TODAY’S SCREENINGS AT ANIMATION CELEBRATION

“The Brave Little Toaster� (USA, 1987) 1/2

Wadsworth Theater; today, 7:30 p.m.: 80 minutes

“The Brave Little Toaster� stands out as an all too rare example of a new animated feature that all the members of a family can enjoy together. While the basic story is told in a straightforward manner a child can follow, writers Jerry Rees and Joe Ranft have added some sophisticated embellishments to keep parents and older siblings entertained.

Based on a novella by Thomas Disch, the film follows the adventures of a group of lonely household appliances who set out to find the Young Master who used them and gave purpose to their existence. The journey takes them from an abandoned summer cabin to a big, frightening city, filled with their newer, more advanced counterparts.

The animation is comparable to the best television specials. Director Jerry Rees uses the medium skillfully, giving the appliances signature movements that help to establish their individual personalities. The voices are provided by young actors, several of whom are currently on “Saturday Night Live:� Phil Hartman does a hilarious impression of Jack Nicholson as a crazed air conditioner.

“Toaster� has a few weak points. The inane songs slow the progress of the story (the film would be stronger without them), and the pacing slows toward the end--the last 20 minutes or so feel padded. But these are minor flaws in an otherwise delightful entertainment.