It happened. After years of hand-drawn aesthetic and the gritty, sometimes overly dark tones of the DC Animated Movie Universe (DCAMU), Warner Bros. Animation finally took a massive swing with 3D CGI. Honestly, people were terrified. Whenever a legacy franchise shifts to cel-shaded 3D, the internet collectively holds its breath, bracing for something that looks like a low-budget mobile game. But then Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne showed up. If you've been on the fence, you really need to watch Batman and Superman Battle of the Super Sons because it’s probably the most "comic book" a movie has felt in a decade.
It's refreshing.
The story focuses on Jon Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, who has absolutely no clue his dad is the most powerful man on Earth. He’s just a kid in Smallville. Then, things get weird. His powers kick in, he meets a brooding, pint-sized assassin named Damian Wayne, and suddenly they’re the only ones left to save the world from Starro the Conqueror. It’s a classic "odd couple" dynamic, but with capes.
The Visual Shift Most Fans Missed
When you first sit down to watch Batman and Superman Battle of the Super Sons, the animation style is the first thing that hits you. It isn't the traditional 2D style of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War or the "Tomorrowverse" thick-line aesthetic. It’s 3D. But it’s done with a specific intent to mimic the ink and colors of modern DC comics. Specifically, it feels like it stepped right out of the pages of the Jorge Jimenez run of Super Sons.
The movement is fluid. Sometimes it feels a bit "floaty," which is a common critique of CG animation in superhero media, but it works for the flight sequences. The textures on the costumes—Batman’s cape specifically—have a weight that 2D animation sometimes struggles to convey. It’s a bold choice that actually pays off by making the action feel more visceral and three-dimensional.
Why Starro Was the Perfect Villain
Starro the Conqueror is often treated as a joke. He’s a giant psychic starfish. Let's be real—on paper, that sounds ridiculous. However, this movie treats the threat with a level of "body horror" that’s actually kinda unsettling. When those little spores latch onto the faces of the Justice League, it isn't funny. It's creepy.
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The stakes are high because the protagonists are literal children. Watching a pre-teen Jon Kent have to face down a mind-controlled Superman is heavy. It shifts the power dynamic. Usually, Superman is the safety net. When the safety net becomes the threat, the tension skyrockets. This isn't just a "kids' movie." It’s a survival story where the world’s greatest heroes are the primary antagonists.
The Chemistry Between Damian and Jon
The heart of the film is the friction between the two leads. Damian Wayne is, to put it lightly, a jerk. He’s been raised by the League of Assassins. He’s arrogant, lethal, and has zero social skills. Jon Kent is the opposite. He’s a golden retriever in human form.
- Damian sees the world as a tactical map.
- Jon sees the world as a place that needs helping.
- Their interaction isn't just banter; it’s a clash of ideologies.
Watching them grow from hating each other's guts to becoming a cohesive unit is the soul of the film. It avoids the "instant best friends" trope. They earn their partnership. Jack Dylan Grazer (Jon) and Jack Griffo (Damian) bring a youthful energy to the voice acting that sounds authentic. They don't sound like 30-year-olds trying to sound like kids. They sound like annoyed teenagers.
Is the 3D Animation Actually Good?
Many fans were burned by Berserk 2016 or other poorly executed 3D projects. That’s a fair trauma to have. But the tech used here is different. The lighting is the real hero. In the Batcave sequences, the way the glow from the computer monitors hits the characters' faces creates a depth that traditional 2D often flattens out.
It’s a style that allows for more complex "camera" movements. During the final battle on the orbital station, the camera weaves between the characters in a way that would be a nightmare to hand-draw. If you've been avoiding this because of the CG, you're honestly missing out on some of the best-choreographed fights in recent DC history.
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A Different Kind of Batman and Superman
We’ve seen the "World's Finest" a million times. We know their bond. But here, we see them as fathers. That’s a nuance that often gets lost in the big "End of the World" crossover events. Bruce Wayne trying to parent Damian is objectively hilarious and tragic at the same time. He doesn’t know how to handle a kid who is basically a smaller, angrier version of himself.
