Highlights
- Batman Ninja is a unique and fun take on the caped crusader, blending Japanese pop culture elements with the Batman storyline.
- The sequel, Batman Ninja vs the Yakuza League, reunites the original creative team for another wild and exciting adventure.
- Fans can expect more cool character designs, an epic score by Yugo Kanno, and a celebration of Batman’s symbolism and legacy in the upcoming film.
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Title |
Batman Ninja |
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Director |
Junpei Mizusaki |
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Studio |
Kamikaze Douga |
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Release Date |
6/15/2018 |
Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Batman Ninja, available on Blu-ray and Digital.
(Disclaimer: This feature discusses the original Japanese version of Batman Ninja. The English dubbed version is radically different from the original script and thus the author cannot guarantee the following analysis of the story and themes is consistent with that version.)
Batman Ninja was an awesome film, and depending on the kind of Batman fan one talks to, that’s either the most obvious statement or an extremely hot take begging to be disputed. But love it or not, the team behind the strangest animated take on the caped crusader is reuniting once more to create Batman Ninja vs the Yakuza League, and fans should be very excited.
The first film was announced at New York Comic Con in 2017 and was released on home video on June 15, 2018, receiving glowing reviews from critics despite some divisive reception from fans. On May 30, 2024, Warner Bros. Japan announced a sequel as well as the return of the same creative team and Koichi Yamadera’s return as the voice of Batman.
What We Know About the Sequel
Kamikaze Douga, the studio behind Pop Team Epic, will once again animate the film. Junpei Mizusaki is set to direct once again, and apart from his role in many of Kamikaze Douga’s projects, his claim to fame is surely his work on the openings for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. In particular, the iconic CGI openings from the early seasons, a style similarly captured in Batman Ninja. Shinji Takagi, who co-directed the first film, returns to do the same here.
Another JoJo alumnus headlines the staff in a big way. Yugo Kanno, the composer for the JoJo anime, as well as the Psycho-Pass series, and the 2023 adaptation of Pluto, will score the sequel. The character designs are being drawn by Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki. Best of all, screenwriter Kazuki Nakashima (Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Promare) is coming back to write the script.
What We Don’t Know (Yet)
All the biggest names behind the first film seem to have returned, though apart from Yamadera voicing Batman, not much is yet known about the voice cast or the rest of the production staff. More is expected to be revealed on July 4 when Warner Bros. Japan hosts a panel at Anime Expo about not only this film but Suicide Squad ISEKAI as well.
From the title alone, Batman seems to be going up against a new batch of villains with a heavy Japanese influence, but the word “league” in particular implies a lot about this new story. From 2010’s Crisis on Two Earths to 2013’s Injustice, DC is no stranger to having its heroes face off against alternate-reality versions of themselves. Batman might be facing the Yakuza or a Yakuza-inspired criminal spin on the famed superhero team, either of which would be a cool concept.
Why You Should Be Excited
A sequel to Batman Ninja was unexpected, to say the least, but only because it’s hard to believe the original was ever made in the first place. Understanding the hype for this sequel demands understanding what made the first so unique. It was and remains one of the most original works to come from the IP in years; a weird and fun film that stood out from the rest.
Batman Ninja began with the caped crusader and most of the Bat Family crashing an experiment by Gorilla Grodd at Arkham Asylum. When Grodd’s machine backfires, the Bat Family and their most iconic villains are teleported through time to Japan’s Warring States period. Worse yet, Batman arrives late and finds that his foes have been busy.
They’ve each become feudal lords and are fighting each other for control, with civilians caught in the middle. With the help of his friends, old and new, Batman has to set things right and send everyone back to the present. The premise is absurd and unabashedly so with a screenwriter like Nakashima at the helm. Warner Bros. had very little oversight, giving the storytellers a wealth of creative freedom; the source of this film’s charm and divisiveness alike.
What Makes This Story a Tough Sell
Batman Ninja isn’t merely a “What if” scenario imagining the titular hero as a ninja, but rather a blend of Japanese pop culture elements with Batman, fused into a potent cocktail. For anime fans familiar with works like Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill or any of Nakashima’s past work, this just seems like par for the course. For those expecting something a bit more on-brand for everyone’s favorite brooding bat, though, this is where the film becomes decidedly more divisive.
The villains haven’t simply attained political power – they’ve used Grodd’s technology to turn their castles into huge mechs. Batman and company aren’t merely adopting ninja tools and aesthetics – they’re using ninjutsu. As the story continually escalates, there are supernatural elements that may strike non-anime fans as downright stupid. With all this said, the film never pretends that it isn’t silly, and if one goes into this film expecting these qualities, there is a lot to love about this story.
A Unique Challenge For The Batman
Over the years, there have been many interpretations of Batman, each one examining certain qualities of the character more than others. For Batman Ninja, the objective seems to not only have been a blend of the character with Japanese iconography but also use the ninja power fantasy to dissect the modern idea of the caped crusader. Through all the silliness, the film challenges the reliance on technology and gadgets that have become synonymous with Batman.
Sometimes, the best way to examine such an established icon is to take one element of their character, deprive them of it, and see how it impacts them. For Batman, being transported to the past directly confronts him with how his tools have become a crutch, as they quickly begin to dwindle throughout the opening act. It’s as if the parts of Batman’s cultural identity tied to wealth and resources are forcibly excised, leaving only the symbolism that is central to the character.
Why This Matters
Make no mistake, the film is still ridiculous, but it’s also remarkably earnest and displays nothing if not respect for Batman and his legacy. The supernatural elements toward the end, like with many of the plot points, might feel like they came out of nowhere. However, seeing a swarm of bats come together to form the original 1939 Batman design feels pretty on the nose about what the story is trying to say (in a good way).
To conquer a foe more powerful than him, Batman has to get in touch with what truly made him powerful in the first place, more than gadgets or being rich; his power is a symbol. Once you understand that, the whole film makes a lot more sense. The animation, the performances, Yugo Kanno’s immaculate score, and some of the coolest character designs in the franchise, all come together for what is a fever dream, but one that nevertheless celebrates this character.
All this is to say that Batman Ninja is well worth a watch, and even more so now that Batman Ninja vs the Yakuza League is on the horizon. Fans will have to wait until Anime Expo to learn more about the upcoming sequel, but in the meantime, go into the first one with an open mind and have fun.
Source: Anime News Network
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