Decades later, this masterpiece of graphic imagination has been reduced to a long, drawn-out cartoon-adventure that suggests an overblown episode of a Saturday morning TV show.

Although this new film adaptation of Winsor McCay's comic strip has been somewhat homogenized for modern tastes, both in visual style and in storyline, it's a refreshing, mostly marvelous piece of fantasy.

Why is that animation can't seem to free itself from subtly racist coding? That objection aside, Little Nemo is an interesting if not a great film, with some jolly characters, some cheerful songs, and some visual surprises.

It's a grand ride and it's well-handled by the filmmakers, headed by co-directors William T. Hurtz and Masami Hata.