Great Story, Maybe Not the Finest Animation

Rating: 7/10 (10 November 2014)

In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into animals; and a bathhouse for these creatures.
This film regularly makes Top Ten lists, whether films for children, best animation, or even within IMDb's Top 250. And sure, it is a great story, with far more depth than the average children's cartoon. So if we are judging on writing, this cartoon is tops.
But its overall presentation is somewhat different. This is not the greatest artwork, innovation or style out there. In many ways it is no improvement on many 1980s and 1990s cartoons. Why was this the Oscar-winning cartoon of its year, and why does it continue to be such a huge influence? At least the American version has John Ratzenberger.