Pixar’s latest film, “The Good Dinosaur,” hit theaters this week and is a delight for children, parents and everyone in between.

The film tells the story of Arlo, a timid Apatosaurus, who becomes separated from his family and home during a freak storm. Arlo is swept away by a river and wakes up with no idea where he is. With some unlikely help from a little boy named Spot, he attempts to make his way back home while meeting an eclectic cast of characters along the way.

The most striking aspect of the film is its gorgeous animation. The characters are so detailed and expressive that it’s hard to believe it’s mere animation. The scene renderings look as if they could be photography stills from around the world.

“There’s not a lot of dialogue. The two main characters can’t speak the same language, so that’s a challenge that we knew we were in for,” said Rob Thompson, one of Pixar’s lead animators.

As an animator for this film, Thompson was called upon to do a lot, as the story is largely told through its visuals. Without much speaking throughout the film, the aesthetics became a crucial asset.

While the visuals are the highlight of the film, the heartfelt story is still a key aspect. The relationship between Arlo and Spot is most accurately described as one between a dinosaur and his pet human – but the mutual respect and love between the two couldn’t be more obvious. They work together, sacrifice for each other and teach one another how to be better. The duo is one of the best pairings in recent Pixar memory, and they make the film what it is.