🎄 Christmas Episode Special: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm — A Roundtable With the Architects

This Christmas, Back to Pop Media is going deep into the shadows of Gotham for a true fan event: a roundtable conversation celebrating Batman: Mask of the Phantasm—the film that proved animation could hit just as hard as any live-action blockbuster.

For this episode, we’re joined by three of the key creators who helped shape the movie’s tone, emotion, and unforgettable cinematic style:

• Alan Burnett — Writer

• Kevin Altieri — Sequence Director

• Brad Rader — Storyboard
  

Together, we’ll unpack what made Phantasm feel different—more mature, more tragic, and more timeless—while exploring the craft behind its most iconic moments.

What we’re diving into

Expect a fun behind-the-scenes breakdown, including:

• How the story found its emotional core — and why it still resonates decades later
• Andrea Beaumont and the DNA of the Phantasm — building a character fans still talk about
• Key sequences and visual storytelling decisions — what storyboards solved that scripts couldn’t
• Studio realities + theatrical release pressure — how constraints shaped the final film
• The finale showdown — Batman, Joker, and Phantasm colliding in a climax that still stings

When it drops

This special episode lands on Christmas Day, so consider this your official Bat-Signal.

If Mask of the Phantasm is “your” Batman movie, this one’s for you.