We didn't see this one coming. The first DC Studios anime has been unveiled at Annecy International Animation Film Festival – and it's all about a Joker revenge quest.
As per the logline for Joker: Laugh Riot, "When Batman is murdered, the Joker launches a ruthless crusade through Gotham’s underworld to find the killer who took away his greatest adversary. But as his violent quest for answers pushes him closer towards vigilante than villain, Joker is forced to confront the truth that without Batman, he doesn’t know who he is."
The project, seemingly not tied to the DC cinematic universe that James Gunn and Peter Safran are crafting with Superman, Supergirl et al on the big screen, is being directed by Yasuhuro Aoki.
Aoki helmed last year's Chao and even has past history with the Caped Crusader as part of 2008 animated anthology Batman: Gotham Knight. There, he directed the fourth entry, which saw Kevin Conroy's Batman take on the Scarecrow.
DC dipped into anime just a few years ago with Suicide Squad Isekai, but this is its first extensive in-house production, complete with a killer premise.
Long-time Bat-fans will be acutely aware, however, that Batman dying and even Joker trying to interrogate his killer is nothing new.
Batman: The Animated Series even featured a classic episode titled 'The Man Who Killed Batman'. The Clown Prince of Crime grows increasingly frustrated by the idea that hapless criminal Sid the Squid managed to defeat Batman once and for all.
Joker: Laugh Riot is currently undated, but stick with GamesRadar+ for updates as we hear more.
Dive into what's coming in the summer season with our guide to new anime.
