Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993) - Full Reaction
Added 2024-06-08 19:21:27 +0000 UTCBatman-FANTASTIC ;) Well add this Batman/Bruce Wayne to my list of animated crushes! This was such a great story/plot you almost forget you're watching something animated. Really was so entertained!
Comments
Kevin Conroy is not the best Batman. Maybe the best Batman voice. Takes more than a voice to be the best Batman.
Clay F
2024-10-29 00:31:14 +0000 UTC"Defiantly not for kids" lol I watched the VHS of this when it came out a gazillion times. I think I was 5 when I first saw it and loved it! As for if she killed the Joker, since this movie is canon with the animated series then the answer is no. Though I admit when viewed by itseft apart from the series then it really does look like she did. This movie is literally my favorite Batman movie! I'm glad you stuck around to see that it's Mark Hamill that voiced the Joker. He and Kevin Conroy are my favorite versions of Batman and the Joker! Since you liked the movie I think it would be cool for you to watch a few episodes of the animated series at some point.
Cody Nelson
2024-06-12 01:28:30 +0000 UTCI remember seeing this in theatres when it came out. In all honesty, for me this is the definitive Batman. For all the reasons Cassie said. also I would say this Batman is what all other versions aspire to be.
Jon
2024-06-10 21:12:06 +0000 UTC"China Beach" is where I first saw Dana Delaney.
Clay F
2024-06-10 14:47:03 +0000 UTCHer outfit holds up really well, Batman/Robin is pretty dated by todays standards but Batgirl's outfit always looked really good.
LittleGalaxyBoy
2024-06-10 08:33:56 +0000 UTCI used to watched my son play Batman: Arkham Asylum. He seemed good at it.
Clay F
2024-06-10 05:24:39 +0000 UTCWatched some the animated series a little as a kid, but never watched any of the movies, so this was fun to watch with Cassie. I knew Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, but was genuinely surprised to see Dana Delaney ("Tomestone" and "Desparate Housewives") name in the credits, I still remember her from my folks watching "China Beach" when I was a kid. That theme song that you are familiar with if Batman '66 with Adam West (as others have said), and I think that should get a bit a shot to give some perspective, of where Batman came from at least in terms of camp-ness or cheesy-ness. They did a movie, at least tv movie which may be a good reference. So everything at least in terms of live action has turned down the cheese as time has gone on, with an up tick when Joel Schumacher was involved ("Batman Forever" and "Batman & Robin"). I still need to watch the "infamous" Batman '89 reaction.
Mojo One Thousand
2024-06-10 03:05:54 +0000 UTCCassie - if you haven’t seen Yvonne Craig in the 1960s series Batman as Batgirl, check it out (she was awesome!). I always looked forward to the Batgirl episodes. Her outfit was fire. Batgirl is my favorite character in the DC comics and I also loved the Robin/Batgirl episodes in BTAS and The New Batman Adventures.
Rose
2024-06-10 02:57:02 +0000 UTCshe was also in desperate housewives!!!
Cassie
2024-06-10 02:22:58 +0000 UTCI know...still catching up-I have my Mother in law to watch my kids on the weekend a bit so that is when i can get most of my watching done! The other two will be up tonight, also have to schedule around carlys schedule for a lot of them! Ill get better! the other two will be up though tonight. Just best to think of my weeks as wednesday to wednesday!
Cassie
2024-06-10 02:21:41 +0000 UTCCassie to this day, the Batman Animated Series is THE BEST Batman that I've ever seen. Better than Nolan's trilogy, better than anything that has been done in live action. If you're shocked at how good its quality is now, just imagine how shocked people were when it came out in the 90's. The entire animated universe from that era (commonly dubbed the Timmiverse after Bruce Timm one of its creators) is amazing, with Superman the Animated Series being just as or almost as good as the Batman series.
KTVindicare
2024-06-09 23:33:26 +0000 UTCBatman "Under the Red Hood" is my all time favorite.
