Batman: Under the Red Hood

“Now, somebody stands in the shadows who knows my every move before I make it…”

While we’re on the subject of DC and Warner Bros. Animation, Batman: Under the Red Hood (by Bruce Timm, Brandon Vietti and Judd Winick) will be available July 27th.

Official Press Release

BURBANK, CA – Batman confronts new enemies, old foes and painful memories when a powerful vigilante with a penchant for violence comes to Gotham City in the intense graphic-novel-come-to-life Batman: Under the Red Hood, the next entry in the popular ongoing series of DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming July 27, 2010 from Warner Premiere, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The full-length film will be distributed by Warner Home Video as a Special Edition version on Blu-Ray™ and 2 disc DVD for $29.99 (SRP) and $24.98 (SRP), respectively, as well as single disc DVD for $19.98 (SRP). The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

The stellar voice cast has Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike in the 2009 blockbuster Star Trek) donning the famed cowl as the voice of Batman. Supernatural star Jensen Ackles is Red Hood, and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) voices Nightwing. John DiMaggio (Futurama) and Jason Issacs (the Harry Potter films) round out the main cast as The Joker and Ra’s Al Ghul, respectively.

Batman: Under the Red Hood is scripted by award-winning comics writer Judd Winick and based on his popular 2005 comics storyline and subsequent comics graphic novel of the same name. Animation guru Bruce Timm returns as executive producer, as he has for all eight DC Universe animated original movies. Director is Brandon Vietti, who served as co-director of Superman Doomsday and was responsible for the first one-third of that film, including the fatal battle between the two title characters.

In Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman faces his ultimate challenge as the mysterious Red Hood takes Gotham City by firestorm. One part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, Red Hood begins cleaning up Gotham with the efficiency of Batman, but without following the same ethical code. Killing is an option. And when The Joker falls in the balance between the two, hard truths are revealed and old wounds are reopened.

Fans will be treated to an incredible package of DC Universe storytelling as the Special Edition Blu-Ray and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD include the second animated short in the all-new DC Showcase series – which features the popular DC Comics character, Jonah Hex. The short is scripted by renowned author Joe Lansdale and stars the voices of Thomas Jane (Hung), Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).

Batman: Under the Red Hood – 2 Disc Special Edition DVD will have more than two hours of fascinating bonus features, including:

* Featurette – Robin’s Story – It was decided it was time to add a fresh face into the story mix, which turned out to be Dick Grayson, aka Robin. This is the story of Dick Grayson and how he transformed into Robin, with Batman as his father-figure role model.
* Extended Sneak Peek at the next DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movie.
* Widescreen (1.78:1)
* Two title-themed episodes from of Warner Bros. Animation’s 20-year history of Batman television series, hand-picked by animation legend Bruce Timm.

Batman: Under the Red Hood Special Edition Blu-Ray will have more than three hours of bonus materials, including all the great extras from the 2-disc Special Edition DVD as well as:

* Featurette: Death in the House of Batman – The story of how DC Comics heard the fans’ cry that the new Robin was not going to fit the cape, and how the Boy Wonder was scheduled to die.
* Two additional bonus Batman-themed episodes personally selected by Bruce Timm
* Digital copy

‘Batman: Under the Red Hood is another terrific entry in the groundbreaking series of DC Universe animated movies, a shining representation of the adult storytelling that comics-turned-to-film has to offer, and further evidence of the combined creative power within the collaboration of DC Entertainment, Warner Premiere, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Home Video,’ said Matt Bierman, Senior Vice President Production, Warner Premiere.

‘Judd Winick’s and Doug Mahnke’s story of a Robin gone wrong introduced Batman’s most personal enemy to date. It’s unbelievably cool to see it brought to life like this,’ said Geoff Johns, Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.

‘With each exciting new chapter of the DC UNIVERSE films, fans have come to expect more – and Batman: Under the Red Hood delivers with an action-packed tale of mystery and emotional struggle brought to animated life by an outstanding filmmaking crew and voiced by the all-star talents of Bruce Greenwood, Jensen Ackles, Neil Patrick Harris and John Dimaggio,’ said Amit Desai, WHV Vice President of Family, Animation & Partner Brand Marketing.

