While the next big-screen adventure of the Caped Crusader has hit yet another speed-bump, DC Entertainment's animated ventures continue apace. The first of two Batman-centric animated films to be released in 2014, Son of Batman has debuted an impressive first trailer.

Shared by TV Guide, this preview introduces a character that may not be known to those only familiar with the Dark Knight's cinematic adventures: Damian Wayne, the son of Bruce and femme fatale Talia al Ghul. Damian originally debuted in a polarizing 2006 comic book story penned by Grant Morrison (All-Star Superman), and has been a consistent fixture in the Batman side of the DC Universe ever since. Son of Batman appears to be a loose adaptation of that same initial storyline.

Son of Batman Damian Wayne Stuart Allan

The trailer itself is fairly heartening. With pleasingly Legend of Korra-like animation and a solid voice cast, Son of Batman shows a good deal of early promise.

That said, some of the changes to the source material's storyline are odd – though not necessarily causes for outright alarm. For instance, the addition of Deathstroke the Terminator (a.k.a. Slade Wilson, Arrow's current Big Bad) makes sense within the assassin-choked world of the story, but could end up more distracting than advantageous.

As the preview suggests, Damian Wayne eventually took up the cape and cowl of Robin – a position he held for almost half a decade in real time. It will be interesting to see if this movie version of the character engenders the same strong feelings (both positive and negative) that his comics counterpart did upon his introduction. If so, we may see more animated versions of the deadly child in the years to come.

Son of Batman features the voice talents of Jason O'Mara (Justice League: War), Stuart Allan (Rise of the Guardians), Thomas Gibson (Criminal Minds), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad).

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Son of Batman will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD in the spring of 2014.

Source: TV Guide