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Update: 'Beware the Batman' To Be WB's Next Animated Series

Is that Alfred with a gun? And Katana?

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the Warner Brothers animated cartoons is that each of them carries its own, very unique tone -- each of them is different. Perhaps, reason being, is that there have been so many different versions of Batman and his character has been interpreted in so many different ways. Batman the Animated Series was influenced by both the darker tone of Batman comics at the time as well as the Tim Burton Batman films. Batman: The Brave and the Bold is campy, fun with tongue in cheek jokes inspired by (no doubt) the 1960's Adam West Batman television series. Now that the Brave and the Bold is seemingly complete, what's next for Batman?

Beware the Batman
Beware the Batman

During San Diego Comic-Con 2010 t was announced that Batman: The Brave and the Bold's third season would be it's last and that after those next thirteen episodes fans would see the launch of an all new Batman animated cartoon series; but up until now, we didn't know what to expect.

== TEASER ==

In the final Brave and the Bold's episode (#65) titled "Bat-Mite" (which hasn't aired in the U.S. yet), there is a short teaser of a CGI Batgirl series evidently inspired by Chuck Dixon's Batgirl: Year One, comic book. The short film is animated entirely in CGI and caused speculation amongst fans as to whether or not Warner Brothers animation would actually create a Batgirl, CGI, animated series.

Batman the Brave and the Bold
Batman the Brave and the Bold

While this hasn't been confirmed, it was in fact, hinting towards Warner Brother's next animated Batman project. Earlier today it was revealed that an all CGI Batman series titled Beware the Batman would be WB animation's next project. The tone of the series, according to Producer James Tucker during the Batman: Brave and the Bold panel back in SDCC 2010 is that this series would be a "darker" Dark Knight.

Producer James Tucker said they never make fun of Batman and he doesn't always have to be serious. He related it to the weird 50s stories that people like Grant Morrison have read. Despite the bad news of the series ended, it was announced that Tucker would be working on a new Batman series. He said it would be like the dark Dark Knight and joked, "I think he's going to be a serial killer in the next one."

CGI Batgirl from 'Brave and the Bold'
CGI Batgirl from 'Brave and the Bold' "Bat-Mite" episode

The first image (albeit, low quality) has been leaked, and you can see it above. What's different? How about Alfred. With a gun.

The title of the upcoming animated cartoon series was announced during the MIP Junior conference in Cannes, France on Sunday, October 2nd 2011. As was revealed in SDCC 2010, the idea of a darker Batman in the upcoming Beware the Batman animated series is reiterated. According to the source, the animated series will feature a "Gun-toting Alfred Pennyworth" and a "female ninja sidekick" which has been confirmed to be Katana, who also appeared in the Batman the Brave and the Bold cartoon series.

Without many of the DC animated cartoons many of us wouldn't have picked up our first comic book; so the announcement that Warner Brothers plans to release another Batman animated cartoon series that could potentially bring in another younger generation of comic fans is great news.

We will continue to update with news regarding the new animated cartoon as we obtain more information; but for now, what do you think of Beware the Batman?

UPDATE: According to footage from the DC Nation keynote, WB animation, DC Comics and Cartoon Network are creating a one-hour block, a destination for their superhero programming. The two half hours they are currently working on (Green Lantern and Young Justice) will be returning and be in this block. In between there will be "interstitials and shorts," meaning three content blocks: episodic, shorts, and interstitials are live action news segments to demonstrate what's happening around DC Nation. Every week on Cartoon Network you will see something new. Thanks for the tip, Doordoor123.

Source: The World's Finest and Comic Book Movie

122 Comments

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KRYPTON

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Edited By KRYPTON

Batgirl is getting a show? Awesome? Batman is getting a show in two years? Okay. Sounds good. Thanks for that article.

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Fhiz

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Edited By Fhiz

That art style... bleh.

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Meizzner

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Edited By Meizzner

hopefully it will be good.

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Sapphire Warlock

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Edited By Sapphire Warlock

Seriously?

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Obsurity

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Edited By Obsurity

I hope that CGI pic is not how the show will end up looking because it looks like crap...

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TheMess1428

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Edited By TheMess1428

Um... Say what?!?!

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Mercy_

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Edited By Mercy_

No me gusta from what I'm seeing.

