“Holy smokes, Batman,” Look up in the sky, it’s the Bat-signal… Amazon Prime’s original animated sitcom, Bat-Fam, emerges from the shadows in the darkest depths of Gotham City. In places so dark that only the bravest and boldest dare to go, there lives a family so dysfunctional that the grandfather is a ghost that hates the cape-wearing, vigilante super dad, who fights crime in his underwear.
Prime Video’s new campy family cartoon, Bat-Fam, features the day-to-day life of Bruce Wayne (Batman) and his overzealous aspiring vigilante son, Damian (Little Batman), as they try to co-exist and fight crime in the streets of Gotham City.
Bat-Origin Story
Bat-Fam is a spin-off sequel series to Prime’s 2023 animated holiday feature, “Merry Little Batman.” The film focused on Damian and his eagerness to make his father, Bruce, proud (someone cue up “Cat’s in the Cradle” please) while he dons the cape and cowl. When the Joker and his dastardly gang of ne’er-do-wells attempt to steal Christmas, Batman is away on Justice League business. So, Damian buckles up his Bat-Belt and forces himself into action as “Little Batman” to save Christmas.
The Bat-Family
Batman has a full house, but don’t call him Danny Tanner… Joining the Bat-Family is Bruce’s long-time butler/ caretaker/ right-hand man, Alfred Pennyworth, and his grandniece, Alicia (named after actress Alicia Silverstone, who played Alfred’s niece in Batman and Robin).
She runs a rehab program for super villains, which keeps villains like Man-Bat and Bruce’s ward, Claire (Volcana) also to take residence in Wayne Manor. Damian’s maternal grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul, has accidentally been turned into a ghost and disapproves of virtually every aspect of Bruce’s life. Selina, the family tabby cat, also returns to roam the bat-halls of Wayne Manor.
Bruce Wayne/ Batman: The original caped crusader, now sporting a beard, is the patriarch of the Bat-Fam. He is an overprotective father to Damian and struggles with the reality that Damian is a capable vigilante. His parents were killed in front of him when he was a child, so he was raised by Alfred. Luke Wilson returns as the “Dark Knight” after voicing him in Merry Little Batman.
Damian Wayne/ Little Batman is Bruce’s 8-year-old son with assassin Talia al Ghul. Damian idolizes Bruce, but like his mother, he has a thirst for blood. He is a smart and savvy vigilante, though his father, Batman, doesn’t allow killing, which is part of Damian’s DNA. He wants nothing more than his father’s bat-proval. Also returning is up-and-comer Yonas Kibreab to voice him on the show.
Alfred Pennyworth is Bruce’s trusted servant and has some dark secrets in his past. But he has always remained loyal to the Wayne family. He took on the parental role to Bruce and later, Damian, but now has a new mismatched group of misfits under his care, a task that Alfred can more than handle. He is once again voiced by James Cromwell.
Alicia Pennyworth, Alfred’s grandniece is a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne. She is a positive influence in an otherwise dark family. She is a social worker who founded the villain reform program, E*VIL (Ex-Villains). London Hughes takes the helm to voice Alicia.
Man-Bat: The former scientist, turned mutated Man-Bat, hangs out in the belfry of Wayne Manor. He is a video game enthusiast who is basically Bat-Fam’s Uncle Fester. He philosophizes his advice to anyone who might need it. The eccentric flittermouse is voiced by SNL’s Bobby Moynihan.
Ra’s al Ghul, is former leader of the villainous League of Shadows. But after an accident in the Lazarus Pit turned him into a ghost, he leads a much more docile lifestyle. Damian’s paranormal Pap Pap thinks his grandson is the apple of his eye. But he secretly wants to be in charge of the new hallowed halls that he haunts. Michael Benyaer adds his voice talents as the poltergeist prophet.
Claire Selton/ Volcana, is a recently rehabilitated supervillain, working towards becoming a do-gooder. She was de-aged in the Lazarus Pit after she was killed in an accident, returning as a 12-year-old. She was adopted by Bruce. She is cynical and snarky, but deep down, she will never admit that she likes being Damian’s older sister. Nickelodeon’s The Loud House‘s Haley Tju voices Claire.
Bat-Citement
Bat-fans will have varied Bat-pinions about the show. Traditional Bat-fans will scoff at the new characters and hokey changes made to villains like Ra’s al Ghul and Man-Bat, but it is a family show. I think of the show Teen Titans Go!, and I love that show. It’s kinda stupid and fun. It became one of the shows that my kids and I all bonded over. If Bat-Fam is anything like Teen Titans Go! and Merry Little Batman, then it will be a massive hit.
The first Bat-Fam trailer debuted last weekend at New York Comic Con. The official trailer can be seen HERE. Bat-fans everywhere are anticipating the official launch of the show since its development was first announced in April 2023. Bat-Fam drops on November 10th on Amazon Prime Video.
