Despite being some of the most beloved children’s books ever written, the stories of Dr. Seuss do sometimes translate badly to other mediums, particularly if they’re live action and starring big-screen comedians in the title role. Which is why the filmmakers of Horton Hears a Who were smart right off the bat: they decided to do it animated and keep Jim Carrey (The Grinch) heard and not seen. From the creative team behind Ice Age and Robots, Horton is a fantastic family film that will appeal to one and all.

Horton (Carrey) is an elephant living an idyllic life in the jungle. While minding his own business one day, his attention is drawn to a floating speck from which he swears he hears someone yelling for help. When the speck lands on a clover, Horton takes it upon himself to protect it as he finds out that the speck is actually the vibrant world of Whoville, run by the cautious Mayor Ned (Steve Carrel). While the Mayor struggles to convince the Whos that there’s a doom coming, Horton has to beware of elements in his jungle, namely an overbearing Kangaroo (Carol Burnett), who believe that Horton’s overprotective behaviour towards a speck is subversive in some way.

I think that the key to Horton’s success is that it is an organic extension of the book as opposed to, say, The Grinch, which loaded the story with numerous subplots that just take away from the main story. Then, at the same time, it overloaded the central theme to the point where it feels like the story’s message is being drilled into your head with the proverbial jackhammer. Horton’s focus is to tell a good story, and the extension fits naturally with the original text combining a Disneyesque quest with Looney Tunes zaniness.

Carrey, in what is surprisingly his first animated feature, spares the mugging and is rather quite genuine as Horton. Burnett as the misguided Kangaroo is a good foil, like one of those school teachers that chided you over the dangers of daydreaming rather than focusing on matters of “reality.” A more cynical person may say, “What was her problem any way, even if Horton was delusional?” But not me, I just rolled with it. Other voices include Will Arnett as the vicious vulture Vlad, Seth Rogen as Horton’s mousy friend Morton and Amy Poehler as the wife of Whoville’s mayor.

But aside from the typical buffoonery and inspirational lessons about how a person’s a person no matter how small, Horton revels in just being fun. I really like a couple of sequences where the movie steps outside of itself and embraces other artistic forms in a pair of cut away looks at Horton’s subconscious. Once tipping the hat to the classical Seussian look as Horton visualizes the Whos and then again as Horton sees himself as an anime hero fighting off monkey hordes. With other absurd touches like a cookie-baking bunny also named Vlad, ensure that Horton has more than a touch of the unexpected.

Surprisingly funny, narratively enjoyable and clearly well made and crafted to perfection technically, Horton Hears a Who is an animated gem that does justice for Dr. Seuss for a change. It’s a treat for the young and for the young at heart; a colourful adventure that proves once again that sincere often works better than snarky.