Batman: Gotham Knight is a 2008 American anime-influenced adult animated superhero anthology film based on the DC Comics superhero of the same name. Set within The Dark Knight trilogy, specifically between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, the film depicts Batman battling against the mob of Gotham City, as well as other villains such as the Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and Deadshot. Although the movie is an anthology, each segment is part of one overarching story, though they are also told through various animation studios from Japan and South Korea.
It is the third film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies released by Warner Premiere and Warner Bros. Animation; with the first two releases being Superman: Doomsday and Justice League: The New Frontier. This film is also notable for being the first DC Original Animated movie to have a connection with another Batman medium.
Production The film consists of six anthology segments produced by Japanese animation studios Studio 4°C, Madhouse, Bee Train and Production I.G and the South Korean animation studio Dong Woo Animation in association with DC Comics and Warner Bros. Animation. The shorts are written by Josh Olson, David S. Goyer, Brian Azzarello, Greg Rucka, Jordan Goldberg and Alan Burnett. Although all use Japanese anime art styles, each segment has its own writing and artistic style, similar to other DC Universe works and The Animatrix; however, some segments are connected, giving it the nickname, "The Batimatrix". All six segments of the anthology film star Kevin Conroy, reprising his voice role as Batman from the DC Animated Universe. Christopher Nolan consulted on Batman: Gotham Knight, asking for the removal of Killer Croc's tail from an early design as he wanted to keep it grounded in some reality. Jonathan Nolan wrote the story springboards for Batman: Gotham Knight.
Although stated to take place within The Dark Knight trilogy, the producers have acknowledged that the plot from the anthology is not necessarily integral to the main story told within the films.
Plot Batman: Gotham Knight is split into six segments:
Have I Got a Story for You (Studio 4°C) Have I Got a Story for You was written by Josh Olson and animated by Studio 4°C.
A street kid meets with his three friends at a skate park, to which all three of them claim to have seen Batman earlier that day. Batman's battle with the Man in Black, a high-tech criminal, is told in reverse chronological order with three different interpretations of Batman's form and abilities (in the style of the 1950 film Rashomon): one describes him as a living shadow that can melt away and reappear at will (similar to the Vampire Batman from the Batman & Dracula trilogy); another describes him as a half-human, half-bat creature (similar to the Man-Bat); and lastly, one describes him as a combat robot who can leap tall buildings in a single bound. At the end, Batman pursues the Man in Black to the skate park and captures him with the help of the fourth street kid. The fourth kid is able to see what Batman truly is after seeing him sustain injuries by a grenade blast from the battle: a human warrior in a costume. He then proceeds to tell his experience about seeing Batman to his friends after Batman disappears.
Voice cast Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman Jason Marsden as Cop Scott Menville as B-Devil George Newbern as Jacob Feely / Man in Black Corey Padnos as Porkchop Crystal Scales as Meesh Alanna Ubach as Dander Hynden Walch as Woman
Crossfire (Production I.G) Crossfire was written by Greg Rucka and animated by Production I.G.
Crispus Allen and Anna Ramirez are partners and members of the Major Crimes Unit who have been hand-picked by Lieutenant James Gordon. The two are assigned to take the recently captured Man in Black (who was captured previously on Have I Got A Story For You), revealed to be Jacob Feely, an escaped inmate from Arkham Asylum with an expertise in advanced electronics and explosives, back to Arkham Asylum, which most of the Narrows has been converted into following the events of Batman Begins. On their way, they argue over whether Batman can be trusted, with Allen saying that they are just running errands for a vigilante, while Ramirez replies that Batman has changed Gotham for the better. As they are heading back, Allen declares his intention to leave the MCU and Ramirez pulls into a vacant lot to confront Allen. However, the two get caught in a large gunfight between gangs, the Russian Mob and Sal Maroni's gang. Maroni's men are gunned down and Maroni takes refuge behind Allen and Ramirez's patrol car, which the Russian destroys with a rocket launcher. Ramirez and Maroni manage to get clear in time, while Batman rescues Allen and takes out the Russian and his men. Maroni then threatens to kill Ramirez, but he is dispatched by Batman. Batman recognizes Allen and Ramirez as Gordon's hand-picked officers and remarks that Gordon is a good judge of character, then disappears.
Voice cast Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman Jim Meskimen as James Gordon Ana Ortiz as Anna Ramirez Corey Burton as Yuri Dimitrov Gary Dourdan as Crispus Allen Jason Marsden as Doctor Scott Menville as Cop Pat Musick as News Anchor Rob Paulsen as Sal Maroni Andrea Romano as Dispatcher
Field Test (Bee Train) Field Test was written by Jordan Goldberg and animated by Bee Train.
