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Warner Bros. Japan and Warner Bros. Entertainment are working on a new, feature-length Batman anime that will reimagine the caped crusader as a ninja.
Batman Ninja is a new project that came to light after the schedule for New York Comic Con was posted. The film is being directed by Jumpei Mizusaki, who is best known for his work as a producer on the acclaimed anime series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and his technical animation work on various Mega Man games including Mega Man X7 and Mega Man X8. Mizusaki is joined by Afro Samurai creator Takashi Okazaki, who will act as a character designer, and screenwriter Kazuki Nakashima, best known for his work as a writer on Kill La Kill.
The Comic Con listing doesn’t include much information about the project other than describing it as an “imaginative take on Batman and many of his connected characters.”
Warner Bros. Japan and Home Entertainment division will bring a sneak peek of the movie, which is set to release in 2018, to New York Comic Con. Polygon has reached out to Warner Bros. for more information about the project. A full synopsis of what the panel is offering can be read below:
Warner Bros. Japan and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment team for an eye-popping addition to the Batman animated legacy with Batman Ninja, a spectacular, all-new anime film coming in 2018. Be among the first to witness the premiere of colorful footage from this imaginative take on Batman and many of his connected characters. Panelists will include director Jumpei Mizusaki, character designer Takashi Okazaki, screenwriter Kazuki Nakashima, English-language screenwriters Leo Chu & Eric Garcia and some potential special guests.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s next upcoming Batman project is Batman: Gotham by Gaslight. The movie is an adaptation of Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Brian Augustyn’s first Elseworlds story. In the film, Batman will take on one of his deadliest foes — the very real Jack the Ripper, who stalked the Whitehall district of London in 1888. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight will also be released in 2018.
New York Comic Con kicks off on Thursday, Oct. 5 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 8. The Batman Ninja panel takes place on Oct. 5 at 12:45 p.m. ET.
