His character is as large as his ears

Based on Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery Medal-winning children’s fairy tale, the animated film “The Tale of Despereaux” revolves around a chivalrous, large-eared but small-statured mouse, voiced by Matthew Broderick, who befriends a lonely girl and becomes a hero in the process.

Opening Dec. 19, “Despereaux” is adapted and produced by Gary Ross of “Seabiscuit” and “Pleasantville.” The computer-generated fairy tale is his first foray into the world of animation and it came to him five years ago courtesy of his wife and producing partner, Allison Thomas.

“She found this book before it was very well known and I fell in love with the story like everybody else did. I was just taken with the characters,” Ross says.

He adds that fairy tales are so captivating because “there are huge themes in them that can hold your interest.”

That holds true for “Despereaux” as well, he says. “It’s about individuality and courage and forgiveness and grace and understanding.”

DiCamillo, Ross says, created a rich fable with “these great, flawed and incredibly moving characters. I tried to stay true to what she had done.”

-- Susan King