George Pal's award-winning Puppetoon shorts are showcased in this very warm and funny film for all ages, hosted by some of the stop-motion characters whose creators were influenced by him. The technology of the art may be a bit primitive by modern standards, and some of the characters -- particularly Jasper, an African-American boy -- must be seen in the context of different times. But none of it was ever intentionally mean-spirited or prejudiced, and the affection and care of the animators shines through in every segment. It's clear that Pal and his colleagues influenced everyone from Ray Harryhausen to Art Clokey to Rankin-Bass to Will Vinton to Nick Park to Henry Selick, and the influence was always positive. If you enjoy cinematic history, puppet animation, or old-fashioned family entertainment, you'll enjoy THE PUPPETOON MOVIE.
Review of The Puppetoon Movie
