Batwheels
Promotional poster
Genre
Based on
Developed byMichael G. Stern
Voices of
Theme music composerAndy Sturmer
ComposerAlex Geringas
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes27
Production
Executive producerSam Register
Producers
  • Steven Fink
  • Caroline Kermel
Running time10–33 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkCartoon Network
Picture format1080i HDTV
Audio formatDolby Surround
Original releaseSeptember 17, 2022 (2022-09-17) –
present

Batwheels is an American computer-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]

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

No.Title [6][7]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [6][7]Max release date [6]Prod.
code [6]
U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Secret Origin of the Batwheels"Antoine CharreyronMichael G. SternOctober 15, 2022 (2022-10-15)September 17, 20221010.10[8]
2"Stop That Ducky"Antoine CharreyronMichael G. SternOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022102N/A
3"Buff's BFF"Antoine CharreyronCraig FernandezOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022103N/A
4"Up in the Air"Antoine CharreyronPatrick RiegerOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022104N/A
5"Bibi's Do-Over"Antoine CharreyronSarah Eisenberg & Becky WangbergOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022105N/A
6"Sidekicked to the Curb"Antoine CharreyronMichael G. SternOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022106N/A
7"Keep Calm and Roll On"Antoine CharreyronMichael G. SternOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022107N/A
8"Bam's Upgrade"Antoine CharreyronMichael G. SternOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022108N/A
9"Redbird's Bogus Beach Day"Antoine CharreyronSarah Eisenberg & Becky WangbergNovember 7, 2022 (2022-11-07)November 8, 2022109N/A
10"Cave Sweet Cave"Antoine CharreyronCraig FernandezNovember 7, 2022 (2022-11-07)November 8, 2022110N/A
11"Scaredy-Bat"Antoine CharreyronAndrew GuastaferroNovember 14, 2022 (2022-11-14)November 8, 2022111N/A
12"Riddle Me This"Antoine CharreyronRyan ToyamaNovember 14, 2022 (2022-11-14)November 8, 2022112N/A
13"Zoomsday"Antoine CharreyronRyan ToyamaNovember 21, 2022 (2022-11-21)November 22, 2022[a]113N/A
14"Rev and Let Rev"Antoine CharreyronJanae HallNovember 21, 2022 (2022-11-21)November 22, 2022[a]114N/A
15"Batcomputer for a Day"Antoine CharreyronPatrick RiegerNovember 28, 2022 (2022-11-28)November 29, 2022[a]115N/A
16"Grass is Greener"Antoine CharreyronPatrick RiegerNovember 28, 2022 (2022-11-28)November 29, 2022[a]116N/A
17"Holidays on Ice"Antoine CharreyronScott GrayDecember 5, 2022 (2022-12-05)December 6, 2022117N/A
18"Bam's Clawful Mistake"Antoine CharreyronSarah Eisenberg & Becky WangbergMay 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)May 2, 20231180.06[9]
19"Harley Did It"Antoine CharreyronScott GrayMay 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)May 2, 20231190.07[9]
20"Buff in a China Shop"Antoine CharreyronCraig CarlisleMay 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)May 2, 20231200.07[9]
21"A Tale of Two Bibis"Antoine CharreyronCraig FernandezMay 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)May 2, 2023121N/A
22"Batty Race"Antoine CharreyronAndrew GuastaferroMay 1, 2023 (2023-05-01)May 2, 20231220.07[9]
23"When You're a Jet"Antoine CharreyronSarah Eisenberg & Becky WangbergJuly 3, 2023 (2023-07-03)July 4, 2023123N/A
24"Ride Along"Antoine CharreyronRyan ToyamaJuly 10, 2023 (2023-07-10)July 11, 2023TBAN/A
25"Wheels Just Want to Have Fun"Antoine CharreyronJennifer HeftlerJuly 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)July 18, 2023TBATBD
26"Tough Buff Blues"Antoine CharreyronAndrew GuastaferroJuly 24, 2023 (2023-07-24)July 25, 2023TBATBD
27"Wheel Side Story"Antoine CharreyronAndrew GuastaferroJuly 31, 2023 (2023-07-31)August 1, 2023TBATBD

