By Nigel Powlson

IT'S a sign of the rapidly changing times that the biggest surprise about Astro Boy is that it's not in 3D.

The stereoscopic digital treatment has become almost compulsory for animated films these days but the new movie from the director of Flushed Away sticks defiantly to 2D.

But that doesn't mean everything about the film is "flat"; far from it. This is a lively sci-fi romp with a likeable hero.

More about this movie

Astro Boy is based on Osamu Tezuka's 1951 manga creation that spawned a TV cartoon series in the 1960s and still has some of that decade's preconceptions about the future. The new film has been updated with an almost obligatory eco message and Americanised but the animation stays in the Far East with Hong Kong's Imagi providing the computer-generated images.

Metro City floats high in the stratosphere above a worn-out planet that now acts as a big waste tip for the elite inhabitants in the clouds.

Metro City's every whim is catered for by an army of robot slaves controlled by President Stone (voiced by Donald Sutherland).

His top robotics scientist is Dr Tenma (Nicolas Cage), who is working on a new source of energy with his eccentric colleague Dr Elefun (Bill Nighy).

But during a disastrous experiment, Tenma's brilliant but mischievous son dies.

The grieving scientist decides to build a robot version of the boy he's lost, using the new powerful blue energy, but though Astro (Freddie Highmore) may look like his son he has a mind of his own.

Abandoned by Tenma and pursued by Stone, Astro escapes to the surface where he finds a gang of children led by Cora (Kristen Bell) who help him find his place in the world.

Despite its futuristic setting, Astro Boy's story is pieced together from classic tales such as Frankenstein and Pinocchio but also embraces the modern techno world of gadgets and gizmos wholeheartedly.

Humour comes from the Robot Revolutionary Front, a trio of rusting nut and bolt men whose desire for freedom is hampered by the fact they are programmed not to harm humans.

But Astro Boy doesn't really go in for the in-jokes and adult-aimed humour that has drawn older age groups to the Pixar films.

As such, it remains squarely a kids', and especially boys', movie. But it's a big-hearted romp with a super-strong, flying hero who quickly wins our sympathies.

If that's what matters, then audiences should warm to Astro Boy, 3D or not.

ASTRO BOY

CERTFICATE: PG

RUNNING TIME: 94 mins

STARTS: Tomorrow and Sunday at Showcase, Odeon and Cinema De Lux in Derby; Cineworld in Burton; Cinebowl in Uttoxeter and then on full release from February 5.

RATING: 3/5