Without question 2006 was the year of digimation.

That’s not to say that the endless slew of sub-zero penguins, subterranean rodents and – most disquietingly – sub-gender bovines did anything more for the genre than stuff up multiplexes for an entire year.

Now only four short months after 12 long pixel-crammed ones it’s actually a strange relief to have the first of 2007 up there in glorious Technicolor on the big screen.

Owing much to the verve and vigour of 60s ‘toon The Jetsons as well as a huge nod to arguably cinema’s greatest family adventure since Indy found God – we’re talking Back to the Future here, people – Meet the Robinsons never ventures near the standards set by the Toy Storys or Nemos of this world.

What it does have though is enough wit and wonder to fill its slight running time twice over.

With Pixar guru John Lasseter returning to the Disney fold midway through production you’d expect it to have feet firmly in both adult and kiddie camps – rumours abound that much of the film had to be "re-shot" on Lasseter’s insistence.

But while the movie does have plenty to amuse and entertain all-comers – of which more later – a plot which twists around a series of set ups and reveals could confuse and irritate younger viewers.

Nevertheless this is very much in the camp of "family pleaser" and in this respect it delivers on almost every level.

The Robinson family unit is a wondrous collection of oddball characters which – while perhaps not given the necessary time to thrive – still raise some laughs.

Both contemporary New York but more satisfyingly the film’s futuristic world are an absolute standout. And this is all before we get to Disney’s most entertaining scoundrel since Cruella De Vil – oh yes, I’m feeling that confident.

Voiced by director Stephen J Anderson this is a character on a par with some of the studio’s most memorable creations.

What starts out as the playful bumbling of a villainous buffoon soon segues beautifully into an hilarious one-way street double act following the reveal that in fact it’s Doris, the Machiavellian bowler hat, that’s really in charge.

Give the man his own TV show. Let him loose on a spoken word record. Slap his cackling moon face on every piece of merchandise you can find Mr Disney – I’m buying.

Tim Postins