Aaron Taft
2024-06-09 16:33:40 +0000 UTCFor me that award goes to Talia al Ghul in Dark Knight Rises. Was done zero justice and had one of the worse scenes in the whole film.
LittleGalaxyBoy
2024-06-09 14:10:31 +0000 UTCThis was great rewatching, I had forgotten pretty much everything. The best Batman movie may be.. Lego Batman? It's certainly fun...
Marcos
2024-06-09 12:15:32 +0000 UTCDefinitely better than a lot of the live-action ones (not hard because there are some truly awful ones). I even like it more than Rises because that movie just does NOT work for me, and Bane is one of the worst characters I’ve ever seen. But it’s nowhere near being the best like some people are saying. Idk, I just felt like it was too short and rushed. This is one of the few animated movies that should’ve lasted around 2 hours, because there’s just so much to unpack. But it will always be nostalgic because I also grew up watching The Animated Series, although the only episode I actually remember is ‘The Laughing Fish’.
Shehab Dawoud
2024-06-09 12:11:15 +0000 UTCWatched all the the animated series episodes often but were never the biggest fan of it as a kid, entertaining, but I was never emotionally gripped by it any more than an episode of Law and Order, contrasting that with 90s marvel show episodes which often had me holding back young tears. I legitimately can't remember if I've seen this, so gonna watch it first time with Cassie to check. I did watch the Batman film where Michael Emmerson voiced Joker at one point. That was alright. Hard to go immediately to bed at 4am when getting home from an UberEats shift without something to watch and relax with so I'll watch/rewatch this now. Update: I don't know... after watching I just found the plot quite basic and bland. It's enjoyable, but a too relaxing kind of enjoyable. I never feel any stakes. I'm glad Cassie liked it as an introductory exploration into animated Batman. I think I watched it before years ago but it wasn't memorable enough of a story to me, so I pretty much forgot I'd seen it. I feel like I've seen similar plots a hundred times before in both Batman media and other non-Batman stories. Batman loves woman, woman is half bad/corrupt, Batman can't have woman because he's about justice, not revenge. Nothing unique or iconic in its imagery or ideas (other than recognizing a certain animated GIF) when compared to other plots from the animated series which I liked more. There were definitely little moments in this that I liked, the Alfred coming in with drinks and immediately going back out call back, Bruce stepping on the front wheel on that motorcycle, the laughing guy in the hospital scene, but the overarching plot is just melodramatic for the sake of being melodramatic to me. Penguin, Catwoman and Joker stuff in the series did it more for me. And also Mark was great per usual as The Joker but honestly didn't do enough interesting things for me in this film.
YodatheHobbit
2024-06-09 10:50:33 +0000 UTCNot for kids? Bah, I watched this when I was 6 and loved it lol! The violence in this movie is tamed compared today's day and age in my opinion lol! Cassie, I cannot tell you how much this means to me that you loved this movie😇🙏, this has been a childhood favorite of mine for a long time! I enjoyed every minute of you watching this reaction, I've already watched this three times, I also did a reaction recording of me watching your reaction to this hehe! I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but like I said before, you and Carly say what you will about the Tim Burton 1989 BATMAN, but if it weren't for the success of that movie, we wouldn't have the beloved Batman The Animated Series that his movie is based off of! The story is all original, none of it is based off of any existing Batman comics, but it's plot and concept is really well written! Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne/Batman is the best, may he rest in peace, Mark Hamill arguably does the best Joker ever, I went as him for Halloween one year many years ago and I can do a pretty good impersonation of his voice lol! I highly recommend you eventually react to the Animated Series, I'm sure you'll enjoy watching them! It's sad I must say, including Kevin Conroy, we lost three voice actors of the animated series recently, Arleen Sorkin who voiced Harley Quinn, and Richard Moll who voiced Harvey Dent/Two-Face, we Batman fans will forever remember them and they will forever be in our hearts! As for other voice actors in this movie I'm a little surprised you didn't recognize, Andrea Beaumont is voiced by Dana Delany, you'd know her from TOMBSTONE, she played the actress that Wyatt Earp ends up with at the end of the movie! The character Arthur Reeves the councilman is voiced by Hart Bochner, he was the guy in DIE HARD who ratted out Bruce Willis' John McClane to Hans Gruber! Anyway, I'm so so glad you enjoyed watching this animated movie, really means a lot to me as a Batman fan lol! Have a Happy Sunday, love and support always, God bless you, Carly and the family🦇🥰🤗😇🙏😁😉✌👍🌹
Wesley White
2024-06-09 10:29:41 +0000 UTCThat "Mattman" song you are thinking of is from the 1960's Batman live action TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward.
