Between the elongated flashbacks and the villain that appears from nowhere -- what no back story? -- Hellboy Animated: Blood and Iron seems to compound every frustration I felt over the live-action films. For starters, the animation echoes the Cartoon Network style as characters saunter through unimaginative environments.

Despite voice contributions from Ron Perlman as Hellboy, Selma Blair as Liz Sherman and John Hurt as Professor Broom -- all of them carry-overs from the earlier stories -- there’s not much to stimulate our curiosity. Meanwhile, the odd dab of humour fails to provide any levity.

Taking her cue from the vampire legend, Erzsebet Ondrushko (Kath Soucie) gains immortality by living off the blood of young ladies. Although she was vanquished during Professor Broom’s youth, evil worshipping forces endeavour to bring her back.

In one fell swoop, composer Christopher Drake overshadows the film’s blunt edge by crafting mysterious horror. With strains of an orchestral synth score, his work succeeds in painting an emotional canvas sans pictorial support. (Capsule review.)

(Released by Anchor Bay Entertainment; not rated by MPAA.)