Man and his best friend bond in 'Tulip'

As any fan of "Beauty and the Beast" or "Spirited Away" will likely tell you, the animated character can channel as much humanity as the real thing.

In "My Dog Tulip" - Paul and Sandra Fierlinger's interpretation of the J.R. Ackerley memoir - the same thing can be said for animated dogs. One would never call "Tulip" a "cartoon" - it's too adult, too nuanced, too free in its exploration / use of impressionistic imagery and psychological suggestion. But it is as touching, graceful and bittersweet as any film out there right now that is graced (or burdened) with actual people.

"Tulip" is, without question, a dog lover's movie. (The actual name of Ackerley's dog was Queenie, which the publisher changed because Ackerley was gay.) This is good: Non-dog people will never be seduced by "Tulip" into getting dogs they don't really want, a la "101 Dalmatians," because Ackerley's story never blinks from the untidy truths about owning one - the walking, the messing, the mating, the barking.

The Fierlingers, with their graceful, sometimes meltingly ethereal pictures, never create really off-putting content (Paul Fierlinger used to work on "Sesame Street," for goodness' sake). On the other hand, you know exactly what's going on.

Tulip, an Alsatian (the name given German shepherds by the English after World War I), is fiercely protective of Ackerley, and vies for his attention, especially when the author's sister (voiced by Lynn Redgrave, in her last role) comes to visit. Tulip is also something of a nervous wreck. But as is explained to Ackerley by the good-hearted vet Dr. Canvenini (Isabella Rossellini), Tulip is a "good girl" who has emotional needs. So does Ackerley. And the way the pair attends to each other makes "My Dog Tulip" immensely satisfying, and enormously moving.

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