Beware the Batman

TV review by Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media
Beware the Batman Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Dark, violent CGI series is best for mature tweens.

Cartoon Network Kids' Animation 2013
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 10+

Based on 6 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Beware the Batman joins predecessors like Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Batman Beyond in telling the story of the brooding Caped Crusader and his campaign for justice in Gotham City. The show's sleek CGI animation style makes the already dark content feel even more ominous at times, especially during the violent exchanges between Batman and a revolving cast of villains. Weapons range from swords to poison darts, there are kidnappings and mild forms of torture (in one scene, captives must run through an obstacle course of booby traps and synchronized explosions), hostage situations, and lots of death-defying escapes. As always, Batman is a conflicted character, fighting evil with violent methods of his own that don't always sit well with him, and wrestling with personal insecurities.

Community Reviews

danny800
danny800 Adult
April 21, 2019
age 14+

beware the batman is not for little kids

i think beware the batman is a amazing show but its not for little kids because its rated TVPG V and is very dark and vilonte mr pig threatens to cut off alfreds leg humpty dumpty traps characters in nutcracker bombs and falls off a building while saying a very creepy nursery ryme and theres another episode were humpty dumpty comes back and sets a bunch of traps for batman like a room filled with pendulum acid a room with tiles were if you step on them you fall and a tiny eggshaped prison and theres lots of guns and just has more mature plots with that being said beware the batman is for preteens and teens and i dont recommend it for anyone under the age of 14

This title has:

Too much violence
E._Starcracker
E._Starcracker Adult
June 24, 2018
age 8+

Good enough

This is another Batman show and tries to mix this up by adding different villains like Anarky, Professor Pyg and Mister Toad instead of the usual villains like Joker, Poison Ivy and Bane. This show doesn’t really offer anything new aside from a focus on characters that are not usually in a Batman show and a focus on the detective aspect of Batman’s character. It is also one of the least scary Batman shows out there mainly because of the art style. While it does have good detailing and even makes texture noticeable, the art style is stil very simple and the music creates an either fun or serious atmosphere, never scary. I would also like to note that this Batman series has one of the smallest numbers of merchendise. It only got one Happy Meal toy line, a short-lived comic series, one adult collector Batman figure and a child’s costume. That is a small number for a Batman show.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BEWARE THE BATMAN is a retelling of the tale of Gotham City's caped superhero and his alter ego, Bruce Wayne. Flanked by his loyal butler, Alfred (voiced by J.B. Blanc), and a new sword-wielding accomplice, Katana (Sumalee Montano), Batman (Anthony Ruivivar) keeps a watchful eye on his town and swoops into action whenever villains like Professor Pyg (Brian George) and Mr. Toad (Udo Kier) come to call.

Is It Any Good?

There's no shortage of interpretations of Batman's familiar story, from big-screen blockbusters to kid-friendly cartoons, so why another go at an animated series about the Dark Knight? Beware the Batman toes the line between the two styles in a new way, leaning more toward the intensity of movies like Batman Begins, but blending this ominous tone with the fantasy nature of an animated show. The CG-rendered style of this incarnation perfectly suits this combination, making Beware the Batman a standout among its peers.

That said, the show is also a great example of the misleading nature of animation. Violence can pack a punch even when the players are computer-generated, and the show's often sinister tone isn't entirely overshadowed by its animated style. Batman (and Bruce) is as brooding as ever, and his spells of contemplation and personal insecurities require a more mature viewer to put into perspective. What's more, there's always the delicate balance between Batman's altruistic motives and the violent means by which he achieves success to consider. The bottom line? If your older tweens have outgrown the lighter cartoony stuff but aren't quite ready for the intensity of the real Batman movies, then this might fill the void.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about heroes. Tweens: What do you think defines a hero? Do Batman's motives always justify his methods? Does his use of violence stand in the way of his heroic title?

  • How has Batman's character evolved over the years? Which of the series and movies about him are your favorites? Why? Why does his story continue to get refurbished?

  • Is vigilante justice ever warranted? Do our laws do an adequate job of protecting us from harm? What role do average citizens play in public safety? What messages do we get from violence in the media?

TV Details

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