Disney has gone back to basics with Lilo & Stitch, and the result is an unqualified success. Like DreamWorks' upcoming Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron, the characters come at you in a traditional hand-drawn fashion - so they lack the freaky, over-the-top dimensions of a Shrek. They are a return to the old-school cartoons enjoyed by anyone who grew up with gems such as Looney Tunes and the humour is often just as acerbic.

The story starts with a multi-eyed beastie called Jumba (voice provided by David Ogden Stiers) defending himself against the powers-that-be on the far-flung planet of Turo. It seems old bug-eyes has created a monster, quite literally, and the rulers of Turo view the creature as an abomination. They decide to throw Jumba into jail and to banish the creature - which looks like a little blue wombat gone horribly, horribly wrong. But the little thing out-smarts them all, steals a spaceship and descends to Earth to seek shelter (or wreak havoc, as the case may be). Jumba is then sent down to retrieve his creation with the help of an environmentalist named Pleaky (Kevin McDonald), who has studied Earth, which he claims is a sanctuary for an endangered species, the mosquito.

Meanwhile, on Earth - or Hawaii, in particular - we find an orphaned girl, Lilo (Daveigh Chase), up to all sorts of trouble, much to the chagrin of her elder sister Nani (Tia Carrere), who is all the family little Lilo has left. A social worker called Bubbles (Ving Rhames) has been sent out to assess Lilo and see if she should be removed from her sister's care. In an effort to calm Lilo down and teach her the value of the family unit, Nani decides to adopt a dog from the local pound. Unbeknown to all and sundry, however, the 'dog' Lilo chooses is our little friend from above the clouds. Renamed Stitch, he must learn to live in his new world and avoid being captured by the beings from his own planet.

Of course, this is a Disney production so family values come first and foremost. But, surprisingly given the studio's track record, the film-makers have resisted the temptation to lay their messages on too thick. Instead, they throw up charming characters - the two mains, in particular - some classic comic scenes and some wonderful animated action. And Lilo turning Stitch into a beach-side Elvis impersonator is worth the entry ticket alone.

Lilo & Stitch opens today.