WB really screwed up by not investing more in their animation division. Mask of the Phantasm only had a budget of $6 million and they were still able to make a great movie. Other animated films like Lion King and Pocahontas were getting budgets of $40 to $50 million. If WB had put real money in their animation teams, they could have a studio that's as successful as Ilumination, DreamWorks, or even Pixar.
Same here, I hardly ever missed an episode of Batman: The Animated Series during its run on FOX, in addition to reading the tie in comic book series and purchasing the action figures. Every time I read a Batman comic book, its Kevin Conroy's voice I hear in my head as Batman alongside Mark Hamill as The Joker and the rest of the cast as their respective characters.
Ah, Mask of the Phantasm. A contender alongside Burton’s Batman and Nolan’s The Dark Knight as the best Batman movie. Very interesting bts on the film also when it comes to the leadup and creation of both the show and film.
2:19 This is why I'm just not a fan of the Marvel cartoons Disney's been making for the last few years. They're so determined to match the look and feel of the MCU that not do the fail to match but also are prevented from being their own thing.
Considering how many people are starting to consider Mask Of The Phantasm to be the best theatrical bat film I think it still holds up. Sequels would still end up direct-to-video, like Sub-Zero and Mystery Of The Batwoman. I don't think they would have worked theatrically but I thought they were still pretty good, and the former for many also ended Mr. Freeze's character arc. Speaking of the bible for TAS, I did a multi-article review. It's kind of interesting what did and didn't make it to the final series. bwspotlight.com/category/television-spotlight/story-bible-reviews/batman-the-animated-bible/
Well if he had his way, everything he produces would still be uploaded to youtube but Chuck has gotten copy right strikes in the past and so had to look to other hosting services.
Yeah, once i watched more of the video, i realized that must be what it was. It wasn't a knock, i was captivated, i marveled at how often i wouldn't have done that for another video but readily did it here :P
I wonder if people will condemn me for stating that I never cared for Nolan's Batman and somewhat liking the first Burtonman film. As a child, and an adult, I have always loved the campy Adam West depiction of Batman. That being said, I will always be a fan of Batman: The Animated Series. It gave us a darker Batman without the sacrifice of humour or good writing. It also gave us Harley Quinn, one of my favourite female villains (period), and I adored her interaction with other characters and the eventual shipping of her and Poison Ivy. It also gave us the re-imagining of Mister Freeze, and definitely my favourite depiction of him, including his farewell episode in Batman Beyond. I recently rewatched the entirety B:TAS and it felt just as good as when it was on TV, perhaps even better since I can say "yeah, this is still better than all the other depictions of Batman they've done" since it came out. I actually forgot that Mask of the Phantasm was a theatrically released movie. I'm not even sure if it was in my area, come to think of it. I think I rented it from a video store that eventually got closed down for illegally copying/selling tapes. Either way, when I rewatched it this year, I really enjoyed it.
The audio has finally been released, search for it on the youtube it's... not what we expected. He was neither doing his smooth typical british villain voice nor his occasionally-used smarmy american villain voice.. he just kinda sounds like some guy. But they admitted they had no idea what to do with the characterization at that point, so he didn't have much to go on.
This film and the fan film "City of Scars" asks a good question. To truly do what he sets out to do, protect humanity, does he need to shed his own? It's shown that his techniques aren't as effective as the criminal element has figured he won't kill, and thus can be expected to just returned to jail or Arkham. However if he were to shed his humanity and kill those who break the law, how would he know what's good for humanity. What's the answer, I don't know and I challenge anyone to truly have the answer to such questions.
"We want to stress [Batman]'s mental abilities." But instead half the time he just pushes stuff into slots on the batcomputer and asks it questions :( Although this _was_ the 90s when people had all sorts of misconceptions about the ability to use computers was in of itself a sign of intellect...
Zidana123 When does he punch stuff into the computer for answers? In terms of basic research Yeah, just like an actual detective. But when did he ever get fed answers by the computer?
+Zidana123 It's weird to me that you leap to the conclusion "Oh, this is because in the 90's people thought just using a computer at all made you super smart" when I always thought the whole "let the computer solve things for me" trope was 60's batman. Or, look at some of the Star Trek TAS episodes Chuck reviewed, where they do the same schtick, and that was from the same time period.
it also hurts worse seeing it featured on the front page (mistakenly? I think he intended an episode of JLU) but still removed "by warner" because it hasn't been restored yet in slideshow format...