Shorts

No.Title [6][10][7]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [6][10][7]Max release date [6]Prod.
code [6]
1"Meet the Batwheels"Michael Berardini and Antoine CharreyronMichael G. SternSeptember 5, 2022 (2022-09-05)October 18, 2022MTB101
2"Calling All Batwheels"Michael BerardiniMichael G. SternSeptember 12, 2022 (2022-09-12)October 18, 2022MTB102
3"Bam!"Michael BerardiniAndrew GuastaferroSeptember 19, 2022 (2022-09-19)October 18, 2022MTB103
4"Buff Tuff"Michael BerardiniAndrew GuastaferroSeptember 26, 2022 (2022-09-26)October 18, 2022MTB104
5"Faster"Michael BerardiniAndrew GuastaferroOctober 3, 2022 (2022-10-03)October 18, 2022MTB105
6"Fly"Michael BerardiniAndrew GuastaferroOctober 10, 2022 (2022-10-10)October 18, 2022MTB106
7"Spooky Batcave"Michael BerardiniMichael G. SternOctober 17, 2022 (2022-10-17)October 18, 2022MTB108
8"Robin's Ride"Michael BerardiniAndrew GuastaferroOctober 24, 2022 (2022-10-24)October 18, 2022MTB107
9"Bam's Bubble Trouble"Michael BerardiniMichael G. SternOctober 31, 2022 (2022-10-31)October 18, 2022MTB109
10"Wheelin' and Dealin'"Michael BerardiniAndrew GuastaferroNovember 21, 2022 (2022-11-21)October 18, 2022MTB110
11"Interview with a Crime Fighter"Michael BerardiniMichael G. SternDecember 5, 2022 (2022-12-05)October 18, 2022MTB111
12"The Best Present in the World"Michael Berardini and Antoine CharreyronAndy SturmerDecember 12, 2022 (2022-12-12)December 13, 2022112
13"Silly Stowaway"Michael BeradiniMichael G. SternJanuary 9, 2023 (2023-01-09)June 16, 2023113
14"The Knight Shift"Michael BeradiniAndrew GuastaferroFebruary 13, 2023 (2023-02-13)June 16, 2023114
15"Rockin' Robin"Michael BeradiniMichael G. SternMarch 6, 2023 (2023-03-06)June 16, 2023115
16"Bibi Bops"Michael BeradiniJennifer HeftlerApril 10, 2023 (2023-04-10)June 16, 2023116
17"Batwingin' It"Michael BeradiniJennifer HeftlerMay 15, 2023 (2023-05-15)June 16, 2023117
18"Bad to the Chrome"Michael BeradiniN/AJune 5, 2023 (2023-06-05)June 16, 2023118
19"A Joking Matter"Michael BeradiniUnknownJuly 3, 2023 (2023-07-03)TBATBA
20"Parking Problems"Michael BeradiniTBAAugust 7, 2023 (2023-08-07)TBATBA

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.[1] 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.[1] Michael G. Stern serves as developer and co-executive producer, with Simon J. Smith as supervising producer, and Steven Fink and Caroline Karmel producing.[11][12] 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.[13] In December 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, with Stern and Smith being promoted to executive producers.[14]

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.[13] For Batman, he wrote the character to stay faithful to most interpretations, with only his violence being toned down.[13] 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.[13]

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.[13] 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".[13]

Music

The series' score was composed by Alex Geringas, while the theme song was performed and produced by Andy Sturmer,[12] who previously composed the themes for the series The Batman and Batman: The Brave and the Bold. Sturmer also co-wrote the theme alongside Stern.[12]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d This episode was originally released on November 8, 2022, but was removed shortly thereafter.

References

  1. ^ a b c Zalben, Alex (October 6, 2020). "The Batmobile Is Getting Its Own TV Series". Decider. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "WarnerMedia Announces 'Batwheels' Cast". Animation World Network. September 12, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Weiner, Jonah (October 2011). "Q&A;: Ethan Hawke". Details. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Milligan, Mercedes (October 10, 2022). "NYCC Catch-Up: 'Dragon Prince' S4 Date, Jellico Returns in 'Prodigy,' 'Batwheels' New Characters & More Crunchyroll". Animation Magazine. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Schreur, Brandon (May 19, 2022). "Batman's Villains Get a Radical Makeover for Batmobile-Starring Batwheels". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Batwheels Episode Listings". The Futon Critic.
  7. ^ a b c d "Batwheels Episode Guide". Zap2it.
  8. ^ Mitch Salem (October 18, 2022). "Saturday 10.15.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d Mitch Salem (May 2, 2023). "Monday 5.1.2023 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Meet the Batwheels Episode Guide". Zap2it.
  11. ^ Pedersen, Erik (October 6, 2020). "'Batwheels': Warner Bros Animation Revs Up Preschool Series About DC Cars For Cartoon Network & HBO Max". Decider. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c DC Kids (July 23, 2022). Meet The Batwheels | @Cartoonito | @DC Kids. Retrieved September 17, 2022 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Hermanns, Grant (October 19, 2022). "Michael G. Stern & Simon J. Smith Interview: Batwheels". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  14. ^ "Cartoonito Hits the Gas on Season Two Renewal of Preschool Series "Batwheels" for Cartoon Network and HBO Max" (Press release). Cartoon Network. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2022 – via The Futon Critic.