Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Eric Radomski Bruce Timm
Screenplay by	Alan Burnett Paul Dini Martin Pasko Michael Reaves
Story by	Alan Burnett
Based on	Batman by Bob Kane     Bill Finger[a] Batman: The Animated Series by Eric Radomski     Bruce Timm
Produced by	Benjamin Melniker Michael Uslan
Starring	Kevin Conroy Mark Hamill Dana Delany Hart Bochner Abe Vigoda
Edited by	Al Breitenbach
Music by	Shirley Walker
Production companies	Warner Bros. Family Entertainment Warner Bros. Animation Dong Yang Animation Spectrum Animation
Distributed by	Warner Bros.[1]
Release date	December 25, 1993 (1993-12-25)
Running time	78 minutes
Country	United States[1]
Language	English
Budget	$6 million
Box office	$5.6 million[2]

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (also known as Batman: The Animated Movie – Mask of the Phantasm) is a 1993 American animated romantic superhero film featuring the DC Comics character Batman. It was directed by Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm, and written by Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, Martin Pasko, and Michael Reaves. The film is based on Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), and is the first film of the DC Animated Universe and the only one to receive a theatrical release. Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Bob Hastings and Robert Costanzo reprise their voice roles from Batman: The Animated Series, joined by Dana Delany, Hart Bochner, Stacy Keach Jr., Abe Vigoda, Dick Miller and John P. Ryan.

Produced between the first and second seasons of the series, the film follows Batman as he reconciles with a former lover, Andrea Beaumont, and faces a mysterious vigilante who is murdering Gotham City's crime bosses. The situation becomes more complicated when the Joker enters the picture. The plot partly mirrors Mike W. Barr's Batman: Year Two comic book story arc, but features an original antagonist, the Phantasm, in place of the Reaper, while also borrowing elements from the Batman: Year One arc, recounting how Bruce Wayne became Batman and his first attempts to fight crime.

Originally planned for a direct-to-video release, Warner Bros. ultimately gave Mask of the Phantasm a theatrical release, condensing its production into a strenuous eight-month schedule. The film was the first theatrical feature film produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and was released through the studio's Family Entertainment^[1] division on December 25, 1993, to generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the stylized animation, voice performances, story, and music.

Due to the decision to release it in theaters on short notice, Mask of the Phantasm failed at the box office. After its release on home media, it became financially successful. Until the limited release of Batman: The Killing Joke in 2016, Mask of the Phantasm was the only animated Batman film to be given a theatrical release, as well as the only one to receive a full theatrical release until The Lego Batman Movie in 2017.

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