Hotel Transylvania is one of several animated horror shows for the kiddies hitting the multiplex..  With ParaNorman out earlier this year and Frankenweenie coming soon, it may feel like overkill.  But Hotel Transylvania has a sweet heart wrapped in it’s scary trappings, and is a film even the youngest of monster lovers can enjoy without getting the boo scared out of ‘em.  This movie is more fun than fright, a perfect way to get you (and/or your kids) geared up for Halloween.

In the 17th Century Count Dracula lost the love of his life to a pack of angry villagers, leaving him to raise their daughter Mavis all by himself.  Scared of what humans could do to little Mavis, he built Hotel Transylvania, a place where monsters could come out of hiding and relax.  Now it’s Mavis’ 118th birthday, and though daddy Drac had promised her she could see the world when she turned 118, he’s still not ready to let his little girl go.  To top it all off, her birthday party gets crashed by a hostel-hopping guy who isn’t the least bit monster-y.  What’s a vampire dad to do but try to keep things on the DL?  As always the truth comes out….Can the monsters learn to accept humans, or is Arnie what’s for dinner?

Like Monsters Inc. and Monsters vs. Aliens, the monsters here avoid contact with humans.  Dracula has told them all that humans are scary bad and will kill them if they appear in public…so they hide in the shadows and Hotel Transylvania is the one place they can be themselves without fear.  There’s nary a human in sight; instead you’ve got Chef Quasimoto, zombie bellhops, gargoyle butlers, and “living armor” as security.  But the stars of the show are Dracula (Adam Sandler), Frankenstein and his wife (Kevin James and Fran Drescher) , The Invisible Man (a dryly hilarious David Spade), The Mummy (CeeLo Green), and The Werewolf with his wife and pack of kids (Steve Buscemi — sounding every inch the exhausted dad — and Molly Shannon).  These actors put their best voice forward and sound great interacting with each other.  And of course there’s Andy Samberg as wigged-out backpacker Jonathan and Selena Gomez as Mavis Dracula, the young blood and romantic pairing of the film.

The animation is fantastic: Pixar, it looks like you’ve got competition in Sony Animation.  (Not surprising, given the attention to detail shown in The Smurfs.)  But this is a kids film, and so things often happen at breakneck speed.  So many monsters inhabit the hotel it’s like the Mos Eisley Cantina in Star Wars.  Too much to take in with just one viewing, so I’m looking forward to the extras on the Blu-Ray.  Oh, and did I mention that Mavis makes the CUTEST bat ever?  Because she does.  The art in Hotel Transylvania is amazingly clear and detailed, letting you see the individual hairs on Mavis’ fuzzy little bat head, not to mention each little werewolf toddler.

Speaking of, those little werewolf toddlers are the real scene-stealers of this movie.  A pack of knee-high Tasmanian Devils moving at top speed, with baby wolf Winnie — all pink dress with a skull & crossbones logo, studded collar and pigtails — as the leader of the pack like a badass Maggie Simpson.  Cuuuuute!

There’s plenty in Hotel Transylvania for kids and their grownups to like.  Kids will love the butt and fart jokes, the mahem and the feel good ending.  Teens will enjoy Samberg and Gomez, the idea of breaking free from adults, and the butt and fart jokes.  Adults will enjoy the “all parents have the same problem” theme, riffs on Twilight and horror movie cliches…and, well, who doesn’t love a good butt or fart joke?

Sure, the ending is goofy to 11.  But it’s a kid’s film, so that’s okay.  I couldn’t help but wonder if there’s a sequel in the works: the legend of Drac’s wife is that “her soul is still in the ruins”.  Hmmm.  With Hotel Transylvania, a sequel would be welcome.

The ending credits, cute old-school animation shows each creature alongside the name of the actor who voiced him or her.  There’s also gorgeous storyboard-like panels for the final credit reel.  Couldn’t leave my seat ‘til they were finished, they were that lovely.  Stay for ‘em if you can, unless your own little werewolves are restless….