Three words. You. Will. Believe. This is hands down the year’s best animated film, and just like the title characters, this film will bring, wonder, joy, hope, and fun to children everywhere, and maybe even a few adults.

Jack Frost (Chris Pine) has always been invisible to the world, until he is selected to join The Gaurdians, which consists of Santa (Alec Baldwin), The Easter Bunny (Hugh Jackman), The Tooth Fairy (Isla Fisher), and the Sandman. Together, they must overcome the ultimate force of fear; The Boogeyman (Jude Law).

When I first heard this premise, I rolled my eyes. Now, I wonder if i’m going to hell for rolling my eyes at this movie. Quite simply, this is the best animated film of the year. Everything is just wonderful. The animation is brilliant. The characters are likeable. The story is epic. But, I think the main appeal of this movie is the fact that it is about our childhood. Even in the darkest moments, we still had Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. They were our own personal gods, and we knew that they would always be there. The characters, while slightly improved from their classic looks, still feel like what these icons of our youth would be like in real life. Jack Frost is a very likable protagonist, and the Boogeyman? I’m not gonna lie. He scares me.

This is the feel-good movie of the year, and everyone should get a chance to see it. Young, or old, this movie will pull at your heartstrings and leave you with sweet dreams for weeks afterward. I didn’t think it was possible for DreamWorks to even come close to matching the epicness that was ‘How To Train Your Dragon’, (which is one of my favorite movies, by the way). But they did it. And.. surpassed it? Can I say that? I might have to give it a few days. Pixar may have created CGI movies, but DreamWorks has perfected it.

*****

(This has NOT surpassed ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ due to a somewhat predictable plot and a death fakeout, but it’s still a must-see.)