Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles seamlessly blends two comic book worlds into a cohesive action-packed animated film.
Warner Bros. Animation continues its streak of high-quality narratives with Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—a film inspired by the crossover comic book series which is already in its third installment in print. The film is definitely a sight to behold as it blends Batman’s dark world with the weird and wacky universe of pizza-loving ninja brothers Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo.
The film opens up to action and “mystery” and never lets up—unless it’s for a bit of ridiculous humor (usually powered by that most bodacious of dudes, Michelangelo). While watching the film, you have to really commend the writers for performing such an adept balancing act of giving each character equal screen time. Having an ensemble cast is usually treading some very dangerous territory, especially if you’re dealing with two big franchises.
And when I speak of a “balancing act,” I’m not referring to just two or three or even four different characters. We have Batman and his immediate Bat-family (Batgirl and Robin, aka Damien Wayne), the Turtles, Batman’s most notorious villains (Ra’s al Ghul, Joker, Penguin, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Bane, Harley Quinn, and Two-Face), and the Turtle’s own nemesis Shredder (with his respective foot soldiers and minions). It’s like a 1980s ten-year-old had his afternoon action-figure-mash-up-playtime come to life—in other words … me!
The animation is consistent with the art outside of the Timmverse. It’s a bit anime-inspired and a bit less streamlined. All in all, it works for this film. If I were to be truly pedantic, I would say the Turtles should’ve been a bit more “cartoony” in nature. However, their style is completely understandable. The Turtles are coming into Batman’s world, therefore, should embrace a style that’s consistent with the dominant universe. With that being said, the animators did take the time to make each Turtle unique, aside from their colored masks and weapons.
Because the plot and premise are “inspired” by the original comic book series, the animated film does have a few differences and surprises. This is definitely appreciated, as it offers something new for fans—it isn’t just a direct translation of the material to the screen. Character motivations are clear and arcs are organic with the perfect foreshadowing/payoff construction.
As for the tone of this overall film, the director again does a great job of doling out violence, humor, heart, and action all at the right times and places. I was actually quite surprised how violent it actually got. I’m talkin’ beheadings and impalings. Yep, this film goes there. But, nonetheless, it works! The filmmakers are truly fans of both franchises and it shows!
Cowabunga Batman! When Comic Book Worlds Collide
One of the major bonus features on the Blu-ray is a segment detailing out how Warner Bros. Animation pulled off this crossover event. With interviews from the cast and crew, we get an idea of how the narrative was created and how the Turtles were brought into the world of Gotham without it being forced.
By looking at the commonalities of both franchises, the filmmakers were able to find a stable foundation of which to build the story. By layering character arcs on top of this foundation, they were able to tell an engaging, cohesive tale that was faithful to both franchises.
Fight Night in Gotham
Another major bonus feature illustrates (pun intended) the fight choreography found in the film. The reason Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had such immersive action scenes was due to the crew treating the project as if it were live-action. The fights were inspired by the martial arts-driven Shaw Brothers films and other modern action greats like The Raid (2011).
Storyboard artists planned the action in the context of each character’s style and specialty. For the chase scenes, the animators viewed the overall scene and “location” and created the point-of-view action accordingly. That planning allowed all the sequences to flow together flawlessly, placing the audience in the midst of the excitement.
A Sneak Peek at DC Universe’s Next Animated Movie: Batman: Hush
The final major bonus feature gives fans a sneak peek at one of Batman’s most famous stories—Batman: Hush. Batman: Hush (August 2009) was a Batman story arc that involved the villain Hush playing a long-game of destroying the Dark Knight’s reputation. It also heavily explored the relationship between our hero and Catwoman.
Unlike Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, this upcoming film is definitely not intended for general audiences. It’s a dark narrative that plays with the psychology of its characters. This is a definite “can’t wait” for me!
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The Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Blu-ray is worth it for the film alone, but the bonus features put it over the top, as it explores the filmmakers’ love and respect for both franchises. It’s rare that we get a mash-up of two disparate properties that play so well together—but that’s also because it has a keen cast and crew. In any other hands, it would’ve been a disaster. However, this film will become one of Warner Bros. Animation’s best. I can’t wait for the sequel—you know it’s going to happen!
Own Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack today. The all-new feature is currently available to own on digital.
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