Batman Artist Jock Joins DC Studios and Swaybox’s Animated DYNAMIC DUO Movie
There’s a lot of excitement brewing for DC Studios and Swaybox’s upcoming animated feature Dynamic Duo, and now the project just gotten even cooler.
Legendary Batman artist Jock has officially confirmed that he’s working on the project, adding his signature dark and gritty visual style to this highly anticipated DC animated movie.
As part of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s expanding DC Universe plans, Dynamic Duo represents the lighter, family-friendly side of the new DCU which is looking to balance out darker fare like Creature Commandos.
The movie is being described as a major step forward for DC animation, aiming to push the boundaries of visual storytelling in the same way Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse did for Marvel and Sony.
Dynamic Duo was first announced last October and is being developed using a unique combination of miniatures, puppetry, animatronics, and computer animation, which is a wild artistic direction that fits right in with Swaybox’s reputation for blending physical and digital craftsmanship.
The story centers on Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, both of whom have worn the mantle of Robin alongside Batman, teaming up for the first time in this reimagined Gotham adventure.
Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the writing duo behind (500) Days of Summer, were recently brought on board to shape the screenplay. Now, Jock joins the creative team to help visualize the world of Gotham in a whole new way.
In an interview with Popverse, he shared his excitement about being part of the project:
"I'm currently working on Dynamic Duo for DC. I actually came to New Orleans so that I could visit [Swaybox Studios]. They've got studios down there, so I've been designing stuff for them. Those guys are geniuses. I cannot wait to share what they've been up to."
He went on to talk about how the project came to him unexpectedly and how impressed he’s been with Swaybox’s approach:
"Visual development basically. I'd love to tell you what I've been doing, but I guess I've got to be a little bit careful. But it's very exciting and it's right in my wheelhouse.
“Let's put it that way. I heard from them out of the blue. The title of the email was 'Batman puppet film.' And I thought, 'Oh, okay. What's this?' But then there was a link to their showreel, which you can see on [Swaybox’s] website. I was blown away."
He added:
"Seeing what they're doing, applying what they do to the world of Gotham is a sight to behold. I'm lucky to have worked on a lot of things, but I'm really excited about this. I think it could be really, really special. That's why I was in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. I had the week with them."
Jock’s involvement makes perfect sense. His work on Batman, Detective Comics, and The Batman Who Laughs has made him one of the defining visual voices of Batman in modern comics. If anyone can help bring a fresh but authentic look to this unique take on the Batman mythos, it’s him.
The movie’s focus on both Dick Grayson and Jason Todd opens up exciting storytelling possibilities. In the comics, Dick was the original Robin who eventually became Nightwing after breaking away from Batman. Jason, meanwhile, was the troubled second Robin, killed by The Joker and later resurrected as the vengeful Red Hood.
Dynamic Duo is set to hit theaters on June 30, 2028, and it’s looking like one of the more visually ambitious DC animated movies.