Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)
Gotham's defender the way he was meant to be.

 I became a fan of the Batman character somewhat late in life, it happened after I saw Tim Burton's amazing film that depicted The Dark Knight as something truly dark and frightening. My interest for the character carried over into the film's sequel, as well as to the wonderfully noir-ish animated series and finally to this movie, the theatrical incarnation of the television show. Like the animated television series, ''Mask of the Phantasm'' keeps the same stylized concept, yet delves a bit deeper into the darkness than one normally can in a half hour broadcast.

The plot of the movie intercuts a flashback story about how a youthful Bruce Wayne assumed the mantle of The Caped Crusader, with that of a somewhat older Batman having to deal with a shadowy figure known as the Phantasm, who has begun eliminating Gotham City's most notorious crime lords. Like the television series that spawned it, the film features a well-written story, with sharply drawn characters that deliver an emotional depth beyond anything else found in the realm of American animation. Adding to the strength of the screenplay are assured vocal performances from a first rate cast.