Batman Mask of The Phantasm heading to blu ray

[Autbot_Benz]

Warner Archive‏Verified account @WarnerArchive

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm(1993) is coming to Blu-ray next month with a new 2017 1080p HD Remaster! #BTAS https://www.facebook.com/warnerarchi...type=1&theater …

[TheSkeletonMan939]

FINALLY!!

10char

[TMNT_Guy]

Hopefully it's a proper remaster from the film source and not a simple DNR upscale. The Warner Archive's twitter claimed that "It is not globs of DNR. Really." but after Viz's horrible release of Sailor Moon and their out right lying and falsifying of footage I'm weary of anything SD getting a "HD Remaster". I'll definitely be sticking with my DVD copy until I see some footage and reviews.

I don't have a sound system, but I'm surprised they didn't try try to update the 2.0 stereo soundtrack to at least 5.1 surround. Warner Archive is a "manufacture on demand" service so this won't be sold in retail stores.

This is my favorite Batman film and I really hope they do a good job with this release. Maybe this can lead to Warner Archive releasing other animated movies on Blu-ray like Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island or Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero.

[Krutch]

Or finally just release Batman: TAS on bluray

[plastroncafe]

This makes me nervous, because I have the animated series on DVD and the animation does not hold up. is it only going to look worse on Blu-ray?

[Autbot_Benz]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

This makes me nervous, because I have the animated series on DVD and the animation does not hold up. is it only going to look worse on Blu-ray?

I don't think so because remember Batman Mask Of The Phantasm had a theatrical release back in the day. so it should hold up.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Originally Posted by TMNT_Guy

...I'm weary of anything SD getting a "HD Remaster".

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

This makes me nervous, because I have the animated series on DVD and the animation does not hold up. is it only going to look worse on Blu-ray?

No. Mask of the Phantasm was prepared (a bit hastily) for theatrical release and, as such, 35mm prints in good condition exist. The film was scanned in HD from the start. I doubt the same can be said for episodes of the animated series.

Originally Posted by TMNT_Guy

I don't have a sound system, but I'm surprised they didn't try try to update the 2.0 stereo soundtrack to at least 5.1 surround.

I'd be surprised if the extra sound elements even exist anymore, outside of a music-and-effects mix. It'd only be worth boosting it up to 5.1 if they had the actual, separate audio tracks to work with.

Originally Posted by Krutch

Or finally just release Batman: TAS on bluray

I can't find the interview where he said it, but I've read that Bruce Timm is not a fan of the idea. A Blu-ray release brings in the task of removing grain (which can end badly, especially with animation) and removing scuffs, scratches, etc.; he likes the unpolished look of B:TAS as it is.

[plastroncafe]

Thanks for the reassurances, folks.
Really looking forward to picking this up when it comes out.

[Spike Spiegel]

Originally Posted by TheSkeletonMan939

I can't find the interview where he said it, but I've read that Bruce Timm is not a fan of the idea. A Blu-ray release brings in the task of removing grain (which can end badly, especially with animation) and removing scuffs, scratches, etc.; he likes the unpolished look of B:TAS as it is.

I seem to remember hearing this on the creator commentary for the "Heart of Steel, Part Two" episode in the "Volume 2" DVD boxset.

I'm curious to see what remastered audio will sound like on the Phantasm blu-ray. It's good to know that a BD release is coming.

Would an interview featurette with Dana Delany be too much to hope for? As the voice of two iconic female DCAU characters (Lois Lane and Andrea Beaumont) it would be nice to hear about the impact it had on her career, if any.

[ProactiveMan]

Originally Posted by plastroncafe

This makes me nervous, because I have the animated series on DVD and the animation does not hold up. is it only going to look worse on Blu-ray?

That's interesting - I'm watching volume 1 right now and it looks great. Maybe it looks better in PAL or something?

[drgon78]

It's about time they released this on blu ray. Now if could only get the animated series on blu ray.

[TheSkeletonMan939]

Originally Posted by Spike Spiegel

Would an interview featurette with Dana Delany be too much to hope for? As the voice of two iconic female DCAU characters (Lois Lane and Andrea Beaumont) it would be nice to hear about the impact it had on her career, if any.

Originally Posted by TMNT_Guy

I don't have a sound system, but I'm surprised they didn't try try to update the 2.0 stereo soundtrack to at least 5.1 surround. Warner Archive is a "manufacture on demand" service so this won't be sold in retail stores.

Originally Posted by TheSkeletonMan939

I'd be surprised if the extra sound elements even exist anymore, outside of a music-and-effects mix. It'd only be worth boosting it up to 5.1 if they had the actual, separate audio tracks to work with.

Update; someone over here is claiming the film had some sort of 5.1 soundtrack produced. But again, this was produced for TV originally, so Timm et al. likely didn't have any input on it and I wouldn't be surprised if it was just matrixed from stereo.

[Aaronardo]

Oh man, it's about time. Easily one of my favorite animated films and absolutely my favorite Batman film.

[Autbot_Benz]

Pre-Order is up for Amazon


https://www.amazon.com/Batman-Kevin-...blurayforum-20

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Originally Posted by ProactiveMan

That's interesting - I'm watching volume 1 right now and it looks great. Maybe it looks better in PAL or something?

Batman: TAS, like all '90s WB shows, is a "depending on the studio" show. So, sometimes you get a gorgeous TMS episode, and sometimes you get a cheap "TV adequate" Akom episode. Mask of the Phantasm was done by TMS, so it should look fine.

And, then there's the redesigned seasons where the animation is more fluid, but many of the character designs just don't look as good. So, it's a trade off.

[ProactiveMan]

I really don't like the redesign. I know why they did it, but it looks pretty rough and unrefined. There are a couple of characters that looked better for it, but most of them looked like they were designed in a hurry. For example, black eyed Joker... what an odd choice.

[Tetsu Deinonychus]

Strangely I never minded the way Joker looked. My main problem was how awful redesigned Bruce Wayne looked, but overall I'm not a fan of the redesigns.