So you might be an elitist when you're watching Batman: Gotham Knight and still hit Japanese language + subtitles. XD

I did end up switching to English when I realized that not only was it dubtitled (you fail, DC) but general sounds effects were included. For example, the clanking of a giant fan or [woman screams]. You fail so hard, DC. Can't say I'm surprised though.

I didn't realize they got Kevin Conroy to do Batman's voice again. That is always awesome.

Anyway, since I had my laptop on at the time, I wrote out my reactions as I watched them.

Story 1

It was cute enough. I do enjoy stories about how the pedestrians view Batman. I like that the kids describe him as more than human—a robot, a shadow, a Man-Bat XD.

This one was a little silly but it wasn't awful

Art blew though.

Story 2

Art much better. Story lame.

Story 3

Aw Bruce Wayne's so cute. I can so see him bottoming in a yaoi anime.

He's getting hair tips from Squall Leonhart I think...

“You broke him, you bought him” LOL

It IS a yaoi!

Oh my god the shiny rainbow aura around him. HAHAH

Now I need Batman/Russian-mob-henchman slash! He was pretty too so it's not scary!

I appreciate the last line. Batman would forgo equipment (no matter how useful) to keep others from getting killed. He'll only put his life on the line. Very Batman.

Story 4

The animation is great. The flow of the cape and the body during fight scenes... wow.

Crock doesn't need to look like that.

Story 5

About time one of the costumes looks like the Batman costume!

Bruce is channeling a scruffy Bruce Lee or something. He's got the Mido Ban sunglasses.

I cannot stop thinking of him as a quiet Ban now.

The arts pretty good. :3

This is my favorite story. This is the closet we're going to get to an actual Batman anime. As oppose to all the other stories which are just Batman stories done by Japanese artists.

Story 6

What a might chin you have, Batman!

I think these were the people who did the animation for Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

I like that he flaps his “wings” when to get his guilder to elevate. Cute.

To be completely honest, I don't give to shits about this story. It wasn't bad, they just didn't do anything with it. Then they just tack on a little piece at the end about Bruce always trying to save his parents to make it more meaningful. Blah. Unimpressed.

This story might have been better if it had been longer. They shouldn't have done so many short. Some of the stories felt rushed.


So yeah, it wasn't awful. It was actually much better than I expected. Like I said before, my biggest issue is that it's not anime (obviously). Not because it was missing big eyes and sweatdrops but because of the way it's told. Eastern and Western animation/comics employ different techniques when telling a story*. The script is written by Western writers and while the animation style is Eastern, it restricts itself by trying to be faithful Western vision. Too faithful if you ask me.

I can't really figure out a way of reconciling Batman and anime. If DC allows the anime teams more creative license than it might not feel like Batman to Western comic fans (many of who don't like anime/manga) who this is being marketed towards. However if DC is more restrictive than it just feels like Amerime with a better budget (and the fanboys still hate it).

In the end, I didn't hate it.


*None of which I'm going to go in depth here. If you're interested, I recommend checking out Scott McCloud's Understanding Comics. He does a much better job describing the differences than I ever will.