Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a 1993 animated film, and in a sea of 15 Batman films, it stands out as the best Batman film featuring the best Batman.
Mask of the Phantasm began life as a direct-to-video extended episode of Batman: The Animated Series, but upon seeing the quality mid-production, Warner Bros. quickly pivoted it to a full theatrical release, complete with the budget necessary to make it stand out even more. The film is not simply an animated feature, it’s an emotionally impactful Batman mystery (yes, he gets to be a detective) with relevant flashbacks that cover a far more in-depth and grounded origin than other Batman films.
The beauty of the hand-drawn animation can’t be understated. The backdrops and sets have an almost painterly quality, the keyframes are impeccably detailed, and the animation itself is incredibly smooth. There hasn’t been an animated feature like it since, and I doubt there ever will be.
To match that animation, the voice cast features some incredible talent. Alongside Kevin Conroy’s and Mark Hamill’s legendary takes on Batman and Joker respectively, the cast also includes Dana Delany, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Stacy Keach, and Abe Vigoda. Their performances, combined with an impeccable soundtrack by Shirley Walker, are just as immaculate as the animation, and again I must emphasize that there hasn’t been an animated feature like it since, and I doubt there ever will be.
In Batman: The Animated Series, Kevin Conroy established Bruce Wayne as a mask that Batman wears, and Batman as a man so consumed by his mission that he will sacrifice everything for it. Because of this, Kevin Conroy’s Batman feels more natural than any other Batman on film, and Mask of the Phantasm really lets that Batman shine. You really have to see it to understand just how well he embodies the character.
If you’re a Batman fan, an animation fan, or just a fan of great films, don’t miss Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, currently streaming on Max.
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