Batman Down: Cartoon Network Puts Beware The Batman On Hiatus

God knows that we have had our issues with some of the decisions that have come from the DC Nation partnership between DC Comics and Cartoon Network – we still bemoan the cancellation of Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series, and when it comes to replacing one of those shows with Teen Titans Go!, well, you know how we feel about that decision.

One bright spot to come out of last year’s cancellation turmoil, when both Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series were initially pulled from Cartoon Network’s schedule without notice toward the end of 2011 before running off their inventory of both shows, was the launch of Beware The Batman, the latest Batman animated show from Warner Bros. And while the new show really couldn’t hold a candle to the Bruce Timm / Paul Dini Batman: The Animated Series from the 90s, it’s certainly been entertaining enough to make a spot on our TiVo, and to catch at least half of the DC Nation shorts on a weekly basis. We try to catch the other shorts online, since there isn’t a force on Earth, including the marijuana that apparently allows most people to sit through it.

Well, that is we had Beware The Batman. Because in a case of history repeating itself, Cartoon Network has, without prior notice, pulled the show from their schedule with episodes still in reserve.

So… what the fuck, Cartoon Network?

DC Nation Cartoon Shorts – Shade The Changing Man

While I am beginning to warm up to Beware The Batman – its storylines are interesting, but I still haven’t bought into the oddly designed CGI animation – and I will simply never come around on Teen Titans Go!, I find that the best parts of the DC Nation cartoon block are the animated shorts. Recently, DC Nation has been uploading many of these shorts, including the three part 70s styled Wonder Woman piece that recently aired on Cartoon Network. One piece that hasn’t made it onto the DC site yet, but according to Bleeding Cool, has found its way onto the DC Nation YouTube Channel is this cool short of Shade The Changing Man. It’s another stylized piece, but the psychedelic overtones fit nicely with the idea of a character who fights against the constant tide of madness (per Peter Milligan’s interpretation of him for Vertigo). Enjoy!

DC Nation shorts air every Saturday morning as part of the DC Nation programming block on Cartoon Network.

New Clip From Beware The Batman, DC Nation Wonder Woman Short Preview

Rob is at a screening of Pacific Rim right now. Without me.

Now, I could be all pissed off about that, but I’m not. After all, he may have surrounded himself with giant robots and monsters, but, he left the whiskey here. With me.

So, as the whiskey and I spend the day together, we are finding our own entertainment on the Web. For example, behold the new opening sequence and promo clips from Beware The Batman:

Looks interesting. I’m not entirely convinced it will fill the hole in my heart that was left when DC/Warner Brothers abruptly cancelled Young Justice, but I think the important thing to remember here is that it’s not Teen Titans Go!, thank Christ.

So, what else is out on the Internetz?

Teen Titans Go! – Here’s The Crap That Is Replacing Young Justice

For the past two seasons, Cartoon Network has been offering a DC Nation cartoon block. The one hour block showcased two twenty-five minute length cartoons, Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice, as well as a variety of animated shorts ranging from a goofy take on Animal Man, voiced by Weird Al, a cute take on Supergirl, Wonder Girl and Bat Girl in Super BFFs, to an interminable anime inspired run of Amethyst: Princess Of Gemworld. While the Green Lantern series got off to a rocky start, with animation and storylines that seemed cribbed from The Clone Wars, it eventually did find its footing. Young Justice, meanwhile, was strong out of the gates and created a compelling ensemble story, proving that animation can be a vehicle that tells smart stories and isn’t just for kids.

Problem is – Cartoon Network and DC really only care about the “just for kids” part of the animation block. Neither cartoon series was moving enough toys and other merchandise to justify keeping it on the air, compounded by an uneven airing schedule that saw both shows unexpectedly pulled off the air last fall, despite having show times and episode synopses published for promotion. So, when DC Nation pulled the cord on the two series this month, it was hardly surprising.

Compounding the “no really, we’re in this to sell toys to the kids” vibe is the decision by the suits to replace these shows with Teen Titans Go!, an ultra child friendly version of the previous WB anime style Teen Titans property that aired back in 2003 and spawned a children’s comic, also titled Teen Titans Go!.

Check out the trailer for the new series, after the jump.

