Warner Bros. Animation Plans ‘Robins’ Origin Movie

The new project will utilize a method called “Momo animation” to bring to life the early days of DC characters Dick Grayson and Jason Todd.

(Left) DC Comics' Dick Grayson Robin. Photo: DC Comics. (Right) DC Comics' Jason Todd Robin. Photo: DC Comics.

Preview:

DC Studios and Warner Bros. Animation are planning an origin story for the Robin characters.
It’ll be called ‘Dynamic Duo.’
‘The Batman’s Matt Reeves will produce the movie.

Even as they see success with ‘The Penguin’ –– which is pulling in big numbers for HBO and the Max streaming service –– Warner Bros. and DC Studios are looking to expand into other corners of the ‘Batman’ universe.

The latest project –– at least according to Deadline –– is ‘Dynamic Duo,’ a new animated movie that will explore the past of the characters Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, AKA the characters who become Batman’s ward/sidekick Robin.

What’s the story of ‘Dynamic Duo’?

(Left) DC Comics' Dick Grayson Robin. Photo: DC Comics. (Right) DC Comics' Jason Todd Robin. Photo: DC Comics.

Not much is known about the plotline for the new movie, but it’ll reportedly depict how the friendship between Grayson and Todd as youths becomes tested by their diverging ideas for what their future should be.

In DC comics, after their respective stints as Batman’s sidekick, Robin, Dick becomes the superhero Nightwing, while Jason transforms into the violent vigilante Red Hood.

Who is working on ‘Dynamic Duo’?

'The Batman' director Matt Reeves at CinemaCon 2022. Photos: Eric Chardonneau.

The new movie is being produced by Matt Reeves, who since making ‘The Batman,’ has become something of an overseer for other projects.

His 6th & Idaho company is backing the new film, which has a script from ‘Coco’ and ‘Lightyear’ writing contributor Matthew Aldrich.

As for the animation, that will come via Swaybox, a studio owned by Arthur Mintz and Theresa Andersson.

Mintz was originally hired by animation legend Joe Ranft to work in the storyboard department on ‘James and the Giant Peach,’ and was one of the contributing writers of Moonbot Studios’ ‘Lost Ollie’ which won multiple Emmys for Netflix. Mintz has also directed several award-winning puppet theater productions.

Andersson, Swaybox’s co-founder, became known around the world as a performer and composer while touring her innovative one-woman looping show, a collaboration with Mintz inspired by a one-man puppet show, and has been Mintz’s producing partner since 2009.

Their animation method is an approach to puppetry that is a hybrid of live-action motion capture, stop-motion animation and CG animation.

Here’s what Matt Reeves said about working with Swaybox:

“I have wanted to make a film with Arthur and Swaybox for many years, and for that film to be ‘Dynamic Duo,’ an incredibly special and unique Batman and Robin story for families, is a dream.”

How is the movie connected to Reeves’ ‘The Batman’ films?

(L to R) Robert Pattinson and director Matt Reeves on the set in Warner Bros. Pictures’ action adventure 'The Batman,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Jonathan Olley/™ & © DC Comics. Copyright: © 2021 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

There is reportedly no connection between this project’s story and ‘The Batman’ or its sequel (which will be shooting early next year.) Unlike ‘The Penguin,’ which directly intersects, ‘Dynamic Duo’ won’t be linked to Robert Pattinson’s Batman.

Whether this incarnation of the “Robin” characters will connect with stories in James Gunn’s official DC Studios timeline is a bigger question –– given Gunn’s previous statements that some actors who play voice roles are crossing over into live-action, there’s a chance one or both Robin performers could be seen or heard from again.