What would have happened if the asteroid that struck earth 65 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs had missed? The big idea of this sophisticated 3D animation from Pixar is that dinosaurs evolved into a civilised, hut-dwelling race of farmers and herders, while humans remained primitive scavengers who scampered around on their arms and legs. It’s a premise that is at once clever and entertaining.

The Good Dinosaur is an dramatic film, and a very different kind of family animation. Although it stars friendly dinosaurs, the theme of overcoming fear – or, in fact, learning to live with fear – is handled in a more mature way than many live-action features. Refreshingly, Disney-style cuteness is kept to a bare minimum.

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The story is slim but effective. Arlo is a weak young dinosaur who’s scared of everything. When he’s swept away from the family farm by a flood, he’s faced with a dangerous journey home. He befriends a primitive human boy, who he names Spot, and they pool their resources to keep each other safe as they travel though the wilds.