The Batman: catbikeConcept

CATBIKE_design ‘n spitball! Probuction Designer @jchinlund invited me to work with he and his design team on @mattreevesla new film a few years ago, and while the initial task was working alongside good mate @benjamin_last and @ashthorp on the Batmobile (OMG), I got to take a few cuts at Catwoman’s rig. Whaaaat?…not often you get to delve fantastically into a hobby you already have. I’m a moto nut. Ride, watch races, a weakness. Kryptonite…ok..it’s DC…

Our heroine: scrappy, can fix anything, quick. I went with an inline-4 with mods first. She’d have zipties and drilled holes in the plastics. messy, but the guts would be bulletproof. Pop some fairing and it automatically goes cat-like. Not bold enough.
The next version was a twin/I4 mix…the custom dragster swingarm she’d no doubt had milled would give her better stability at top speed. a mix of masculine and feminine lines and shapes.

In the end, the production took it another step and went with a higher-tech, heavy formed rig...which I totally dig. The saddlebags rock!

Big props to all the design team on this show, who’s collective work inspired me along the way, and now.

Vehicle Illustrators - Benjamin Last, Ash Thorp, Colie Wertz
Production Designer: James Chinlund
Art Director / Production: Joe Huira, Patrick Dunn-Baker, Haisu Wang