Before the MCU came along, DC's claim to fame was that it was nailing animated superhero films, and the Batman projects were some of their best. While the catalog may have become less beloved though, one sleeper hit stood above the rest: 2018's Batman Ninja, from Kamikaze Douga.
Kamikaze Douga is known among JoJo fans as the studio behind the CGI openings to Parts 1, 2, 3, and recently 6. They also released the hit comedy Pop Team Epic in 2018, the same year in which they collaborated on a DC project that gave them complete creative freedom.
A Bat in Time
The story begins with little time to spare, as Batman and his allies are at Arkham Asylum, where Gorilla Grodd is planning to use a device to experiment on the inmates. Batman arrives too late, as the device activates, unexpectedly teleporting Batman, the Batfamily, and several of Bat's biggest villains, back in time to the Sengoku Period.
From there Batman discovers that he's arrived late, and all of his villains have become warlords battling over Japan, using Grodd's advanced technology to create mechanical fortresses. Batman has to reunite with his allies and defeat the villains, reassembling the pieces needed to get back home.
Why it Got Mixed Reception
Put simply, this film is weird, and that's putting it lightly. While produced by Kamikaze Douga, the film is written by Kazuki Nakashima, the writer behind Trigger and Gainax works like Gurren Lagann, Promare, Kill la Kill, and more. That is to say that the story is nonsensical but centered around a strong thematic core.
The film begins somewhat tame but escalates beyond anything that the average Batman fan that isn't a fan of anime could imagine. First, it was time travel, then mechs, then some quite preposterous plot devices, concluded by a final battle that audiences either love or despise.
And while, yes, a lot of the oddities on screen are hard to defend with even the slightest hint of seriousness, a lot of it isn't meant to be taken seriously. Even then, the film can sometimes feel like less of a unique take on Batman and more of a parody of what a Batman anime would look like.
All that said, there is a more fundamental reason why this film is divisive, and it comes down to one's choice of language when watching it. Yes, the sub vs dub debate is a tired and loaded subject, but it bears mentioning here. This has to be one of the most poorly done localization efforts by an American studio in the history of English dubbing.
Where's The Script?
When the American production team gave Kamikaze Douga complete creative freedom, that was absolutely the right decision. However, what DC did to the film for its release in the west could only be described as lazy. In behind-the-scenes footage, they talk as if they were given no real script to work with, which is clearly not true.
Watch the first minute of Batman Ninja in both English and Japanese and the two films will immediately be different. Whereas the Japanese version begins with Gorilla Grodd monologuing, the English version starts with a narration by Catwoman. The scripts are fundamentally different.
Compare the below screenshots to the clip above from the same scene in English. While only a small example, almost every line is completely different and informs (or doesn't inform) the characters in big ways.
Entire monologues by Joker about how difficult it must be for Batman to be a hero or how his dominion over the "Owari" province is perfect, are completely absent. It's replaced with dialog written to fill blanks between plot points rather than to advance themes or create meaningful dialog.
Now one could say, "but didn't you say this wasn't meant to be taken seriously?" and that is a fair point. That being said, if DC could put the original Japanese version on the Blu-ray with a fully translated script, the least they could do was write a better English script.
Batman Without Gadgets
While Batman Ninja may relish in absurdity, it isn't without strong visual storytelling or good themes. At its core, the film continually challenges Bruce's reliance on gadgets and technology from the modern time, a reflection of his wealth. By making him powerless, he has a chance to become a more pure interpretation of "The Batman."
This new Batman is a force of nature that doesn't simply manipulate the shadows but controls them. The film embraces classic mythos of ninjas and allows Batman to become what they were always from a lore standpoint: a ninja. And ninjas in media tend to perform feats some would consider superhuman.
This could reasonably be a double-edged sword for some. On one hand, being stripped of technology allows Bruce to lean on his intelligence and earn his title. It's an effective critique of the character. But for his resolution to hinge so heavily on ninjutsu that leans far more supernatural might feel like a betrayal.
The best advice is to go into the film expecting unrealistic things to happen and for action that defies the ideas of what Batman typically is. Think about what Batman is at his core and what elements are hidden behind modern tropes or classical pastiche. Consider this an emotional ride more than a narrative one.
An All-Star Team
Director Junpei Miyazaki assembled such a varied group from all around the industry that what resulted was bound to be a sight. The character designs by Takashi Okazaki of Afro Samurai fame as some of the best Batman designs in years, nailing both modern and Japanese interpretations of the aesthetics.
Even more impressive is the music by Yugo Kanno, who not only creates a powerful main theme that could fit right at home in a major Batman film, but an addictive Joker theme as well. Joker, voiced by Wataru Takagi, channels something of a Kabuki performer, a Thespian take on the clown prince of crime that feels classical and nuanced.
All around the film's visuals, a blend of 3D and 2D, are impressive, though the 3D has aged less favorably as more 3D anime have come out. Even with some occasional roughness, the blending of style is wonderful, often leading to very creative scenes that experiment with new styles.
A prolonged segment with Red Hood was approached with such dramatic presentation that it felt like a different movie entirely, which could be seen as good or bad. It's scenes like that, however, that makes one appreciate this film's existence. It's an exercise in excess, not content to draw the line anywhere.
Batman Ninja might have a way of annoying people because it is ultimately an acquired taste. It might be exactly what the doctor ordered or the worst thing you watch all week. However, for those that were less than amused, try watching it again. The film has its problems, but look deeper and there is a story that cuts to the core of Batman.