‘Aztec Batman’: New animated film brings Gotham to Tenochtitlan

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Despite being called “Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires” and featuring a famous American superhero, the movie was actually made entirely in Mexico.

This exciting new story presents a fresh take on the Batman legend. It centers on Yohualli, a young Aztec man who becomes a warrior after his father is killed by Hernan Cortes upon his arrival in Veracruz. By the time Cortes reaches the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, Yohualli is a skilled fighter, empowered and protected by Tzinacan, a real Aztec god who plays a key role in the story.

“Aztec Batman” was created by Ánima Estudios, a leading animation studio in Mexico City with over twenty years of experience. The project was part of Ánima’s ongoing collaboration with Warner Bros., following their previous work on two animated films based on the classic cartoon “Top Cat,” which is owned by Warner.

“Aztec Batman,” which premiered on HBO Max on September 18th, started as an idea for a short series but became a film instead. The filmmakers hope it will not only be enjoyable, but also inspire young viewers – especially those in Mexico and of Mexican heritage – to become more interested in Indigenous cultures.

I really appreciated the filmmakers’ intention with this movie – it’s clearly a passion project aimed at sparking pride in Mexican heritage. As co-founder José C. Garcia de Letona explained to me, the film wants to acknowledge and celebrate the Indigenous roots that are so central to Mexican identity. It’s not about assigning blame for the past, but about giving the Aztec and other Indigenous cultures the respect they deserve as foundational parts of who we are today. It feels like a conscious effort to rebalance the narrative and offer a more inclusive look at Mexican history.

Given the many civilizations in modern-day Mexico, why study the Aztecs specifically? According to Garcia de Letona, it’s because they were the empire that directly faced the Spanish conquistadors – it was a battle between two powerful empires.

Director Juan Meza-Leon, originally from Ensenada, Mexico, points out that history is often told from the winner’s point of view, leaving out or downplaying the experiences of those who lost. He sees this project as a chance to share a less common perspective on this historical period. Though Meza-Leon contributed to the story, the screenplay was written by Ernie Altbacker, a long-time writer for DC Comics.

The production’s success in accurately portraying Aztec culture and history relied heavily on the expertise of Alejandro Díaz Barriga, a leading historian of the Aztec people, who consulted on the project.

Alejandro was with us throughout the entire filmmaking process, from the initial script to the character designs and the final edit,” says Garcia de Letona. Díaz Barriga helped ensure historical accuracy by advising on details like clothing reflecting social status and pointing out that everyday life for the Aztecs didn’t include furniture like chairs, tables, or doors.

This Batman’s costume drew inspiration from the armor and imagery of Aztec eagle and jaguar warriors, and included references to the god Tzinacan. The iconic Batman logo in the film was designed to look both distinctly Aztec and immediately recognizable as the superhero’s symbol. As designer Meza-Leon explains, the goal was to create designs that felt authentically pre-Columbian while still fitting the world of comic book superheroes.

The animated short “Aztec Batman” was created primarily by artists from Mexico, with some additional contributors from Brazil and Peru. Garcia de Letona explains that being involved in a Batman project was a dream come true for many Latin American artists, including himself, as they never thought it would be possible.

From the beginning, Warner Bros. wanted “Aztec Batman” to be made in Spanish before being translated and dubbed into English. The Spanish-language version stars Horacio Garcia Rojas and Omar Chaparro, while the English version features Mexican American actors Jay Hernandez and Raymond Cruz. Filmmaker Jorge Gutierrez, known for “The Book of Life,” provides the voice for the character Toltecatzin (Yohualli’s father) in both the Spanish and English versions.

The dialogue, whether you watch the original Spanish version or the English dub, includes words and phrases from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. According to Meza-Leon, after the story was finished, they worked with Mexican writer Alfredo Mendoza to add Nahuatl. This helped distinguish the different empires in the film, as all characters speak Spanish.

The familiar villains from Batman have been reimagined to fit naturally into an Aztec setting. For instance, the Joker is now Yoka, a shaman and advisor to Emperor Moctezuma who can speak with the gods. Since there were no cats in the Americas at the time, Catwoman is portrayed as a fierce jaguar warrior – though historically, Aztec society wouldn’t have allowed women to be trained fighters. The untrustworthy Hernán Cortés is transformed into Two-Face, and Poison Ivy becomes a mysterious goddess.

According to Meza-Leon, the goal wasn’t to simply recreate the characters, but to embody what makes them unique. He explains that while they didn’t use the familiar names like ‘Joker,’ ‘Two-Face,’ or ‘Catwoman,’ viewers would still immediately recognize them. Similarly, Batman is referred to as ‘Tzinacan’ or ‘Bat Warrior,’ but his core personality remains intact.

Because the project started as a series, the creator, Meza-Leon, has built a rich and expansive world. If this first film resonates with viewers, a sequel – dubbed “Aztec Batman” – is a real possibility. The film is currently available in Mexican theaters and for streaming worldwide. Meza-Leon hopes the film’s success will allow him to further develop this unique take on the conquest of Mexico, as he has many more ideas to explore.

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2025-10-10 02:01