Lovely dollops of wit and warmth float through the big screen version of "Astro Boy," the latest Japanese TV cartoon to make it to the big screen.

It's about a Pinocchio with rocket engines for legs, X-ray eyes and a swirly just-got-dunked-in-the-toilet hairdo. Like that little wooden puppet, Astro Boy greets the world with an open heart.

Director David Bowers was an artist on "Shark Tale," "Prince of Egypt" and "Wallace & Gromit," so he gets the look right.

But as "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" proved, the animation bar has been raised, and not just by Pixar. Poor little "Astro Boy" hasn't a prayer of clearing it.

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In this film publicity image released by Summit Entertainment, Astro Boy, voiced by Freddie Highmore, is shown in a scene from, "Astro Boy." (AP Photo/Summit Entertainment)

In this film publicity image released by Summit Entertainment, Astro Boy, voiced by Freddie Highmore, is shown in a scene from, "Astro Boy." (AP Photo/Summit Entertainment)