Merry Little Batman!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! This awesome movie was released 2 years ago this week, and it definitely is worth exploring! Today we will look into a little bit about its history and speak with animators that worked on the film, Nora Meek, Ana Garcia, Andres Salaff, and Sam Spina!

Gotham has never looked quite like this before! “Merry Little Batman”, the animated holiday film that premiered to much buzz, takes a bold leap away from the shadowy alleys and brooding tone we typically associate with Batman. Instead, it serves up a delightful mix of humor, heart, and holiday chaos; all wrapped in a strikingly original animation style. Directed by Mike Roth and featuring a younger Damian Wayne as the hero-in-training, this movie proves there’s still plenty of room for fresh storytelling in the ever-expanding Batman universe.

Critics and fans alike have praised the film for its playful tone and inventive visuals. It’s not easy to take characters as iconic as Batman, the Joker, and Commissioner Gordon and show them in a completely new light, but “Merry Little Batman” pulls it off with charm and confidence. The storytelling walks a perfect line between silly and sincere, offering something for both longtime Bat-fans and a new generation of viewers who might be meeting these characters for the first time.

What I personally love most about “Merry Little Batman” is its originality. It doesn’t try to be a copy of what came before; it dares to imagine a Gotham that’s quirky, heartfelt, and even a little weird, in the best way possible. The character of Damian is especially refreshing. Watching him try to prove himself as Gotham’s protector while still being a kid is not only entertaining but genuinely endearing. It reminded me that even the darkest stories can shine with new energy when given the right creative spark.

In a sea of superhero reboots and gritty reimaginings, “Merry Little Batman” stands out by leaning into warmth, creativity, and clever storytelling. It’s a bold reworking of a familiar world that still respects its roots, and as a lifelong Batman fan, I couldn’t be happier. Here’s to hoping we get more merry adventures in this version of Gotham; it’s one I’ll gladly revisit every holiday season.

Merry Little Batman Animators:

Giancarlo: This film to me is already a Christmas classic and | 100% think it will be revered in time as one, what does being part of something like that in such a special way mean to you?

Nora: Everyone loves a good, animated Christmas special. What makes this one great is how much love and craftsmanship everyone poured into it. It reimagines the look and feel of the Batman universe in a wonderful way and also retains all of the charm any Christmas movie would. When I talked to other people about working on a Batman Christmas special, I'd get funny reactions. But the movie itself is proof that the two ideas are perfect for each other - at this point, Batman is a franchise that lives as near and dear to the hearts of Americans as the holiday canon does.

Ana: It makes me so happy that a film made with so much love has become a Christmas classic. I rewatch it every holiday season, along with “Klaus”, which I also worked on! Working on Christmas movies means that when the season comes around, you naturally want to watch them, they have something special that other films don't.

Sam: A Christmas classic! Haha I hope that’s true, that would be awesome. It deserves it! I’m really proud to be a part of that film, Mike and the team did an amazing job making it feel like a classic Christmas movie. I love how it’s paced. There’s a lot of breathing room baked in, it’s not one of those movies where the characters are constantly talking over each other and screaming and stuff. Personally, that’s a special project to me because Mike Roth was such an amazing guy to work for. I really felt like my input was valued and he always encouraged any ideas I had and also pushed me out of my comfort zone storyboarding-wise.

Andres: Christmas movies already come with so much heart and magic, so knowing that this film can capture and share even a bit of that feeling with audiences means a great deal to me. I’ve also always loved Batman, and getting to explore the kind of family dynamics often found in holiday stories; through the lens of a Batman film; is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Giancarlo: Who is your favorite character in the film?

Nora: Terry. He was the most fun to draw and I like his shark teeth. But also, Damian became near to my heart while I was boarding the woodcut-style street chase scene - he's a little guy taking on a big scary world, we have all been there!

Ana: My favorite character is definitely Damian. He goes through a big transformation throughout the film, eventually facing his fears and even giving up his beloved belt in order to do the right thing.

Sam: Selena! She’s so funny. But I love this version of Joker too. The designs and color totally make the film, and I had a lot of fun drawing those characters. Joker’s pointy shoulders are such an interesting design choice, haha, I love it. Penguin might be my favorite character to draw though. His nose!

Andres: Damian is my favorite character. There’s something so likable about him. I love watching him experience all these emotional highs and lows. No matter what he goes through, he keeps getting back up and pushing forward. One of my favorite aspects of the film is the way he loses his (Bat) dad and ultimately reconnects with his real dad by the end. It’s such a powerful, emotional arc.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Nora Meek: "Finished, not perfect!" Make art and put it out into the world, don't stall until it looks perfect.

Ana Garcia: The best advice l have ever received is that if you work hard every day and have clear goals, you'll eventually achieve everything you set your mind to!

Sam: My favorite advice came from the “Regular Show’ storyboarding test. That was the first show I worked on, and the first animation test I took. In the writing portion there’s a page of Mordeci and Rigby saying something to Benson and you have to make them say something funny by filling in a speech bubble. Then on the next page it’s the exact same drawing but you’re asked to make it funnier. This was a really important lesson I think about all the time. Your first idea is good, but it can always be funnier!

Andres: Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo