Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Last updated
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Batman Ninja Turtles Cover.png
Official cover
Directed byJake Castorena
Written byMarly Halpern-Graser
Based on Characters from DC
Characters from Nickelodeon
Produced byBen Jones
Starring
Music by Kevin Riepl
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Release dates
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated superhero film directed by Jake Castorena and written by Marly Halpern-Graser. Inspired by the DC Comics and IDW Publishing comic book miniseries Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by James Tynion IV and Freddie Williams II, the story focuses on Batman, Robin, and Batgirl teaming up with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in order to save Gotham City from chaos at the hands of both Shredder and Ra's al Ghul. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation in association with DC Entertainment and Nickelodeon, the film features the voices of Troy Baker, Eric Bauza, Darren Criss, Kyle Mooney, and Baron Vaughn.

Contents

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was produced for the direct-to-video market, and was released on both Blu-ray and Digital HD on June 4, 2019. It received positive reviews and grossed over $3.3 million from home video sales.

Plot

While touring Powers Industrial, Barbara Gordon witnesses a power generator being stolen by the Foot Clan and also spots four mysterious and elusive creatures during the robbery that she refers to as Metahumans. She reports this back to Batman, who decides that if the culprits want high tech, he will set a trap with it. The Foot Clan then attacks Wayne Enterprises to steal an experimental cloud seeder machine, but are ambushed by Batman, who fends off the Foot and their leader, Shredder. Meanwhile, it is revealed that the four 'Metahumans' Batgirl sighted are actually the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, currently tracking the Shredder's nefarious actions to Gotham City, having learned he has allied with an unknown party. After defending Wayne Enterprises from the Penguin, the Turtles encounter and fight Batman, as each side believes the other is the enemy. Batman is able to overpower the Turtles, who then retreat.

Donatello researches Batman and his sighted locations, and uses this information to figure out the location of the Batcave. After a brief scuffle with Robin, Batman and Batgirl arrive, and the Turtles introduce themselves and explain their reason for coming to Gotham. The two groups agree to work together against their common enemies, and Robin reveals that Shredder and the Foot Clan are working with Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins. Shredder and Ra's meet and strike a bargain: Ra's will give Shredder access to the Lazarus Pit to become immortal, in exchange for Shredder building a machine that will spray the Techno Cosmic Research Institute (TCRI) mutagen over Gotham, transforming the citizens into monstrous mutants that will destroy the city. With Shredder's failure to steal the cloud seeder, Ra's hires the Penguin to intercept it, while he and Shredder go to Arkham Asylum and release the Joker. The two trade The Joker a vial of the TCRI mutagen for the Joker Venom formula, which combined with the mutagen will drive the mutated completely insane, and Joker uses the mutagen on Arkham's inmates.

The Bat-Family and the Turtles are alerted about an alarm at Arkham by Commissioner Gordon and investigate. After fighting their way through various mutated members of Batman's rogues gallery, they confront Harley Quinn and Joker, mutated into a spotted hyena and a king cobra. Joker injects Batman with a mixture of Joker venom and mutagen, transforming him into a deranged mutant vampire bat who instantly proceeds to violently maul Mr Freeze and attacks the others in a frenzy, throwing Two-Face out a window. The heroes are able to inject Batman with an anti-mutagen and restore him, and subdue Harley and Joker. Batgirl learns about the cloud seeder's theft by Penguin, and they realize the incident at Arkham was a distraction. Aware that Shredder and Ra's will be using Joker venom, they deduce they will be at Ace Chemicals to create it.

At Ace Chemicals, the Bat-family and the Turtles fight through the Foot Clan and the League of Assassins with the Batmobile and the Turtle Van. While Batman fights Shredder and Leonardo engages Ra's, Donatello and Michelangelo sabotage the cloud seeder as it launches. Leonardo subdues Ra's, and Batman is able to defeat the Shredder with a distraction from Raphael. The cloud seeder crashes into the facility and explodes, knocking the Shredder into a vat of Joker venom and destroying Ace Chemicals. At the Batcave, the Turtles prepare to return to New York until Batman reveals a surprise pizza party to celebrate their victory. In a post-credits scene, Shredder emerges from the rubble of Ace Chemicals, now possessing a Joker-like appearance and laughing maniacally.

