This Batman Anime Adaptation is Still Peak Dark Knight

Anime gives viewers freewheeling creative visions they can't find elsewhere, so it’s a joy when talented creators get to explore a character like Batman. In 2008, several prominent anime studios came together to make Batman: Gotham Knight, an anthology movie composed of interlinked short films done by four different anime studios.

Each one of these six shorts portrays a unique vision of Batman that brings something brand new to a classic character. This hybrid of western and Japanese talent coming together made something special that can be enjoyed on its own, and which strengthens the story of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films.

Nolan’s Dark Knight Rises into Anime Perfectly

Taking place between the first two films of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, Batman: Gotham Knight tells the story of Nolan's Batman cementing himself in Gotham as a crimefighter. These shorts bridge the gap between where Christian Bale's character is in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, adding depth and complexity to the viewing experience.

Bruce Wayne isn’t the only character from the films to make an appearance either. The Scarecrow, crime boss Sal Maroni, and Detective Anna Ramirez all feature in the film. Anna Ramirez even gets her introduction here before her appearance in The Dark Knight.

Batman: Gotham Knight can be watched on its own, but the ideal way to watch it is as part of the complete Dark Knight Trilogy. After all, Christopher Nolan himself consulted on the film, his brother Jonathan Nolan developed the story springboards, and Batman Begins writer David S. Goyer wrote one of the shorts.

Batman Joins the Film Tradition of Akira Kurosawa's Rashamon

Studio 4C's Have I Got a Story For You directed by Shojiro Nishimi, director of MFKZ, starts things off on a high note with a story inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon. A group of children tells stories about Batman together, each one remembering the events differently.

The different stories each give Batman an entirely different origin, all rendered beautifully by Studio 4C. Getting to see the animators play around with making Batman a robot or a giant living bat is incredibly fun.

It immediately shows the value anime creators can bring to a character like Batman. After all the fantastic stories, the kids see the real human Batman in an unforgettable ending. This ability to show incredible wonders in animation and then bring the heart and emotions down to Earth makes for masterful storytelling.

The Animatrix Connection in Batman: Gotham Knight is Fascinating

In 2003, the Wachowski sisters put together a similar anthology film called The Animatrix. Also from Warner Brothers, Batman: Gotham Knight follows its formula, while making the links between its segments stronger. Batman apprehends the villainous Man in Black in one segment, and the next shows the journey of the police taking him to Arkham Asylum.

This is what happens in Production IG's Crossfire, directed by Fotoshi Higashide of Golden Kamui. This connective tissue makes Batman: Gotham Knight more than just a collection of short films set in the same universe, but a snapshot into the life and adventures of The Dark Knight Trilogy's Batman.

Bruce Wayne’s BatTech in Anime is a Treat to See in Action

Exploring Batman and digging into what makes him tick compared to how he's perceived is a huge theme in the film. In Bee Train's Field Test, directed by Hiroshi Morioka of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles, fans get to learn about Batman's gadget creation, and the limits he places on himself, even if dropping them might benefit him.

Hiroshi Morioka is interested in showing viewers both the beauty of Batman’s amazing technology, and its deadly danger. The themes in Field Test carry over into The Dark Knight, as Bruce Wayne is forced to confront misusing his own technology for what he sees as the greater good.

Direct Ties to Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy Add to the Anime's Appeal

The David S. Goyer penned short, In Darkness Dwells from Madhouse and directed by Yasuhiro Aoki of ChaO and Yuichiro Hayashi of Attack on Titan, has the closest connections to The Dark Knight Trilogy, as it directly bridges the gap between where viewers see the character the Scarecrow between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

It also allows David S. Goyer and Madhouse to create a version of classic Batman villain Killer Croc for Nolan’s Universe. Christopher Nolan personally requested adjustments to the design of Killer Croc to fit the world of the film, removing the tail. This expands the world of The Dark Knight Trilogy films, while preserving their tone.

Batman is a timeless character with room for boundless experimentation. Batman: Gotham Knight showcased just how much anime creators could bring to that tradition. Batman: Gotham Knight is not just an exciting Batman story, but a film that enriches the live-action Dark Knight Trilogy it's connected to.