News
News on Merry Little Batman movie and Bat-Family series. In most cases a link will accompany each headline back to the original article.
News on the DCAU originates from animation and comic book related news sites, personal staff forums or comic book conventions. Fans beware, in some cases, false news does get spread among the Internet.
Merry Little Batman News
September 1, 2021: There will be a new programming block for Cartoon Network named ACME Night that features a TV movie titled Merry Little Batman. The synopsis reads, "when a six-year-old Damian Wayne finds himself alone in Wayne Manor, he must transform into “Little Batman” in order to defend his home and Gotham City from the crooks and supervillains intent on destroying Christmas." It is executive produced and directed by Mike Roth from a screenplay by Morgan Evans. ComicBook Article
September 1, 2021: Logo released. ComicBook Article
November 11, 2021: Benjamin Tong starts character design next week. Benjamin Tong instagram
June 15, 2022: The project is billed as an animated family action comedy destined to join the rogue's gallery of classic holiday movies. A sneak peek excerpt features the six-year-old Damian Wayne alone in Wayne Manor as two thieves creep in to case it, but they gasp in horror at the sight of Batman at the top of the stairs. In reality, it is Damian perched on top of a giant vase, grinning with glee. Variety Article
June 21, 2022: Yonas Asuncion Kibreab did voice recording for a feature animated film for Warner Bros. Animation. Yonas Kibreab instagram
June 28, 2022: A test screening was held on the Warner lot. James Mosley II instagram
August 22, 2022: Will no longer be produced for HBO Max and is being shopped around to other outlets. TV Line Article
November 3, 2022: A second test screening was held on the Warner lot. James Mosley II instagram
November 30, 2022: Channing Dungey reveals Warner Bros. Discovery is in the process of closing a deal with Amazon featuring DC branded content in animation. Deadline Article
December 31, 2022: Daby Zainab Faidhi was an art director assistant. Daby Zainab Faidhi instagram
April 26, 2023: First look still at Bruce, Alfred, and Damian. Amazon Prime Video will stream the movie. Amazon Studios Article
April 26, 2023: Storyboard artist Sam Spina worked on Merry Little Batman. Sam Spina Tweet
April 30, 2023: Shot of Little Batman shown by Amazon at an event. user RobTheBat Tweet
June 16, 2023: At Annecy Festival, a clip was shown of 'goblin villains' entering Wayne Manor. Variety Article
October 11, 2023: The movie will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime on December 8. Poster revealed. Amazon Prime Tweet
October 11, 2023: Press release confirms the movie will stream globally on December 8, the screenplay was written by Morgan Evans and Jase Ricci, and reveals the voice leads are Yonas Kibreab, Luke Wilson, James Cromwell, and David Hornsby. WF Article
October 25, 2023: Morgan Evans reveals he took influence from Tim Burton, Neal Adams, and Joel Schumacher, it is 2D animation, through a confluence of events Bruce and Alfred leave the house and Damian is terrorized by scum and villainy of Gotham so he goes Home Alone to defend the manor, Luke Wilson voices Batman, David Hornsby voices Joker, Evans slipped in a the snowman riddle from Lost, he saw an animatic, the movie just got back from overseas animation, Evans will see it next month, he wrote it 3 years ago, had to pitch movie to Jim Lee and incorporated his ideas, and it's a Batman and Gotham no one's seen before. Getting LOST YouTube, 33:20-38:05
October 26, 2023: Fine Line Music Service worked on the movie. Fine Line Music Service instagram
October 28, 2023: First look at the Batman Rogues Gallery. DCAUR Tweet
November 10, 2023: Four stills released of Little Batman, Joker, Batman nabbing Riddler, and the Batmobile. Mike Roth reveals they initially explored a teenage Damian but decided to go to more younger, innocent, and wide-eyed version. Joker was heavily inspired by Bob Fosse's portrayal of the Snake in the 1974 version of The Little Prince and he is a foil to Damian because he is basically a big, peevish child himself. EW Article
November 10, 2023: Napoleon Berk Senturk is the art director. Napoleon Berk Senturk instagram
November 13, 2023: Trailer releases tomorrow. Batman Tweet
November 14, 2023: 2:14 Trailer released. DC YouTube
November 14, 2023: Patrick Stump provided original music. Film Music Reporter Article
November 19, 2023: The voice cast also includes Dolph Adomian as Mr. Freeze, Brian George as The Penguin, Theresa McLaughlin as Poison Ivy, Chris Sullivan as Bane, Michael Fielding as Terry, Cynthia McWilliams as Vicki Vale, Natalie Palamides as Francine and Reid Scott as Commissioner Gordon. Animation Magazine Article
