The animated details, from the German production company Constantin Film, are slightly sub-Pixar, but the film compensates with muscular pacing, empathetic vocal turns and a witty cine-literate screenplay.

Dragon Rider is unlikely to spawn many imitators of its own - even if it did, how could anyone tell? - but as a half-term diversion, it ticks every box.

Gags about online dating and Skype already date this formulaic snore fest, whose plot manages to be both fast-paced and boring, while the characterisation is as basic as the CGI-animation.

Firedrake the Silver Dragon is a solid movie that will probably manage to hold the attention of younger viewers looking for something new to watch, while probably failing to hold the attention of any adult in the room.