Five stars

Cartoons! Animation! Was there ever a more perfect topic for an insanely detailed exhibit at the world’s largest Children’s Museum? I would submit that there is not. And the Cartoon Network Animation exhibit certainly doesn’t disappoint, with a huge array of displays and hands-on activities covering everything from storyboarding and editing to richly elaborate examples of special effects in action. The bit you’ll probably have the hardest time dragging your kids (not to mention yourself!) away from involves a couple of studios where cameras allow you to create a real-time Matrix-style image of yourself frozen in midair, or use stop-motion to create all manner of unusual animations with yourself as the main subject. It should say something that I’m the single biggest animation fanatic I know, and even I learned a few things about the craft — but the whole thing remains accessible on all levels. Through Jan. 4, 2009; www.childrensmuseum.org.