The latest trailer for the R-rated animated film Batman: The Killing Joke hit the internet last week to mixed reactions. Many Batfans were happy to see the acclaimed Alan Moore and Brian Bolland story get its much-anticipated adaptation, but just as many were miffed at the trailer's appearance. Some took issue with the animation style that looks like it's attempting to match the comic book's artwork, but the main issue was with the herky-jerky, rough animation of the main characters doing something as simple as walking across the screen. Hopefully this was either a rushed trailer or merely an anomaly because Batman: The Killing Joke has an otherwise solid team of talent behind it.

Kevin Conroy returns to voice his iconic role of Bruce Wayne/Batman alongside Mark Hamill's inimitable Joker. Tara Strong stars as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl with Ray Wise as Commissioner James Gordon in the adaptation directed by Sam Liu (Batman: Year One, Justice League vs Teen Titans). And while we've known for a while that the R-rated movie, a first-ever for a Batman film, will screen at San Diego Comic-Con, now we have word on the eventual Blu-ray's release date.

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Update: According to Amazon's product page for the Batman: The Killing Joke Blu-ray and as reported by EW, the deluxe edition and combo pack Blu-ray for the movie will be available on August 2nd, with Digital HD copies available on July 23rd. Here's what you can expect as far as bonus features:

In addition to two 22-minute episodes from The New Batman Adventures and Batman: The Animated Series, the deluxe edition and combo pack versions will include two featurettes: Madness Set to Music, a documentary which chronicles the creation of the film’s storyboards and original score, and Many Shades of the Joker: The Tale of the Killing Joke, a making-of short that explores the distinct style of the graphic novel. Fans who purchase the combo pack Blu-ray edition will also receive a limited edition figurine of the Joker.

The Blu-ray is also expected to have a 15-minute prologue that will help setup the story, meaning that even fans of the original source material will have some additional content to look forward to. Here's what Mary Ellen Thomas, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Vice President, Family & Animation Marketing, had to say about the release:

“Batman: The Killing Joke presents, for the first time, one of the most compelling stories in the annals of Batman’s adventures: the evolution of the Joker from normalcy to criminal insanity, in all its graphic presentation as an R-rated animated film. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is proud to release Batman: The Killing Joke as an authentic representation of its revered story for both longtime fans and new fans alike.”

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Image via Warner Bros.

If you're not familiar with the story, here's the briefest of synopses:

As Batman hunts for the escaped Joker, the Clown Prince of Crime attacks the Gordon family to prove a diabolical point mirroring his own fall into madness.

For more of our coverage on Batman: The Killing Joke, take a look at the following links:

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Image via DC
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Image via DC

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Image via DC