Voice cast

Production

Development and writing

In February 2019, it was announced that an animated adaptation of the miniseries Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was in development, as a collaboration between Warner Bros. Animation and Nickelodeon. [2] In May 2019, Jake Casterona was announced to be directing from a screenplay by Marly Halpern-Graser, with Ben Jones producing; he previously worked on both Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2008–11) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012-17). [3]

Early during production, Jones wanted to omit the interdimensional aspect of the original comics, due to both his love for crossovers such as Superman vs. Spider-Man that established both properties as existing in the same reality, as well as simplifying the story. [4] Due to this, Halpern-Graser sought to instead stay faithful to the comic's tone and structure while incorporating these changes to the story, with multiple lines and panels being adapted verbatim to the film. [4] Regarding the portrayals of Batman and the Turtles, Casterona wanted to contrast them by portraying Batman as more serious and the Turtles being more lighthearted and fun-loving. However, he wanted to avoid portraying them in a goofy light similar to the 1980s series, so he and the crew instead drew inspiration from the 1990 film and how it portrayed the Turtles in a lighthearted manner while still being serious in tone. [4] Producer Ben Jones and screenwriter Mary Halpern-Graser expressed interest in a sequel that centers on Batman interacting with elements from the Turtles franchise, expressing particular interest in featuring characters such as Krang and Bebop and Rocksteady. [4]

Casting

The initial announcement revealed Troy Baker would reprise his roles as both Batman and the Joker from previous DC properties, making Baker the first actor to portray both characters in the same property. The film features Darren Criss, Eric Bauza, Kyle Mooney and Baron Vaughn as the four Turtles: Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Donatello. Rachel Bloom voices Batgirl and Cas Anvar voices Ra's al Ghul. In addition, Tom Kenny, John DiMaggio, Carlos Alazraqui and Tara Strong reprise their roles as the Penguin, Mr. Freeze, Bane, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy from various DC properties. [2] Other key cast members of the film were revealed a month later, which consists of Ben Giroux as Robin, Andrew Kishino as the Shredder, Keith Ferguson as both Baxter Stockman and Two-Face, Brian George reprising his role as Alfred Pennyworth from Batman: The Killing Joke , and Jim Meskimen as both Commissioner James Gordon and the Scarecrow. [3] Voice recording had begun by the time the film was announced. [2] Both Warner and Nickelodeon were involved in the casting process, while Gene Vassilaros serves as casting director, after working on that role in previous animated Turtles media. [4] According to producer Ben Jones, Nickelodeon executives mandated for none of the cast members from the then-current series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to be brought back to reprise their roles. [4]

Release

The first trailer was released on March 12, 2019. [3] The film had its world premiere at WonderCon Anaheim 2019 on March 31. [5] The film was later released to Digital on May 14, and on Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray on June 4, 2019. [6] The film earned around $609,000 from domestic DVD sales and $2.7 million from domestic Blu-ray sales, bringing its total domestic home video earnings to $3.3 million. [7]

Reception

Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was released to positive reviews. Based on 14 reviews collected on Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% with an average rating of a 7.5/10. [8]

Related Research Articles

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, commonly abbreviated as TMNT, is a media franchise created by the comic book artists Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It follows Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, four anthropomorphic turtle brothers trained in ninjutsu who fight evil in New York City. The franchise encompasses printed media, television series', feature films, video games, and merchandise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkham Asylum</span> Fictional psychiatric hospital in DC Comics

Arkham Asylum is a fictional forensic psychiatric hospital appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in stories featuring Batman. It first appeared in Batman #258, written by Dennis O'Neil with art by Irv Novick. Located in Gotham City, the asylum houses patients who are criminally insane, as well as select prisoners with unusual medical requirements that are beyond a conventional prison's ability to accommodate. Its high-profile patients are often members of Batman's rogues gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ra's al Ghul</span> DC Comics supervillain

Ra's al Ghul is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly as an adversary of the superhero Batman. Created by editor Julius Schwartz, writer Dennis O'Neil and artist Neal Adams, the character first appeared in Batman #232's "Daughter of the Demon".

Donatello (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Fictional character

Donatello, nicknamed Donnie, is a superhero and one of the four main characters of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media. He is the smartest and often gentlest of his brothers, wearing a purple mask over his eyes. He wields a bō staff, his primary signature weapon in all media.

Shredder (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Fictional supervillain in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise

The Shredder is a supervillain and the main antagonist of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles media franchise created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The character debuted in the Mirage Studios comic book Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, and has since endured as the archenemy of the turtles and their master Splinter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bane (DC Comics)</span> Comics character

Bane is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Chuck Dixon and Graham Nolan, the character first appeared in Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1. He has become one of the superhero Batman’s most enduring enemies belonging to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery.