‘In his feature length solo directorial debut, Brandon Vietti has brought this dark, psychological thriller to the screen with all the action and emotion of a great Batman story,” said Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Animation. ‘

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On Blu-Ray: Wonder Woman

A little later than I would have liked, I finally had the opportunity to scoop up the Blu-Ray version of last year’s Wonder Woman from Warner Bros. Animation, and I spent a couple of hours yesterday evening sitting back to enjoy the feature. But let me first say that I’ve been fascinated with WW’s director Lauren Montgomery’s work since stumbling upon it a couple of years ago online. Not unlike Bruce Timm’s legendary creations, Montgomery finds success in creating an iconic visual of a character — like Wonder Woman — by breaking them down to essential concepts, then building them back from the ground up with a unique simplicity wholly her own.

I think that one of the aspects of her art that makes it jump off the page, or through the screen, is that she’s able to create this great sense of fluidity in her illustrations by exaggerating a characters features, or movement, and it ends up lending itself extremely well to an “animated” illustration wherein our eyes are drawn to that exaggeration and the characters movements seem all the more alive, more dynamic as a result. That, and there’s this great expression to those movements, like her characters faces, that’s just something to behold.

Uh…or…let’s let an illustration do the explaining. For example, Boodika, from Green Lantern: First Flight:

(I apologize for not having something like this from Wonder Woman to show, but hopefully you get the idea.)

Anyhow, Warner Bros. (and Bruce Timm) made an excellent call by putting her in charge of direction and visual design because her expertise translates beautifully to the screen in bringing everyone’s favorite Themyscirian Princess to life. And I’ve got to tell you, this is an extremely distinct version of Wonder Woman (voiced by Keri Russell), and one that I hope we haven’t seen the last of. In this feature Diana is a younger, brasher, more headstrong version of the character but also completely full of the zest for life, power, and strength of spirit that we know so well in later, more experienced versions. She’s also fiercely beautiful and a warrior born which they play up to great effect.

It’s here that I wanted to mention that all too often we hear about “strong women” only to have the conclusion drawn that such a woman is one almost completely “liberated” from man and his influences, and while the relationships between men and women is a theme that runs through the feature itself, we see the theme play out in Diana herself as she experiences more of the world than that which she knew solely as a daughter of Themyscira. Through Steve Trevor (voiced by Captain Reyn…Nathan Fillion) Diana finds that more than a few preconceptions about man don’t quite hold up under closer scrutiny, and as a man viewing the feature, I appreciated that Trevor had a voice in the movie and that he had some wisdom to impart along the way. Even in the little things, where he informs Diana that men don’t think women incapable of opening doors for themselves, etc., but simply that we care about them, and want to serve in small ways like that to show a sincere appreciation. In other words, I liked that Diana had realized herself so capable in her young life and I hope all women can feel empowered in a similar way but I also liked the fact that Diana realized that man has his own strengths to bear and that man and woman can — and are meant to — coexist happily together.

Wonder Woman is a great character when handled deftly with confidence and vision, and it’s good to know that there are so many people out there capable of putting a good story together like this so as to highlight why she’s remained a vibrant icon for so long and what plenty she has left to contribute. And there is plenty of story to be had here, some great character moments, surprises, a fully realized world, fantastically fierce battle scenes (which are a highlight of the film) and more than a few laughs to be had so I don’t hesitate to say that I was extremely pleased with the results and can’t wait to sink a couple of more hours into all the extra’s padded into the release. Wonder Woman is probably my favorite  DC-Animated features in recent years this side of New Frontier, so a well deserved kudo’s to everyone involved.

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Planet Hulk In Stores Feb. 2nd

Marvel Animated Features and Lionsgate Home Entertainment’s Planet Hulk Blu-Ray and DVD will be hitting stores shelves Feb. 2nd, and having missed Greg Pax’s original storyline the first time around (no worries, it’s on my TPB list and I’ve been making great strides there as of late) I’m looking forward to experiencing the story in this format as something of a primer to the printed epic, and as a way of seeing the Hulk and his supporting cast come to life in a whole new way. I really enjoyed the 2008 film as I noted here on the blog and I’m hoping that the character is in good hands this time around as well. I’m a sucker for all things animation so I’ve little doubt this film will go a long way with me.

