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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Entertainment • Film

Batman Ninja

Batman Ninja is a 2018 American-Japanese animated superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Batman Ninja is a 2018 American-Japanese animated superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman. Directed by Junpei Mizusaki, it sends Batman and several allies and enemies to feudal Japan through a time-displacement machine, where they become involved in a conflict that could alter history.

Premise

The film follows Batman and several allies and enemies after they are sent to feudal Japan by a time-displacement machine. Batman must rely on his intellect and limited resources to stop the villains from reshaping history.

Production

Batman Ninja was directed by Junpei Mizusaki and produced by Warner Bros. with animation by Kamikaze Douga and YamatoWorks. Takashi Okazaki served as character designer, and the screenplay was written by Kazuki Nakashima.

Release

The film was released digitally in the United States on April 24, 2018, with later physical release dates in May 2018 and a Japanese theatrical release on June 15, 2018.

Reception and classification

The film is commonly described as an anime-style action-adventure superhero film and carries a PG-13 rating in the United States. It has a runtime of 85 minutes.

Key facts

  • The film is based on the DC Comics character Batman.
  • Its story centers on Batman being transported to feudal Japan.
  • Gorilla Grodd’s time-displacement machine is the catalyst for the plot.
  • The Joker and other Batman villains take power in the feudal setting.
  • Takashi Okazaki designed the characters for the film.
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Canadian context

Batman Ninja is relevant to Canadian readers as a DC Comics adaptation within the globally distributed Batman film franchise, but the available sources do not identify a specific Canada-only release or Canada-specific production role.

Frequently asked questions

What is Batman Ninja?
Batman Ninja is a 2018 animated superhero film featuring Batman and other DC characters in a feudal Japan setting.
Who directed Batman Ninja?
It was directed by Junpei Mizusaki.
What is the plot of Batman Ninja?
Batman is transported to feudal Japan, where he confronts enemies led by the Joker and tries to restore order and protect history.
Who designed the characters?
Takashi Okazaki designed the characters.
When was Batman Ninja released?
It was released in the United States in April 2018 and in Japan in June 2018.
What genre is Batman Ninja?
It is generally classified as an action, adventure, anime-style superhero film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_Ninja
    Supports: Basic identification, 2018 release year, American-Japanese production, director, plot premise, character designer, release dates
  2. DC.com — https://www.dc.com/movies/batman-ninja-2018
    Supports: Official plot synopsis, production credits, genre, and Batman/Joker time-displacement premise
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7451284/
    Supports: Runtime, release date, genre classification, and basic plot description
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_ninja
    Supports: Runtime, PG-13 rating, original language, release date, and genre classification
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/80244455
    Supports: Synopsis describing Batman sent to feudal Japan and the adversarial setup