Nick Dragotta, the brilliant character designer and artist responsible for the incredibly popular Absolute Batman comic book series, has voiced his dream: he would absolutely love to see Studio Trigger, the acclaimed animation studio behind Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, adapt his work into an anime.
Launched just last year, Absolute Batman introduces a fresh take on the Caped Crusader. Here, Bruce Wayne isn’t born into immense wealth; instead, he’s a brawnier, 24-year-old Gotham City engineer who personally crafts his formidable crime-fighting armor.
During a recent Q&A session, Dragotta and writer Scott Snyder were asked if there had been any discussions with DC or DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn about expanding the Absolute Universe into other forms of media, such as animation, films, and merchandise.
In response, Dragotta hinted at future collectibles, suggesting fans keep an eye out for Inart and LPZZ toys that debuted at Wonderfest in Shanghai for a sneak peek.
But it was his comment on animation that truly ignited fan excitement: “I’m not exactly privy to the inside scoop, but I know DC always aims for quality. I’m eager to see what projects emerge. Personally, a Studio Trigger anime of Absolute Batman would be incredible!”
This tantalizing idea immediately sparked hope among fans for a potential Studio Trigger adaptation of Absolute Batman. Studio Trigger, a highly respected Japanese animation house, is celebrated for iconic works like Kill la Kill, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Delicious in Dungeon. Their adaptation of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, set in CD Projekt’s Cyberpunk 2077 universe, was so successful that a sequel, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, is already in the works for Netflix, with Studio Trigger at the helm once again.
The prospect of Studio Trigger lending its distinctive and dynamic animation style to Absolute Batman is undoubtedly exciting. However, it’s wise to exercise a bit of caution. As Dragotta himself pointed out, he isn’t directly involved in DC’s licensing decisions, so while it’s a thrilling thought, this dream collaboration might not ever materialize.
As for Absolute Batman, it recently concluded its first year with Absolute Batman #13, which featured a climactic final confrontation between Batman and the formidable Bane, alongside an action-packed team-up with Catwoman. There’s much more to explore within this universe, including unique takes on classic characters.