In terms of storytelling, animation offers unlimited potential. It was decades ahead of live action visual effects because larger than life circumstances could seamlessly coalesce with the characters and their actions. The elasticity in a protagonist's movement, whether stretching or defying physics, prompts a particular mindset: the realm of the fantastic. Pioneer Walt Disney recognised that cartoons could transcend their restricted pockets of time. Thus, a five minute fascination was given the breath, scale and resonance befitting a traditional 90 minute feature. As such, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs proved a huge gamble which paid off handsomely.

Not long after, producer Max Fleischer sought to transform Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels into an ambitious production. Given less time in the oven compared to Disney's film, the former overcame the technical hurdles, made a profit and it remains an excellent film.

For context, a storm leaves Gulliver (voiced by Sam Parker) stranded on the beach of Lilliput. He's a giant compared to the resident population. Indeed, the town crier experiences severe panic upon first sighting the stranger. Reporting this news to the king sets in motion a stunning adventure, one with twists, turns and songs aplenty.

Next to the story, the crowning glory has to be the colours, motion and gravity behind the animation. One could argue it's more expressive and soulful than many of the digital equivalents in modern filmmaking. Such creativity, namely in the rotoscoping of Gulliver, inspires awe long after the end credits. In a new world, looking at pixels doesn't hold the same wonder and magic.

(Released by Paramount Pictures and rated "U" which stands for Universal and suitable for all.)