For the most part, the American and Japanese comic industries have coexisted in parallel, with minimal crossover. With the abundance of content on offer, it is partly why there are so few productions that make it to the screen featuring a Japanese studio working with American properties or vice versa. Of course, there are outliers; Jiro Kuwata’s Batman manga from the 1960s is a hidden gem worth discovering, and the Japanese live-action Spider-Man is a gloriously entertaining mess.
Yet, one of the biggest comic universes, the DC universe, and by extension,Batman, has had Japaneseanimestudios create some great—and not-so-great—adaptations.
Here is a list of every anime based on Batman characters from DC Comics, ranked from worst to best.
5’DC Superheroes vs Eagle Talon' (2017)
DC Superheroes vs Eagle Talonbrings over the Justice League and its most iconic villain after the Joker heads to Japan to steal Eagle Talon’s collection of weapons. After landing in Japan, Batman suffers an existential crisis about being a superhero and decides to duck out, leaving the Justice League at a disadvantage. To aid in stopping the Joker, the Eagle Talon team heads back in time to prevent the death of Bruce Wayne’s parents, aiming to lift the depressed Caped Crusader’s spirits.
A Bizarre Japanese-Only Feature Film
This project was never released outside of Japan, much like all ofEagle Talon’sreleases. The reason is thatthe project is distinctly Japanese, relying heavily on cultural references and wordplay that won’t resonate with a Western audience. At an hour and forty minutes of absurd, untranslatable humor,DC Superheroes vs Eagle Talonis a far cry from the kindof standout comedy animethat have become classics in the West.
The Japanese exclusive is not necessarily a complete wash for DC and Batman fans, with some clever humor throughout.The feature looks crude throughout because Justice League blew the entire budget in the first few minutes, and time travel gives us Batman as Donald Trump. The humor is consistently meta, offering an interesting perspective on how Japan perceives American heroes. Although never released outside of Japan, the entire film is relatively easy to track down.
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Suicide Squad Isekai
DC’s Task Force X, consisting of Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface, and King Shark, gets the isekai treatment (dying and being reborn in another world) and has to face a whole new set of threats unlike anything before. The series draws on tropes from both series, including forced servitude through the threat of execution through explosive collars, overseen by Amanda Waller, and a kingdom in peril that needs the help of a hero.
Heading to Another World to Cause Chaos
Suicide Squad Isekaifeatures some entertaining and humorous interactions, as well as cool worldbuilding and character designs. However, beyond that, the project feels soulless.Isekai is a tricky genre, with many rules in place, even when a creative team gets experimental. This project seemed desperate to inject Western comics into that world without consideration for the anime fandom. For DC fans, the foray into the more absurd elements of isekai doesn’t land and cuts into character development. The entire project feels shallow and ill-conceived; the few shining moments are insufficient to make it memorable or worth recommending.
3’Batman Ninja' (2018)
Batman Ninja
A time machine created by Gorilla Grodd transports Batman, his allies, and other villains into feudal Japan. However, Batman arrives far later than his villain gallery, to find Grodd has been ousted into seclusion, and the likes of Penguin, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Joker have all claimed large swathes of land they now rule over. Without his tech, Batman and his allies must rely on their martial arts skills and intelligence to beat the odds in an unfamiliar landscape.
Batman Heads to Feudal Japan
Don’t approach this asa time-travel anime. Instead,Batman Ninjaemploys the Chekhov’s gun approach to establishing its setting. The story here is very cookie-cutter and uninspired, not quite offering the immersion fans were hoping for by introducing absurd elements, such as giant mech towers. The 3D animated style employed can be unappealing at points and flows unnaturally. Yet,Batman Ninjaremains approachable, thanks to its top-notch character design.Although the visuals are muddied in motion, the film presents an exciting and inventive take on Batman that fans will appreciate.Batman Ninjais a middle-of-the-road DC Animated project, and that is okay.
2’Batman Ninja Vs. Yakuza League' (2025)
Batman Ninja Vs. Yakuza League
Taking place directly after the events of Batman Ninja, Batman and his allies return to Gotham to find that the time travel device has caused a drastic change to the landscape and has brought a new threat to Gotham in the form of a violent Yakuza league. Now, back in the current timeline, Batman crosses paths with other members of the Justice League who become involved in the conflict to save Gotham and Japan.
A superior Sequel
Batman Ninja Vs. Yakuzashares some of the same shortcomings as the initial film, opting for a more absurd angle and a somewhat bizarre plot, which does not fully feel congruent with either anime or DC Comics. However, everything here is just slightly more polished, andthe re-invisioning of more heroes and villains adds a lot of visual appeal to the project. A fun visual spectacle with an animation style that will be somewhat divisive,Batman Ninja vs. the Yakuzawill leave viewers wanting more films to take place in its mash-up universe, which is more than can be said about the originalBatman Ninja.
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1’Batman: Gotham Night' (2008)
Batman: Gotham Knight
Split into six segments,Batman: Gotham Knighttells tales of the Caped Crusader fighting crimebetween the timelines ofBatman BeginsandThe Dark Knight. The project, which was used to help promote the upcoming The Dark Knight,saw the project as a Japanese/American co-production, including animation studios from Japan and writers like David S. Goyer contributing to the project.
An Anime Anthology That Sticks to What Makes Batman Great
This project was the perfect coming together of talents, building on therich history of the DC Animated Universe, its presence on the big screen, and including the best elements of two different cultures to create a cohesive anthology. As with all anthologies,some segments are better than others, but this project features what is easily the best anime adaptation of Batman to date, in the segment “Have I Got a Story for You.“Here, an instance involving Batman is told from multiple perspectives, providing a broad view of how Gotham perceives him; not necessarily original, but it is cleverly written and highly effective in delivery.
What makesBatman: Gotham Knightby far the best anime adaptation of a DC property is how it sticks to the Caped Crusader as fans know him, whileusing sleek anime styles and narrative devices to complement him, rather than trying to shoehorn Batman into a role that does not fit.
