Where Arthur Christmas may have failed, Rise of the Guardians steps up and changes the rulebook, all set to a wonderful, pitch-perfect score by Alexandre Desplat. Director Peter Ramsey bypasses all stylistic distractions in favour of an animated fable with a strong moral center.

When Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Sandman and the Easter Bunny encounter an evil presence, a fifth guardian takes his rightful place among them. Jack Frost can conjure illustrious snow blizzards but will this be enough to thwart the terrible Pitch? The latter seems very intent upon robbing the children of Earth of their pleasant dreams and replacing them with nightmares. Can the mighty five prevail in this struggle?

If there’s one niggling little flaw in this otherwise successful offering, it’s that Sandman, a mute guardian, appears only sporadically. There’s less of him than any other character.

I believe audiences around the world will always need stories pitting good against evil. In this particular plot, the moral revolves around believing in the power of dreams, abandoning fear and reaching for the stars. That’s a pretty weighty message to have in an animated environment. Of course, most youngsters may only understand this idea subconsciously. Adults could also appreciate the hidden depth here.

Overall, Rise of the Guardians achieves its well-meaning goals with charm and verve. The quality of the animation alone makes the film a triumph. With hints of Alan Silvestri’s The Abyss, the music adds a sense of wonderment to each specific action.

(Released by Paramount Pictures and rated "PG" by MPAA.)