Shawn Kildal
2024-06-09 06:10:50 +0000 UTCTruly Batman at its best and the late great Kevin Conroy!!! This is my Batman and Joker always!
Seven Coughlin
2024-06-09 05:13:51 +0000 UTCThis is a totally original story to Batman. Andrea didn’t exist before this movie. This series created The Phantasm AND Harley Quinn who is now a huge character.
djKENTO
2024-06-09 05:07:05 +0000 UTCDefinitely you need to watch the Animated Series. Batman Beyond as well.
Oscar Ortega
2024-06-09 04:41:45 +0000 UTCAgree
Oscar Ortega
2024-06-09 04:39:56 +0000 UTCThe voice of Batman's love interest, Andrea Beaumont, is Dana Delany. Cassie knows her best from Tombstone. She was the actress Wyatt Earp fell in love with. She would go on to voice Lois Lane in the Superman Animated series. The voice of the Arthur, the young, corrupt city councilman that Andrea was dating was voiced by Hart Bochner. Cassie knows him best from the first Die Hard movie. He was the bearded, sleazy, co-worker Holly worked with.
Shawn Kildal
2024-06-09 04:14:51 +0000 UTCAlso, "Beware the Grey Ghost," "Feat of Clay" parts 1 and 2, "Almost Got 'Im"
Stick Figure Studios
2024-06-09 03:32:51 +0000 UTCHere is something I would never watch on my own. Should be fun. I played the Arkham games so the guy doing the voice is familiar to me at least.
Scott Macaulay
2024-06-09 03:25:55 +0000 UTCI highly recommend Batman:The Animated Series. A few key episodes because it had a lot: Two Face, parts one and two Heart of Ice Perchance to Dream Robin's Reckoning, parts one and two. Bonus if you can spot a Back to The Future actor in those two. Joker's Favor The Man Who Killed Batman The Demon's Quest, parts one and two And... Over the Edge.
Kristopher Wood
2024-06-09 02:47:39 +0000 UTCI have never read a comic book, except maybe to glance at a page or two. In the late 1960s/early 1970s, as a young kid, I loved the Adam West Batman series. Watched reruns on Saturday morning and in the afternoon after school. Fast forward 20-25 years later, I don't remember liking Batman 89, Returns 92, Forever 95, or Batman and Robin 97 that much, except maybe liking Keaton and Kilmer as Batman. Those four movies didn't do much for me (what I can remember) -- wasn't into those kind of movies at the time. Further, it never crossed my mind to watch Batman: The Animated Series (1992-1995). I turned age 30 in 1993 and the only animated stuff I watched back then was a few episodes of Beavis and Butt-Head, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and King of the Hill -- enjoyed all three of those cartoons. I got DVDs of Batman Begins (2005) and The Dark Knight (2008) in the late 2000s for my son to watch, but didn't pay much attention. I watched my son play Batman: Arkham Asylum. He seemed good at it. Then, in 2012, I took him to the theater to see The Dark Knight Rises (2012) -- a special showing of all 3 back-to-back = Batman Begins, Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises. I was surprised how much I liked them, and have grown to like the Nolan trilogy even more in my old age. Finally, I liked The Batman (2022). Did my first watch of this movie today along with the reaction -- an effort to expand my horizon -- and I generally liked it. I like the look of the animation (super cool) and somewhat 1940s feel with some darkness. There is dialogue I like. I like the score. But overall, I did not like this movie as much as The Dark Knight trilogy.
