DC Launching Animated Movies Based On Toy Lines

Warner Bros. has announced animated movies and shorts for their popular toy lines Batman Unlimited and the Imaginext DC Super Friends.

Variety reports Batman: Unlimited Instincts will debut May 12th as a direct-to-home-video animated movie that will feature Batman, The Flash, Red Robin, Nightwing and Green Arrow as they battle Penguin and introduces cyber animals as new foes. A sequel is also slated for a release in the second half of 2015.

22 two-minute Batman Unlimited shorts are also in the works, which will be available for free through a variety of digital platforms, including a Batman Unlimited App that will enable access to the content.

DC Super Friends shorts are also planned, which will be a series of 15 three-minute animated shorts, that will also have an accompanying Super Friends App.

“We are excited to continue to forge new ground with our long-time partners Mattel and Fisher-Price to build on the success of these popular toy lines by bringing the play pattern to life through this original content that we will be able to offer across multiple content platforms,” Brad Globe, president, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to be working with our Warner Bros., Mattel and Fisher-Price colleagues to create new Batman and DC Super Friends kids’ content,” added DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson. “These new animated projects will offer all new Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman adventures that seamlessly jump from toybox to screen.”

New toys are also mentioned:

Batman Unlimited:  a new wave of action figures with accessories, a new Batmobile, and the all-new CybeRex robot dinosaur

DC Super Friends: new toys, including a Joker Laff Factory, new Batcave, and books; c

Rubie’s Costumes: dress up gear and costumes

Think way: new role-playing accessories in the works with designs based on the upcoming new movies and shorts;

Other licensed apparel and products will also be launched later this year.

“Our longstanding collaboration with WBCP has given Mattel the opportunity to engage fans of all ages with the very best in DC Comics Super Hero play,” said Doug Wadleigh, senior VP and general manager, Mattel Toy Box. “It is a true compliment that our evergreen DC Comics toy lines have inspired a whole new universe of storytelling that will dramatically expand kids’ imaginative play with their favorite super heroes.”

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