The comic book phenomenon just keeps on coming. DC announced that Absolute Batman is now in development for an animated series.
DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation Showcase made the announcement at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Specifically, DC Studios co-chairman and co-CEO Peter Safran and Warner Bros. Animation president Sam Register broke the exciting news.
In addition, the Absolute Batman creative team Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta will work closely with the show. Snyder will act as executive producer and showrunner and Dragotta will also be a producer.
Check out the Absolute Batman official description:
“No manor, no money… all Batman.” The animated series will reimagine the Dark Knight as a working-class hero fighting impossible odds, wealth, corruption and some seriously terrifying foes. Scott Snyder, who writes the comic, will serve as executive producer and showrunner, while artist Nick Dragotta is attached as a producer.
It may sound crazy how quickly DC decided to adapted a relatively new series into animation. But the success has been insane. Even being deep into its second year, the title actually increased in sales since the phenomenal first issue. According to Snyder, the latest issue orders are in 500,000 copies.
Also, Dragotta’s art is highly inspired by anime and manga. His cartoony and exaggerated style is perfect for animation.
‘Joker: Laugh Riot’
In addition to Absolute Batman, DC also revealed a Joker cartoon titled Joker: Laugh Riot and a Krypto series are also in development. Joker will be an anime series with allegedly an alternate universe premise. Batman is dead and now the Joker must figure out life after Batman. Check out the official description:
When Batman is murdered, the Joker launches a ruthless crusade through Gotham’s underworld to find the killer who took away his greatest adversary. But as his violent quest for answers pushes him closer towards vigilante than villain, Joker is forced to confront the truth that without Batman, he doesn’t know who he is.
“ChaO” director Yasuhiro Aoki will helm Joker. He previously worked on Warner Bros Animation on The Lords of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.
It sounds like DC Animated is shaping up to have an amazing line-up.
Source: Variety.com
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