The Animated Batman Show That Didn't Happen

[zechs80]

Given Batman: The Brave and the Bold is at a end everywhere but the states. Of course there's a new Batman show in the works. But alas this idea isn't one of them. It was deemed too grim and gritty.



http://dcwomenkickingass.tumblr.com/post/9128073080/batcassdcau



He's what the artist says on the piece:

So James the Terrifically talented Tucker producer of “The Brave and Bold” series was starting work on the new Bat show and decided to take a chance on the new guy….Me! So I became character designer. I was floored as shit and had a ton of ideas for the darknight and fellers so I spent about 4 or 5 monthes cranking out a ton of of batty shizz! I did way more than any man should ever do and worked sometimes two nights straight without sleep on that stuff.

This is the sucky part> Even though all of the heads at Cartoon Network liked the designs one felt the premise (more of a “no mans land”) was too dark and grim so they scrapped it.

Yep that's Cass and Damian as Batgirl and Robin. To make this post legal from Gates of Gotham #2:

Comments

[q99]

Aww :( I really like the look of it, but I can see where they're coming from.

[cypherfdp]

Those costumes are all terrible with the exceptions of Batman and Nightwing, who has the unforgivable Chris O'Donnel buzzcut.

[18lemons]

I'm so glad it's not just me.
Even then, I think Nightwing's costume looks too pale.

None of them really do anything positive for me. Shame really, because the artist has done some really cool stuff in the past.

[icon_uk]

If I had to choose between the buzz cut, or the pseudo-mullet... I'll for for the buzz cut, I'm afraid.

[big_daddy_d]

Nightwing, who has the unforgivable Chris O'Donnel buzzcut.

Thought I was the only one who felt that way.

[selke]

"Batman & Robin" is on right now. I am watching it. I choked and nodded.

[gamerguy]

You know, though, I look around at a lot of the younger guys these days and very very short hair is apparently the 'in' thing; the scalp-close cut like that is really popular among what would be their main demographic.;

[zechs80]

I like Poppa Bat's look. Cass's you can't see too much of. Damian's is meh but Dick's is pretty spot on.

[retro_nouveau]

Needs more Steph and Tim, and less ... well, I won't go there.

[runespoor]

I hate Dick's haircut, but the point

we could've animated Cass

animated Cass

Cass as the Batgirl out there in the world reaching people being accessible to new potential readers

auuuuuuuugh

[darkknightjrk]

I would have watched that. I would have watched it ALL NIGHT LONG.

[runespoor]

Also. It is just me, or is Damian actually drawn as darker-skinned than the others?

CONFETTI TIME IF HE IS.

[biod]

CONFETTI TIME IT IS!
That actually makes far too much sense for it not to be apparent in the comics. Then again, Ras was pretty white.

[biod]

Well, I hate Damian's costume with a fiery passion and Dicks haircut needs more hair and less cut, but I would have watched the hell out of this. Animated Cass you guys, the Batgirl who was practically made to do animation work. Just think of the fight scenes. Imagine them! Imagine them with your mind!

[salinea]

*weeps*

[icon_uk]

Hmmm, not desperately struck by these designs. Call me old fashioned (and I am) but a Robin whose main colours are black and grey seems to be missing the point somewhat

They look very toyetic though...

[biod]

They actually remind me of Urban Batman from that one Superman/Batman issue where Bruce is in a post-apocalytic simulation or something like that.

[tpsreports]

You knew a show dealing as much crack as B&B couldn't last. I mean king Superman, I practically crapped myself.

[icon_uk]

Just wait till you see the finale, THE most meta-textual closing scene you've ever seen, all it was lacking was a fat lady singing.

[nightauditguy]

That probably would have been a better idea than that one idea of Bruce being in high school with all of his future rogues.

[runespoor]

Oh god. Yes. Though I agree with whoever said upthread that there is not enough Steph and Tim. And Barbara.

[cyberghostface]

[cyberghostface]

And yes, this was almost a real show.

[lucean]

I'm a bit surprised that they rejected idea because it was too dark and grim, although the story might be a bit different from the other end. The last two versions of the Batman on the silver screen have after all been pretty light, with THE BATMAN removing majority of the psychological elements of the characters, I still have nightmares about that Joker, and THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD being what it was.

I would have simply assumed that they would have been moving to the other direction, as it is difficult to get more lighter with Batman that B&B, and NML would have been a great setting for it, although the effort to include Damien would have been something to see. Still, I am curious to see what will come next, but I hope that they give the developmental team enough time to fully formalize a new approach and to let the market cool down for the Batman a while.

[mrstatham]

The thing is, to get too deeply into the NML concept is perhaps to make it a little too bleak. The story is harrowing, seeing a city struggle for survival, and all the bleak aspects that might come with that. In the aftermath of several big real-life earthquakes in recent years, and the tragedy and horror that comes with those, I think it might also be a matter of taste.

[big_daddy_d]

Are there any details as to why they feel it would've been too dark and gritty? Besides that it would be based on No Man's Land?

[shadowpsykie]

i dont love Damian being Robin.... love Cass and Catwoman being part of the team though :D

[pyrotwilight]

Damian as Robin? Oy. DC sure is making an attempt to push a character fans seemed to hate and still kinda do.

Dick's look is....bad, mainly hair. Kinda like they found Cole McGrath and threw him in a Nightwing outfit.

Wonder if Azrael might've shown up had it been made?

[icon_uk]

I thought Damian had been much redeemed by his interactions with Dick's Batman. He's still a potty-mouthed little so-and-so, who should be taken to task for his attitude towards women and his immediate predecessor in the role, but the pitchfork-waving crowds seem to have been noticeable by their absence of late.

[bluestar86]

No Man's Land had some of my favorite stories, some of the best characterization (like Two-Face being really schizophrenic, especially when trying to pick sides), and introduced my favorite character. Yes, it had it's flaws, but doesn't everything? I mean aside from Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.

[cloud_wolf]

They said they ended B:TBaTB BECAUSE the one dark episode (Chill of the Night) was such a success (Michael Jelenic said that, I believe?). Also because of the magic 62 episodes maximum profitability thing. So I'm kinda boggling about the fact that a NML kinda show was too dark. Also, no Cass. :(

So now I guess we'll have to wait for that Batman CGI show. :\

[icon_uk]

Bat-Mite certainly says it, but I'd argue BatB has shown it's been dark since it's third episode when the Christmas story added one of the nastiest twists to the death of the Waynes I could imagine.

[gamerguy]

Looks pretty neat. So, ONE GUY didn't like it, so instead of saying 'can you tweak this a bit', they just scrap it? Man, I'd like to work there: it sounds like their meetings are about five minutes long, and if the ONE GUY doesn't like something, everyone else can just go back to their desk. Interesting insight into the way the place might be run. Kind of explains Young Justice scheduling, too. I guess One Guy did't like it conflicting with something he wanted to watch.