batman mask batman mask known batman animated movie american animated neo noir superhero mystery film featuring comics character batman based 1990s batman animated series released film directed produced screenplay credited features vocal talents reprising roles animated series addition voices film storyline introduces girlfriend returns romance weeks prior return new mysterious begins systematically murdering crime bosses person dark appearance mistaken batman run police dark knight killer clear deal romance original idea release film direct video ultimately decided theatrical release giving filmmakers month schedule mask released december widespread acclaim critics praised film animation style dialogue acting decision release film theaters short notice failed box office release home video film found cult success developed cult following ign said mask dark knight best big screen story batman begins ranked best animated movies time time ranked best superhero movies wired magazine named best batman time film success led direct video standalone sequels freeze batman mystery plot conference crime bosses held skyscraper gangster killed mysterious figure shortly batman bursts meeting killer resemblance batman dark knight blamed death tells media batman public menace despite commissioner gordon protests later attends party mansion batman secret identity bruce bad luck women having allowed old girlfriend away flashback years bruce meets cemetery visiting parents grave night crime fighting attempts bruce armored car robbery disguised black ski mask leather jacket succeeds discouraged criminals fear time begins romance eventually bruce decides abandon plan crime fighting proposes marriage soon afterward mysteriously leaves father ending engagement bruce dear john letter believing lost chance having normal life bruce mask batman time mysterious killer finds murders gangster time batman discovers returned time years ends finding bruce batman batman soon finds evidence linking father gangster worked visits try answers choices away killer later targets turns help killer arrives house finds gangster dead hands house explodes killer barely escaping batman pursues killer interrupted police try arrest batman rescues batman car spend night explains bruce father left hiding europe mob owed lot money batman comes suspect father killer later gets told batman innocence poisoned believed killer confess told mob hiding return campaign contributions mob ordered death killer tracks hideout abandoned world fair amusement park removes ominous costume killer intent father death hands revealed surviving member professional mob having identity ready attack fights kill batman arrives saves begs quest revenge refuses stating mob ruined life taking away future tells batman driven revenge disappearing batman battles struggle ends stalemate moments later returns bidding batman goodbye laughing clown cloud smoke entire amusement park series rigged explosions batman barely escapes falling swept away safety current alfred later consoles bruce telling helped bruce finds containing picture left shown standing deck departing ocean liner final scene batman stands building appears sky swings night continue war crime cast industrialist parents killed years old traveling world years seek means fight injustice returns night secret protector batman famous nemesis assassin implied responsible murder hires kill batman kills instead claims took opportunity reprising role batman animated series way creating new laughing woman bruce meets early years return traveling world decision propose marriage leads abandoning plans unexpectedly mysteriously leaves bruce frustration leads batman voice performance film impressed filmmakers leading casting superman animated series hart city corrupt city official intern later involved gang order gain influence enter city_council told boss hiding return campaign funds years later tracks laughing gas appears having driven insane chemicals possibly died result father voice mayor batman animated series father secretly business gang goes debt flees europe later murdered personal provided voice powerful crime boss goes business threatens kill money returns old man dependent oxygen tank live years smoking hires kill batman double crosses kills venom trusted butler parents continues loyal service son deaths batman closest detective batman charge police task force assigned hunt dark knight framed gangster murders commissioner police commissioner batman closest ally refuses capture batman believing dark knight responsible gangster murders crime boss victim crime boss brief partnership later killed cemetery visiting grave additional voices production impressed success season batman animated series assigned write story length animated film play pivotal role film intention tell story far removed television regular gallery cited wanted love story bruce wanted story got head writers highly cautious placing film want connection film batman writer said realized appearance serve story way live action aiding writing script handled flashback segments wrote climax claims filled holes classic served influence flashbacks story loss passage time early production decided release theatrical release straight video left year production time animated features years finished story final release decision animators went scenes order accommodate theatrical aspect ratio studio granting filmmakers large creative control addition creative control studio increased production budget million gave filmmakers opportunities elaborate set pieces opening title sequence featured flight entirely computer generated visual joke sequence director set climax film inside miniature automated model batman giants homage batman comic books era featuring hero fighting backdrop gigantic props later homage sprang works episode legends dark knight start finish film completed months cited score favorite compositions interview explained latin lyrics actually names key staff read backwards lyrics follow themes intended flashbacks batman love life tendency worse hope things better bruce relationship shows promise eventually turns turmoil bruce set marriage bruce given farewell note cutting relationship eventually leads bruce decision batman time felt scene paralleled decision avenge parents reject love finds father murdered events transform people bruce batman scene depicts parents saying didn count happy according writer scene pivotal moment bruce tragic life denies opportunity live normal life stated bruce puts mask time breaks engagement alfred says god reacting horror watching man helped raise childhood man let desire vengeance retribution consume life embrace comic books december released written authored released comic book adaptation written drawn comic book adaptation later included vhs release released toys regular batman cartoon series produced tie figures film including packaged pivotal plot point film annual shadow comic book sequel film written released home media film released laserdisc april vhs year vhs reissued april time tape pack freeze mask released dvd december snap case october case insert film released april disc dvd box set included return currently print released film february double feature dvd soundtrack soundtrack score batman mask composed originally released december label song told written promise ski mask love big chase plea help birth batman batman destiny told performed remastered version march released limited edition remastered version soundtrack score expanded archival collection new release included bonus tracks extended score minutes longer original release tracks previously unreleased batman mask expanded promise expanded ski mask expanded fancy bad news set trap rest peace love city street drive good birth batman expanded big entrance big chase run plea help tall man pal makes want laugh funny batman destiny told performed theme batman mask bonus track welcome future bonus track reception box office batman mask opened december united_states theaters accumulating days film went gross domestic total box office intake filmmakers blamed unsuccessful marketing campaign mask eventually pass million budget home video releases critical response based reviews collected rotten_tomatoes batman mask received average overall approval rating consensus stating stylish respectful source material batman mask succeeds live action batman adaptations failed empire cited best animated film felt contained better storylines batman batman returns guide impressed art noir design presented addition film climax batman escape considered elaborate action sequences washington_post agreed overall aspects included animation design dialogue storyline film score gene roger_ebert regretted having viewed film theatrical release gave film positive reaction feeling better slightly batman new_york_times thought voice performances flat dimensional news felt picture didn come alive act feeling animators sacrificed visuals storyline addition felt stole variety mixed reactions film review negative overall felt overall themes morals cited animation point self parody recently ign ranked mask 25th best animated film time list published total film named mask 47th greatest animated film ranked best superhero movies mask largely cited batman fans critics alike best batman films appeared numerous best lists animated films superhero films ign said dark knight best big screen story batman begins wired magazine said finest batman record reviewed film called best cinematic representation batman accolades alongside lion king nightmare christmas mask nominated annie award category lost
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