I think it's worth pointing out that Siskel and Ebert's review wasn't ALL correct in it's assertions. Infamously, in that same review, they also called the Joker's voice "horrible" and bemoaned that Hamill did a horrible job with it. Something that, let's just say, the vast, vast majority of people absolutely disagree with.
Hi, I hope you read this message, Where is the second part of this video?, and finally where is the playlist of the X-files?, I havn't been able to find them, help please
Wait.. Burtonman was "devoid of camp"? Did we see different movies? Yes, it was way darker then previous incarnation (especially as he was associated with Adam West version by most people), but it still was totally Silver Agey in its nature with tons of absurd gadgets, nonsensical gimmicks and everyone ignoring mass murderer in bat suit because he kill other mass murderers in the different suits. Ironically Batman TAS was first popular adaptation what wasn't campy.
TAS was closer to what the Bronze Age of comics were doing. A bit of camp here and there but mostly serious while still not taking itself too seriously.
@@ShadowWingTronix I miss those days, to be perfectly honest. I had to sit through the Dark Age and watched as comics I used to enjoy as a kid were turned into dark, overly dramatic garbage with over-the-top violence, sex appeal, and emotastic characters. I've never really recovered from that, which is why I tend to give comics a wide berth today. I still love the characters I grew up with, though, so I occasionally listen to what's going on and I'll usually see the movies.
@@HiroshiMizushima Thing is that people clearly are unaware that Dark Knight isn't mainline Batman. It is else world story what get own comic and several decent adaptations like Nolan movies and Arkham series games. But in cartoons and main comic it is still way more balanced version of this character, when forcing Dark Knight into DCEU because Werner is ashamed of DC was a gigantic mistake. Most people also are unaware that he get way more reasonable backstory then being obsessed over death of his parents (what in Dark Knight was taken too serious). For reminder Bruce was trained by Liege of Assassins to be arm of Court of Owl. A Illuminati style secret organization responsible for many crazy experiments in Gotham. He break away from them and pretend to be a failure in form of the playboy, when in reality he fight with them. He can't do that openly because he would end as his parents, who were killed for exact same reason and his enemies can't be stopped just by punching, as all assassins on the would would get price for his head. But he can investigate them secretly putting them down quietly as the Batman (who by the way was initially a Owlman as sign for them, but as result of misconception of media it stay as the bat). He isn't obsessed just with random crime, but is more a masked detective. It is why Gordon trust him even if he initially was mistaken with numerous vigilantes. And yes, Gotham TV series is surprisingly good modern adaptation.
Not everything over the top is automatically camp. there's nothing overly theatrical about having some gadgets, especially when they look halfway serious and serve a logical purpose. Penguin's whole deal with the boat and everything was definitely a bit camp but mixed with Burtonweird which is its own separate thing.. really only the initial shot of Batman raising his cape like wings and trying to intimidate people comes off as definitely silly now, the rest is only silly when you're out of the moment and analyzing it rationally.
Your background section on this made me want to go watch the movie-which I would’ve done if it were streaming for free/on Netflix. I remember renting episodes of the series from Blockbuster but, oddly, despite enjoying them I never watched it on TV. @_@
Rewatching this today. RIP Kevin Conroy - You were Vengeance, you were the night, you were Batman.
R.I.P. Kevin Conroy; you were vengeance, you were the night, you were the definitive voice of the Batman.
WB really screwed up by not investing more in their animation division.
Mask of the Phantasm only had a budget of $6 million and they were still able to make a great movie. Other animated films like Lion King and Pocahontas were getting budgets of $40 to $50 million.
If WB had put real money in their animation teams, they could have a studio that's as successful as Ilumination, DreamWorks, or even Pixar.
Yes.
Considering how DC's animated films tend to kill it more often than not nowadays, I'd say they're in a good place right now.
It being years later, I can't imagine Batman the animated series, without Mr. Conroy or Mr. Hamill. They were PERFECT for the show
Same here, I hardly ever missed an episode of Batman: The Animated Series during its run on FOX, in addition to reading the tie in comic book series and purchasing the action figures. Every time I read a Batman comic book, its Kevin Conroy's voice I hear in my head as Batman alongside Mark Hamill as The Joker and the rest of the cast as their respective characters.