Splinter (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Fictional mutant rat and martial arts instructor of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise

Splinter, often referred to as Master Splinter or Sensei by his students/sons, is a fictional character from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media. A mutant rat, he is the grave and stoic sage of the Turtles, their ninjutsu and martial arts instructor, and their adoptive father. The character was originally a parody of the Marvel Comics character Stick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">League of Assassins</span> Fictional villain group by DC Comics

The League of Assassins is a group of supervillains appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The group is depicted as a collective of assassins who work for Ra's al Ghul, an enemy of the superhero Batman. The group appeared in Strange Adventures #215, but did not become officially known as the League of Assassins until Detective Comics #405.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bebop and Rocksteady</span> Comics character

Bebop and Rocksteady are a fictional duo of a mutant warthog and mutant rhinoceros that have made appearances as characters in various media releases of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The two characters are henchmen who follow the orders of the franchise's chief antagonist, Shredder, the leader of the Foot Clan. Their names are both derived from genres of music: Bebop is a style of jazz, while Rocksteady is a Jamaican music style, a precursor to reggae.

Leatherhead (<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i>) Comics character

Leatherhead is a fictional character in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) comics and all related media. The character first appeared in Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 and was created by Ryan Brown. He is depicted as a mutated humanoid-alligator.

<i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> action figures Action figures based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Action figures based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise have been produced by Playmates Toys since 1988. Staff artists at the Northampton, Massachusetts based Mirage Studios have provided conceptual designs for many of the figures, vehicles, and playsets and are credited on the packaging of the products they created.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bud and Lou</span> Fictional spotted hyenas from DC comics

Bud and Lou are a pair of spotted hyenas that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics, originally created for Batman: The Animated Series. Their names are references to the comedy duo Abbott and Costello.

Originally created in 1967, the fictional comic book character Barbara Gordon has been adapted into various other forms of media. The character has appeared in both live action and animated television series and films, as well as in video games in her alter-egos as both Batgirl and Oracle.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a superhero team created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, have appeared in seven theatrical feature-length films since their debut. The first film was released in 1990, at the height of the franchise's popularity. Despite mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success that garnered two direct sequels, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze in 1991 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993, both of which were modest successes. An animated film titled TMNT was released in 2007.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series developed by Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin, and Jennifer Ventimilia for Nickelodeon, based on the characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The series begins with the Turtles emerging from their sewer home for the first time, using their ninjutsu training to fight enemies in present-day New York City. The series ran in the United States from September 28, 2012, to November 12, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bane in other media</span> Depictions of Bane outside comic books

Bane, a supervillain in DC Comics and an adversary of the superhero Batman, has been adapted in various forms of media, including films, television series, and video games. The character has been portrayed in film by Robert Swenson in Batman & Robin, and Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises, and in television by Shane West in the Fox series Gotham. Henry Silva, Héctor Elizondo, Danny Trejo, Fred Tatasciore, JB Blanc, and others have provided Bane's voice in animation and video games.

<i>Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> Crossover comic book mini-series

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a six-issue intercompany crossover comic book miniseries featuring fictional heroes Batman and the IDW incarnation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The series was written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Freddie Williams II.

Lego Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a Lego theme based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles entertainment franchise first created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. The theme was first introduced in 2012 and was discontinued by the end of 2014. Also included sets based on both the 2012 animated series from Nickelodeon and the 2014 film produced by Michael Bay.

<i>Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout</i> 2016 American film

Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Gotham City Breakout is a 2016 American animated superhero comedy film based on the Lego and DC Comics brands, which was released on June 21, 2016 in Digital HD and on July 12, 2016 on Blu-ray and DVD. It is the sixth Lego DC Comics film following Lego Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite, Lego DC Comics: Batman Be-Leaguered, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League, Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Attack of the Legion of Doom and Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League – Cosmic Clash. Some actors from various DC properties reprise their respective roles, including Nolan North as Superman, Grey DeLisle as Wonder Woman and Troy Baker as Batman. The film received positive reviews, with praise for the action, although the consumerism was criticized.

<i>Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures</i>

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures is a six-issue intercompany crossover comic book miniseries featuring fictional heroes Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The miniseries is based on a previous intercompany crossover titled Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles between DC Comics and IDW Publishing, which was first announced during IDW's panel at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con and released as a six-part monthly miniseries in late 2015 and early 2016.

References

  1. Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Official Trailer
  2. 1 2 3 Jackson, Matthew (13 February 2019). "Exclusive: Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meet in first animated movie crossover". Syfy . Archived from the original on 9 March 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Romano, Nick (March 12, 2019). "Animated worlds collide in exclusive 'Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dar, Taimur (April 30, 2019). "Striking Hard and Fading into the Night with the Cast & Crew of BATMAN VS. TMNT". The Beat. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  5. "NickALive!: Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to Meet in First Animated Crossover Movie [Updated]". NickAlive!. 9 March 2019. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  6. McGloin, Matt (2019-03-14). "Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Release Date Announced". Cosmic Book News. Archived from the original on 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2022-11-18.
  7. "Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Numbers Listing". The Numbers. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  8. "Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved January 20, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg