Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
1993's BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM was the first animated theatrical feature for the titular superhero, though it was originally intended for a straight to home video release. The result is sometimes visually awkward, with animation that impresses or disappoints depending on the scene. I'm so damned picky about this. The trend toward darker Batman tales was cemented by Tim Burton's 1989 BATMAN. So when bits of the animation here reek of 1970s Superfriends, it was a bit deflating. The backdrops, however, are always impressive, and evoke memories of the older comics. Directors Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm strike just the right tone and atmosphere. But the film's real strength is its story. A tale that considers the Dark Knight's earliest days as an unsure caped crusader. The billionaire Bruce Wayne's initial efforts at crime fighting/vigilantism, ones that almost stopped cold because of a young lady. Andrea Beaumont catches his eye and flirts with him at
