This cartoon is certainly not one for the adults but for young children it will be a good afternoon's entertainment.

Set in the depths of the ocean, the story centres on three children who drink a potion that turns them into fish.

Directed by Michael Hegner and Stefan Fjeldmark, the film follows the trio as they attempt to retrieve the lost antidote which will prevent them from remaining in a state of aquatic suspension, all this carried out with the predictable ticking time bomb of 48 hours to fulfil the task.

Despite the relatively old-fashioned medium of drawn cartoons, Help! I'm A Fish wins points through some beautifully artistic animation, particularly in its opening scenes depicting various types of sea-life and later with a detailed representation of an underwater city.

There are some nice touches of detail that will appeal to children, such as a huge whale bus that carries its passengers in its mouth and takes clams for payment.

The typical comedy act of brains and brawn is present with the evil leader Joe and his simpleton side-kick Shark, although, as was the case throughout, there was a feeling that comedy elements could have been exploited more.

The fishy personalities given to the kids appropriately reflect their various characteristics, although none is endearing or strong enough to create a lasting impression on the audience, as the characters in the Disney films do. Indeed, compared to their Hollywood counterparts, most of the cartoon fish come across as rather dull, failing to make a real impression.

Credit to Alan Rickman for an evil delivery as Joe who spends the entirety of the film attempting to prevent the children from getting their hands on the antidote.

A funky soundtrack boosts the animation considerably. Although not ground-breaking, certainly worth a see.

Help! I'm A Fish

(U, 78 minutes)