SCI FI PI

Released July 3
Starring the voice talents of: Kevin Conroy, David McCallum, Corey Feldman
Directors Yasuhiro Aoki, Futoshi Higashide, Toshiyuki Kubooka, Hiroshi Morioka, Jong-Sik Nam and Shoujirou Nishimi
Rated M


When it comes to animation, Batman has a long and illustrious history, often providing a platform for groundbreaking talent. Anyone who's seen the iconic Art-Deco inspired Batman: The Animated series would quite possibly agree.

Batman - Gotham Knight not only adds to the pantheon, but tops it. This collection of stories combines the top talent of Japanese Anime with Hollywood's best screenwriters. Ostensibly, it's the 'bridge' between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, but it's also a playground for today's masters of animation to strut their stuff, in terms of both storytelling and art.

Batfans who snap this up will be well pleased with the roll-out of villains on offer - and will be surprised at the fluidity and range given to Batman - he's been given a makeover, anime style and some of the changes will be quite shocking to traditionalists. However, if you're willing to go with the ride, it's like watching an exhibition of Batman - Cool Crimefighter, as interpreted by artists ranging from Expressionism to Surrealism. The traditional Gothic and the hyper-Japanese surprisingly, hand in hand.





The style of storytelling is entirely adult, with some classic riffs. Although you'd expect nothing less from a list of screenwriters that include David S. Goyer (Batman Begins), Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series). Among the super-villains on offer - Killer Croc, Scarecrow and Deadshot. Each of the six stories have very distinctive styles, but they are not entirely separate - each bit of info in each section adds to the 'history' of Batman. It's pretty clear that this DVD is meant to be 'canon'. More so, even, than the similar Animatrix.

The styles of animation are often jaw-droppingly sexy - but the really cool stuff is spotting what will be useful info for a full preparation for The Dark Knight. The major storyline that crosses over all the stories is the fall out from the Arkham Asylum breakout in Batman Begins. All the baddies that spill out are of course, up to no good.





Arkham Asylum's boundaries now include the entire island, giving the grim psychiatric fortress spooky grounds to worry about. Two new detectives (with very different views about Batman) have joined Lieutenant Gordon's special crime fighting unit, and a gang war has erupted between Gotham's Russian and Italian mobs. Batman himself also heads off to India for a spot of extra 'training' and gets some extra toys. Which are pretty cool. Which he may or may not use in The Dark Knight. Although it looks like he will - reluctantly.

If you're excited at all by the oncoming release of The Dark Knight, you really do have to have a look at Gotham Knight.





DVD Extras:

Not much for Aussie fans, unfortunately. There's a trailer for the Batman Lego computer game (humourous!) and an audio commentary, featuring the voice of Batman, Kevin Conroy, Gregory Noveck, from DC comics and Denny O'Neil, writer and editor of Batman Comics for as he puts it 'a long time'. Over thirty years. They provide a nicely triangulated points of view on the action on hand.