An accident involving a new WayneCom satellite's gyroscopic electromagnetic guidance system gives Lucius Fox an idea to create a device with the satellite's gyro with an advanced sound sensor that will electromagnetically deflect small-arms fire. Bruce Wayne takes the device and attends a charity golf tournament held by land developer Ronald Marshall, with whom he discusses the mysterious death of a community activist named Teresa Williams, who had opposed some of Marshall's plans. During the tournament, Wayne secretly takes Marshall's PDA device. Later that night as Batman, he hijacks a boat owned by Sal Maroni and drives it alongside a boat owned by the Russian Mob's leader, the Russian, and proceeds to attack both gangs at once with assistance from his new device. He attempts to force a truce between the two gang leaders until he can get evidence against them and that Sal Maroni and the Russian can then argue who gets the top bunk at Blackgate Penitentiary. The discussion is disrupted when one of Maroni's men fires at him. The bullet deflects and instead hits one of the Russian's men. Distressed, Batman takes the injured man to the hospital. Later, he returns the device to Fox, stating: "...It works too well: I'm willing to put my life on the line to do what I have to. But it has to be mine, no one else's."
Voice cast Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman Corey Burton as Yuri Dimitrov, Ronald Marshall Will Friedle as Anton George Newbern as Guido Rob Paulsen as Sal Maroni Kevin Michael Richardson as Lucius Fox
In Darkness Dwells (Madhouse) In Darkness Dwells, was written by David S. Goyer (who also wrote for all three films) and animated by Madhouse.
The police respond to a riot in a cathedral where Cardinal O'Fallon was giving a sermon. According to eyewitness testimony, O'Fallon was abducted by a large monster and taken into the crypts below the cathedral. Lieutenant Gordon, Crispus Allen and Anna Ramirez investigate. Gordon has a brief conversation with Batman, who agrees with Gordon's theory that the Scarecrow's fear toxin is behind the riot, as the doctor has been at large since the riot at the Narrows. Batman gives Gordon an earpiece that will allow them to stay in contact and descends below ground, trying to find O'Fallon and his abductor. A homeless man living in an abandoned subway station identifies the abductor as Killer Croc. Batman and Gordon briefly discuss the villain's past, but are cut off when Croc ambushes Batman. During the fight, Batman discovers Croc is under the influence of the Scarecrow's fear toxin. Batman defeats him, but not before sustaining a bite that transfers some of the toxin to him. He then finds O'Fallon being put on trial and sentenced to death by the Scarecrow (who is unhappy with O'Fallon's efforts to help the homeless). Batman leaps in to defend O'Fallon. Using the methane already present in the room, he sparks an explosion that destroys several water pipes, flooding the area and allowing him to escape with O'Fallon. While the Scarecrow escapes, Gordon appears in a helicopter to retrieve O'Fallon. Gordon offers to help Batman, but Batman refuses, saying: "Maybe next time."
Voice cast Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman Gary Dourdan as Crispus Allen Jim Meskimen as James Gordon Ana Ortiz as Anna Ramirez Corey Burton as Dr. Jonathan Crane / The Scarecrow Will Friedle as Cultist Brian George as O'Fallon George Newbern as Man Rob Paulsen as Mole Man
Working Through Pain (Studio 4°C) Working Through Pain was written by Brian Azzarello and animated by Studio 4°C.
Taking place after In Darkness Dwells, Batman is shot in the stomach by a man hallucinating him as a bat-like monster in the sewers of Gotham (possibly due to being under the influence of the Scarecrow's fear toxin). Severely injured, Batman cauterizes the wound and desperately struggles to get out from underground, reflecting on his experiences with managing pain as he does before the events. First, he remembers volunteering with a relief effort and assisting a doctor in performing surgery without anesthesia. Next, he reflects on the lessons he learned from a woman named Cassandra. Over several months, she teaches him to minimize his pain to the point where he can control it, sleeping on a bed of needles or standing on hot coals without reacting. One night, several young men appear to harass Cassandra, who takes their blows without seeming to feel them. Bruce steps in to defend her, not only demonstrating his ability to withstand their attacks, but defeating them all with his martial arts skills. Cassandra then tells him to leave, saying that he has learned what he came to learn. She then comments on how Bruce's pain was beyond her or possibly even his ability to handle, but how it also appeared to be leading him down a path he desired. Back in the present, Batman ends up in a gutter where he discovers a cache of guns buried in the garbage. Alfred then arrives to assist him and tells Batman to reach out his hand so he can pull him out of the gutter but Batman, whose arms are full of guns, replies that he cannot.
Voice cast Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman David McCallum as Alfred Pennyworth Will Friedle as Youth 1 Brian George as Arman, Scruffy Man Jason Marsden as Youth 2 Parminder Nagra as Cassandra George Newbern as Youth 3 Rob Paulsen as Youth 4 Kevin Michael Richardson as Avery, Wounded Man Hynden Walch as Young Cassandra
Deadshot (Madhouse) Deadshot was written by Alan Burnett and animated by Madhouse.