Merry Little Batman has every potential to become a new festive favourite: a delightful Bat-gift that will have viewers longing for future holiday specials featuring Little Batman.

Geared very much to younger audiences, it’s fast-paced to the point of freneticism. But it boasts an arresting visual style, its animation heavily indebted to the satirical drawings of Ronald Searle.

As a Christmas film, it is one for the books alongside Batman Returns and Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. As a Batman film, it cherishes the ethos and the pathos attributed to the comic book character and his environment.

Mike Roth’s Merry Little Batman does a great job capturing the warmth and magic of Christmas, even if it does feel like it’s been stretched a little thin.