Clay F
2024-06-09 02:33:09 +0000 UTCI'm guessing that comic was "Stacked Cards." I read that one a lot as a kid as well and listened to the accompanying audio dramatization on record.
Stick Figure Studios
2024-06-09 02:15:11 +0000 UTCShe's seen the first Burton film and hated it. I'm hoping she'll give RETURNS a try though.
Stick Figure Studios
2024-06-09 02:13:59 +0000 UTCI was in high school when BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES debuted on the Fox Network and having grown up mainly with the campy 1960s BATMAN TV show and the rather juvenile Saturday morning cartoons, I thought it was brilliant. Smart, sophisticated, gorgeously animated in the style of the old Fleischer SUPERMAN shorts and featuring a fantastic score by the late Shirley Walker (who not only helped Danny Elfman compose the iconic score to the first Burton film but was the conductor of the orchestra that performed it in the recording sessions). I loved it. It was (and is) one of the best shows on television and this first animated feature based on it is IMO the best Batman movie ever made, real or animated. So glad you watched it and even more glad that you liked it.
Stick Figure Studios
2024-06-09 02:13:07 +0000 UTCJust adding to the other comments on here. The 1993 animated series was produced for adults as well as kids and holds up today as a timeless classic.
ArsTropica
2024-06-09 01:41:03 +0000 UTCJeff Bezos has been working out a lot lately. 😊
Steve Holton
2024-06-09 01:10:07 +0000 UTCYeah, I wish more people understood the art of the soft-sell. Even things that I absolutely love I would never say more than "I like it a lot, you should check it out when get a chance." Saying something is the greatest of all time just creates unrealistic expectations.
Richard Maurer
2024-06-09 00:51:33 +0000 UTCThe first movie of a new week on Saturday? Just promise one, maybe two, next week and get caught back up.
Craig Russell
2024-06-09 00:40:25 +0000 UTCBrace yourself, Cassie, now you're going to have a bunch of people urging you to watch Batman The Animated Series (And I may be one of them XD). Glad you liked this one, even if Batman 89 wasn't your cup of tea. I'm pretty sure the smoke was being shot out of Andrea's gloves/other parts of her costume. If you decide to do a best of BTAS I think you'll find that the episodes are a good mix of dramatic and campy moments. If not, glad you found a Batman you enjoyed. Thanks for the content!
Andrew Buel
2024-06-09 00:39:08 +0000 UTCThis version of Batman is better than any version up to Christopher Nolan's - and that includes Tim Burton's version.
Richard Maurer
2024-06-09 00:36:57 +0000 UTCFor all you Batman TAS fans here is the link to the series writer's bible that they used when they made show. https://tvwriting.co.uk/tv_scripts/Collections/Animation/Batman/Batman_Writers%27_Guidelines.pdf
Patrick Toscano
2024-06-09 00:25:50 +0000 UTCThis was a good intro to animated batman ...I hope one day you get to Under The Red Hood
Philip G.
2024-06-09 00:19:42 +0000 UTCThe Tim Burton Batman influenced/inspired the animated series.. which then inspired this movie. So, I recommend the first one. (Not so much Batman Returns or the rest…)
Marcos
2024-06-09 00:18:00 +0000 UTCAnother great performance by Kevin Conroy who voiced Batman for nearly thirty years. RIP.
