adventures with Superman. The family-friendly series follows twenty-somethings Clark Kent and Lois Lane along with their pal Jimmy Olsen as they try to make it in their new jobs at the Daily Planet. Warner Bros. Animation confirmed that the series has been given a two-season order ahead of its premiere. Jack Quaid (The Boys) and Alice Lee (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) lead the voice cast as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively.
The official press release details for the series.
Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, My Adventures with Superman introduces us to twenty-somethings Clark Kent, the bright and driven Lois Lane and their best friend Jimmy Olsen as they begin to discover who they are and everything they can accomplish together as an investigative reporting team at the Daily Planet. Promising a mix of action, comedy and romance, the new series has received a two-season order from HBO Max and Cartoon Network, as announced this morning by Warner Bros.’ Head of Kids & Family Programming, Amy Friedman.
“It’s been a great partnership working with Cartoon Network and HBO Max to bring more DC Super Heroes to the platform in new and creatively interesting ways,” summed up Register. “This is the first animated Superman series in many years and we want to tell our Superman story through the trio of Clark, Lois and Jimmy—whose relationship dynamic will allow for rich, serialized and engaging stories as we explore their lives as individuals and their journey together as friends.”
“It’s been a great partnership working with Cartoon Network and HBO Max to bring more DC Super Heroes to the platform in new and creatively interesting ways,” “This is the first animated Superman series in many years and we want to tell our Superman story through the trio of Clark, Lois, and Jimmy — whose relationship dynamic will allow for rich, serialized, and engaging stories as we explore their lives as individuals and their journey as friends,” said Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, on the show’s announcement.
“Superman has remained one of the most iconic and beloved Super Heroes in the world,” said Amy Friedman, Head of Kids & Family Programming at Warner Bros., in a provided statement. “This fresh take from the Warner Bros. Animation team delivers a modern, relatable Clark Kent alongside a fearless, whip smart Lois Lane who are navigating the small tasks of both becoming adults and trying to save the world.”
Sam Register (Teen Titans Go!) serves as executive producer, with Jake Wyatt (Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus) and Brendan Clogher (Voltron: Legendary Defender) on board as co-executive producers. Josie Campbell (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) serves as co-producer.
Release dates for Batman: Caped Crusader and My Adventures with Superman have yet to be announced.
Yes! We need a supplementary Batman animated series for this upcoming Batman reboot movie. This combo worked well for Batman Returns with Batman The Animated Series, which were a little more grounded like the forthcoming The Batman seems to be. People want quality, and they want to know more. Let’s dive into the new Gotham, its characters, and tone and get to know and love it. Then we can get excited about a sequel and now maybe even spinoffs.
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