Batwheels Explained

Developer:Michael G. Stern
Theme Music Composer:Andy Sturmer
Composer:Alex Geringas
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:2
Num Episodes:60
Runtime:11 minutes
Network:Cartoon Network
Last Aired:present

Batwheels is an American animated superhero children's television series that premiered on September 17, 2022, on HBO Max. It made its linear premiere on October 17, 2022, on Cartoon Network's preschool block Cartoonito.[1] A second season premiered on January 12, 2024. In October 2024, it was announced the series was renewed for a third season.[2]

Plot

The Bat-Family's vehicles are brought to life by the Batcomputer to form the "Batwheels", a team led by the Batmobile or "Bam", to fight crime in Gotham City.

Characters

The Batwheels

The Bat-Family

The Legion of Zoom

The Rogues' Gallery

Minor

Episodes

Season 1 (2022–23)

All episodes were directed by Antoine Charreyron.

Shorts

Production

Development

In October 2020, it was announced that an animated preschool series centered around the Batmobile was in development at Warner Bros. Animation, set to premiere on Cartoon Network's then-upcoming preschool block Cartoonito and HBO Max. According to Tom Ascheim, president of the now-defunct Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, the series was greenlit due to its concept being fit for the studio's focus on preschool projects. Michael G. Stern serves as developer and co-executive producer, with Simon J. Smith as supervising producer, and Steven Fink and Caroline Karmel producing.[7] [8] Stern was brought into the project early in development, as WB explored ideas for preschool-oriented DC shows, while Smith was brought after Stern wrote the first scripts for the series.[9] In October 2021, during that year's DC FanDome convention event, Cobra Kai star, Jacob Bertrand, the voice behind Bam the Batmobile, announced a sneak peek of the show. In December 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, with Stern and Smith being promoted to executive producers.[10] In October 2024, the series was renewed for a third season.

Casting

During the aforementioned 2021 DC FanDome convention event, Cobra Kai star Jacob Bertrand announced himself to be the voice behind Bam the Batmobile; while announcing a sneak peek of the show, he announced Ethan Hawke as the voice of Batman, three decades after the actor turned down the role in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever. whilst A.J. Hudson announced himself to voice the Duke Thomas incarnation of Robin.

Writing

While writing the series, Stern wanted to avoid "kiddifying" the characters, as he felt children should be introduced to the characters through faithful portrayals and was also requested to respect the characters. For Batman, he wrote the character to stay faithful to most interpretations, with only his violence being toned down. He also wrote the villains with "a lane" that stayed faithful to their classical portrayals while still fitting the target audience, such as portraying Harley Quinn as a fun-loving prankster.

When creating the Batwheels, the writers wanted them to be perceived as "lovable" and "fun" characters for the audience, in order to avoid the children only watching the show for Batman. In order to accomplish this, they tested the personalities for each character with a test group, who received the characters positively. The writers also wanted to avoid portraying the Legion of Zoom as mere copies of their owners, to which they gave each vehicle their own characteristics, such as portraying Prank, the Joker's van, as "a surfer dude".

Music

The series' score was composed by Alex Geringas, while the theme song was performed and produced by Andy Sturmer, who previously composed the themes for the series The Batman and . Sturmer also co-wrote the theme alongside Stern.

Awards and nominations

The show was nominated for Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Preschool Children for the episode "To the Batmobile!" at the 51st Annie Awards.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Batmobile Is Getting Its Own TV Series. Decider. Alex. Zalben. October 6, 2020. October 21, 2022. November 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201113171006/https://decider.com/2020/10/06/batwheels-batman-batmobile-hbo-max-cartoon-network-series/. live.
  2. Web site: 'Batwheels' Renewed For Season 3 At Cartoon Network. Deadline Hollywood. Rosy. Cordero. October 2, 2024. October 4, 2024.
  3. Web site: WarnerMedia Announces 'Batwheels' Cast. Animation World Network. September 12, 2021. October 21, 2022. October 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221020174126/https://www.awn.com/news/warnermedia-announces-batwheels-cast. live.
  4. Web site: Q&A;: Ethan Hawke. Details. Jonah. Weiner. October 2011. October 21, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20130809005043/http://www.details.com/celebrities-entertainment/movies-and-tv/201110/ethan-hawke-actor-woman-in-the-fifth. August 9, 2013. dead.
  5. Web site: NYCC Catch-Up: 'Dragon Prince' S4 Date, Jellico Returns in 'Prodigy,' 'Batwheels' New Characters & More Crunchyroll. Animation Magazine. Mercedes. Milligan. October 10, 2022. October 27, 2022. October 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221010192229/https://www.animationmagazine.net/2022/10/nycc-catch-up-dragon-prince-s4-date-jellico-returns-in-prodigy-batwheels-new-characters-more-crunchyroll/. live.
  6. Web site: Batman's Villains Get a Radical Makeover for Batmobile-Starring Batwheels. Comic Book Resources. Brandon. Schreur. May 19, 2022. October 21, 2022. October 18, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221018082530/https://www.cbr.com/batmans-villains-get-a-radical-makeover-for-batmobile-starring-batwheels/. live.
  7. Web site: 'Batwheels': Warner Bros Animation Revs Up Preschool Series About DC Cars For Cartoon Network & HBO Max. Decider. Erik. Pedersen. October 6, 2020. September 17, 2022. September 20, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220920170336/https://deadline.com/2020/10/batwheels-series-cartoon-network-hbo-max-warner-bros-animation-1234592169/. live.
  8. Meet The Batwheels @Cartoonito @DC Kids. DC Kids. YouTube. July 23, 2022. September 17, 2022.
  9. Web site: Michael G. Stern & Simon J. Smith Interview: Batwheels. Screen Rant. Grant. Hermanns. October 19, 2022. October 19, 2022. October 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019194435/https://screenrant.com/batwheels-michael-g-stern-simon-j-smith-interview/. live.
  10. Cartoonito Hits the Gas on Season Two Renewal of Preschool Series "Batwheels" for Cartoon Network and HBO Max. Cartoon Network. The Futon Critic. December 7, 2022. December 7, 2022.
  11. Web site: Flores. Terry. 'Nimona' Leads Annie Awards Animated Feature Competition With Nine Noms; Snubs Include 'Wish,' Which Was Shut Out. The Hollywood Reporter. January 11, 2024. January 12, 2024.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Batwheels".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.