Kevin Conroy had studied for and starred on the stage, advanced his career through soap operas, and was featured in television series like “Dynasty” and “Tour of Duty.” He had no idea that stepping into a sound booth in 1991 to audition for his first cartoon voiceover role would forever cement his place in the annals of animation and help to extend the Batman legacy to untold legions of fans.

Conroy quickly became the Batman voice by which all others are judged – and rarely assessed as an equal. He has cast a loud shadow in voicing the Dark Knight and Bruce Wayne for 17 years, beginning with “Batman: The Animated Series” and continuing through 16 films, video games and animated series (covering more than 220 episodes). He reprises the role in triumphant fashion in “Batman Gotham Knight,” the highly-anticipated third film in the ongoing series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies.

“Batman Gotham Knight” will arrive July 8, 2008 on DVD and Blu-Ray disc, and will also be available that day On Demand via digital cable and for download through broadband sites. The film is produced as a collaboration between DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation. The film will receive its world premiere at Wizard World Chicago in late June.

From his home in New York City, Conroy spoke at length about the film, his ongoing relationship with the character, and the surprising manner in which he first approached and procured the role of Batman.

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Since that YouTube link we posted a while back no longer working, Warner Bros. was kind enough to provide a higher resolution version for us to use, which coincidentally also happens to be a YouTube video.

The video was made available as part of the official launch of the Batman: Gotham Knight website.via Warner Bros.

If you were expecting to sit in front of your television this Saturday with your jammies on, munching a bowl of super-sugar-snaps, while watching the brand new Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon, you might want to sleep in. Marvel and Sony have announced they will be bumping the show from its March 1 debut to March 8.

While it may sound like a bad thing, come next weekend, you’ll be able to watch a full hour of The Spectacular Spider-Man as two shows will air back-to-back beginning at 10AM EST.

The big question on everyone’s mind is, “What happens after this season?” Warner Bros. has announced it will be shutting down the Kids WB and handing the CW animation block over to 4Kids Entertainment.

via ICv2

It’s being reported that young thespian Freddie Highmore will be providing the voice of Astro Boy in the upcoming CGI movie.

Set in futuristic Metro City, Imagi’s “Astro Boy” tells the story of a young robot created by a scientist to replace the son he lost. Unable to fulfill the grieving father’s expectations, Astro Boy embarks on a journey of discovery before he returns to save Metro City and reconcile with his creator.

If you aren’t familiar with Highmore, you might want to head down to your local theater and check out the Spiderwick Chronicles.

I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Astro Boy for years. On the one hand, I love the early AB series from the 60s, but hate the reboot stuff that came out a few years ago.

via Hollywood Reporter

Here is something a little odd, cosplayer Usagi Tsukimiya posing with a Hobby Wave Haruhi Suzumiya cosplaying as a bunny. It boggles the mind…

via Moeyo

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Leonardo DiCaprio and Warner Bros. are teaming up to bring Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira to the screen as a live action adaptation. No word if DiCaprio will be screaming Kanada! or not, but as one would expect with the translation, things are going to be changed, for what I fear will be the worst.

The new story moves the action to “New Manhattan,” a city rebuilt by Japanese money.

Yikes! There’s a red flag right there.

On the plus side, the film will mark the directorial debut of Ruairi Robinson, who has been hired to direct what looks to be a two-part feature. Robinson is the genius mind behind the OSCAR nominated short subject animated film “Fifty Percent Grey”.

The film is scheduled to hit theaters next year (2009).

I have a feeling this subject is going to be even touchier than the speculation that surrounded the cast of the now defunct JLA movie, so let the battle begin in the comment section, or over in the Major Spoilers Movie Forum.

via Hollywood Reporter

FUNimation has announced Witchblade Anime Volume 1 DVD debuted at the number one position as the best-selling anime to date in 2007. This is according to Nielsen VideoScan following the September 25 release.

From the renowned anime studio GONZO, Witchblade is the saga of a woman who must bear the burden of a terrible force of destruction known as the Witchblade. Based on the comic book series from Top Cow Productions, the anime series goes into the future to tell the tale of a new bearer of the Witchblade and the conspiracy that surrounds her burden. Witchblade is the first U.S. comic book property to be made into an anime.

Witchblade Volume 2 is set to arrive November 6 with exclusive covers from Top Cow Productions artists.

via Top Cow

FUNimation has announced a distribution deal with Bigger Picture to digitally distribute Japanese films to the US market.

FUNimation will release the Yoji Yamada period drama “Love and Honor,” the SF toon “Vexille,” the kiddy toon “One Piece” and the period epic “The Blue Wolf: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea” using the digital delivery technology developed by AccessIT to securely send the pics to theaters across the U.S.

Trailer for Vexille

Bigger Pictures is known for beaming anime to teen and college groups and according to Variety, has distributed more than 40 pics theatrically.

via Variety

You! Yes, you can watch the Witchblade Anime episode in its full internet glory over at IGN.

The show is 23 minutes long, but don’t expect the Witchblade to show up until the last 10 minutes.

via IGN

Have you been following the series? Are you ready for the Witchblade anime series airing soon? If you can’t get enough of Witchblade, manga, or anime, take the jump for the sneak preview of issue #7 that Top Cow has sent to Major Spoilers.

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Superman - Doomsday is set for a September release, with New Frontier and Teen Titans: The Judas contract soon to follow. According to a supposed leaked internal memo, Warner Bros. Animation will bet taking on Wonder Woman and Batman next.

The Batman movie is said to be a compilation of six Batman stories told in an anime style. The PG-13 DVD will be targeted toward hard core fans (aka me), and the tween market and will tell tales of Batman between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. According to the images, David Goyer, Brian Azzarello, and Josh Olsen are contributing stories. Batman Anime should be released 2 to 4 weeks before The Dark Knight.

Wonder Woman will be an origin story. Primary target audience is Men and Women 18+ and girls 9-17. Wonder Woman will also be a PG-13 animated movie, with a late 2008, early 2009 release expected.

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DC has unveiled a new series of figures based on several DC Superheroines, all done in Anime style. First up will be Supergirl, Powergirl, Batgirl, and Catwoman. A shot taken at the booth indicates future figures will include Hawkgirl, Wonder Woman, Poison Ivy, and evil Supergirl. Not sure I like the rendition of the figures, but you can bet fanboys will snatch these figures up to display on their shelves.

Manga and Anime are becoming a big deal in the United States, so why not cash in on the trend? Take the jump for the full color images.

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