DAVID COSTELLO
2024-06-08 23:23:03 +0000 UTCNow you have to watch the animated show lol
MatthewBrown74m
2024-06-08 22:57:07 +0000 UTCLove this reaction .. I hadn't seen this one although I have watched some of the animated series and a few of the other Batman animated features over the years Conroy and Hamill are the definitive Batman and Joker team I think. Would be great for you to go back and do even if it was a handful of episodes from the animated series you know heart of ice and Joker's favor. I think you really would enjoy them
Canadianant
2024-06-08 22:26:29 +0000 UTCI'm so glad you enjoyed this Cassie. To this day it remains one of the best Batman movies ever made. It's part of "Batman: The Animated Series" which aired in the mid-90's. There were a number of other animated series that shared the same continuity, bringing in characters like Superman and the Justice League. Kevin Conroy continued voicing Batman through those shows, animated movies, video games etc. for something like 30 years. Of all the fine actors to have portrayed Batman over the years, Conroy is still my favorite. One of the most important things he got right was the two different voices for Bruce & Batman. His Batman wasn't just a raspy Bruce, he genuinely sounded like a different person. Mark Hamill continued voicing The Joker for pretty much that whole time too. When Kevin Conroy passed away in 2022, Hamill said he was done playing The Joker. You mentioned wanting to know what the vow was that Bruce made to his parents. It's not hard to figure out, but it's summed up perfectly in one of the most famous Batman graphic novels, The Long Halloween. "I made a promise to my parents that I would rid the city of the evil that took their lives." I like what you said about how you used to think animation was just for kids, it reminds me of something important Brad Bird said. He directed The Incredibles, The Iron Giant, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and other things. On the DVD commentary for The Incredibles he mentioned how much he hates people referring to the "animation genre". He stressed that animation isn't a genre, it's an art form. Animation can be used to tell any kind of story, in any genre, for kids or adults.
Patrick Egan
2024-06-08 22:18:47 +0000 UTCGotta say, based on all the comments, I expected more from this. There were people saying it’s possibly the best Batman story, animated or live action. I’m definitely a victim of over-hype.
Cole Jennett
2024-06-08 21:35:56 +0000 UTCI grew up watching the Adam West “Batman” show and loved it. But I didn’t read the comics (I was a Marvel guy and never particularly interested in DC Comics). Then, one day when I was 8 or 9 years old, I read an issue of Batman in the school library. In the opening pages, The Joker murdered a museum security guard, leaving him with the signature gruesome Joker grin. In the ensuing pages they made it abundantly clear that Joker was a homicidal maniac. I was horrified and enthralled at the same time. This was definitely a different kinda comic book. Forty-five years later I’m still not a DC guy but I make an exception for Batman, one of the great fictional characters of all time.
Just Plain Bob
2024-06-08 21:29:20 +0000 UTCThe quintessential version of Batman. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are the absolute best versions of these characters! I'm glad you enjoyed it. In my opinion this is much better than any live action Batman. Maybe not the popular opinion, but I stick by it lol!
Rob Galloway
2024-06-08 21:19:00 +0000 UTCThis is such a great movie. The perfect Batman. So glad you enjoyed it.
Michael West
2024-06-08 21:18:40 +0000 UTCReally pissing me off that I can't place that song...
Chris Thom
2024-06-08 21:13:30 +0000 UTC"I am vengeance, I am the night, I AM BATMAN!" Damn this was a good watch, love this movie, forever proof an animated film can be just as heart felt and engaging as any live action attempt. After seeing the success of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies, some wanted to make a serious take of a live action Batman movie, it would be a challenge to change peoples set view of the campy 1960s "na na na na na na " Batman series. The result of which is the Tim Burton Batman movies with the animated series as a spin off. This series was made with the thinking that both adults and kids can enjoy it together with its mature yet engaging writing that never insults the audience intelligence.
D4RK
2024-06-08 21:13:27 +0000 UTCAh I wanted to see this so bad as a kid but let it slip and totally forgot about it once I hit 12. Maybe today is the day! Also down low wanted to see that Power Ranger movie with Apocalypse from X-Men. lol. Missed that one as well.
Chris Thom
2024-06-08 21:08:49 +0000 UTCBatman: The Animated Series, which spawned this movie, is by far the best version of the Dark Knight. Though Christopher Nolan came close, the cartoon truly captures the spirit of the comic book. Having said that, as a 58 year old, I too consider the campy Adam West series/movie to be the One True Batman.
