One of the first moving narratives we’re introduced to as children are cartoons. The characters, often animals of some kind, are so bold and colourful, set against a striking soundtrack in a world that fuels our imaginations.

Someone tapping into that whole sense of cartoonish nostalgia is Mike Cheslik, with his striking directorial debut.

There was once an Applejack salesman by the name of Jean Kayak (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews). Unfortunately for him, he enjoyed his product so much, it ended with the demise of his business, when bested by a beaver.

He tries to get his revenge, but beavers are no fools, and are more than prepared for his tricksy ways.

He then comes across a merchant (Doug Mancheski), with an alluring daughter (Olivia Graves); he sells items for the furs of animals, with the top item being the hand of his daughter. But Jean has to kill a lot of critters until he gets anywhere near that outrageous number. But he accepts the challenge, as he takes on all the beasts in the forest.

Cheslik’s film is undoubtedly unlike any film you’ve seen before. It’s a silent, black and white film that plays out like a live action Looney Tunes cartoon with a sprinkling of Dom Jolly’s Trigger Happy.

Most of the animal characters are people in costumes, as the main protagonist attempts to take them out like a human Wile E. Coyote, against a chilly backdrop.

It’s utterly mesmerising – for the first ten minutes at least – and then it gets rather repetitive. Just imagine watching one or two classic cartoons, but if you continued watching for nearly an hour and 50 minutes – as this film is – then the magic starts to wear thin real fast.

That’s not to say that it isn’t a charming experience, but one that does outstay its welcome.

Perhaps the best way to watch it is in beaver-inspired, bite-sized chunks of ten minutes or so, because watching it in one go will be hard work, unless you’re a committed furry, in which case, the whole thing will be totally pornographic making for some wet dream.

It is likely to make you reminisce of childhood days watching those cartoons on TV, but maybe some of those many beavers and their friends could have been culled mercifully in order for a shorter run time, to maintain the animal magic.