History WesternAnimation / BatmanUnderTheRedHood

A film in the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies line based on two ComicBook/{{Batman}} stories, ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' and the more recent ''ComicBook/BatmanUnderTheHood'' storyline, from which it derives its title.

The main plot details Batman's investigation into a new criminal who calls himself the ComicBook/RedHood, who's been murdering the drug lords of Gotham City to force their gangs to work under his rules. This would be standard protocol for a superhero, but Batman's disturbed by how Red Hood always seems one step ahead of him, which only makes it more urgent to discover who he truly is behind his mask.

It goes for DarkerAndEdgier and is one of the darker and more brutally violent DC Animated films. Voice actors include Creator/BruceGreenwood as Batman, Creator/JensenAckles as the Red Hood, Creator/NeilPatrickHarris as ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, and Creator/JohnDiMaggio as ComicBook/TheJoker.

** Everything from ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' irrelevant to [[spoiler: Jason Todd's death]], like the Joker [[DiplomaticImpunity gaining legal immunity as an Iranian diplomat]], was understandably cut out.
** The major change from ''Under the Hood'' was using a completely different explanation for [[spoiler:Jason's resurrection. Instead of coming back from the dead via [[ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis Superboy-Prime Punch]], Ra's al Ghul resurrected him with a Lazarus Pit]]. ComicBook/TheJoker now has a larger role, too.[[note]]In the original comics, he was undergoing a VillainousBreakdown (courtesy of a beating from Prometheus and Hush) when Jason was resurrected, so he acts as nothing ''except'' Jason's hostage.[[/note]]

* BuryingASubstitute: It plays with this. Jason Todd is buried after the Joker brutally kills him. However, it turns out that while the body was being prepared for burial, ComicBook/RasAlGhul and the League of Assassins took his body and then replaced it with a wax dummy so that they could bring Jason BackFromTheDead with the Lazarus Pit.

* CameBackWrong: Played with. [[spoiler: While Ra's al Ghul believes Jason CameBackWrong, going berserk after his dip in the Lazarus Pit, it's later suggested by Jason that it may not be that easy.]]
-->[[spoiler: '''Jason Todd''': Oh, you got to talking with Ra's, huh? Does it make it easier for you to think my little dip in his fountain of youth turned me rabid? Or is this just the real me?]]

** ComicBook/TheRiddler makes a non-speaking appearance in a {{flashback}}. [[CreatorCameo Bruce Timm is credited as his voice actor]], despite the sum total of his lines being grunts as he's being pummeled.
** ComicBook/TaliaAlGhul and Ubu show up briefly when Batman visits Ra's.

** Names such as the Penguin, Harvey Dent and the Scarecrow are bandied about by [[spoiler:Jason]], and he also references [[ComicBook/{{Oracle}} "friends [Joker] has crippled".]] The Joker's quip about the camera could also be a veiled reference to the events of ''ComicBook/TheKillingJoke''.

* FoeRomanceSubtext: ComicBook/TheJoker interrupting Batman's speech by saying "aw, so you ''do'' think about me!" In the Joker's typically disturbing fashion, he says this while Batman is saying that [[spoiler:not a day goes by where he doesn't think about killing the Joker]].

* TakeAThirdOption: When the Red Hood confronts Batman with a SadisticChoice [[spoiler:between killing the Joker himself, letting Jason do it, or shooting Jason to stop him, Bruce manages to block up Jason's gun, causing it to explode in his hand. The Joker is the only one pleased by this]].
-->'''ComicBook/TheJoker''': ''(Laughs maniacally)'' I can't believe you got 'im! You expert, rootin' tootin', eagle-eyed, Goth-lovin' marksman. I love it! You managed to find a way to win. ''[[DramaticIrony And everybody still loses]]''!
** Averted moments later--[[spoiler:when the bomb is activated, he clearly picks Jason over the Joker]].

** "You haven't lost your touch, [[spoiler: Bruce]]!"
** At the end, Batman confronts Red Hood, and apologizes for failing him. Red Hood then says several words that shake Bruce to his core: [[spoiler: "Bruce, I forgive you for not saving me. But why, why on God's earth - is [[ComicBook/TheJoker he]] still alive?!"]]

-->'''ComicBook/TheJoker:''' "I can't believe you've got him! You expert rootin' tootin' eagle-eyed goth-loving marksman! I love it! [[TakeAThirdOption You managed to find a way to win]], ''[[DramaticIrony And everybody still loses!]]'' AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

A film in the WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies line based on two Franchise/{{Batman}} stories, ''ComicBook/ADeathInTheFamily'' and the more recent ''Under The Hood'' comic series, from which it derives its title.

** The powers that Amazo uses (super strength, flight, laser eyes) were most likely absorbed from {{Franchise/Superman}}.

* {{Foil}}: Red Hood and Nightwing. It's telling Red Hood adopted The Joker's old identity. Nightwing? ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'s''.

** Alfred, upon seeing the results of [[spoiler:[[BackFromTheDead a certain DNA test]]]].
** Ra's, at the beginning.

** Alfred, upon seeing the results of [[spoiler: [[BackFromTheDead a certain DNA test]]]].

** Red Hood allows the drug trade to continue if he gets a cut of the cash and the dealers stay away from kids. [[spoiler: While may desire revenge against the Joker, it is only because the Joker is such a horrible person, and he refuses to kill villains who are redeemable]].

* DarkerAndEdgier: The crew behind the film have stated that they hold the opinion this could be their darkest work yet, both compared to the Franchise/{{DCAU}} and the previous films in [[WesternAnimation/DCUniverseAnimatedOriginalMovies the line]]. They wouldn't be too far off. It wouldn't be until ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheDarkKnightReturns'' and much of the WesternAnimation/DCAnimatedMovieUniverse that this movie would be surpassed in this department.

** As Robin in the prologue, Jason Todd had the exact same red and black outfit Tim Drake last had as Robin in the comics.

** "Could you just once say 'Get in the car'?" may be a stealth joke on their "[[ToTheBatNoun To the Batmobile]]!" CatchPhrase from the 60's TV series. Or to "Hush", where Batman ''does'' say that & Nightwing's response is "Which one?" as a nod to large number of Batmobiles used in the comic.

* HeroismMotiveSpeech: Batman gives one stating why he holds to his ThouShallNotKill principle, even when logic would dictate otherwise. [[spoiler:{{Subverted|Trope}} though, as this does not lead to him abandoning that principle even when the situation is at its most dire. In his own words, "Nothing's changed."]]

** As noted above, Gotham's then-police commissioner Michael Akins is replaced with the more traditional James Gordon.
** Likewise, the removal of the ties to ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' also meant the removal of Deathstroke, Captain Nazi, Hyena, and (technically) [[spoiler: Superboy-Prime]], as well as the destruction of Bludhaven by Chemo. Likewise, the flashback to one of Jason's early nights out as Robin swaps out Captain Boomerang for the Riddler.

* AntiVillain: Red Hood. He is ultimately revealed as a [[SlidingScaleOfAntiVillains Woobie Anti-Villain]].

** Likewise, the removal of the ties to ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' also meant the removal of Deathstroke, Captain Nazi, Hyena, and (technically) [[spoiler: Superboy-Prime]], as well as the destruction of Bludhaven by Chemo.