A Different Kind of Fan Film

The Dave School, a "non-public career education school providing technical training for people who want to become professional Computer Animators or Visual Effects Artists," which is located - ironically enough - on the lot of Universal Studios, Florida, has produced a Batman fan film I guarantee you've never seen the likes of elsewhere. It's a Lego/Art Asylum Toys styled animated film featuring (get this) the voices of Adam West (Batman), Mark Hamill (The Joker), and Dick Van Dyke (Commissioner Gordon).

BATMAN: NEW TIMES is a student project, undertaken by the December 2004 Graduating Class of The DAVE School. Written and Directed by the team of William Vaughan and Jeff Scheetz, this fast-paced animated adventure follows the exploits of Bruce Wayne as his crime fighting alter ego -- BATMAN. Bruce risks everything to deliver GOTHAM CITY from the vile JOKER. The JOKER and his henchmen do all they can to spoil GOTHAM'S New Years Eve party. Animated star HARLEY QUINN joins the fray, throwing everything she can in BATMAN'S way. Expect plenty of twists and turns as The DAVE School Students take you on a wild ride that's sure to leave you breathless.

There is nothing new or groundbreaking plotwise about the film. It's a standard "Joker's going to rob some people and get stopped" Batman plot. But the beauty is in the animation. It's a different kind of Gotham than you're used to seeing, and the chase scenes are really fun to watch with the Lego style. Watch it once. Say you did. It's probably not worth a second glance. But it gets one "cool thumb" from me.