Warner Bros Japan Announce Suicide Squad Isekai

Japanese takes on western properties can yield some fascinating results. From The Animatrix to Star Wars Visions, anime versions of popular franchises are usually well worth checking out. DC has gone anime several times with the anthology Gotham Knight and Batman Ninja. Now it has been announced that DC is doing it again in the form of Suicide Squad Isekai.

Announced by Warner Bros Japan at Anime Expo, the anime is based on the Suicide Squad characters from the DC comics and movies. Anime fans will know exactly what to expect from the title. 'Isekai' means 'another world' and is a popular genre of anime where the central character or characters are magically transported to another world.

Suicide Squad Isekai is being produced by Wit Studio (Attack on Titan, Spy X Family).  It is described as a brand new anime series based on the characters by DC.  It is directed by Eri Osada, with screenplays by Tappei Nagatsuki (Re-Zero – Starting Life in Another World) and Eiji Umehara (Vivy - Fluorite Eye's Song).

The announcement art featuring Harley Quinn is by renowned manga artist Akira Amano (Creator of Reborn). Amano is also credited as 'character design draft', with Naoto Hosoda credited as Character Designer. The music is by  Kenichiro Suehiro.

DC’s Harley Quinn, the Joker, and The Suicide Squad rampage onto the stage of ISEKAI in the new original anime series from Warner Bros. Japan and WIT Studio, Suicide Squad ISEKAI. The most maddening worlds collide in an epic and violent fantasy with the strongest line-up of anime creators! 

 "I'm a big fan of Harley Quinn and the other characters in the "Suicide Squad" movie! It's an
honor for me to be involved in the creation of "Suicide Squad ISEKAI." said Amano." The director Eri Osada’s clear vision for Harley's design made the process smoother than expected, and I enjoyed drawing her costume and muscles while imagining her action-packed adventures in the story. I'm excited to see how the talented animation staff brings " Suicide Squad ISEKAI" to life!” 

“It is finally announced, Suicide Squad ISEKAI. ISEKAI! Suicide Squad!" said Nagatsuki

"Who has ever thought about mixing these two!? But this is sure to be a dream project.

Crazy villains go on a rampage in ISEKAI! It's nothing more, nothing less, and it can't be

anything else!"

"What would happen if the fascinating characters of DC Comics went to another world?

I am honored to be involved in a work with such a boyish and straightforward idea." added Umehara. "I drew a variety of villains with one goal in mind; to make Harley look cute!

I hope you will join me in enjoying and enlivening this World."

"Japanese anime has attracted widespread popularity among global audience in these days and “ISEKAI fantasy” now is one of the most popular genres" said : Shinya Tsuruoka, animation producer Warner Bros Japan. " What if DC characters such as Harley Quinn and The Joker rampages in ISEKAI? This is truly an outrageous anime project we deliver for global audience from Japan. I am thrilled to work with WIT STUDIO for this dream project which only Warner Bros. Japan could produce. Please look forward to the original story and DC characters’ blast in ISEKAI" 

There's still a lot we don't know. Like what line-up of the Suicide Squad will feature? Beyond Harley Quinn and The Joker,  will it feature the line up from the 2016 movie? Or James Gunn's 2021 soft reboot? Or maybe it will turn to the comics for inspiration? Whatever the roster we think neither DC die-hards nor anime fans are going to want to miss this.