Ah, Mask of the Phantasm. A contender alongside Burton’s Batman and Nolan’s The Dark Knight as the best Batman movie. Very interesting bts on the film also when it comes to the leadup and creation of both the show and film.
Yup, quite coincidentally all those movies represent different periods of comic itself.
I am so delighted that you are talking about this movie!
2:19 This is why I'm just not a fan of the Marvel cartoons Disney's been making for the last few years. They're so determined to match the look and feel of the MCU that not do the fail to match but also are prevented from being their own thing.
I'm one of the few people lucky enough to have seen it in the theater and I really liked it. I do need to rewatch it sometime though.
Considering how many people are starting to consider Mask Of The Phantasm to be the best theatrical bat film I think it still holds up. Sequels would still end up direct-to-video, like Sub-Zero and Mystery Of The Batwoman. I don't think they would have worked theatrically but I thought they were still pretty good, and the former for many also ended Mr. Freeze's character arc.
Speaking of the bible for TAS, I did a multi-article review. It's kind of interesting what did and didn't make it to the final series. bwspotlight.com/category/television-spotlight/story-bible-reviews/batman-the-animated-bible/
Oh dang, you actually just managed to get me to your website to watch that, fancy footwork, friend!
Well if he had his way, everything he produces would still be uploaded to youtube but Chuck has gotten copy right strikes in the past and so had to look to other hosting services.
Yeah, once i watched more of the video, i realized that must be what it was. It wasn't a knock, i was captivated, i marveled at how often i wouldn't have done that for another video but readily did it here :P
You should check out his other stuff. He has a lot of other videos on his website that have made me think of films and TV shows differently
Batman Year One: I vow to never use guns
Batman Year Two: Fuck my vows...who's first to be shot at!
I kid, I kid...
Yay you finally reviewed this film!
I wonder if people will condemn me for stating that I never cared for Nolan's Batman and somewhat liking the first Burtonman film. As a child, and an adult, I have always loved the campy Adam West depiction of Batman. That being said, I will always be a fan of Batman: The Animated Series. It gave us a darker Batman without the sacrifice of humour or good writing. It also gave us Harley Quinn, one of my favourite female villains (period), and I adored her interaction with other characters and the eventual shipping of her and Poison Ivy. It also gave us the re-imagining of Mister Freeze, and definitely my favourite depiction of him, including his farewell episode in Batman Beyond.
I recently rewatched the entirety B:TAS and it felt just as good as when it was on TV, perhaps even better since I can say "yeah, this is still better than all the other depictions of Batman they've done" since it came out. I actually forgot that Mask of the Phantasm was a theatrically released movie. I'm not even sure if it was in my area, come to think of it. I think I rented it from a video store that eventually got closed down for illegally copying/selling tapes. Either way, when I rewatched it this year, I really enjoyed it.
Ah, Mark Hamill...my favorite Joker.
Holy crap! Tim Curry was the cast as the original Joker?! I love Hamill, but I'm curious to hear what Curry's take on it was. Great video!
The audio has finally been released, search for it on the youtube
it's... not what we expected. He was neither doing his smooth typical british villain voice nor his occasionally-used smarmy american villain voice.. he just kinda sounds like some guy. But they admitted they had no idea what to do with the characterization at that point, so he didn't have much to go on.
I would like to hear Curry’s take, he may not have been ideal but I’m sure he was something special.
look it up, finally been released.
Oh my God, there's actual AUDIO of Curry doing the Joker and WB never released it as an extra somewhere?! WHY?!
It's on youtube now, take a look.
This film and the fan film "City of Scars" asks a good question. To truly do what he sets out to do, protect humanity, does he need to shed his own? It's shown that his techniques aren't as effective as the criminal element has figured he won't kill, and thus can be expected to just returned to jail or Arkham. However if he were to shed his humanity and kill those who break the law, how would he know what's good for humanity. What's the answer, I don't know and I challenge anyone to truly have the answer to such questions.
"We want to stress [Batman]'s mental abilities." But instead half the time he just pushes stuff into slots on the batcomputer and asks it questions :(
Although this _was_ the 90s when people had all sorts of misconceptions about the ability to use computers was in of itself a sign of intellect...
Zidana123 When does he punch stuff into the computer for answers? In terms of basic research Yeah, just like an actual detective. But when did he ever get fed answers by the computer?
