This movie is an exciting telling of the fairy tale constructed around an archetypal Jungian morality tale. Even apart from the great family messaging the story engrossing, though its creepy/spooky/scary tone will frighten young viewers. The animation is great, and although the style is now dated it holds up remarkably well. It’s surprisingly self-aware and perpetually on-point, giving Jiminy Cricket lines like, “What does an actor want with a conscience, anyway?” It’s stood the test of time, coming back around to become more relevant than ever in the modern age.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Hero’s Journey by way of Alice in Wonderland.

Setting: Gothic Fantasy
Plot: Fairy Tale
Tone: Dark Fantasy