Teacher's Pet

Disney's delightful "Teacher's Pet" is the latest in a new breed of sophisticated animated films, including "Finding Nemo" and "The Wild Thornberrys" — films that are as much for adults as they are for children.

While the cute, colorful visuals serve as eye candy for children, the humor and inside references of these little films are clearly aimed at experienced moviegoers. And in the case of "Teacher's Pet," much of its sophistication probably comes from creator Gary Baseman, whose illustrations have been featured in The New Yorker and Rolling Stone magazines.

Baseman attempted to break into animation at Nickelodeon, where he developed several series, all unproduced, before being tapped by Disney to do "Teacher's Pet" for its TV animation division. One of the TV show's characters, Hubcaps — a tribute to his beloved cocker spaniel — became Spot, the central character in the movie.

Spot (voiced by Nathan Lane) is the pet of Leonard Helperman (Shaun Fleming), and the two are such co-dependents that Spot, who can talk, routinely disguises himself as a boy named Scott and attends classes with Leonard. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the teacher of Leonard's class is his own mother, known only as Mrs. Helperman (Debra Jo Rupp).

The plot, which is done as a brassy musical, hinges on two facts — first, that Mrs. Helperman has won some kind of teacher's award and is rewarded by Principal Strickler (Wallace Shawn) with a free trip to Florida in his own personal trailer, and, second, that Spot can't bare to be separated from Leonard for even a few days. But Spot can't go because Principal Strickler has a strict "no-dogs" policy when it comes to his little trailer.

"Teacher's Pet" is Disney's send-up of one of its own animated classics, "Pinocchio" (1940). But "Teacher's Pet" doesn't boast the same smooth lines and pristine animation that were the hallmark of "Pinocchio." Rather, its images follow the new-style doodles of "South Park" and the "Thornberrys" movies. It has a raggy, anti-Disney look that actually adds to its considerable appeal and fits its mostly eccentric humor.

"Teacher's Pet" has been given an irreverent bounce by director Timothy Bjorklund and writers Bill and Cheri Steinkellner. The vocal talent is absolutely first-rate, and Lane has a veritable field day here. Rounding everything out is a Broadway-quality score of showstoppers written by assorted contributing composers.

"Teacher's Pet" is rated PG for some crude humor involving bodily functions, as well as some animated violence (slapstick). Running time: 67 minutes.