In Brad Bird's amusing animated film, young Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) befriends a giant iron robot after metal-giant sightings alarm the inhabitants of a small seaside town. Hogarth becomes the giant's mentor, teaching it to choose between gentleness and violence (and to emulate Superman). With liquid, convincing animation and a lively pace, The Iron Giant touches the heart and brings a smile to the lips.

Hogarth's single mom Annie (Jennifer Aniston) has her hands full with work, leaving the boy free to play with the giant and local beatnik Dean McCoppen (Harry Connick Jr.), whose scrap yard becomes a hideout and feeding ground for the metal-eating robot. Connick and Aniston bring a light touch to the material. Connick's casual inflections and McCoppen's gestures perfectly capture the unappreciated scrap-metal artist. Scenes of Hogarth swimming and playing with the giant provide a welcome break from attempts to hide the giant in a variety of creative ways.

Of course, there's an adversary: Kent Mansley (Christopher McDonald) from the Bureau of Unexplained Phenomena is intent on tracking down and destroying the friendly giant.

Though the movie takes place during the Cold War, setting the stage for Mansley's hostility and paranoia, anachronisms abound. Hogarth worries his mom will "wig out," demonstrates a conversation by saying "blah, blah, blah," and taunts McCoppen as a ` `weenie". Another inaccuracy that must be overlooked is Hogarth's ability to survive a flight with the giant that takes him above breathable air, alongside airplanes.

Clever sound effects lend substance to the giant's stomping through the forest, rounding out the film, which is loosely based on Ted Hughes' book The Iron Man. As the good-versus-evil fight plays out, it's impossible to resist rooting for the spunky Hogarth and eager-to-please giant.