A CG-animated series called Beware the Batman will debut on Cartoon Network in 2013, joining a DC Nation programming block that includes Young Justice, Green Lantern: The Animated Series and newly announced shorts featuring Plastic Man, Doom Patrol, Batgirl, Supergirl and Wonder Girl.
The news emerged over the weekend in Cannes, France, at the MIP Junior conference -- two days of presentations, pitches and workshops focusing on kids' entertainment -- where Sam Register, executive vice president for creative affairs at Warner Bros. Animation, gave the keynote address.
Register revealed that Beware the Batman, executive produced by Glen Murakami (Batman Beyond, Teen Titans), will feature the Dark Knight teamed with a gun-toting Alfred Pennyworth and Katana, the sword-wielding samurai from DC Comics.
"Katana is gonna be his new Robin, but not necessarily," Register told the crowd.
He said the series will delve deeper into the Caped Crusader's "villain library," a claim underscored by the the promotional image, which includes Professor Pyg and the Circus of the Strange, introduced during Grant Morrison's run on Batman.
"We went in deeper into the villain library and pulled out some other villains," Register said. "We didn't want to do another Joker story -- there's too many of them. We just needed to do something new, so we're starting off with new villains."
He also announced that the one-hour DC Nation block, which premieres in spring 2012, will include a mixture of animated shorts and live-action interstitials, the latter of which will showcase the fans, collectors and creators who make up the DC Universe (DC Comics Co-Publisher Jim Lee appears in the sizzle reel). As for the former: Look for Aardman Animation-produced Batman claymation shorts, shorts featuring Plastic Man and the Doom Patrol, and from the creator of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Batgirl, Supergirl and Wonder Girl starring in Super Best Friends Forever.