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Mizu_pl

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Edited By Mizu_pl

How is this happening, that technology of animations goes up, but the quality of those animations goes down? -.-

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TheOutLaw

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Edited By TheOutLaw

Eh, the art isn't really my thing. Not saying the show won't be good but you have to sell people on the art to get fans in the door and then back up that art with a great story.

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cattlebattle

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Edited By cattlebattle

I beat you guys to this by several hours
 
Just give me a job

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Kairan1979

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Edited By Kairan1979

@Mizu_pl said:

How is this happening, that technology of animations goes up, but the quality of those animations goes down? -.-

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dewboy01

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Edited By dewboy01

@KainScion: very.

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Mbecks14

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Edited By Mbecks14

New Batman show? Yay!

Katana? Booo.

What the hell? Why would they use Katana of all characters? I understand she was an outsider w/ Batman but they have countless other Bat protegees to use. Also the animation style is...weird.

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punisher131313

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Edited By punisher131313

That looks horrible, I wish they would learn to stay true to the fans instead of thinking they know better than us and trying to put there own lame twist on it. I guess we were spoiled during BTAS days and didn't realize it.

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NightFang3

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Edited By NightFang3

Need's better art!

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Samimista

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Edited By Samimista

I'll wait to judge.

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Burnstar1230

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Edited By Burnstar1230

Who said there was actually going to be a batgirl series? I know batman is very popular, but you can almost tell when another batman series is coming before they even tease it> Batman:TAS, New Adventures of Batman, Batman Beyond, The Batman, Batman: Brave and the bold, and now Beware the Batman. Of course, you can count Justice League and Young Justice as well, but I'm kinda tired of Batman since they've done just about everything they could do with him. How about a Flash animated series?

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doublezeroduck

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Edited By doublezeroduck

I don't know about this. Brave and the bold isn't for me, and this looks to be the same. The only comic book cartoons I really like are Young Justice and Earths Mightiest Heroes. Those 2 have a nice art style, good writing, and good voice acting. The old Justice League and really old Batman and X-men were good too.

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johnny_spam

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Edited By johnny_spam

Batgirl is not suppose to be a show that scene in Brave and the Bold was a gag using test animation for a show that did not come to be but I think it does show Batman can be animated in CGI and look cool. I actually like this idea of a more pulp based Batman show wish they would use Damian as Robin if they are using Pyg and the Circus of Strange but Katana opens new possibilities.

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The Mighty Monarch

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@Mizu_pl said:

How is this happening, that technology of animations goes up, but the quality of those animations goes down? -.-

QFT.
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Avenging-X-Bolt

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Edited By Avenging-X-Bolt

 

No Caption Provided
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daredevil21134

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Edited By daredevil21134

@KainScion said:

the art is crap

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ARMIV2

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Edited By ARMIV2

Hmmmm...

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Adnan

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Edited By Adnan

You lost me at "Alfred with guns".

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Daveyo520

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Edited By Daveyo520

Bring back The Batman.
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johnny_spam

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Edited By johnny_spam

@Adnan: @Adnan said:

You lost me at "Alfred with guns".

Never question Alfred.

shotgun ready
shotgun ready
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deactivated-5a98cd905fc97

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I have to say, that I would be afraid of a Batman with that disproportionately triangular a face.  Yikes.

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Outside_85

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Edited By Outside_85

Gee, we wouldnt want to strain the great minds of WB animated by having them come up with a DC production that wasnt about Batman, now would we?
 
I dunno, guess I'm just sick to death by seeing Batman in everything WB does with DC....THERE ARE OTHER CHARACTERS!

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ThanosIsMad

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Edited By ThanosIsMad

The art style sucks.

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Hit_Monkey

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Edited By Hit_Monkey

Preferred Gotham High. This smells like ass.

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CrimsonAvenger

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Edited By CrimsonAvenger

Even though I dislike seeing the show done with CGI Animation; I'll probably still watch as long Kevin Conroy isn't voicing Batman on the show because as much as I like him in the role, I'm just sick of hearing him as Batman. Still The Batman should never have been canceled because that show had a lot of potential.

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johnny_spam

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Edited By johnny_spam

@Outside_85: @Outside_85 said:

Gee, we wouldnt want to strain the great minds of WB animated by having them come up with a DC production that wasnt about Batman, now would we? I dunno, guess I'm just sick to death by seeing Batman in everything WB does with DC....THERE ARE OTHER CHARACTERS!

