Matthew Turner | On 14, Dec 2023

Director: Mike Roth
Cast: Yonas Kibreab, Luke Wilson, James Cromwell, David Hornsby, Brian George, Dolph Adomian
Certificate: PG

Directed by Mike Roth and co-written by Morgan Evans (Teen Titans GO!) and Jase Ricci, this is a charmingly animated Christmas comics caper. Inspired by the work of British cartoonist and illustrator Ronald Searle, it features fabulously conceived character designs that mark it out as a unique addition to the Bat-verse.

Set on Christmas Eve, the story centres on young Damian Wayne (Yonas Kibreab), who lives in Wayne Manor with his father, Bruce Wayne / Batman (Luke Wilson) and faithful butler Alfred Pennyworth (James Cromwell). When Batman is called away by the Justice League, a wave of nefarious activity breaks out in Gotham City and Damian decides to don a Bat-suit and fight crime as Little Batman.

The film starts small, as Wayne Manor is targeted by a pair of small-time thieves (Michael Fielding and Natalie Palamides), allowing Damian’s first foray into crime-fighting to essentially be a homage to Home Alone, as he finds ways of seeing off the intruders. Thereafter, it’s revealed that the crooks are actually minions of The Joker (David Hornsby) and Little Batman finds himself facing off against a host of Bat-villains, including Penguin (Brian George), Bane (Chris Sullivan), Poison Ivy (Therese McLaughlin) and Mr Freeze (Dolph Adomian).

The distinctive animation style is a key part of the appeal, with the characters all having outrageously spindly limbs and comically exaggerated facial expressions. Even Damian’s cat – named Selina, in honour of Catwoman, who’s conspicuous by her absence – is pure Searle, with a big, lazy grin all over his furry feline face.

Roth’s direction is assured, staging some entertaining fight sequences and sprinkling in plenty of gentle humour. He also does a good job with Damian’s emotional journey, as he tries to convince Batman that he is ready for a life of crime-fighting, while also, ever so slightly, feeling the pull of the dark side.

As for the voice work, Luke Wilson makes a terrific addition to the list of actors who have played the Caped Crusader and James Cromwell makes an engagingly dry Alfred, but the rest of the voice performances are a little disappointing, particularly when each of the characters offer so much potential for camping things up a bit. Dolph Adomian does a good job with Mr Freeze, but has relatively little screen time compared to the rest of Batman’s rogues gallery.

Ultimately, this ticks along nicely and is beautiful to look at. It also delivers a nice little Christmas message without going over the top into saccharine sentimentality – and, crucially, it’s knowing enough to ensure that it won’t test the patience of older Bat-fans forced to watch it with younger children.

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