Were Movie Batmobiles Re-engineered from 1970 Cereal Toy?

[Lunajammer]

This toy was offered in Kelloggs or Post cereals in 1970. That’s where I got it. One or two of you might remember there was a set of four to collect right out of the box. I’m proposing for discussion that the movie batmobiles were inspired by, if not strongly influenced by this.

The cockpit, though more classic of the 50's & 60's, is reinterpreted for 1989, and the fender vents are too hard to ignore.

And if you think it’s a bit of a stretch to connect the Keaton batmobile to the cereal toy, consider the Clooney batmobile.

[Lunajammer]

The cereal box toy preceded the movie cars by almost 20-years, coincidence? I say too many to ignore. Anyone have any knowledge of a connection between the toy designers and Hollywood designers?

[iBorg]

The Clooney Batmobile......never existed. That movie was never released. At least any serious Batman fan wants to believe that. Actually all these Batmobiles seem to harken back to the Batmobiles of the 60's comics. The TV Batmobile looked nothing like what was in the comics prior to the TV show.

[Joe Handley]

It is weird how much that toy looks like the Keaton era Batmobile, kinda have to wonder if it inspired the movie car. As far as favorite Batmobiles go, the Keaton movie car, the original Animated Series (cartoon from the 90's) car, and the Tumbler are probably my 3 favorite Batmobiles and in that order too.

[Scale-Master]

Maybe the blue toy was inspired by the same comic version car as the later full size movie cars?

So my guess is they all were shaped from the same comic source more likely than the movie cars being copied from the blue toy.

[Lunajammer]

I did do a Google search for the comic reference after Borg's response but I don't think I found what you guys are referring to. Anyone got the comic illustration to post? I'm not familiar with it. For what it's worth, the other toys in the set were all different kinds of cars.

[Junkman]

Unfortunately it's too late to ask Anton Furst, the designer of the Burton era car, where he got his inspiration from. Two years after he received an Oscar for his design, he committed suicide. However, seeing that he grew up in England, I doubt he ever saw the plastic toy.

As for the Schumacher era cars, the design was started by non other than H.R. Giger and it is safe to assume that he had no knowledge of the plastic toy. He left the project to be replaced by Barbara Ling, who finished the designs in collaboraton with effects company TFX.

Albeit the similarities are striking, I have my doubts that the blue toy car served as inspiration for any of the movie cars.

Edited June 12, 2012 by Junkman

[Joe Handley]

H.R. Giger!? That explains how those turned out so horrible working!

[Lunajammer]

Even if Geiger had seen the blue toy, I doubt he would have been caught dead (heh, heh) copying it.

[Harry P.]

Sorry, but the only "real" Batmobile is the '60s TV version. And the coolest, by far.

(Just my opinion, of course...)

[philo426]

Yeah it rocks!

[Art Anderson]

Common, ordinary toys based on such things as comic books have always needed to be recognizable if they were to sell. Years ago, I rather doubt that much control was exercised by the various comic book publishers, but anymore, they are rather restrictive. Modern day comic book publishers, along with TV and movie production companies almost always have a "Style Guide" for whatever comic book or TV show or movie, which lays out the basic designs of just about everything in their creative work, including colors.

Having worked with Style Guides while at Johnny Lightning, I can say that they are very specific, and any miniature, model kit or other sort of toy had better adhere to that style guide lest the proposed product be rejected for licensing (and you all thought that licensing is all about the money, nothing more, huh?)

Art

[Lunajammer]

Interesting info about the Style Guides. But if I'm reading correctly, you're proposing the blue car is replicating a Batmobile. I think that would be an odd choice for 1970 since comic Batmobiles didn't look anything like that at the time and styles of the pre-60's were definitively UN-cool at the beginning of the 70's. Then to have them marketed as "racers" (which I forgot to mention earlier). They all had racing stickers. I'll post a photo of one other from the set later today.

[Junkman]

H.R. Giger!? That explains how those turned out so horrible working!

Giger left the project over artistic controversies.

I found some of Giger's artwork for the Batmobile on his own website.

And a model built by Ro Hiruma:

And this description is offered:

"His unique "X" shaped design was to include articulated front legs/mandibles, retractable fins, and gatling gun emplacements on each of the four pods on the sides of the vehicle. The design also combined side and forward intake ports with organic spines and a central pod connecting the four legs."

This confirms my doubt that any of the designs were inspired by the plastic toy.

Edited June 13, 2012 by Junkman

[DavidChampagne]

Try this youtube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfnzgPU28aQ

Supposedly how they created the movie car-regardless- a good video

[Trans Am Erik]

Check THIS out!!!!!

http://youtu.be/nZSBpFMWk-M

[Lunajammer]

I think H.R. Geiger's work is so unique that it doesn't cross over as well into the conventional. Fascinating B-mobile though.

As promised earlier, here's another car from the cereal set. All of them were long, disproportionate and borrowed from familiar automotive influences. While not disagreeing with any of the previous comments, for now I just think the blue car patterned after a Batmobile from decades earlier just doesn't make any marketing sense to me.

[Junkman]

I think H.R. Geiger's work is so unique that it doesn't cross over as well into the conventional.

I like the pun in this