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feel like I was wandering through the wilds of my imagination. Backgrounds, foregrounds and dimensional renderings that would make many video game developers jealous, ease the audience into a magical world of the slightly off familiar. There are rich textures on the walls of the Mayor of Whoville's home. The depth of field in the forest made the chase scenes treacherous and exciting. Much to their credit, though, the animators didn't go so far into the realistic as to rub the shine off the essential magic required to slip deeply into the Jungle of Nool or Whoville.

The characters are so lively you feel like you are living in the moment with them. Knowing how to animate creatures that are both in our world and in their world as well as completely new creatures must require strength of imagination I could only enjoy as an audience member.
There is a subtle message running through the plot about questioning authority. Kangaroo is the self appointed leader of the Jungle of Nool. When she realizes Horton's speck challenges all the long held beliefs of Jungle leadership she refuses to ignore it as an eccentricity and instead decides his belief must be publically annihilated. It would be impossible not to draw the conclusion that Kangaroo is a symbol of the harmful effects of established religion or the overreaching danger of an unchecked government. To this I say, HORRAY! Teaching children to think for themselves and to be a good person even when it is hard or unpopular, that's a moral I can get behind!

Even though there is an obvious taffy pulling going on with Horton's direction, Horton Hears a Who's supporting cast, the writing, the moral and animation is strong enough to make it an utterly lovable movie for Seuss fans of all age.

Learn more about this author, Larae Meadows.
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