Merry Little Batman lets Wayne Jr. follow too closely in his father’s flightpath for an animated holiday special

Merry Little Batman. // Courtesy Prime Video

Amid David Zaslav’s self-nuking of Warner films and properties as he firebombs (HBO)Max from the inside, we’ve all become aware of the silently finished films like Batgirl that have been killed for tax write-offs, alongside full features like Coyote vs. Acme, and God knows what else that will equally now never see the light of day. Luckily, a number of DC projects that were killed at Max were picked up for distribution by Amazon—among them, a standalone full animated film coming to Prime Video later this week, called Merry Little Batman.

When young Damian Wayne finds himself alone in Wayne Manor on Christmas Eve, he must transform into “Little Batman” in order to defend his home and Gotham City from the crooks and supervillains intent on destroying the holidays. Along the way, he’ll be tempted by the exact sort of life challenges that his father worried he wasn’t ready to face, and “heroic” choices line up with the kind of sacrifice that should come with adulthood.

All else aside, it’s fascinating to see a Batman origin story that depends on Batman’s parents being alive and having complicated roles in his life.

Director Mike Roth (Regular Show) working from a screenplay by Morgan Evans (Teen Titans Go!) delivers a bit of holiday superhero entertainment that isn’t going to replace any of the traditional all-timers any time soon, but it’s still a wildly good time. Clearly aimed for kids, our theater full of children had a rollercoaster ride, and the adults watching new takes on classic characters had some howls of laughter with both the source material reworks, but equally through the charming adventure—with pathos and weight spread around with a deft touch that keeps it humming from start to finish.

The voice cast is led by Yonas Kibreab (Pupstruction) as Damian, with Luke Wilson (Idiocracy) as Bruce Wayne/Batman, James Cromwell (Big Hero 6: The Series, Succession) as Alfred Pennyworth and David Hornsby (DC Super Hero Girls, Cricket from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as The Joker. Wilson’s Daddy Bruce Wayne is an emotionally conflicted, charming take on the character, and Hornsby absolutely eats with his take on the role.

Merry Little Batman. // Courtesy Prime Video

Merry Little Batman is also an introduction to a new spin-off animated series Bat-Family, with the same actors and creatives overseeing more adventures in this universe. That’s one of the many Amazon saves from the Max fallout, including a new two-season order for a different Bat show called Caped Crusader. So, thrilled that Merry Little Batman isn’t just a weird holiday one-off, and rather a warm welcome to a family-framed Wayne’s world that we’re excited to spend much more time exploring.

Merry Little Batman. // Courtesy Prime Video