In all honesty I haven’t read the Incredible Hulk regularly since Peter David’s legendary run and I’ve been patiently waiting to check out all the great stuff Greg Pax has apparently been doing (that much more so with the recent announcement that Paul Pelletier is coming on board as penciller) so this flick will be a great way to get me fired up for more…though I’m fairly sure it’ll ultimately lead to a much lighter wallet!

Here’s the solicitation information from Marvel Animated Features and Lionsgate:

A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF HURT!

He was a monster, impossible to control, too dangerous to ignore. So Earth’s mightiest heroes exiled him into outer space.  But now the Incredible Hulk crash lands on the distant planet Sakaar, ruled by the tyrannical Red King.  Sold into slavery, Hulk becomes the planet’s mightiest gladiator—but his new masters get more than they bargained for when he forges a bond of brotherhood with his fellow fighters: crafty insectoid Miek, ruthless rock-man Korg, ex-shadow priest Hiroim, and the noble-born rebel Elloe.  Unlike Earth, the desperate people of Sakaar believe a monster is just what they need.  But will the Hulk be the one to save their world… or destroy it?

SPECIAL EDITION DVD AND BLU-RAY BONUS FEATURES:*

DISC ONE:

• Opening Sequence: Thor: Tales of Asgard
• Audio commentary by Supervising Producer Joshua Fine and Screenwriter Writer Greg Johnson
• Audio commentary by Director Sam Liu, Character Designer Philip Bourassa and Key  Background Painter Steve Nicodemus
• “A Whole World of Hurt: The Making of Planet Hulk” featurette
• “Let the Smashing Commence!: The Saga of Planet Hulk” featurette
• “Rise Up” Astonishing X-Men music video
• “Watch Your Step” Spider-Woman music video
• Wolverine and the X-Men: “Wolverine vs. Hulk” episode
• Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D motion comic
• Astonishing X-Men: Gifted motion comic

DISC TWO:

• Standard Definition Digital Copy of the feature film

*Special features may not all be in hi-def.

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Spider-Woman Motion Comic on Hulu

As the Newsarama blog reported, Marvel’s Spider-Woman Motion Comic is now available for viewing on Hulu and I reckon that it’s well worth your time to fly on over and watch them in their entirety (at no cost). Now, I’ve been vocal at times about what I tend not to like about Brian Bendis’ writing on The Avengers, but I’ve also been vocal when he gets it right — so don’t be too shocked when I say that I’ve almost always enjoyed his take on Jessica Drew a.k.a. Spider-Woman and that I was really looking forward to this series to see what he could do with her solo. Well, with an interesting “skull hunting” premise, the help of Alex Maleev’s masterful artwork (who, incidentally, draws the most beautiful Jessica Drew around) and the production values of the motion comic I have to say that I was sold early on and that having watched each of these that I’m definitely neck deep into the story (I’ve been invested in the character since the beginning so no need to convince me there).

So, enjoy the episodes if you haven’t yet downloaded them via iTunes and keep an eye out for the compilation of the first storyline in Spider-Woman Vol. 1: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. – which is where I’m really looking forward to experiencing this one most.

Definitely, great job so far folks!

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Batman & Kevin Conroy

Batman has had no greater voice than when voiced by actor Kevin Conroy. His voice is Batman’s own in my mind and I can think of no greater compliment to pay him after all these years. I was reminded of the quality of his performance once more while playing Batman: Arkham Asylum and fans will be able to experience his work on the Dark Knight once again in the upcoming animated direct-to-dvd feature Superman/Batman: Public Enemies later this month.

And the great thing is that he still genuinely appears to love voicing the character after 19 long years with the character:

QUESTION: Is there still a cool factor for you to be the voice of Batman?

KEVIN CONROY: Oh, yeah. It’s something that I’m reminded of a lot from people who enjoy the show. That’s a very cool thing. I don’t ever take for granted how cool a job it is and how lucky I am to have landed in it. It was the first animation job I ever auditioned for – and it just happened to all come together so well.

Head on over to Newsarama’s blog for the extended interview, and look for Superman/Batman: Public Enemies in stores September 29th.

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“9″ In Theaters Tomorrow, 9-9-09

"The Spark of Life..."

Shane Acker, Tim Burton & Timur Bekmambatov’s apocalyptic CGI — stop motion inspired — animated film “9″ finally hits theaters tomorrow and this is definitely one of the few films that I’m going to have to see in theaters this year for that larger-than-life effect. This one had me right from the get-go as it just drips creativity and originality. I’m also excited to just continue to sit back and marvel as animation continues to reach this whole new plateau in terms of technical and creative achievement.

