The Phantom of ‘Go! Bat Phoenix’: A Dream Anime That Haunts the Reality of ‘Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League’
The initial foray into the anime realm with Batman Ninja was an experience of unadulterated, delightful absurdity. The sequel, Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League, promised to deliver a similar dose of wacky, over-the-top Bat-family action. Yet, something has cast a long shadow over my anticipation for this upcoming release, a shadow emanating from none other than Warner Bros. Japan themselves. In a promotional maneuver that has backfired spectacularly, they unveiled a tantalizing glimpse of something that I now desperately crave but can never truly possess.
As part of the promotional fanfare surrounding the impending debut of Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League next week, Warner Bros. Japan unleashed a meticulously crafted, faux opening sequence for a hypothetical, ’70s-inspired DC spin-off: Go! Bat Phoenix. This short, but devastatingly effective, clip is a loving homage to classic anime series like Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (known as Battle of the Planets in some regions) and Voltes V. The opening sequence, complete with an infectiously catchy theme song reminiscent of the era, showcases Batman, Red Hood, Nightwing, and Red Robin uniting their individual vehicles in a dramatically ludicrous launch sequence to form the titular Bat Phoenix – essentially, the Batwing dialed up to eleven.
The sheer vibes radiating from this short are immaculate. The simulated faded film effect, lending the animation an authentic retro feel, the simplified yet striking redesigns of the characters, directly echoing the aesthetic of the Batman Ninja movie, and the dramatically posed figures caught mid-launch – every element is perfectly executed. Nightwing’s hair, in particular, is a masterstroke, evoking the iconic styles of Speed Racer or Captain Tsubasa, immediately cementing the short’s retro anime authenticity. It’s not merely a pastiche, but a profound and heartfelt love letter to a bygone era of animation.
But what elevates Go! Bat Phoenix beyond mere fan service is the realization of how seamlessly this aesthetic integrates with the core of the Batman mythos. It fits. Incredibly well. It doesn’t feel like a forced juxtaposition of the Dark Knight with an incompatible style. Instead, it feels like a natural extension, a hidden facet of the character waiting to be unearthed.
The argument that Batman doesn’t possess the foundation for such a retro interpretation simply doesn’t hold water. The recent resurgence in popularity of the campy 1966 Batman television series already proves a modern interest in lighter takes on the character. More deeply, the animated short channels the spirit of Jiro Kuwata’s Batman manga, a swashbuckling rendition of the hero deeply rooted in the golden and silver age interpretations of the character. This is not about forcing a square peg into a round hole; it’s about recognizing the inherent adaptability of Batman and his enduring appeal across different eras and mediums. The faux opening sequence taps into that essence and reveals a potential for Batman that I never knew I yearned for.
The effectiveness of the Go! Bat Phoenix short lies in its genuine execution. It doesn’t mock or satirize the source material. Instead, it embraces the earnestness and unbridled enthusiasm of classic anime, presenting a vision of the Bat-family as a dynamic team operating in a world of vibrant colors, over-the-top villains, and heroic feats of engineering.
The result is a pang of bitter disappointment. I am now burdened with the knowledge of what could be – a three-season run of Go! Bat Phoenix gracing the streaming platform Max. The sheer potential of exploring this retro-inspired universe, delving deeper into the characters and their world, is a prospect that tantalizes beyond measure. This is a call to action, a plea from the depths of a fan’s heart to James Gunn and the powers that be at DC Studios: please, give us Go! Bat Phoenix!
The release of Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League will arrive digitally soon. It should theoretically satiate our desire for a modern anime interpretation of the Bat-family. However, for me, it will now be viewed through the lens of what could have been, a constant reminder of the glorious, unrealized potential of Go! Bat Phoenix. While I anticipate the release of the sequel, the memory of the faux opening will linger, an ache in my soul for an anime that exists only in the realm of imagination. Go! Bat Phoenix has become a phantom, haunting the present and demanding a future where it can finally take flight.
