5th – Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted
Starring: (voices) Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith
Directors: Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath, Conrad Vernon
Released: 8th June 2012

The lion (Stiller), the zebra (Rock), the giraffe (Schwimmer), the hippo (Pinkett Smith) and the penguins are still trying to get back home to New York. Now the road takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus which they will reinvent Madagascar style. Frances McDormand voices the villain, an animal control officer. Curiously this one is written by Noah Baumbach, director of ‘Margot At The Wedding’ and ‘The Squid And The Whale’. Consensus: The series improves with each installment, and the circus setting makes this lark particularly colourful and frenetic. It has the balance right between entertaining kids and giving the parents something to laugh at. [Critics: 76%] [Public: 7.2/10]

4th – The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Starring: (voices) Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant
Directors: Peter Lord, Jeff Newitt
Released: 27 April 2012

An enthusiastic if unsuccessful Pirate Captain (Grant) sets out on a mission to beat his rivals Black Bellamy (Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Hayek) to the Pirate Of The Year Award. The quest takes him and his rag-tag crew (Martin Freeman, Brendan Gleeson etc.) from the shores of Blood Island to the foggy streets of Victorian London. From the masters of stop-motion, Aardman Studios (‘Wallace & Gromit’, ‘Chicken Run’), this is based on the popular book series. Consensus: It’s a very British caper that’s amusing and inventive, even if the overall story doesn’t quite live up to the charming animation. [Critics: 86%] [Public: 7.0/10]

3rd – Brave
Starring: Kelly Macdonald, Julie Walters, Billy Connolly, Robbie Coltrane, Craig Ferguson
Director: Mark Andrews
Released: 22nd June 2012

In the mystical, rugged Scottish Highlands, Merida (Macdonald) is an accomplished archer and the unruly daughter of King Fergus (Connolly). When she defies a sacred custom of the land, bringing turmoil, she must seek out an eccentric old Woman (Walters) and deal with the three lords of the kingdom (Coltrane, Ferguson, Kevin McKidd) to put things right. Brave is the first Pixar movie to have a woman as its lead character, and focuses mainly on the mother-daughter relationship. Consensus: Beautifully animated, with a spirited central character, although the story plays it too safe in the second half. [Critics: 74%] [Public: 7.8/10]

2nd – The Secret World of Arrietty
Starring: (voices) Mirai Shida, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Shinobu Ōtake
Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Released: 17th February 2012

A Japanese take on The Borrowers, from the studio that brought us ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ and ‘Spirited Away’. This follows Arrietty, a young Borrower, living under the floorboards of a typical household. She befriends a human boy with a heart condition, who is living with his great aunt. But when the maid becomes suspicious, Arrietty and her family must escape detection, even if it means leaving their beloved home. Consensus: Excellent, heartfelt tale which shows a familiar environment from a beautiful new perspective. [Critics: 94%] [Public: 7.7/10]

1st – Beauty And The Beast 3D
Starring: (voices) Paige O’Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Angela Lansbury
Directors: Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
Released: 13th January 2012

Belle, whose father is imprisoned by the Beast, offers herself instead and discovers her captor to be an enchanted prince. The Beast must love Belle and win hers in return, or he will remain a creature forever. This 3D re-release was prompted by the successful 3D re-release of ‘The Lion King’ last year. ‘Beauty And The Beast’ originally opened in 1991, and was the only animated film to be nominated for Best Picture until ‘Up’ in 2009. Consensus: It’s a calibre movie, if ever so slightly dated. [Critics: 92%] [Public: 8.0/10]

Ice Age: Continental Drift
Starring: (voices) Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah
Directors: Steve Martino, Mike Thurmeier
Out: 13th July 2012 (U.S. Release Dates)

After a cataclysm sets an entire continent adrift, Manny, Diego, and Sid find themselves on an epic seafaring quest, encountering exotic sea creatures, ruthless pirates and being forced into acts of heroism. Before long they’ve hit land and are exploring a brave new world. The third installment made close to a billion dollars worldwide, so here’s Ice Age 4. New members of the voice cast include Jennifer Lopez, Jeremy Renner and rapper Nicky Minaj. The Scrat-centered teaser trailer was surreal and creative, hopefully the rest will follow suit.

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