Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Batman is no stranger to odd stories, but none quite like IDW’s Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic from 2015, a crossover between the two titular franchises. I had read it at the time and enjoyed it, so I was very curious to see the recent animated adaptation, Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This film represents an unlikely crossover between not only the two titular franchises, but also an unlikely deal between Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon, considering their status as rival companies. Fortunately, the end result is well worth the price of admission.

At Powers International, Barbara Gordon (Rachel Bloom) witnesses the Foot Clan stealing a powerful generator and spots four mysterious beings she believes are metahumans. She informs Batman (Troy Baker) about this before he goes to Wayne Enterprises to intercept the Foot Clan. There, he attempts to stop the theft of more tech, but is defeated by Shredder (Andrew Kishino). Meanwhile, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Leonardo (Eric Bauza), Raphael (Darren Criss), Donatello (Baron Vaughn) and Michelangelo (Kyle Mooney), are in Gotham to stop Shredder and find out who his new ally is. They intercept and defeat Penguin outside of Wayne Enterprises, but then encounter Batman in an alleyway and fight him, as both sides believe the other is working for Shredder.

Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are two franchises you might never expect to gel with each other, but this crossover manages to make the concept work a lot better than it should. The darker and more dramatic Batman is blended perfectly well with the more lighthearted and comedic TMNT for a very engaging and well-paced story. There are times when the script likes to poke fun at different aspects of Batman, including random blimps in Gotham city or Batman’s tendency to disappear on Commissioner Gordon (Jim Meskimen), but these feel quick and natural and don’t detract from the otherwise serious or tense moments. The contrast in personalities and leadership styles between Batman and the TMNT is also addressed as a plot point, which gives characters on both sides of the crossover a good character arc.

Batman and the TMNT share the screen for the first time;
L-R: Leonardo (Eric Bauza), Raphael (Darren Criss), Michelangelo (Kyle Mooney),
Batman (Troy Baker), Donatello (Baron Vaughn), Batgirl (Rachel Bloom), Robin (Ben Giroux).

The villains form both franchises are handled equally as well as the heroes. Shredder and his partner work well together since their goals more or less align with each other. However, Shredder’s straightforward no-nonsense approach contrasts neatly with the tendency of the other Batman villains to create elaborate schemes or mess around with their opponents.

Both franchises have had their own share of varied art styles to capture the feel of the many animated series based on them. It makes sense, then, that in this film, there is one uniform look that’s very stylized, yet animation friendly, which includes making the TMNT feel distinct from one another by their silhouettes. This approach helps keep the movie feeling consistent while bringing the most out of the many fight scenes between the heroes and villains. The fights between Batman and Shredder are particularly great to watch, as they could only exist here and give the very idea a good payoff.

Then there’s the voice acting. Everyone does a good job with their respective roles, but I really have to highlight Troy Baker. He has experience with Batman, having the opportunity to play Batman and Joker in previous Batman projects, including Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: The Telltale Series. Here, however, not only is he the first person to ever portray both Batman and Joker in the same project, he manages to do a spot-on impression of both Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, which shows off both his range and talent as a voice actor.

If you’ve ever fantasized about Batman meeting the TMNT, then Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fulfills it well. Whether it’s the writing, animation or voice acting, this movie delivers. Fans of either franchise should check it out to see such an unlikely crossover come to life, but even people who aren’t as familiar with either will find something to enjoy. Hopefully, whatever deal Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon struck to get this made opens the door for more, especially considering the backdoor left open for a sequel.