David Patterson
2024-06-08 21:07:17 +0000 UTCIt's good, but I would put a bunch of the animated series episodes above it, maybe Gotham Knight (2008) and Under the Red Hood (2010) too. For me though, the five minutes of Ace's death will always be the best Batman ever. Ace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWHHsdE_oQg
Mike Lemon
2024-06-08 20:59:48 +0000 UTCNearly 400 billionaires in the world and not a one of them is Batman. How have we fallen short of this goal!?!
Above Average Dave
2024-06-08 20:59:26 +0000 UTCMaybe just Heart of Ice and Beware the Gray Ghost (after seeing Batman 1966). I love TAS, but don't want another long watch series.
Mike Lemon
2024-06-08 20:56:07 +0000 UTCI'm SO pleased you loved this... and it now begs the question - how do we get you to watch Arcane? 9 episodes with a second season due to come out in November... it is simply the finest thing I've seen, animated or otherwise, in the last 10 years. An absolute masterclass on so many levels, and I would argue that the groundwork for such a mature and complicated animated series was laid by this movie right here.
Story Archer
2024-06-08 20:54:18 +0000 UTCPhenomenal reaction Cassie. As others will point out, this is set in the same universe as Batman: The Animated Series which ran from 1992-1997, the same universe carried on with a Superman cartoon in the late 90s, a show called Batman Beyond set in the future with an elderly Bruce Wayne mentoring a new Batman and an excellent Justice League cartoon in the mid 2000s. It was all interconnected like the comics its based on and similar to how the Marvel Cinematic Universe would operate later. Kevin Conroy would voice Batman the entire time and even beyond, voicing Batman in video games and other cartoon movies until his way too early passing in 2022. To many fans, he is the Batman we hear in our heads. Similarly Mark Hammil has played the Joker in the series as well as those same video games over the last 30 years and is also The Joker we hear in our heads.
Choof
2024-06-08 20:50:11 +0000 UTCYou should watch the animated series this is based from. Its a great series. Superman the animated series, Justice league and justice league unlimited are all in the same universe and they are landmarks of cartoons. They are all on Max right now.
Night King01
2024-06-08 20:50:06 +0000 UTCSub zero is a very good batman film as well if you want to see a great mr freeze. Also under the red hood. Dc animated is like a treasure trove of great stories.
Night King01
2024-06-08 20:44:54 +0000 UTCShe’d have to start with the orginal from 92 to 96
David Freese
2024-06-08 20:35:38 +0000 UTCDang it, of all times for this to be posted and I'm at work 😭 lol 😂 I'm definitely watching this tonight when I get off! I'm very happy to hear that you liked it, can't wait to see your reaction! Have a Happy Saturday 😁😉✌️😇🤗🙏🥰🌹
Wesley White
2024-06-08 20:24:27 +0000 UTCAnybody that played Arkham City knows how great those two were. They had onion chopping ninjas attacking over the Joker. I never would have thought that possible.
Mike Lemon
2024-06-08 20:22:46 +0000 UTCOh yeah by the way the cop hunting Batman is Bullock. He’s a mainstay of the gotham pd in the comics and is prominent in the animated series. Hes the rough exterior kind cop who doesnt like batmans vigilantism. He gives off the demeanor of a crooked cop but he is an honest one, one of the few and gordons closest confidant in the police force other than batman.
Night King01
2024-06-08 20:13:35 +0000 UTCI'd tend to agree.
Stick Figure Studios
2024-06-08 20:09:12 +0000 UTCPicture Groundskeeper Willie "When you're alone and life is gettin' ya lonely. Ye can always go ach...JUNE TOON!" 🤣🤪
Zane From Canada
2024-06-08 20:07:19 +0000 UTCWe just high-fived in the car! LOL.
Ike
2024-06-08 20:00:14 +0000 UTCIs it that good?
John Sullivan
2024-06-08 19:54:26 +0000 UTCThis is peak Batman. I LOVE this movie.
