DC Animation is on a roll with amazing Batman Animated features such as BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD and BATMAN: YEAR ONE. Up next is BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, PART 1 which is based on the graphic novel of the same name written by comic legend Frank Miller (300, BATMAN: YEAR ONE). Check out the synopsis and trailer below:

…it’s been a decade since Bruce Wayne hung up his cape, following most of the other superheroes who had been forced into retirement. Facing the downside of middle age, a restless Bruce Wayne pacifies his frustration with race cars and liquor – but the bat still beckons as he watches his city fall prey to gangs of barbaric criminals known as The Mutants.

The return of Harvey Dent as Two-Face finally prompts Wayne to once again don the Dark Knight’s cowl, and his dramatic capture of the villain returns him to crime-fighting – simultaneously making him the target of law enforcement and the new hope for a desolate Gotham City. Particularly inspired is a teenage girl named Carrie, who adopts the persona of Robin and ultimately saves Batman from a brutal attack by the Mutant leader. Armed with a new sidekick, and re-energized with a definitive purpose, the Dark Knight returns to protect Gotham from foes new…and old.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/-QF8fFQkJk8[/youtube]

While this new animation will likely be a bit more toned down from the original comic book story, it looks pretty sweet nonetheless. I really dig the animation style here and it is up to the standards we have come to expect from DC Animation. The voice cast is not too shabby either starring Peter Weller (ROBOCOP) as an aging Bruce Wayne/Batman (so cool!), Wade Williams (PRISON BREAK) as Harvey Dent/Two-Face, and Michael McKean (THIS IS SPINAL TAP) as Dr. Wolper just to name a few.

BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, PART 1 comed to DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital Download on September 25th 2012 with Part 2 (the final installment) due sometime in early 2013.