Batman Ninja 2018 is a cartoon that, according to the description, looked like strange delusions during an illness at a temperature below 40 degrees, but in reality turned out to be quite an interesting work. Batman with his friends and enemies find themselves in feudal Japan (this is all clearly part of the insidious advertising campaign of Assassin's Creed Shadows - ed. note) and adopt its traditions to defeat the villains. Bright, fan-service, dynamic and without unnecessary tension - the cartoon turned out to be perfect entertainment, although at the time it seemed that it was only for one time.
But in 2025, its full-fledged sequel premiered – immediately for digital and physical purchase. Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League works on exactly the same elements as its predecessor, but has significantly increased in scale. And it turned out that the formula of an unconventional meeting of the West and the East is still fun – if you don't ask too much of it.
| Name | Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League |
| Genre | animation, superheroics |
| Director | Junpei Mizusaki, Shinji Takagi |
| The roles were voiced | Koichi Yamadera / Joe Daniels, Daisuke Ono / Houston Hayes, Akira Ishida / David Matranga, Kenga Kawanishi / Nathan Wilson and others |
| Studios | Warner Bros. Japan, DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. Animation, Kamikaze Douga, YamatoWorks |
| Timing | 1 hour 29 minutes |
| Year | 2025 |
| Link | IMDb |
The story of the cartoon starts almost immediately after the finale of Batman Ninja. Batman and the team returned from Japan to modern Gotham, but it turned out that their deeds in the past were not left without consequences. In the new modernity, there is neither Japan in the ocean nor the Justice League. And the main problem of superheroes almost immediately becomes the yakuza. So the main characters will have to master the modern skills of fighting in the traditions of Japan, not forgetting to combine them with their own knowledge and characteristics.
By the way, the Yakuza representatives fall on the main characters straight from the air due to the so-called "Yakuza rain", in which instead of water drops there are dangerous criminals. No, this is a joke. Yes, this is the very beginning of the cartoon. And yes, almost the entire "Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League" consists of such crazy moments. Which is both the main plus of the story and its main stopping moment.
Among fans of pop culture, the impression is that DC comics are always something serious and pathetic. This is even taking into account the animated series Teen Titans Go!, which actively ridicules everything in the world. So, in Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League, even seriousness turns into a comedic element, and various gags, jokes and visual humor become the basis of absolutely everything. And this humor is good: it fully understands the simplicity and frivolity of the situations that the main characters find themselves in, and accordingly adapts to each one. Multiply this by a good fan service - and you get a high-quality work that does not burden your head with trifles, but first of all entertains, distracts from problems and leaves a pleasant impression.
Anime has long become an integral part of the modern entertainment industry, and many Western companies are trying to carefully implement elements of Japanese animation into their own works. The authors of Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League chose a different path: the switch to the maximum, no restrictions. Large humanoid robots? Hold on, that's what Batman is like. The combination of traditional Japanese clothing and superhero costumes? To health, the design in the cartoon is a real pleasure, even the secondary characters are nice to watch.
The film is so disconnected from modern trends that promote the unity of the canon and the development of the central story through different presentation formats and media that it even fails to capture the events of the first "Ninja Batman". Did the Joker get defeated there? But what's the difference, it's too good an image in the context of the setting and the chosen style to be neglected. Better yet, have an evil Superman who works for the Yakuza. And this is not even a spoiler. And this feature also allows you to watch the second part without knowing the first, which is also in some sense a plus.
It's almost impossible to spoil a cartoon, because everything that can be said about it is more like a sick fantasy. And some moments cannot be described in adequate words at all. It's better to see it with your own eyes.
In addition, the Kamikaze Douga and YamatoWorks studios tried to make watching the cartoon enjoyable in every scene. An interesting visual style, which seems to combine the traditions of American and Japanese animation, quickly becomes a delight for the eyes and minds of fans of any animation. Such beautiful and intricate action in works of art does not happen often. However, it is worth noting that, from an exclusively animation point of view, the new Batman Ninja is quite specific and may not appeal to everyone.
"Specificity" generally becomes the main feature of the cartoon, especially if you are not very well versed in the nuances of DC comics and classic anime tropes. This is a work by niche fans for niche fans, which sometimes does not rush to explain to "newcomers" what exactly is happening on the screen. Therefore, the second part of "Batman Ninja" will seem even crazier than the previous one.
However, if well-thought-out stories are far from the central element of animated works for you, if you are able to simply surrender to the general vibe, outside the context of which all impressions will collapse, then you will absolutely enjoy Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League. Just don't show it to your children again, they are unlikely to understand anything in it.
Eloquent proof that "adult" animation is not about cruelty, sex, and provocation, but rather about competent interaction with the material and respectful attitude towards the audience. And in Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League, this is enough.