Most other characters do not sell DC even came out with the DC showcase collection and it did not generate enough interest. DC Nation will have a series of Plastic Man shorts, Doom Patrol and Supergirl/Batgirl/Wonder Girl shorts.

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No_Name_

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Edited By No_Name_

@Mbecks14 said:

New Batman show? Yay!

Katana? Booo.

What the hell? Why would they use Katana of all characters? I understand she was an outsider w/ Batman but they have countless other Bat protegees to use. Also the animation style is...weird.

At first I thought it was Cassandra Cain. But nope!

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EnSabahNurX

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Edited By EnSabahNurX

O_O This batman art is the least aesthetically appealing thing I've ever seen, if it looked like the batgirl cgi it would somewhat ok

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CrimsonAvenger

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Edited By CrimsonAvenger

@cattlebattle said:

I beat you guys to this by several hours Just give me a job

Sometimes they never even write an article for big Comic News. Like when it was announced George Perez wouldn't be writing Superman after issue six every other comic book site reported it but CV didn't.

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GBrutality

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Edited By GBrutality

this is all so bad. the art is not good. alfred wouldn't just go around with guns because batman wouldn't have it at all. nor would he have a sidekick that isn't his sidekick bearing swords. this is just gonna be for children that want to see neutered, pretend violent cartoons. Beware The Batman...really?

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ComicFan_13

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Edited By ComicFan_13

Alfred with guns?! SWEET! 

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johnny_spam

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Edited By johnny_spam

@GBrutality: @GBrutality said:

this is all so bad. the art is not good. alfred wouldn't just go around with guns because batman wouldn't have it at all. nor would he have a sidekick that isn't his sidekick bearing swords. this is just gonna be for children that want to see neutered, pretend violent cartoons. Beware The Batman...really?

Alfred does use guns and has defended the Batcave from intruders with guns. Batman also has a history with Katana in the Outsiders so he has been shown to be okay with her use of weapons.

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No_Name_

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Edited By No_Name_

@CrimsonAvenger said:

@cattlebattle said:

I beat you guys to this by several hours Just give me a job

Sometimes they never even write an article for big Comic News. Like when it was announced George Perez wouldn't be writing Superman after issue six every other comic book site reported it but CV didn't.

1) Perez's departure was never confirmed and Newsarama never cited the source (i.e. how they obtained that information) when they first made the announcement, unless something has changed/Perez has come out and confirmed publicly?

2) Copying and pasting an article from another website into the forums isn't "beating us to it." However, if you do have a tip, you can feel free to send it/PM/email us with a link so we can write it up and get it onto the news page. We will be sure to credit you in the article. :)

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noj

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Edited By noj

The art is absolutely horrible

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Fantasgasmic

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Edited By Fantasgasmic

Alfred with HAIR is a bigger surprise than Alfred with a gun.

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Jordanstine

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Edited By Jordanstine

Dang that's UGLY!

I wished they AT LEAST used the art style from "The Batman (2004)" animated show.

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haydenclaireheroes

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I do not like the art for the show but glad to see Batman is having another show.

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Lvenger

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Edited By Lvenger

Wow Beware the Batman looks awesome! Lol jks it looks sucky as hell. Art style is bleugh, this Katana character looks unappealing and the fact Batman allows Alfred to dual wield guns is not on.

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Mercy_

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Edited By Mercy_

I'm not sure why everybody's freaking out (or surprised) about Alfred having guns. Don't forget where he came from and what his history is. Alfred's a BAMF.

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the_stegman

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Edited By the_stegman  Moderator

meh...i'll watch it..but i still miss "The Batman"

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cosmo111687

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Edited By cosmo111687

A shame that Batgirl wasn't the new show. This might be interesting, though. It looks like they're drawing material from newer Batman stories and the art style is sufficiently Bruce Timm-ish, giving it a sense of continuity. I don't necessary dislike the idea of Alfred with guns, though it should only be used in self-defense, not offense. (Batman wouldn't agree with bringing firearms into a battle unless if it was absolutely necessary.)

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spaceboy

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Edited By spaceboy

Katana looks like Nightwing from the old Bruce Timm series.

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Duo_forbidden

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Edited By Duo_forbidden

I'll hold my opinion on this new series, until I see more.