The Pirates: Band of Misfits

Although their roots remain in the rudimentary stop-motion world that put them on the map, the folks at Aardman Animations have expanded their technological repertoire.

Fortunately, a change in the process doesn’t equal a compromise in style for the British studio behind the Wallace and Gromit franchise and such charming features as Chicken Run and Arthur Christmas.

Their latest triumph is The Pirates: Band of Misfits, a delightful adventure that seamlessly expands Aardman’s use of computer-generated backgrounds and details with clay-model stop-motion techniques, but also incorporates them into the 3D world for the first time.

The fast-paced film is directed by Aardman founder Peter Lord (Chicken Run), from a script by Gideon Defoe based two books in his kid-friendly series that lampoons pirate clichés.

It follows the ebullient Pirate Captain (voice of Hugh Grant), who leads a ragtag crew of misfits on high-seas plundering adventures. But what he really wants is bragging rights, namely the coveted Pirate of the Year award that has led some of his rivals to fame and fortune.

So the Captain becomes involved in a new kind of adventure involving his own parrot, who is actually a rare dodo bird, and a variety of disguises and derring-do. Along the way, the crew crosses paths with everyone from a lovelorn Charles Darwin (David Tennant) to a conniving Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton).

After an uneven beginning, the film gets better as it goes along, as the modest narrative becomes more focused. The top-notch voice cast also includes Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven and Martin Freeman.

Fans of the previous Aardman films will appreciate the quirky supporting characters and trademark zippy humor that’s suitable for both adults and children.

In fact, many of the clever, rapid-fire one-liners might be over the heads of some kids, who can enjoy the broad slapstick and colorful characters while their parents are laughing.

The 3D component really doesn’t add or subtract much to the overall experience, which allows Lord and his team to concentrate on more important visual matters.

Such is perhaps the most charming aspect of the Aardman canon, the ability to adapt its signature style with innovative technologies into a completely original package.

Rated PG, 88 minutes.