Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container
Dublin Core
Title
Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container
Subject
Batman Forever
Description
This Batman Bubble Bath Container (BD074884) is a container based on the figure of Batman from Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever (1995). It turned a significant shift in the Batman film franchise and introduced a more relaxed tone compared to the darker gothic style of Tim Burton’s Batman films. After the film was released in 1995, a wide range of promotional products, including toys, household products, and decorations, to meet the growing needs due to the popularity of the film. This Batman Bubble Bath Container is one of them, which became a popular item for both children and Batman item collectors.
This Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container was manufactured in Thailand and produced by Prelude UK Limited in 1995. The original pack was with a card tag, which painted a Batman sign under a big Riddler questionnaire symbol. It features the portrayal of Batman by Val Kilmer, with the suit design closely resembling the Batman costume seen in the film. It is 28cm high and capable of containing 275ml bubble bath or shower gel. With a removable cape, the whole container can be separated into four parts, such as a comprises bottle (BD74884/1), a cap (BD74884/2), an upper body (BD74884/3) and a cape (BD74884/4). Wear to the surface of the cape. It is noticed that the arms of Batman are movable, which adds a certain level of interactivity. The primary function of this product was as a bubble bath dispenser, but it was also marketed as a collectable item due to its iconic shape and connection to the Batman Forever (1995) film. It was part of the extensive line of licensed Batman Forever merchandise aimed at a younger audience.
Jose Fernandez designed this bat-suit under the direction of Bob Ringwood and Joel Schumacher. Schumacher wanted a strong influence of beauty for this costume, which was influenced by the statues of ancient Greece. The design of the armour marked a significant departure from Tim Burton's darker, gothic style, adopting a more streamlined, metallic aesthetic that gave Batman a more modern and advanced appearance. The armour’s design was inspired by the film's brighter, more dynamic visual style, with sharper lines and sculptural details on the chest, shoulders, and mask. This not only enhanced Batman's heroic persona but also made the armour representative of the film's colour tone and overall aesthetic. Pearson and Uricchio mentioned that at this stage, any drastic change to Batman's visual style could damage its franchise and undermine the integrity of the merchandise form and the interests of its fans, as well as the character's lived experience necessary for its continued success.’ (Pearson and Uricchio, 184). However, the change of the Batman suit works well because compared to Burton's design, this version captures the attention of younger audiences better, making it a wise choice to combine this Batman suit design with children's products.
The Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container was part of a larger strategy by Warner Bros. The idea is that successful brands are built by exploiting multiple contacts between the brand and the consumer. (2006, 69). The Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container exemplified the increasing trend in the 1990s of turning movies and characters into multifaceted, lifestyle-engaged brands. To create a range of kid-friendly products that would promote the film while encouraging brand loyalty among young fans. The reason why Warner Brothers turned to licensing intellectual property to other companies to produce merchandise production is that profit margins are running thin throughout the film industry and box office. So, Warner Bros. marketed the product heavily alongside other Batman Forever film-related toys, lunchboxes, and school supplies. The bubble bath container was positioned as both a functional and collectable item that parents would purchase for their children, blending the film’s commercial appeal with practical use in children’s daily routines. The Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container is made of black plastic and can play in the water. For instance, parents may have the chance to deliver the power of fandom of the Batman franchise when they bathe their children; it is also a good chance to interact with their children. As a result, the Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container was generally well-received by consumers, especially for its novelty value and the fact that it represented a fusion of toy-like collectability with a necessary household product. It became a popular item in both children's bathrooms and as a worthy collectable in the years following the film’s release.
In the 1990s, the way consumers engaged with the Batman franchise changed. It is not limited to the box office and videotape rentals. However, it built an integrated product system around the audience. This bubble bath container, along with other products like action figures and brush with Batman appearance, contributed to the film’s product marketing system, showing presence in homes. Licensing related to merchandise and franchise products is a significant revenue source, particularly for prominent publishing houses. It can also serve to finance new franchise products. (Freeman, 43) It is a virtuous cycle that benefits both the franchise and the film. The Batman franchise had already become a pop culture phenomenon by the time Batman Forever was released, and the bubble bath container fit into this brand, and products played a role in creating emotional connections with audiences, particularly children, who often saw the products as an extension of the fictional world they admired. ‘Brand extension builds on audience interest in particular content to bring them into contact again and again with an associated brand’. (Jenkins, 4) It reflected the era’s consumer culture, where licensed merchandise became the items found everywhere in daily life. This transition reflected a conscious effort to reframe the franchise, making it more accessible to a wider consumer base, as it aimed to capitalise on the expanding merchandising opportunities. Besides, the appearance of a bubble bath container reflected Warner's change in licensing and began to penetrate more deeply into people's lives. Its shape is also deeply loved by young consumers through the influence of the Batman Forever Batman franchise into the lives of teenagers.