November 30, 2023: A test screening was held for employees on the Warner Bros. lot. Letterboxd post
December 4, 2023: Yule Log video released. DC YouTube
December 5, 2023: Interview with Mike Roth. While working on other movie projects for Warner Bros., Roth was pitched a Batman movie with a Ron Searle design and a Christmas theme. He was teamed up with Morgan Evans and development began. They aimed for something that felt like a Christmas storybook in terms of design and color palette. They then went with a sketchier line for the characters and backgrounds. There are nods to the 30's Batman, Batman '66, and the Bruce Timm era. Carmine Infantino is in the movie and they used his voice from old interviews. Batman is a helicopter dad. The world is seen through the lens of Damian so it's a little kid in a really big world. Art director Guillaume Fesquet did the preliminary sketches with help by Daby Zainab Faidhi. Two animation studioswere used, Gigglebug in Helsinki, Finland and Doghead Animation in Florence, Italy. Animation Magazine Article
December 5, 2023: 1:21 clip released. Complex Pop Culture Tweet
December 5, 2023: Guillaume Fesquet posts the first designs he did for the Joker. Guillaume Fesquet instagram
December 6, 2023: 1:05 clip featuring Mr. Freeze released. Fandom Article
December 6, 2023: Guillaume Fesquet posts the first illustration he did for the movie. Guillaume Fesquet instagram
December 7, 2023: Interview with Morgan Evans and Jase Ricci. A little Bruce was considered before they settled on Damian. Bruce just wants to protect Damian's childhood - a thing he never had. There is a mall Santa scene involving a supervillain, a parade, and big Christmas trees. The utility belt is a gift Damian gets, he uses it, and then it's taken away from him. The belt is a rite of passage for Damian. Damian is happy crime is back because he wants to see his father in action and to fight it himself. In the movie, in order to be a hero, it takes focus, responsibility and sacrifice. Animation Scoop Article
December 7, 2023: 1:13 clip with Little Batman vs. Poison Ivy and Bane. IGN YouTube
December 7, 2023: Production and concept art posted. Cartoon Brew Article
December 7, 2023: Morgan Evans will take part in a watch along on December 8 at 1:15 pm with The Breakroom. GinaIppy Tweet
December 7, 2023: Guillaume Fesquet posts the first interaction he drew between Selina and Damian. Guillaume Fesquet instagram
December 8, 2023: Watch along with Morgan Evans. Bruce's gift to Damian was a Sgt. Rock action figure at one point, a teddy bear at another. The Crazy Man scene is the oldest bit from the pitch used in the movie. The Breakroom Twitch
December 8, 2023: Ben Tong posts Dan Haskett's character suggestions for Bruce, Alfred, Joker, and Selina. Ben Tong instagram
December 8, 2023: Ben Tong posts Dan Haskett's character suggestions for Poison Ivy, Peguin, Francine, and Terry. Ben Tong instagram
December 9, 2023: Interview with Morgan Evans. Early sketches of Joker and Damian with Santa Bane and two stills of Little Batman and the villains included. LA Times Article
December 9, 2023: Ben Tong posts Damian posings. Ben Tong instagram
December 11, 2023: The digital soundtrack is available through WaterTower Music. WF Tweet
December 15, 2023: Nora Meek posts animatic from woodcut scene. Nora Meek Tweet
December 19, 2023: Interview with Mike Roth. CBM Article
January 11, 2024: Movie was nominated by Annie Awards for Best Character Design - Feature for Nikolas Ilic and Best Voice Acting - Feature for David Hornsby. Animation Magazine Article
Bat-Family
April 26, 2023: Amazon Prime Video has greenlit a spin-off series from Merry Little Batman titled Bat-Family. It follows the events of Merry Little Batman. Batman, Alfred, and young Damian Wayne-who has now taken on the mantle of Little Batman-will be joined by a few newcomers to Wayne Manor and they navigate the fun and frustrations of life as a super family. Jase Ricci, Mike Roth, and Sam Register are set to executive produce the series, which is produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Amazon Studios Article
April 30, 2023: Shot of Little Batman, Bruce, Alfred, and new characters shown by Amazon at an event. user RobTheBat Tweet
June 15, 2023: At Annecy Festival, some of Batman's rogues were shown like Mr. Freeze and Poison Ivy. user Midou Tweet
December 19, 2023: Episodes will be 22 minutes. It is an action adventure comedy. The show is currently in very early stages of production. More of the world will be explored, more Gotham, more villains, more characters, and more members to the Wayne family household will appear. CBM Article
