One of the surprise movies during the early spring of this year was the first animated feature from the guys at ILM.  I have to admit that when I first heard about this movie, I was not all that interested in seeing it.  However, as the release date grew closer, I started hearing good things from trusted reviewers.  So with time to kill one morning, I popped over to the Premiere Cinemas in Fashion Square Mall for the $4.50 first-show-of-the-day.

Settling in to a near-empty theater, I was soon amazed at what I saw unfold.  This was probably one of the best non-Pixar, computer-animated features that I have seen.  The guys at ILM really focused on a good, simple story, making sure to follow the principals of basic storytelling.

What are those principals, you ask?

Well, they include fully defining relationships; making the hero have to solve his own problem with what he has; and, most importantly, making a point of emphasizing why it was important to tell this character’s story at this juncture.  Everything introduced was utilized, leaving no unfulfilled promises to the audience.  There were even nods to adult pop-culture references that were not simply throw-aways.

But alas, it is no longer in theaters – well never fear, faithful readers, it is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.  Much more reasonably priced than a lot of videos, the Blu-Ray also includes a DVD and a digital copy, making it a complete bargain for multiple systems.  The Blu-ray includes an extended edition, which I am interested in seeing how it compares to the theatrical version; there are also the usual extras.

My advice: grab the Blu-ray or watch it on-demand; it is good for the whole family, even if it only consists of 2 adults and 3 cats…