An animated version of Anne Frank’s famous diaries that makes her story easily accessible for a new generation without losing the power of the original text. We meet Anne on the occasion of her 13^th birthday, just prior to going into hiding in the secret annex above her father’s office in Amsterdam. She is in many respects like every other teenage girl, keenly aware of the world around her at times, petulant, selfish and contrary at others. Once in hiding, the film focuses on the story of the personalities of the eight people who shared the annex, largely as seen through Anne’s eyes. Most moving is Anne’s internal life, her reaction to their persecution and subsequent life of total isolation, silence, boredom, terror and ultimately the positive and humanitarian attitude she is able to maintain. Complemented by cutting edge animation, the film’s most significant success is its ability to use the diary entries to create an Anne Frank who is compelling and endearing without being maudlin. Beyond that, the film’s greatest virtue is that it is certain to encourage anyone who sees it to read the actual diaries of this century’s most famous and tragic memoirist.