Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 4K Blu-ray delivers stunning video and reference-quality audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
Batman is wrongly implicated in a series of murders of mob bosses actually done by a new vigilante assassin.
For more about Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 4K and the Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 4K Blu-ray release, see Batman: Mask of the Phantasm 4K Blu-ray Review published by Randy Miller III on September 10, 2023 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.
Juuust in time for its 30th anniversary, Warner Bros.' acclaimed Batman animated feature film Mask of the Phantasm earns an
unexpected but certainly not unwelcome 4K edition. Its last appearance on home video was Warner Archive's 2017 Blu-ray, a disc that was also included as
part of the next year's Batman: The Complete Animated Series collection. This is anything but a courtesy bump or "upscale" job, however, boasting a new
2160p/HDR transfer from the original negative plus two audio mixes and a new featurette celebrating the career of lead voice actor Kevin Conroy.
For a synopsis and appreciation of the main feature, please see Martin Liebman's Blu-ray review linked above. As for myself, I'm in total agreement
that Mask of the Phantasm is a standout animated film that absolutely didn't deserve its dismal box-office fate. I clearly remember seeing
and enjoying this one with my dad and brother theatrically in 1993 only days after its Christmas debut; despite the fact that it maintained the
same high level of quality as the terrific animated series (which we also routinely watched together), this didn't translate to strong ticket sales.
NOTE: The screenshots used for this review are sourced from Warner Archive's 2017 Blu-ray.
Quite unusually for the studio, Warner Bros. issued the following statement as part of this 4K's press release:
"The 4K HDR remaster of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was sourced from the 1993 original cut camera negative and was
scanned at 4K resolution. Digital restoration was applied to the 4K scans to remove dirt, scratches and additional anomalies, but special care was
given to not touch the film grain or the animation cel dirt that was part of the original artwork. This is the first time since its theatrical release that it
is presented in its 1.85 aspect ratio."
I say it's unusual for two reasons: (1) WB has typically been hush-hush regarding their restoration process in the past, and (2) they're not regarded
as being extremely careful with their classic animated catalog in regards to film grain, as seen as infamous releases like Scooby-Doo: Where Are You! and, more recently, Max Fleischer's Superman. I'd even argue that the backlash from that
latter disc is the reason for what appears to be an about-face regarding digital noise reduction. (For the record, DNR isn't always a bad thing
in small amounts but it's often abused by some studios and ignored by less discerning viewers who, just a few short years ago, likely opted for "Full
Screen" DVDs.)
Anyway, that statement likely assuaged the fears of anyone fearing yet another questionable release, so it's good to know the 2160p/HDR
transfer on Warner Bros.' 4K disc certainly delivers the goods and (hopefully) represents their process going forward. Presented in its original 1.85:1
aspect ratio*, Mask of the Phantasm clearly looks better than ever here and, like WB's recent 4K release of Enter the Dragon, has been made with the best
intentions. It's a solid step up from the comparative 1.78:1 Blu-ray edition with a natural boost to color saturation and overall contrast; the sign
above the "Shady Lady Casino", for example, bursts with neon color compared to the more washed-out Blu-ray image. This HDR-driven color boost
extends to other bold primaries, such as Batman's costume and the foreboding dark blue sky of the graveyard at night. Yet as fans of the original
animated series know, its visual aesthetic is dominated by shadows and pure blacks, with the more even-handed appearance of this 4K
transfer showcasing much smoother and film-like gradation rather than the comparatively more processed digital buzz of the older release.
As expected, the promised film grain and animation cel dirt has been retained as much as possible, giving Mask of the Phantasm an accurate
vintage appearance. Grain has a tendency to waver, as does fine detail, especially during obvious optical zoom-ins where overall crispness drops
considerably. (This is simply part of the source material and looked just as distracting on the Blu-ray, and I spot-checked a few scenes just to be
sure.) The same goes for a handful of light interlacing issues, such as the dove-tailing truck doors during an early chase scene and Batman's later
encounter with police where he escapes a gas grenade; these can't really be considered authoring defects as they're always looked this way
on home video. The bottom line is that, warts and all, Mask of the Phantasm looks about as good as we're going to get for some time and,
at worst, it'll just make you wish WB treated the animated series this carefully
*- Die-hard fans might also remember an optional 1.33:1 open matte presentation from the older Blu-ray, which was offered along with 1.78:1
framing but neither of those are are included here. As much as I'd love to have the choice, if only one was offered I'm glad it's the theatrical 1.85:1
aspect ratio that's finally making its home video debut.
There's more terrific news in the audio department: this disc not only offers the original 2.0 mix as heard in theaters -- and on Warner Archive's 2017 Blu-ray -- but a brand-new
5.1 remix that has built from the original elements. Both are extremely well-made tracks that carry a considerable amount of sonic weight, with
sporadic action scenes and Shirley Walker's original score (which contains more than a few choral variants of Danny Elfman's iconic main theme)
gaining a huge amount of heft and presence while retaining a solid dynamic range. Discrete effects are ample on the surround track, filling out a
handful of already-great sounding moments like Phantasm's ominous warnings and weather-related elements, such as the thunderstorm during at
least one nighttime graveyard visit. This is a heavy, impactful effort that suits the source material perfectly so, whether you choose the more
theatrically-accurate 2.0 mix or the tastefully-done 5.1 option (which may very well become the new standard), fans will certainly enjoy what they hear.
Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included, and these at the very least improve upon the ALL CAPS subtitles used on the old Warner Archive disc (a
bad habit of theirs that was thankfully broken several years ago).
This one-disc release ships in a keepcase with pretty decent cover artwork (for a new collage, at least), a matching glossy slipcover, and a Digital Copy
redemption code. The included bonus featurette is appreciated, although some more film-specific retrospective material would've made this a very
special release indeed.
NEW! Kevin Conroy: I Am The Knight (26:08) - Like the piece on Frank Welker (who's still very
much alive) produced for WB's Scooby-Doo: Where Are You! collection, this appreciation of the late, great voice actor serves as a fitting tribute to a
prolific and influential voice acting career that included 15 films, nearly 400 animated TV episodes, a dozen video games, and the Arrowverse's
Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event.
Featuring a few vintage comments from Conroy himself and voice recording footage as well as recent interviews with the likes of animation legend
Bruce Timm, Mask of the Phantasm co-director [with Timm] Eric Radomski, voice supervisor Andrea Romano, producer Michael Uslan, former
DC president Paul Levitz, voice actor Dana Delaney, and more, this is a lightweight but highly enjoyable retrospective that Batman fans will enjoy.
Please note that the film's original theatrical trailer, which appeared on the 2017 Blu-ray, is not included here. Additionally, a bonus cartoon mentioned on the 4K press release --
the Justice
League Unlimited Season 2 episode "Epilogue", which featured a brief appearance by Phantasm -- is likewise nowhere to be found.
Eric Radomski and Bruce Timm's acclaimed Batman: Mask of the Phantasm may not have lit the 1993 box office on fire, but it shines on 4K 30
years later. Supported by a great 2160p/HDR transfer, two high-quality audio mixes, and a new featurette celebrating the life of late, great voice actor
Kevin Conroy, it's a no-brainer for fans and hopefully marks a new direction for the studio's treatment of its animated back catalogue. The Iron
Giant for 2024, pretty please?
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