How To Train Your Dragon

How To Train Your Dragon does have a cool noirish look throughout, but yeah it's a cartoon where everyone in the film's period Viking village speak with Scottish accents (get it, the Scots descended from the Vikings) except for the lead kid who has a regular American accent. All the dragons, and there's a bunch, have cute cat or dog expressions. The film this reminded me of most was the recent Beowulf, but only due to the similarity of the setting. HTTYD unrolls with similar situations and results as most kid oriented animation. The dragons pretty much behave like the tame beasts they eventually become.
The voice cast consists of the latest young talent (Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, America Ferrera) with the adults modulated by real Scots like Gerard Butler, Craig Ferguson and David Tennant. The film's crowning glory are the dark hues of night exteriors, a no-brainer with Roger Deakins assistance as lighting consultant.
Just for the record my favorite non-Pixar cartoon movies of the last ten years would be BOLT! and Lilo & Stich. HTTYD (the 3D was nifty.) for me falls between films like Kung-Fu Panda and Shrek 2. Animated movies like Fantastic Mr. Fox or Coraline are in a league of their own. If your little tykes become fans of dragons get them copies of the live action Dragonslayer (early-80s) and Dragonheart (mid-90s).