Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1992)

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland is In the Night Kitchen meets Spirited Away. It's an animated delight with a belle-epoque to art-deco feel, a largely Japanese production of the most famous work of turn-of-the-century illustrator Winsor McCay, who influenced Maurice Sendak and others. Nemo is a child who loves trains and airships and is invited to visit and to rule Slumberland as heir prince. He is given two powerful tokens of his future reign and makes a promise of responsibility to the king. Trouble ensues and he bravely pursues making things right. The story itself is quite creative and the scenes convey a somnambulistic quality, particularly when Nemo is astride his flying bed -- that is, where the line between dream and reality is, neither Nemo knows nor do we. Mickey Rooney is excellent as Flip the scamp (who resembles a hobo version of Jiggs in the comic strip). Other voice, music, and writing talents involved include Rene Auberjonois, June Foray, Melissa Manchester, and Ray Bradbury. Nightmarish scenes and an intense train-chase scene at the beginning may be too much for children under age 8, but this show should captivate anyone with a lively imagination and a receptive mind. I acquired it through interlibrary loan on videocassette since a DVD is apparently not yet available. 4.5 stars.