Anyone who fairly recently became a parent is familiar with Jasper, the charming penguin and antihero who is the main character of an animated television series produced by German company Toons 'n' Tales. Jasper has now taken the step from the small to the big screen, appropriately accompanied by a wonderful orchestral score that effectively echoes this epic transition to the silver screen. Jasper und das Limonadenkomplott just premiered theatrically in Austria and Germany and is awaiting international distribution. 30-year old German composer Florian Tessloff - who started out as an assistant to Mark Isham and co-scored last year's acclaimed The Baader Meinhof Complex with Peter Hinderthuer - has written a charming, entertaining and exciting orchestral score for the film...

Not having a young child, Jasper has completely passed me by. I wasn't aware there was a TV show out there, let alone a movie in the works.

While a lot of kids' movies have impressive soundtracks, most unfortunately follow the same basic cutesyness. So I was half expecting this to be a real chore to listen to. Thankfully Florian Tessloff has crafted a work of art that most Hollywood blockbusters would be proud to have accompanying their onscreen action. Yes, there are still elements of cuteness here, but never does it stray from this side of tasteful.

Probably the biggest influence for this soundtrack is the work of James Horner - there are quite a few similar sounding segments to Horner's score for Casper as well as touches of The Land Before Time. However I picked up a few other subtle influences. 'Mission Impossible' has a slight feeling of Mark Ayers wonderful score for The Innocent Sleep, while a small section of 'Temple of Chemistry' reminded me of parts of Angela Morley's music for Watership Down.

'Preparing the Mission', which is bound to get any preschooler bouncing around the room, is the one track on this album that is the odd one out. However, it's fun, quirky and very catchy. I defy anyone not to at least consider getting up and doing a silly dance.

I loved this soundtrack. It could be because I'm such a James Horner fan, or it could be because I wasn't expecting a work of this quality for a movie aimed at the very young.

This is one kids' soundtrack that every movie score buff should have in their collection.

9

Darren Rea