Also, be sure to head over to Film in Focus for some very cool extras, including character/production art, interviews, games, and much more.

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Catching Up With Futurama!

I’ve been waiting for the right deal to come along for who knows how long now, but as of this weekend I can finally claim to be the proud owner of Futurama: Volumes 1-4! Now, I’ve loved the show since its inception, but with only so much for the entertainment budget each month I’ve had to pass on the DVD collections far too many times. Well, with the news that Futurama (and it’s voice cast) will indeed be returning for more I was in the mood to celebrate and with a little extra fortitude I managed to find a great deal on all 4-volumes for just under $50. Snatched that deal up right quick and I can’t wait to spend the next several months laughing myself to sleep!

Of course, now I’ll have to keep an eye out for the movie collections, but you’ve got to start somewhere…

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Astro Boy, Official Trailer 2

Look for Astro Boy in theaters on October 23rd, and be sure to visit the Official Astro Boy Movie Site for all kinds of fun stuff.

“The Greatest Robot on Earth”

Also, if you have the means and you’ve never had the chance to really jump into the world of Osamu Tezuka’s Tetsuwan Atomu (“Mighty Atom“), there’s never been a better time to do so thanks to the recent manga compilation reprinting Astro Boy Volumes 1 & 2, available at retailers like amazon.com for ~ $10.  My own monthly comic reading list has plummeted dramatically as cover prices have increased sharply on what are now $3.99 32-pagers, and my focus has turned almost exclusively towards collections such as this.  Weighing in at 424-pages, wholly translated into English and featuring Tezuka’s timeless character and art in B&W — it’s not difficult to see why.

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Green Lantern: First Flight

Has this been a long time coming!

Several years ago Geoff Johns, Dan Didio and several other creators at DC drove home the fact that they believed the Green Lantern concept was one of the core pillars of the DC Universe and that they really wanted to grow the brand dramatically, and do justice to the characters in the process.  Looking back on the successes of Green Lantern: Rebirth, New Frontier (and it’s animated version), the new Green Lantern series, The Sinestro War, Green Lantern Corp, Tie-In’s, and upcoming Blackest Night mega-event, there’s no arguing that they’ve done exactly that, and probably to a greater degree than even they may have anticipated.  It’s been a heck of a journey for this GL fan, and with news that Hal Jordan was going to be featured in Green Lantern’s first solo animated film debut, I obviously have yet another  reason to get really excited.  There’s a heck of a lot to look forward to in the GL sectors of the DCU and I can’t wait for this one in particular to see Hal and the GL Corp. come to life on the big (little) screen.

More on the Green Lantern: First Flight animated feature film from Lauren Montgomery and Justice League on Film:

The storyline for Green Lantern is essentially Hal Jordan’s first encounter with the Green Lantern Corps…We didn’t want to focus purely on an origin story, but we also didn’t want to skip on an origin story being that this was the first Green Lantern solo movie. So we tried to get it out of the way right in the beginning so that the rest of the movie focuses on him with the Green Lantern Corps, kind of learning how to interact with them and proving himself to them. His mentor is Sinestro in this case, and Sinestro has not yet become a Yellow Lantern. He’s still a Green Lantern, so we get to see their interaction on that level as well…Hal also has to make his own decisions about whether that’s right or wrong and standing up for himself. It’s kind of like a Training Day type scenario. Let’s face it, with a name like Sinestro, you can’t stay good for very long, so he does turn to the Yellow Lantern and Hal has to take him on.

Look for it July 21, 2009 (a week earlier than originally planned).

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Max Fleischer’s Superman, 1941 – 1942

Max Fleischer’s Superman 1941 – 1942 DVD collection will be released on Tuesday, April 7th from Warner Home Video.  The highly revered series has been collected and reproduced numerous times, to differing qualities  (I think I’ve owned 4 different versions) but this remastered compilation featuring the 17-theatrical shorts directed by Dave and Max Fleischer is widely considered be best version yet released by far.  If you can swing it, or haven’t seen these animated masterpieces before, please do yourself a favor and check it out.  It really doesn’t get much better than this!

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