Superman/Batman: Apocalypse adapts Jeph Loeb's comic arc into an animated movie - a mysterious super-powered young woman crash lands on Earth claiming to be Superman's cousin: Batman doesn't trust her, Wonder Woman undertakes her training, and Darkseid seeks to recruit her.
This entertaining and action-packed yarn adapts well to movie status. Character design is fairly slick and animation is well executed. Voice casting draws heavily on previously established voice characterisations from the Justice League TV series (it is pleasing to hear Kevin Conroy's Batman again, and Ed Asner's Granny Goodness...). Of the new voices, Summer Glau does well as Kara, although I was less taken with Andre Braugher's Darkseid.
In terms of execution, my only criticism derives from the fundamentals of the characters involved: the extensive fight sequences between Superman, Kara and Darkseid essentially don't go anywhere, because the characters are evenly matched in terms of powers and, importantly, vulnerability - no matter how massively Superman bashed Darkseid (or vice versa), the bashed one is going to get up and walk away. The fight sequences therefore don't actually achieve anything of importance, lose dramatic tension, and go on far too long.
Other than that, this is a good addition to DC's animated library.
This entertaining and action-packed yarn adapts well to movie status. Character design is fairly slick and animation is well executed. Voice casting draws heavily on previously established voice characterisations from the Justice League TV series (it is pleasing to hear Kevin Conroy's Batman again, and Ed Asner's Granny Goodness...). Of the new voices, Summer Glau does well as Kara, although I was less taken with Andre Braugher's Darkseid.
In terms of execution, my only criticism derives from the fundamentals of the characters involved: the extensive fight sequences between Superman, Kara and Darkseid essentially don't go anywhere, because the characters are evenly matched in terms of powers and, importantly, vulnerability - no matter how massively Superman bashed Darkseid (or vice versa), the bashed one is going to get up and walk away. The fight sequences therefore don't actually achieve anything of importance, lose dramatic tension, and go on far too long.
Other than that, this is a good addition to DC's animated library.