It may very well be the most heavily demanded home video release featuring the Dark Knight since fans clamored for complete volumes of Batman: The Animated Series on DVD about a decade and a half ago, and now we finally have word that yes, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm will finally make its way to the Blu-ray format this summer.
For those unfamiliar, this animated film was especially noteworthy because not only was it the first full-length motion picture featuring Batman of its kind, but also because it remains the only one to see a wide theatrical release. Sure, we’ve experienced “one night only” limited engagements put on by Fathom Events for offerings such as The Killing Joke, but that’s far from the same situation.
Basically, the flick explored the origins of the Caped Crusader within the universe established by Batman: The Animated Series, with Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill reprising their roles of Batman and the Joker, respectively. Had you already seen the film, then you’d know how Bruce Timm and company intertwined the rivalry those two shared quite seamlessly throughout past and present, making for something that was adored by critics and fans alike, and essentially serving as the Batman Begins of the animation world.
In recent years, the likes of Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman have made their way to Blu-ray, but many have questioned where their predecessor was. Well, thanks to Warner Archive Collection, it’ll be arriving on an unspecified date in July, with an HD remastering of both the original theatrical 16×9 aspect ratio (1.78:1) and open matte 4×3 (1.37:1) aspect ratio set to be included. And, for good measure, the theatrical trailer will be thrown in as bonus content.
Let it be known that anything released by Warner Archive Collection tends to be available online only, so we’ll bring you more news regarding Batman: Mask of the Phantasm‘s upgrade once it surfaces.
