Phil Roberts 
The greatest crossover in pop culture history is rewarded with a suitably grand Blu-Ray disc
The notion of bringing Batman and theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles together has been a fan dream for decades. The noteworthy intercompany crossover comic strip by James Tynion IV and drawn by Freddie Williams II realised this dream and gave fans a taste of what their long-awaited encounter would look like. This relationship was enhanced further when the TMNT were included amongst the combatants on the popular DC Comics-themed video game Injustice 2. Their presence afforded players the chance to pit Ninja Turtle against DC icon and bridged the gap between the franchises.
Hearing the call of the fans, Warner Bros. Animation and Nickelodeon quickly hatched a plan to produce an all-new animated movie featuring their iconic meeting which is set to debut on Blu-Ray and DVD on June 3rd. The movie is nothing short of a masterpiece and successfully marries two beloved franchises in synchronised harmony to produce arguably the best crossover movie event of all time.
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Warner Bros. Animation
A movie as good as Batman Vs. TMNT deserves an equally wonderful Blu-Ray disc, and Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon have worked tirelessly to deliver a disc packed with insightful special features. But are they truly worth the price of the Blu-Ray?
Oh, hell yeah!
The Batman vs. TMNT Blu-Ray disc is not overloaded with content, but the special features it does come with are exceptional and totally worth the price of the disc. Let’s face it, the majority of us will be buying the disc exclusively for the movie, but bonus features are always highly sought after, especially when they provide an insight into such an awesome movie.
Cowabunga, Batman! When World’s Collide (Featurette)
Superhero crossovers have inspired some of the most unique comics of all time. In Cowabunga, Batman we get to explore the concept of the crossover and see the creativity that ensues when the worlds of Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collide.
This featurette explores the challenges the filmmakers encountered when approaching such an iconic crossover and how they overcame some of the finer sticking points in uniting two beloved franchises. The similarities of their context made the marriage a match made in heaven. From the outset, both franchises share incredible parallels. Both are set in big cities, both feature a team of heroes saving the city from supervillains, both wear masks and both showcase an incredible array of martial arts.
Writer Marly Halpern-Graser, director Jake Castorena and the amazing voice cast all share their thoughts on how the two franchises join forces and how through their interactions learn vital life lessons from one another. This featurette is incredibly detailed and offers us an insight into how the filmmakers brought about the creation of what will undoubtedly become a cult classic.
RELATED: REVIEW | BATMAN VS. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES
Fight Night in Gotham (Featurette)
DC animated movies have continued to push the realism of hand-to-hand combat on-screen. Take an exciting look at both Batman’s and the Ninja Turtles’ fighting styles, and how the creators make it feel like you’re in the fight.
In this featurette, the filmmakers reveal the architecture of the visceral martial arts action in Batman Vs. TMNT. Director Jake Castorena reveals the origins for his love of ninja movies and why he wanted to translate that onto film and deliver a truly authentic combat style never seen in an animated feature before.
The analysis of the duel between Batman and the Turtles is gripping entertainment and reveals how the Dark Knight uses multiple disciplines to take out the heroes in a half shell. Furthermore, the exploration of the duel between Ra’s Al Ghul and the Turtles reveals how the heroes in a half shell encounter an opponent who is the equivalent of their father in the lethal leader of the league of assassins.
However, the diamond in the rough of this featurette explores the duel between Batman and The Shredder. Director Jake Castorena decided to reveal a side of Shredder never seen on screen before by gifting the leader of the Foot Clan with a genuine ninjutsu fighting style which has been sorely lacking in other incarnations. The storyboarding process reveals the vision behind the confrontation where both warriors are both surprised and offended by each other’s incredibly disciplined fighting style.
Delving into this iconic meeting of legends is a joy to watch and offers a wonderful insight into how the creators researched Ninja Turtle lore to obtain a fatal move for Shredder never seen in any other version of the character.
Batman: Hush (A Sneak Preview)
Director Justin Copeland reveals his inspiration for taking on the challenge of bringing the revered storyline of Batman: Hush to the screen. The legendary storyline is renowned for being incredibly visceral and the all-new animated movie coming to Blu-Ray and DVD this August will be no exception. Originally conceptualised by Jim Lee, the iconic artwork appears to have been refreshed for this new incarnation and the filmmakers have worked tirelessly to compliment the atmosphere of the original material.
For Batman fans, this sneak peek is unmissable. The release of Batman: Hush is one of the most hotly anticipated home video releases of the year and this featurette will only serve to tickle your taste buds and get you super pumped to embrace this incredible looking movie.
Final Thoughts:
With straight to Blu-Ray releases like these, it would be easy for Warner Bros. to release them in box standard format devoid of any real content, but here I am delighted to report that the special features on Batman vs. TMNT are a real treat. Every element will interest both the casual and die-hard fan alike, with special consideration given to the duel between Batman and The Shredder. The effort Jake Castorena and his team have put into this project is a testament to the devotion they have to both franchises, and these special features are a pure joy to watch. Whether you’re a fan of Batman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or both, there is something for everyone on this Blu-Ray and it is more than worthy of the price of the disc.
Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is available to download NOW and will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray and Steelbook Blu-Ray on Monday, June 3rd. Order your copy HERE.
Editor’s Note: Special thanks to the great team at Warner Bros. UK for the advanced review copy.
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Phil Roberts is the Owner, Daily Content Manager, and Editor-In-Chief of The Future of the Force. He is passionate about Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Follow him on Twitter where he uses the force and babbles frequently!