Fritz
2024-06-08 19:48:38 +0000 UTCFor my money, this is the best Batman film period, full stop. It's flawless.
Matt Rose
2024-06-08 19:47:39 +0000 UTCOriginal Batman...Tim Burton??? Oh, sweet youngster, you are missing the iconic 1966 Batman and the great Adam West (the "nanananana Batman!" song was from the show the movie was based on). There were also serials in 1943 and 1949. The 1966 Batman was the first full length Batman movie.
Mike Lemon
2024-06-08 19:46:18 +0000 UTCI don't know who lied to you. I saw this in theatres when it came out for Christmas.
aarswft
2024-06-08 19:44:26 +0000 UTCOh don't tease an X-Men '97 watch. That would be too good.
aarswft
2024-06-08 19:43:27 +0000 UTCRest in Peace kevin conroy you were the definitive batman.
Night King01
2024-06-08 19:40:42 +0000 UTCThere is a reason I never heard of it before, because it went straight to video back in the 90's. Edit: so it did come out in theaters. What can I say ? In the immortal words of Snoop Dogg Nine-trizzay's the year for me to f up sh!+ So I ain't hold nothin back and M'fer I got five on that twenty sack.
Zachary K. (Swiftie)
2024-06-08 19:40:30 +0000 UTCYay I am glad you loved it. Kevin Conroy had a great voice for batman and Mark Hamill as the joker is so good
MatthewBrown74m
2024-06-08 19:36:35 +0000 UTCBatman approves👍🏾
Mike Turp
2024-06-08 19:36:19 +0000 UTCWooo! My favorite Batman!! So happy you liked it!!!
Brent
2024-06-08 19:35:13 +0000 UTCKevin Conroy will always be the voice of Batman/Bruce Wayne. RIP 🙏
Zane From Canada
2024-06-08 19:35:02 +0000 UTCI need to watch this. People really hype it up.
ShazD
2024-06-08 19:30:55 +0000 UTCMask of the Phantasm Context: 'Mask of the Phantasm' is a unique spin-off film from the beloved Batman: Animated Series (1992-1995), also known as BTAS. It's set during the show's first season but it's not a series continuation. Instead, it presents an original, standalone story, making it accessible and enjoyable for anyone, even those who haven't watched the Animated Series. During the series Bruce is around 28 to 31 active for a good few years as the cape crusader with the show having a few flashbacks to his earlier years. You'd love the series. Thankfully, many of the episodes are self-contained stories with a few two part episodes. If you ever react to the Animated Series, I can see you watching the more iconic episodes, similar to Star Trek. Episodes like Beware The Gray Ghost, The Forgotten, Almost Got ‘Im, Nothing to Fear, Perchance to Dream, Jokers Favor, Robins Reckoning, Over The Edge, Clock King, Appointment in Crime Alley, Feat of Clay, Two-Face, and of course Heart of Ice an episode that won a Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program. These are just a few episodes that come to mind. Time Period: The setting of 'Phantasm and BTAS' is a really cool blend of different eras. It's set in the early 1990s (Flashbacks during the 1980s) but features a timeless aesthetic that seamlessly merges 1930s fashion, vehicles, architecture, adverts, and technology with the 1990s. This fusion, along with some 1950s retro-futuristic elements like the World of Tomorrow, crafts a unique 'Dark Deco' aesthetic. This was enhanced by having the backgrounds be painted using light colours on black paper as opposed to the industry standard of dark colours on white paper. Superman: Animated Series (1996) also has a timeless aesthetic but captures a more colourful 1950s retro-futurism style. Metropolis looks like the City of Tomorrow, An Art Deco wonderland, matching the colourful and hopeful Superman and wildly contrasting Batman and Gotham City. Original Characters: The Phantasm and Andrea Beaumont are characters created for this film, Phantasm being inspired by The Reaper a villain who appeared in Batman: Year Two. The Animated Series is also no strangers to giving us holy original characters. Harley Quinn, introduced in Joker's Favor in 1992, is an original character created for the show who made her way into the comics in 1999 using the same origin story feature in the Animated Series. Harley Quinn is now as Iconic as The Joker, though I'd argue her best rendition is still the Animated Series. Mister Freeze in the Animated Series would get a complete character re-work, providing him with a