Here's a surprise - The Magic Roundabout (U) lives up to the promise of its title.
Originally first shown on French TV in 1963, the series was famously redubbed for Britain by Emma Thompson's father, Eric.
Now it has been completely reinvented as a full-blown, good versus evil silver screen experience that's been four years in the making.
If it doesn't live up to the Pixar stuff, this is still an enjoyable 82-minute film which punches well above its weight and will delight children of all ages in different ways.
Stars Jim Broadbent (Brian the snail), Joanna Lumley (Ermintrude), Ian McKellen ( Zebedee), Kylie Minogue (Florence), Bill Nighy (Dylan), Robbie Williams (Dougal), Lee Evans (Train), Tom Baker (Zeebad) and Ray Winstone (Soldier Sam) all put their characters before self interest.
So that's more shame heaped upon the egocentric Ocean's Twelve mob!
The action is fun, from the bobsleigh-style sequences to the Red Train's wheels moving up and down on a dirt track.
Set in the Enchanted Village, where Dougal the dog loves his sugar, his friends include the lovely Florence, a nearcomatose hippy rabbit, a cheery snail and an opera-singing, upper-class cow.
Springing about is the moustached wizard Zebedee who is set to meet his ice-blue nemesis, Zeebad who can cast the earth into darkness... Will a dog, a cow, a snail and a rabbit somehow save the day?
Not dissimilar to Ice Age, The Magic Roundabout has a contemporary feel but comes complete with 70s hits like Mr Blue Sky which complement the action rather than detract from it.
Against the odds, this will warm the hearts of all but the mean-spirited - and do stick with the final credits to hear the classic 'time for bed' line.
