91É«ÇéƬ

GORGEOUS rendering and a cast that includes Martin Sheen and Michael York bring Abbott’s novella into the 21st century in this 35-minute animation. Some updates are fun, but beefing up Abbott’s simple plot forces major changes, including a reversal of the ending. Kids will enjoy it while fans of the book will appreciate the first half, which nicely brings Flatland to life, along with the square’s visits to Pointland and Lineland. However, the sunny ending changes the despotic circles into cartoon villains, robbing the satire of much of its punch. Still, a fun ride, overall.

Read our review of Abbott’s book