Transforming an animated classic into something that features flesh-and-blood actors is something that takes skill and no shortage of love for the animated medium — just look at failed projects like Aeon Flux or this year’s big-budget Snow White for proof. But before How To Train Your Dragon blazed its way into the audience’s hearts by obeying the rules and remaining true to the heart of the story, there were other trailblazers that showed the way. For your consideration, cartoon lovers: three earlier success stories translating drawings into live-action.

This is For Your Consideration, in which we try to come to terms with the inescapable fact that, honestly, there’s too much out there to have time to watch, read, or hear everything — by making some suggestions about things that you might have overlooked but would enjoy, anyway. Think of it as recommendations from a well-meaning