"The Washington Post" called it "a kid's film made without condescension", while "The New York Times" said "visually the movie has a smooth-flowing momentum and a lush storybook opulence". "Time Out" said the film had "a winning combination of inventive characters, amusing dialogue, excellent voice-overs, likeable tune and first-rate animation". "Deseret News" wrote it is "a wonder of the movie industry...a funny, occasionally thrilling animated feature aimed at kids, but with a sophisticated sensibility intended to reach their parents as well." "Halliwell's Film Guide" called it an "odd fantasy of pots and pans with no more than adequate animation".