In many ways its the polar opposite of the other fear of computers during that decade, that computers were only for nerds, evil, and ruined our lives.
There's an episode where Batman goes to the zoo to learn a basic fact about crocodiles
+Zidana123 It's weird to me that you leap to the conclusion "Oh, this is because in the 90's people thought just using a computer at all made you super smart" when I always thought the whole "let the computer solve things for me" trope was 60's batman. Or, look at some of the Star Trek TAS episodes Chuck reviewed, where they do the same schtick, and that was from the same time period.
I love that movie.
Given the Late Kevin Conroy's passing, this video hits a bit harder.
it also hurts worse seeing it featured on the front page (mistakenly? I think he intended an episode of JLU) but still removed "by warner" because it hasn't been restored yet in slideshow format...
Disappointed that Phantasm is neither Danny Chase nor the Tall Man
I think it's worth pointing out that Siskel and Ebert's review wasn't ALL correct in it's assertions. Infamously, in that same review, they also called the Joker's voice "horrible" and bemoaned that Hamill did a horrible job with it. Something that, let's just say, the vast, vast majority of people absolutely disagree with.
RIP Kevin Conroy
Are there weird glitches in the audio on this video for anyone else?
Hi, I hope you read this message, Where is the second part of this video?, and finally where is the playlist of the X-files?, I havn't been able to find them, help please
so weird to be able to comment on an sfdebris video
The Joker is the hero of the Dark Knight
Don't suck up to Siskel and Ebert too much... they always HATED Mark Hamill's Joker and thought it was the worst part of the film.
Wait.. Burtonman was "devoid of camp"? Did we see different movies? Yes, it was way darker then previous incarnation (especially as he was associated with Adam West version by most people), but it still was totally Silver Agey in its nature with tons of absurd gadgets, nonsensical gimmicks and everyone ignoring mass murderer in bat suit because he kill other mass murderers in the different suits. Ironically Batman TAS was first popular adaptation what wasn't campy.
TAS was closer to what the Bronze Age of comics were doing. A bit of camp here and there but mostly serious while still not taking itself too seriously.
@@ShadowWingTronix I miss those days, to be perfectly honest. I had to sit through the Dark Age and watched as comics I used to enjoy as a kid were turned into dark, overly dramatic garbage with over-the-top violence, sex appeal, and emotastic characters. I've never really recovered from that, which is why I tend to give comics a wide berth today. I still love the characters I grew up with, though, so I occasionally listen to what's going on and I'll usually see the movies.
@@ShadowWingTronix My point.
@@HiroshiMizushima Thing is that people clearly are unaware that Dark Knight isn't mainline Batman. It is else world story what get own comic and several decent adaptations like Nolan movies and Arkham series games. But in cartoons and main comic it is still way more balanced version of this character, when forcing Dark Knight into DCEU because Werner is ashamed of DC was a gigantic mistake.
Most people also are unaware that he get way more reasonable backstory then being obsessed over death of his parents (what in Dark Knight was taken too serious). For reminder Bruce was trained by Liege of Assassins to be arm of Court of Owl. A Illuminati style secret organization responsible for many crazy experiments in Gotham. He break away from them and pretend to be a failure in form of the playboy, when in reality he fight with them. He can't do that openly because he would end as his parents, who were killed for exact same reason and his enemies can't be stopped just by punching, as all assassins on the would would get price for his head. But he can investigate them secretly putting them down quietly as the Batman (who by the way was initially a Owlman as sign for them, but as result of misconception of media it stay as the bat). He isn't obsessed just with random crime, but is more a masked detective. It is why Gordon trust him even if he initially was mistaken with numerous vigilantes. And yes, Gotham TV series is surprisingly good modern adaptation.
Not everything over the top is automatically camp. there's nothing overly theatrical about having some gadgets, especially when they look halfway serious and serve a logical purpose. Penguin's whole deal with the boat and everything was definitely a bit camp but mixed with Burtonweird which is its own separate thing.. really only the initial shot of Batman raising his cape like wings and trying to intimidate people comes off as definitely silly now, the rest is only silly when you're out of the moment and analyzing it rationally.
Your background section on this made me want to go watch the movie-which I would’ve done if it were streaming for free/on Netflix.
I remember renting episodes of the series from Blockbuster but, oddly, despite enjoying them I never watched it on TV. @_@