Clark, on the other hand, is struggling with the lie. He loves his son, but he’s terrified of what happens when Jon finds out his life has been a secret. It adds a layer of domestic drama that grounds the high-flying sci-fi elements. You’re not just rooting for them to beat the giant starfish; you’re rooting for them to fix their families.
The Voice Cast Lineup
- Jack Dylan Grazer as Jonathan Kent
- Jack Griffo as Damian Wayne
- Troy Baker as Batman (continuing his legendary run)
- Travis Willingham as Superman
- Laura Bailey as Lois Lane
Having Troy Baker and Travis Willingham—who are real-life best friends—play Batman and Superman adds a layer of chemistry you can actually hear. Their rapport feels lived-in. When they talk about their kids, it feels like two tired dads at a backyard BBQ, despite one of them wearing a cowl and the other being an alien.
Addressing the "Kiddie Movie" Misconception
Because the leads are children, there’s a persistent myth that this is a "Junior" movie. It’s not. It’s rated PG-13 for a reason. There’s violence. There’s genuine peril. It doesn't talk down to the audience. In fact, it handles the "Legacy" theme better than many of the live-action films.
The movie asks a difficult question: Do these kids want to be their parents? Damian feels the crushing weight of the Bat-legacy. Jon feels the pressure of being the "New Man of Tomorrow." The movie explores that anxiety in between the scenes of them punching alien-controlled superheroes.
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Action Sequences That Punch Hard
The pacing is frantic. Once the Starro invasion hits its stride, the movie doesn't let up. There’s a specific scene where the kids have to break into the Fortress of Solitude that stands out. It’s cold, it’s dangerous, and it highlights how outclassed they are.
The use of powers is creative. Jon is still figuring out his heat vision and flight. It’s messy. He misses his targets. He crashes into walls. This vulnerability makes the eventual victories feel earned rather than scripted. You feel his panic when he’s hovering thousands of feet in the air and his powers flicker.
How to Watch Batman and Superman Battle of the Super Sons
If you're ready to dive in, the film is widely available. You can find it on major streaming platforms like Max (formerly HBO Max), which is the primary home for DC content. It's also available for digital purchase or rental on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. For the collectors out there, the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray versions are worth it just to see the detail in the cel-shading without streaming compression artifacts.
The Verdict on the Future of DC Animation
This movie feels like a proof of concept. It proves that DC can move away from the "New 52" style that dominated the 2010s and try something vibrant. It’s a love letter to the Silver Age of comics, wrapped in modern technology. It captures the wonder of being a kid and realizing your dad is a hero—and then the terrifying reality of having to save him.
The runtime is a lean 79 minutes. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It gets in, tells a tight, emotional story, delivers some top-tier action, and leaves you wanting more of the "Super Sons" duo. Honestly, it’s the best "fun" DC movie since The LEGO Batman Movie, even if the tone is a bit more serious.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Check the Comic Source: If you enjoy the movie, pick up the Super Sons comic run by Peter J. Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez. It’s the direct inspiration and offers even more depth to their friendship.
- Watch for Easter Eggs: Keep an eye on the background of the Batcave and the Fortress of Solitude. There are deep-cut references to DC history that flash by in seconds.
- Adjust Your Settings: If you’re watching on a TV with "Motion Smoothing" (the soap opera effect), turn it off. It ruins the stylized frame rate of the 3D animation.
- Compare the Eras: Watch this back-to-back with Batman: Bad Blood to see the massive evolution in how Damian Wayne is portrayed as a character.
There's no need to overthink it. It's a movie about a kid with a cape and a kid with a sword fighting a giant starfish from space. It’s exactly what superhero movies should be.
Next Steps for Your Watchlist:
Look for the other "Tomorrowverse" films if you want to see the broader direction DC animation is heading. If you want more of the Super Sons specifically, check out the DC Kids digital shorts, though they are much lighter in tone than this feature film. For a darker take on the "son of a hero" trope, Invincible on Prime Video is the natural (and much more graphic) progression.