Starring: Stephanie Leonidas, Jason Barry, Rob Brydon
Director: Dave McKean
The film: Sci-fi writer Neil Gaiman made his mark with the celebrated - and dark - Sandman series, but has had some success in the film world, most notably writing Hayao Miyazaki's superb box office smash Princess Mononoke (1997).
Mirrormask is pure fantasy, with all the trappings. And with Gaiman's take on things - both real and imagined - you'll never be sure what you're about to get.
The story is set around a growing girl, Helena (Stephanie Leonidas), who wants to run away from the circus that has always been her life and join the real world. When her mother falls ill, the girl reacts by moving into an alternative universe, the Dark Lands, which mirrors her drawings - and in many ways mirrors her life. The Queen is much like her mum; the princess much like her. Only darker.
Thanks to the creative geniuses at the Jim Henson Company, the new world is full of oddities - the likes of flying monkeybirds, people wearing all kinds of masks, cats with human faces and books that fly. And as Helena's two worlds slowly begin to merge, we get to see what's at the heart of the whole thing. It's a good, old-fashioned tale about enjoying what you have, and not longing for what you want - or think you want. Think of an updated version of Wizard of Oz. Without the wizard. Or that annoying little dog. And set in Brighton (cue seagulls).