The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum holds a series collection of Batman franchises, and it makes the museum itself a fascinating place for Batman fans to visit. The museum keeps some of its Batman-related collections well preserved, making these rare objects accessible to fans like the Batman Bubble Bath Container. For instance, the 1989 Batmobile Toy car, the poster of the Lobby card for 'Batman and Robin', and the book called Batman & Robin Official Annual. Its collection of Batman is rich in content and variety and crosses different Batman films. For fans and researchers, the museum provides a source to preserve the Batman franchise’s merchandised items and give audiences a chance to reach, which is one of the most remarkable superheroes in the world.
Work Cited
Batman Forever (1995)
https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5050?show=full
https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/explore/item/68388/
Pearson, R. and Uricchio, W. (1991) The Many Lives of the Batman: Critical Approaches to a Superhero and his Media, New York: Routledge
--- (2006) Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York University Press
Freeman, M. “Transmediating Tim Burton’s Gotham City: Brand Convergence, Child Audiences, and Batman: The Animated Series”. Networking Knowledge: Journal of the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network, vol. 7, no. 1, Apr. 2014, doi:10.31165/nk.2014.71.329.
Jenkins, H. (2003) ‘Transmedia Storytelling.’ Technology Review. Accessible at http://www.technologyreview.com/news/401760/transmedia-storytelling/. Accessed 4 February 2013
--- (2011) ‘Transmedia 202: Further Reflections,’ Confessions of an Aca-Fan, August 1. Available at: http://henryjenkins.org/2011/08/defining_transmedia_further_re.html. Accessed 28 August 2013
This Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container was manufactured in Thailand and produced by Prelude UK Limited in 1995. The original pack was with a card tag, which painted a Batman sign under a big Riddler questionnaire symbol. It features the portrayal of Batman by Val Kilmer, with the suit design closely resembling the Batman costume seen in the film. It is 28cm high and capable of containing 275ml bubble bath or shower gel. With a removable cape, the whole container can be separated into four parts, such as a comprises bottle (BD74884/1), a cap (BD74884/2), an upper body (BD74884/3) and a cape (BD74884/4). Wear to the surface of the cape. It is noticed that the arms of Batman are movable, which adds a certain level of interactivity. The primary function of this product was as a bubble bath dispenser, but it was also marketed as a collectable item due to its iconic shape and connection to the Batman Forever (1995) film. It was part of the extensive line of licensed Batman Forever merchandise aimed at a younger audience.
Jose Fernandez designed this bat-suit under the direction of Bob Ringwood and Joel Schumacher. Schumacher wanted a strong influence of beauty for this costume, which was influenced by the statues of ancient Greece. The design of the armour marked a significant departure from Tim Burton's darker, gothic style, adopting a more streamlined, metallic aesthetic that gave Batman a more modern and advanced appearance. The armour’s design was inspired by the film's brighter, more dynamic visual style, with sharper lines and sculptural details on the chest, shoulders, and mask. This not only enhanced Batman's heroic persona but also made the armour representative of the film's colour tone and overall aesthetic. Pearson and Uricchio mentioned that at this stage, any drastic change to Batman's visual style could damage its franchise and undermine the integrity of the merchandise form and the interests of its fans, as well as the character's lived experience necessary for its continued success.’ (Pearson and Uricchio, 184). However, the change of the Batman suit works well because compared to Burton's design, this version captures the attention of younger audiences better, making it a wise choice to combine this Batman suit design with children's products.
The Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container was part of a larger strategy by Warner Bros. The idea is that successful brands are built by exploiting multiple contacts between the brand and the consumer. (2006, 69). The Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container exemplified the increasing trend in the 1990s of turning movies and characters into multifaceted, lifestyle-engaged brands. To create a range of kid-friendly products that would promote the film while encouraging brand loyalty among young fans. The reason why Warner Brothers turned to licensing intellectual property to other companies to produce merchandise production is that profit margins are running thin throughout the film industry and box office. So, Warner Bros. marketed the product heavily alongside other Batman Forever film-related toys, lunchboxes, and school supplies. The bubble bath container was positioned as both a functional and collectable item that parents would purchase for their children, blending the film’s commercial appeal with practical use in children’s daily routines. The Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container is made of black plastic and can play in the water. For instance, parents may have the chance to deliver the power of fandom of the Batman franchise when they bathe their children; it is also a good chance to interact with their children. As a result, the Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container was generally well-received by consumers, especially for its novelty value and the fact that it represented a fusion of toy-like collectability with a necessary household product. It became a popular item in both children's bathrooms and as a worthy collectable in the years following the film’s release.
In the 1990s, the way consumers engaged with the Batman franchise changed. It is not limited to the box office and videotape rentals. However, it built an integrated product system around the audience. This bubble bath container, along with other products like action figures and brush with Batman appearance, contributed to the film’s product marketing system, showing presence in homes. Licensing related to merchandise and franchise products is a significant revenue source, particularly for prominent publishing houses. It can also serve to finance new franchise products. (Freeman, 43) It is a virtuous cycle that benefits both the franchise and the film. The Batman franchise had already become a pop culture phenomenon by the time Batman Forever was released, and the bubble bath container fit into this brand, and products played a role in creating emotional connections with audiences, particularly children, who often saw the products as an extension of the fictional world they admired. ‘Brand extension builds on audience interest in particular content to bring them into contact again and again with an associated brand’. (Jenkins, 4) It reflected the era’s consumer culture, where licensed merchandise became the items found everywhere in daily life. This transition reflected a conscious effort to reframe the franchise, making it more accessible to a wider consumer base, as it aimed to capitalise on the expanding merchandising opportunities. Besides, the appearance of a bubble bath container reflected Warner's change in licensing and began to penetrate more deeply into people's lives. Its shape is also deeply loved by young consumers through the influence of the Batman Forever Batman franchise into the lives of teenagers.
The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum holds a series collection of Batman franchises, and it makes the museum itself a fascinating place for Batman fans to visit. The museum keeps some of its Batman-related collections well preserved, making these rare objects accessible to fans like the Batman Bubble Bath Container. For instance, the 1989 Batmobile Toy car, the poster of the Lobby card for 'Batman and Robin', and the book called Batman & Robin Official Annual. Its collection of Batman is rich in content and variety and crosses different Batman films. For fans and researchers, the museum provides a source to preserve the Batman franchise’s merchandised items and give audiences a chance to reach, which is one of the most remarkable superheroes in the world.
Work Cited
Batman Forever (1995)
https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5050?show=full
https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/explore/item/68388/
Pearson, R. and Uricchio, W. (1991) The Many Lives of the Batman: Critical Approaches to a Superhero and his Media, New York: Routledge
--- (2006) Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. New York: New York University Press
Freeman, M. “Transmediating Tim Burton’s Gotham City: Brand Convergence, Child Audiences, and Batman: The Animated Series”. Networking Knowledge: Journal of the MeCCSA Postgraduate Network, vol. 7, no. 1, Apr. 2014, doi:10.31165/nk.2014.71.329.
Jenkins, H. (2003) ‘Transmedia Storytelling.’ Technology Review. Accessible at http://www.technologyreview.com/news/401760/transmedia-storytelling/. Accessed 4 February 2013
--- (2011) ‘Transmedia 202: Further Reflections,’ Confessions of an Aca-Fan, August 1. Available at: http://henryjenkins.org/2011/08/defining_transmedia_further_re.html. Accessed 28 August 2013
Creator
PRELUDE UK LTD
Source
Batman Forever (1995) film
Publisher
Warner Bros. and PRELUDE UK LTD
Date
1996
Contributor
DC Comics
Rights
NE4 5SP © DC COMICS ALL RIGHTS RESERVERD
Relation
SPECTRUM
Format
Plastics
Language
English
Type
Container, star portrait, toy
Identifier
BD074884
Coverage
Batman Forever (1995), Batman, Star portraitToy, Warner Bros. Dc Comics
Files
Collection
Citation
PRELUDE UK LTD, “Batman Forever Bubble Bath Container,” Archival Encounters: Digital Exhibitions form the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, accessed January 21, 2025, https://humanities-research.exeter.ac.uk/archivalencounters/items/show/61.