Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | |
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Directed by | Jake Castorena |
Written by | Marly Halpern-Graser |
Based on | |
Produced by | Ben Jones |
Starring | |
Music by | Kevin Riepl |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated superhero film directed by Jake Castorena and written by Marly Halpern-Graser. Based on the 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.
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.
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 believes are metahumans. 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, the four "metahumans" Batgirl sighted—actually the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—arrive in Gotham tracking the Shredder, who 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 working with the Shredder. 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 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, (Mr Freeze has become a polar bear, Bane has become a jaguar, Scarecrow has become a crow, Poison Ivy has become a Venus Flytrap, and Two-Face has become a two-headed cat) 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 (many who have been mutated into manimals and even a T-Rex)) 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.
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]
The initial announcement revealed Troy Baker would reprise his roles as both Batman from Batman: The Telltale Series video game and various Lego video games and films, and the Joker from Batman: Arkham Origins , Batman: Assault on Arkham , and the Batman Unlimited series, making Baker the first actor to portray both characters in the same property. The film also features Darren Criss and Eric Bauza reprising their roles as Raphael and Leonardo, while Kyle Mooney and Baron Vaughn voice Michelangelo and Donatello, respectively. 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. [5] 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 TMNT 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]
The first trailer was released on March 12, 2019. [3] The film had its world premiere at WonderCon Anaheim 2019 on March 31. [6]
The film was later released to Digital on May 14 on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on June 4, 2019. [7]
The film earned $609,769 from domestic DVD sales and $2,723,251 from domestic Blu-ray sales, bringing its total domestic home video earnings to $3,333,020. [8]
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. [9]
Producer Ben Jones and screenwriter Mary Halpern-Graser expressed interest in a sequel that centers on Batman interacting with elements from the TMNT franchise, expressing particular interest in featuring characters such as Krang and Bebop and Rocksteady. [4]
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. Supporting characters include the turtles' sensei, a rat called Splinter, their human friends April O'Neil and Casey Jones, and enemies such as Baxter Stockman, Krang, and their archenemy, the Shredder.
Donatello, nicknamed Don or Donnie/Donny, 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.
Raphael, nicknamed Raph, is a superhero and one of the four main characters of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics and all related media. In most iterations, he's depicted as the most aggressive of the turtle brothers, physically the strongest, and often at odds with his brother, Leonardo.
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.
Bane is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Chuck Dixon and artist Graham Nolan, he made his debut in Batman: Vengeance of Bane #1. Bane is usually depicted as a dangerous adversary of the superhero Batman, and belongs to the collective of enemies that make up Batman's rogues gallery. Possessing a mix of brute strength and exceptional intelligence, Bane is often credited as the only villain to have "broken the bat", defeating him both physically and mentally. Bane went on to kill Alfred Pennyworth in 2019 during the City of Bane storyline. He is the son of another Batman enemy, King Snake and has a clone/daughter named Vengeance, introduced in 2021.
Krang is a supervillain appearing in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-related media, most frequently in the 1987 animated series and its associated merchandise, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures comic book and many TMNT video games. The character has endured as one of the franchise's most prominent antagonists and a major foe of the Ninja Turtles.
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.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an American animated television series produced by Fred Wolf Films, and based on the comic book characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. Set in New York City, the series follows the adventures of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their allies as they battle the Shredder, Krang, and numerous other villains and criminals. The property was changed considerably from the darker-toned comics, to make it more suitable for children and the family.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze is a 1991 American superhero action comedy film. It is based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, and is directed by Michael Pressman and written by Todd W. Langen. It is the sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) within the original Turtles film trilogy. It stars Paige Turco and David Warner, with the voices of Brian Tochi, Robbie Rist, Adam Carl, and Laurie Faso. Resuming from the events of the first film, the Shredder returns at command of the Foot Clan for revenge on the Turtles. When he learns the secret behind the Turtles' mutation, he becomes more dangerous than ever. The film reveals the origins of Splinter and the Turtles and introduces two new villains, Tokka and Rahzar. Unlike the first film, the Turtles mostly fight bare-fisted, to tone down the violence.
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 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.
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.
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.
Turtles Forever is a 2009 American animated superhero television film directed by Roy Burdine and Lloyd Goldfine and written by Goldfine, Rob David, and Matthew Drdek. A crossover film featuring two different incarnations of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fighting together, it was produced in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the characters and serves as the finale to the 2003 TV series. The film aired on The CW4Kids on November 21, 2009.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an ongoing American comic book series published by IDW Publishing. Debuting in August 2011, the series is part of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles media franchise created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird and was the first new comic incarnation of the Turtles to debut after the franchise's sale to Nickelodeon in October 2009. It is the fifth comic book series in the franchise's publication history and serves as a reboot of the franchise's story and characters.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, known as Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for its 2017 fifth and final season, is an American animated television series developed by Ciro Nieli, Joshua Sternin, and Jennifer Ventimilia. It is the third animated series in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The series aired on Nickelodeon in the United States from September 28, 2012, to November 12, 2017. It was produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and LowBar Productions. Bardel Entertainment handled layout and CG animation services. 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.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is a 2016 American superhero film based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles characters created by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. The sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), it was directed by Dave Green and written by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec. The film stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Laura Linney, Stephen Amell, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard, Pete Ploszek, Alan Ritchson, Tyler Perry, Gary Anthony Williams, Brian Tee, and Sheamus. The film follows the Ninja Turtles who, after defeating the Shredder, must face an even bigger foe: the dreaded Krang.
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.
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.