"Robinson Crusoe" is a co-production between France and Belgium between experienced animation filmmakers Vincent Kesteloot and Ben Stassen and the outcome is this really new take on the character of Robinson Crusoe. Being from Germany, I watched the version with the German voice actors of course. This list includes quite a few famous names and Ilka Bessin (Cindy aus Marzahn) and Didi Hallervorden were immediately recognizable. Kaya Yanar voices a pirate and I did not realize it was him right away. Also took me a bit longer with Matthias Schweighöfer, but that's actually a positive note as I think he did a pretty decent job with Crusoe and I don't think much of him as an actor at all. But if you don't see him (playing the same character again and again) and only hear his voice, it is pretty solid I have to admit. I must say I have seen better work from the filmmakers in the past, for example Stassen, but this 90-minute movie here was nonetheless worth seeing. It's tough what the best thing about it really is, but I am tempted to go with Hallervorden if only his character did not have so few lines. Oh wait, like I write in the title, the best thing is easily the animation and it elevates the material a lot. The characters look really nice, which sparkled my interest on several occasions. The story sadly is not on par. The cat characters as main antagonists are as bland and uninteresting as the pirates near the beginning and end. Crusoe's final decision to stick with animals instead of humans may have been meaningful, but the execution did not really feel convincing and the dog's death 8as usual) really only felt as if it was in there to get Crusoe closer to the island animals and did not make half the emotional impact it should have. And the worst scene is possibly Crusoe shooting at the cats who are in a brawl with his beloved dog that he easily could have shot in that scene. No idea what they were thinking. Like I said, the story (including the last half hour and grand final scenes) was nothing too great or memorable at all, but the familiar voices and stunning animation make this one worth seeing nonetheless. I give it a thumbs-up.

Is it fair to judge a kids movie on its appeal to adults? On the other hand, with all the good animated movies that came out recently which also appeal to adults/parents and have quality that can be reviewed by "older" people to a better degree, I'd say all is fair. So consider this when seeing the rating and make up your mind, if it's important or what's important in its appeal.

Having said that, there is also the very real thing of having "star" names of German comedy or cinema taking on major roles here. People have made the argument, that there are professional animation dubbers, who know their job. Depending on your liking or disliking for that matter, someone like Schweighöfer will get a reaction from you. Again, as a kid you won't care, but probably also not read this. So it's the parents who if the kids want something new and you want something that they can watch by themselves, there are worse choices than this

I went into this movie not expecting much, the reviews I had read where not very promising but I thought well it is still worth a try. It is not as bad as reports say. The story was fine, I like when movies take another point of view of a well known story, makes you look at things in different ways. The characters were entertaining and the graphics were good so I don't see much of a problem with it.

I will say the two of my kids that I watched it with (ages 10 and 3) did walk away from the movie to do other things but I don't think that was due to the movie but interest in doing other things at the time but take it as you will.