Before we begin: a quick reminder that starting today, SCAVENGERS REIGN is now on Netflix. The performance of this show on this streamer will determine whether or not we get a second season. Be sure to turn it on and get those numbers up!
In 2018, Warner Bros Japan released Batman Ninja, the Dark Knight’s first anime movie (if you don’t count all the outsourced animation from previous productions). The film appears to have done well, because the same team has returned to develop a sequel.
In the original Batman Ninja, Gorilla Grodd constructs a time machine that goes haywire, sending Batman, his friends and his foes into feudal Japan. Months later, Batman’s enemies now each control one of the warring factions across the region. Since Bruce doesn’t have access to his high-tech gizmos, he must find other ways to defeat Joker and the others and restore ancient Japan to its original state (which wasn’t peaceful either, but at least there’d be no Joker there). He’s also got to figure out how to send everyone home.
With all that said, Batman Ninja wrapped itself up pretty neatly. One wonders what could possibly be “next.” Apparently the Japanese mob: the title of the sequel has been revealed as Batman Ninja Vs. Yakuza League.
Nothing about the plot has been revealed beyond that, but the man behind the stylish 3-D animated look of Batman Ninja, Junpei Mizusaki, will return to make sure the sequel looks just as cool (he’s also the one who makes those opening sequences to JoJo seasons). Mizusaki will serve as director alongside Shinji Takagi, from a screenplay by Kazuki Nakashima. Kamikaze Douga is directing the animation, using character designs from Takashi Okazaki. The music will be written by by Yugo Kanno.
Koichi Yamadera, who voiced Batman in the original (and is best known as the Japanese voice of Spike Speigel), will reprise the lead role in Batman Ninja Vs. Yakuza League. It’s way too early to be talking about an English cast, but Roger Craig Smith voiced Batman in the first movie’s American dub.
More information on Batman Ninja Vs. Yakuza League should come out in the months ahead. In the meantime, the first film is still available on disc and digital platforms.
