Warner Bros. Animation's line of DC Animated Movies is off to strong start this year with its latest all-star feature, Batman: Soul of the Dragon. Helmed by prolific animation director Sam Liu (Superman: Red Son) from a script written by Jeremy Adams (Mortal Kombat: Scorpion's Revenge), the film boasts an impressive voice cast, a thoroughly atmospheric setting that wears its genre influences proudly and some of the best action sequences in the extensive history of the animated movie line.

Set in the 1970s when East Asian martial arts were first breaking into the North American pop-culture mainstream, the film finds Bruce Wayne at a personal crossroads as his old friend and fellow martial-arts student Richard Dragon reenters his life and learns about Bruce's caped and cowled double life. Then, when a murderous cult rises and threatens to plunge the world into eternal darkness, the duo reunite with the other pupils they trained in martial arts with years ago at a remote monastery in the Himalayan mountains.

RELATED: Batman: Soul of the Dragon Clip Proves You Should Never Mess With Lady Shiva (Exclusive)

Adams' script isn't shy about weaving in references to classic '70s and '80s martial arts and grindhouse cinema, most notably Bruce Lee's filmography, especially Enter the Dragon, along with John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China. Richard Dragon comes across as a cross between Lee and mid-70's James Bond, but virtually every main character has their own sense of hip swagger. Interestingly, Batman himself is almost lost in the shuffle but David Giuntoli voices this throwback vision of the Dark Knight with enough conviction that he manages to hold his own. He particularly shines in those moments where Bruce Wayne is called to step up and take center stage.

And while the story takes full advantage of its '70s time period, it doesn't feel dated at all; the setting just adds additional layers of creative flavor to the proceedings, which is evident right from the film's opening and includes the groovy soundtrack composed by Joachim Horsley and the cool redesigns of the core cast. Throughout, the film is interspersed with flashbacks that illustrate how each of these characters interact with one another, establishing the team dynamics as they are tested by all sorts of mythical and martial arts opponents.

RELATED: Bruce Wayne Is Introduced to a Powerful Weapon in Batman: Soul of the Dragon Clip

Soul of the Dragon, whose production team includes acclaimed animation filmmaker Bruce Timm as an executive producer, is one the most genuinely fun films in the DC Animated Movie line. From thrilling, tightly choreographed action set pieces to a stellar voice cast performing at the height of their powers and an effective, atmospheric setting, Soul of the Dragon is a huge love letter to the martial-arts genre and grindhouse cinema era that seamlessly weaves in memorable characters from the DC Universe.

Directed by Sam Liu from a script written by Jeremy Adams and executive produced by Bruce Timm, Batman: Soul of the Dragon stars David Giuntoli as Bruce Wayne/Batman, Mark Dacascos as Richard Dragon, Kelly Hu as Lady Shiva, Michael Jai White as Ben Turner/Bronze Tiger, James Hong as O-Sensei and Josh Keaton as Jeffrey Burr. The film arrives Jan. 12 on digital HD and on Jan. 26 on Blu-ray and 4K UHD.

KEEP READING: Bruce Wayne Is Kind of an Ass in First Batman: Soul of the Dragon Clip