DVD News

Batman returns to animation with Under the Red Hood

By Patrick Luce Apr 30, 2010, 14:47 GMT

The Cape Crusader returns to animation with Batman: Under the Red Hood – arriving on DVD and Blu-ray on July 27th from Warner Home Video. The new film is the next entry in the popular ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 movies.

Batman confronts new enemies, old foes and painful memories when a powerful vigilante with a penchant for violence comes to Gotham City in the intense graphic-novel-come-to-life Batman: Under the Red Hood.

The full-length animated film will be available as a Special Edition version on Blu-Ray and Two-Disc DVD for $29.99 and $24.98, respectively. It will also be available as a single-disc DVD for $19.98. The film will also be available On Demand and for Download.

Batman: Under the Red Hood features a stellar voice cast with Bruce Greenwood (Captain Pike in the 2009 blockbuster Star Trek) as the voice of Batman. Supernatural’s Jensen Ackles as Red Hood, and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) as Nightwing. John DiMaggio (Futurama) take on voice duties for The Joker and Jason Issacs (the Harry Potter films) provides the voice for Ra’s Al Ghul.

The film was scripted by award-winning comics writer Judd Winick and based on his 2005 comics storyline and subsequent comics graphic novel of the same name. Animation master Bruce Timm returns as executive producer - as he has for all eight DC Universe animated original movies. The film’s director was Brandon Vietti (who served as co-director of Superman Doomsday).

In Batman: Under the Red Hood, Batman faces his ultimate challenge as the mysterious Red Hood takes Gotham City by firestorm. One part vigilante, one part criminal kingpin, Red Hood begins cleaning up Gotham with the efficiency of Batman, but without following the same ethical code.

Killing is an option. And when The Joker falls in the balance between the two, hard truths are revealed and old wounds are reopened.

Fans will be treated to an incredible package of DC Universe storytelling as the Special Edition Blu-Ray and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD include the second animated short in the all-new DC Showcase series – which features the popular DC Comics character, Jonah Hex.

The short is scripted by renowned author Joe Lansdale, and stars the voices of Thomas Jane (Hung), Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder).

Batman: Under the Red Hood - 2 Disc Special Edition DVD will have more than two hours of fascinating bonus features, including:

Featurette – Robin’s Story – It was decided it was time to add a fresh face into the story mix, which turned out to be Dick Grayson, aka Robin. This is the story of Dick Grayson and how he transformed into Robin, with Batman as his father-figure role model.
Extended Sneak Peek at the next DC UNIVERSE Animated Original PG-13 Movie.
Widescreen (1.78:1)
Two title-themed episodes from of Warner Bros. Animation’s 20-year history of Batman television series, hand-picked by animation legend Bruce Timm.

Batman: Under the Red Hood Special Edition Blu-Ray will have more than three hours of bonus materials, including all the great extras from the 2-disc Special Edition DVD as well as:

Featurette: Death in the House of Batman - The story of how DC Comics heard the fans’ cry that the new Robin was not going to fit the cape, and how the Boy Wonder was scheduled to die.
Two additional bonus Batman-themed episodes personally selected by Bruce Timm
Digital copy