why are there chinese symbols on the buildings in Batman Beyond?

[Tmansdc]

Because it seems kind of weird to me, was it ever explained in the show or one of the comics or something? I would like to know please. Thank you all so very much.

[Bird Boy]

I have no idea. I do think (though I'm probably wrong) that the show was animated in Japan or China..or somthing..maybe that's the reason for the symbols...?

-BB

[Terminatah]

In the future, all our different societies will be more integrated than they are today.

-Terminatah

[Gyro]

Bird Boy and Terminatah are both right. It was animated in Japan I believe.

[Meow]

Wha?!!! Batman Beyond animated in China/Japan? Umm...first I've heard of it. o-O;;

[Matt-Man]

I think they got the idea from the movie Blade Runner which, correct me if I'm wrong, has Chinese writing and signs on buildings as I recall. And it also takes place in the future. :D

[Bleu Unicorn]

Most of. if not all, the Timm & Co. shows go to Japan to get animated, or be "finished." Actually, many cartoons period go there.

-- Uni

[DerekPowers]

no, i dont think bb was animated in Japan, i believe it was animated in korea. actually, im fairly certain of that.

[D.Shaffer]

Read Matt's post. They were going for a dystopian, cyperpunkish look. A common element of the genre involves the Asian business market rapidly expanding into the cities. So you get big neon signs with Japanese/Chinese characters on them.

[Min S. Ku]

Originally posted by DerekPowers
no, i dont think bb was animated in Japan, i believe it was animated in korea. actually, im fairly certain of that.

You're absolutely right DerekPowers. Every tv episode of Batman Beyond was indeed animated in Korea. Return of the Joker was animated in Japan.

[Bleu Unicorn]

Originally posted by Min S. Ku


You're absolutely right DerekPowers. Every tv episode of Batman Beyond was indeed animated in Korea. Return of the Joker was animated in Japan.
And how pathetic of me not to write that correctly! Had Japan on the brain I s'pose. But I knew that, too! Oiy... oh, well....

-- Uni

[Bird Boy]

Originally posted by Min S. Ku


You're absolutely right DerekPowers. Every tv episode of Batman Beyond was indeed animated in Korea. Return of the Joker was animated in Japan.

well, I stand corrected.. :o Thanks for clearin' that up! :)

I knew somthing (seriously, I'm not making this up) of Batman Beyond was animated in Japan...lol

-BB

[Bleu Unicorn]

Originally posted by Bird Boy


well, I stand corrected.. :o Thanks for clearin' that up! :)

I knew somthing (seriously, I'm not making this up) of Batman Beyond was animated in Japan...lol

-BB
Well, you aren't wrong -- as many TV series that are animated are sent oversees (as I sort of messed up saying earlier). Including every episode of Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond and Justice League (I think).

It's usually where the animation is actually done -- and then sent back here.

As I said before, it's very common for animation to occur in Japan or Korea (thus all those foreign names in credits).

'Kay, I'll hush now....

-- Uni

[JusticeLeagueLegion]

Not sure, but I think there is a suburb in Gotham City that's called Chinatown. Maybe that's what it was.

[Nightflower]

Originally posted by JusticeLeagueLegion
Not sure, but I think there is a suburb in Gotham City that's called Chinatown. Maybe that's what it was.

LOL... there's a Chinatown practically everywhere. I grew up on them :) But I don't see Asian symbols written on the side of skyscrapers where I live... :P

[Barb Gordon]

You're right about that NF! A Chinatown in cali, another in New York, another in...who knows where else! I just figured that the reason for the symbols on the buildings was an "asian persuasion" kinda deal. I mean, Asian countries, especially Japan and China some, have heavily been influencing the United States. In what we watch, what we wear, even how we eat. I just figured that in the BB timeline, that we had just been really unfluenced by those countries and that's why the symbols were on the buildings. That, and it maybe having something to do with it being made somewhere else. And yes, I have noticed how almost every single name in most animated credits are asian in some way. It's really quite cool.

Barb^-^

[Tmansdc]

Originally posted by Min S. Ku


You're absolutely right DerekPowers. Every tv episode of Batman Beyond was indeed animated in Korea. Return of the Joker was animated in Japan.

That explains why ROTJ's animation was a lot better than every other Batman Beyond episode.

[oranthal]

wait a second. RotJ was animated by TMS and they also did the BB episodes. the reason why it looks better is because it is a movie and it needed to look better than the typical BB episodes.


Originally posted by Tmansdc


That explains why ROTJ's animation was a lot better than every other Batman Beyond episode.

[James]

I always saw it as homage to the Blade Runner mix of the infusion of cultures. In particular the domination of Japanese technology over the western world. A very 80's concept. The future in BB has a very Blade Runner look to it...

[The Mad Hatter]

The producers have said that they simply wanted to give future Gotham a more multicultural feel. And it's not just kanji (Asian writing), either... there were Russian characters in one episode.

[Tmansdc]

which episode was that?

[The Mad Hatter]

Can't remember off the top of my head... It was from the first season, I think.

[Stardust]

Originally posted by Nightflower


LOL... there's a Chinatown practically everywhere. I grew up on them :) But I don't see Asian symbols written on the side of skyscrapers where I live... :P

Really? Around Chinatown DC, Asian writing is all over the place, even on the MCI sign, which is neat. :)

I didn't really see signs around for Chinatown NY, i sorta didn't know we stumbled into it until i started to see a multitude of asian people. :p

i miss home. where i am now is a huge culture shock for me :) i need my fill of my asian homies ^_^

[Nightflower]

Originally posted by Stardust


Really? Around Chinatown DC, Asian writing is all over the place, even on the MCI sign, which is neat. :)

I didn't really see signs around for Chinatown NY, i sorta didn't know we stumbled into it until i started to see a multitude of asian people. :p

i miss home. where i am now is a huge culture shock for me :) i need my fill of my asian homies ^_^

Of course there's Asian writing all over Chinatown, but I meant that I doubt every time they're seen outside, they're in Chinatown, because the Asian writing is everywhere. I also doubt that the Asian writing had spilled all over Gotham because of their little ol' Chinatown.

Chinatowns are an unspoken part of towns.... they're just there, and nobody officially acknowledges it. :p (It's not like it says Chinatown on the map!)

[Stardust]

Originally posted by Nightflower


Of course there's Asian writing all over Chinatown, but I meant that I doubt every time they're seen outside, they're in Chinatown, because the Asian writing is everywhere. I also doubt that the Asian writing had spilled all over Gotham because of their little ol' Chinatown.


ooooh ok. :)

you know, i was thinking maybe these random asian symbols are actually asian market stores or buildings ^_^