heart-breaking backstory surrounding his wife, Nora, a new character design, and overall, just turning him into a fascinating character. Michael Ansara also voiced him, giving him an iconic cold voice. This envision of the character would become the definitive Mister Freeze, also making its way into the comics and every media that followed. Even Batman & Robin (1997) used this origin for Arnold Schwarzenegger's Mister Freeze, but the less we talk about Batman & Robin, the better. Other Films: Speaking of Mister Freeze, there’s also Freeze: SubZero (1998), a direct-to-video animated film, the second movie set in the Animated Series after Mask of the Phantasm. It takes place after the events of Heart of Ice, the first Mister Freeze episode from BTAS, acting as a sequel to those events. The film was originally meant for a 1997 release alongside Batman & Robin (1997) but the reaction to that film caused WB to delay the Animated movie. Heart of Ice combined with SubZero is the definitive Mister Freeze experience, highly recommend. The third Animated movie is Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker (2000), another outstanding film based on Batman Beyond, a sequel series to BTAS set in 2039. In it, 16-year-old Terry McGinnis takes on the mantle of Batman, with the original Batman, 70-year-old Bruce Wayne, acting as his mentor. The show has a more Bladerunner, Akira Cyberpunk feel set in Neo Gotham. Recommend checking out the two-part premiere of Batman Beyond called Rebirth" before checking out Return of the Joker as that episode introduces the viewer to this new time period, what happened to Bruce Wayne as Batman along with the origins of Terry McGinnis. Little side note but the creators of the Spider-Verse films pitched WB a Batman Beyond film in the same style as Spider-Verse but it was turned down. This was revealed these past few months, Batman Beyond was also planned to be turned into a live action film as well back during the 2000s but it never happened. DCAU (DC Animated Universe) Everything I’ve mentioned above including Mask of the Phantasm takes place in a single shared universe across shows like Batman, Superman, Batman Beyond, New Batman Adventures, Static Shock, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. The same creative minds work behind the scenes with the same voice actors including Kevin Conroy as Batman and Mark Hamill as Joker. Thank MCU, but animated and made up of mostly TV shows, and that’s the DC Animated Universe. Unlike the MCU, though, this shared universe was not planned by Bruce Timm or Paul Dini, the masterminds behind the Animated Series. WB wanted a Superman show, so it was only logical that both animated shows would be set within the same continuity, allowing for fun little references and crossovers; Superman's show also allowed them to introduce other DC heroes, exploring the greater DC universe. WB then sought to create a younger, more relatable Batman for a teenage audience. But this couldn't fit into the Batman: Animated Series timeline thanks to Bruce becoming Batman in his mid-20s, so the creators came up with the concept of a show set in the future featuring a new Batman. This birthed Batman Beyond, with Terry McGinnis, a young teenager, navigating through the same relatable struggles as Peter Parker, creating a character that resonates with the audience. This also allowed Bruce Wayne to show up in the series only as an older man. Once the creators had a solid series of interconnected shows, they began planning for future series like Justice League. It's wild to think that we have a whole Animated Universe filled with amazing stories and takes on characters, yet for some reason, DC still struggles to capture what the DCAU achieved. Thankfully, James Gunn has stated that the DCAU is a big inspiration behind his new universe, so here's hoping we see this level of quality in future DC films. R.I.P Kevin Conroy
LittleGalaxyBoy
2024-06-08 19:25:22 +0000 UTC“Batman Fantastic” you made the joke before i could….lol. Cant wait to watch. This is one of my favorites.
Walter Crockett
2024-06-08 19:24:47 +0000 UTCI've always seen this around and talked about but never seen it before. Look forward to checking it out. Love the art style.
Ian A
2024-06-08 19:24:07 +0000 UTC