It’s No Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja: New Trailer For DC Nation’s Young Justice

It’s been a few months since Cartoon Network yanked Young Justice and Green Lantern: The Animated Series off of their broadcast lineup with literally no notice – my TiVo tried to grab them as usual that morning, and instead I was presented with hi-def recordings of Kick Taintowski: Suburban Pervert Bait or some such foolishness – and fans of the shows waited quite a while to get any specific information about when the shows would return beyond a Tweet from the channel promising “January.”

Well, a couple of weeks ago Cartoon Network finally announced that both shows would be returning on January 5th at 10 a.m., with the episodes that were supposed to air back in October before the decided that more airings of Amazing World of Gummy Balls or whatever the fuck it’s called would be more lucrative.

And as an added bonus, the channel has released a trailer for Young Justice to give us a taste of what we’re in for (hint: it includes punching). You can check it out after the jump.

New DC Nation Shorts Trailer!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: DC Nation makes me look forward to Saturday morning cartoons again!

This new trailer of upcoming shorts features Bane, Amethyst, Black Lightning, goofy takes on Green Lantern, Shazam, The Flash and his Rogues Gallery, and Doom Patrol, along with a whole bunch of other awesome, if not completely readily identifiable, clips.

I think I saw John Kricfalusi-esque animation in there. Would stuff by the actual man be too much to hope for?

DC Nation runs every Saturday morning on The Cartoon Network, beginning at 10am EST.

via WB’s Comic-Con

Beware The Batman! Well, Duh…

Via TheBatmanUniverse.net, Cartoon Network has sent out details about it’s upcoming Batman series:

A cool, new take on the classic Dark Knight franchise, Beware the Batman incorporates Batman’s core characters with a rogues gallery of new villains not previously seen in animated form. Along with backup from ex-secret agent Alfred and lethal swordstress Katana, the Dark Knight faces the twisted machinations of Gotham City’s criminal underworld led by the likes of Anarky, Professor Pyg, Mister Toad and Magpie. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, this action-packed detective thriller deftly redefines what we have come to know as a “Batman show.” Featuring cutting-edge CGI visuals to match the intricate twists and turns of the narrative, Batman steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight for an entirely new generation of fans. With WBA’s Sam Register executive producing, and Batman Beyond’s Glen Murakami and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated’s Mitch Watson producing, Beware the Batman, based on characters from DC Comics, is coming soon to Cartoon Network!

There’s even a teaser trailer, slickly produced enough that the CGI gave me motion sickness:

The series has not been given a specific start date, but is anticipated to drop this fall or at the beginning of next year, as Cartoon Network did with its Green Lantern series this year.

DC’s Saturday Morning Cartoons Inspire My Inner Child. She Is 12.

This morning, over on Cartoon Network, publisher DC is launching its DC Nation cartoon programming block, starting at 10:00 A.M. EST. According to USA Today, this programming will consist of

…superhero shows Green Lantern: The Animated Series and Young Justice, behind-the-scenes looks at its DC comics and Warner Bros. screen projects, and a series of shorts starring Plastic Man, Doom Patrol, Teen Titans and Aardman Animation’s take on various heroes and villains.

 
We’ve talked about this launch back in November, with the full trailer here. As a die hard fan of The Wrong Trousers, I was the most excited about the Aardman Animation stuff. An extended look at the Aardman Animation take on the DCU has been released:

 
Having watched the Green Lantern cartoon debut last year, this programming block is definitely a reason to get excited about Saturday morning cartoons again. It also makes me wish I could get my hands to stop shaking long enough to draw something that doesn’t resemble a stick figure in the throes of molecular disintegration. If only there was a way to become a cartoon illustrator, without any actual talent beyond the ability to craft a really stellar dick joke…
 
Can technology provide me with the solution to my illustration woes? Find out after the jump!

Aardman Animation Takes On Batman; My Brain Explodes. Film At 11.

You know, sometimes when I’m watching Cartoon Network, usually, but not always, during Adult Swim, I think, “Am I drunk?” However, watching this trailer for the proposed DC Nation block of programming, set to air on Cartoon Network next year, I find myself thinking, “Am I drunk enough?”  The following video and programming info comes via Bleeding Cool. Go pour yourself a couple fingers of brain-be-gone, come back and hit play.