As Disney celebrates its 100th year, its Walt Disney Animation Studios borrows its past for its latest film, “Wish,” its 62nd, making references to at least a few of the 61 that came before it.

Most notably, “Wish” leans into the idea of wishing upon a star, giving viewers a few bars of the melody from “When You Wish Upon a Star” — from 1940’s “Pinocchio” — before the movie even actually begins.

And visually, it uses state-of-the-art digital tech to execute what the film’s production notes refer to as a “watercolor storybook style” meant to evoke the watercolor paintings that inspired early Disney films including “Sleeping Beauty,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and, yes, “Pinocchio.”

Fortunately, “Wish” is more than a walk down Memory Lane. While not an instant classic, the music-filled adventure is a wholly enjoyable, perfectly pleasant cinematic experience — one with a message about holding on to and working toward one’s dreams.

As with many a good Disney movie, an appealing young woman resides at the heart of its story. Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose) is one of the residents of Rosas, a fantastical island located off the Iberian Peninsula where wishes can come true. That is thanks to King Magnifico (Chris Pine), a sorcerer who grants one wish per month from those given at a ceremony marking a person’s 18th birthday.

(All of this is covered quite thoroughly in the energetic and catchy DeBose-led opening number, “Welcome to Rosas,” one of seven original songs penned by singer-songwriter Julia Michaels and producer-songwriter-musician Benjamin Rice.)

There’s a catch, however, to this whole wish deal: Once you make your wish, it’s held onto by Magnifico until he grants it and the person making it forgets what it is until then. Sounds a little iffy to us, but the people of Rosas love their king.

That includes Asha, who is set to interview to be his apprentice. Get that prestigious gig, she figures, and she can persuade Magnifico to finally grant the wish of her 100-year-old grandfather, Sabino (Victor Garber or “Alias”). She seems a shoo-in, especially because, as she learns, she has a fan in Magnifico’s wife, Queen Amaya (Angelique Cabral, “Big Sky”), who admires the way Asha is there for her friends, family and others on the island.

Asha, voiced by Ariana DeBose, interviews to be the apprentice of King Magnifico, voiced by Chris Pine, in a scene from “Wish.” (Courtesy of Disney)

It isn’t long into her interview, though, that Magnifico and Asha find they aren’t crazy about one another; Asha becomes disheartened by the reason Magnifico has never granted some wishes, like that of her grandfather, and he is offended that she so quickly would ask anything of him.

Disillusioned after Magnifico’s latest showy wish-granting affair, Asha makes a wish — yes, on a star — and soon has the company of a little personified ball of energy that she calls, well, “Star.”

Asha, voiced by Ariana DeBose, makes a friend and a powerful ally in Star in “Wish.” (Courtesy of Disney)

As Magnifico takes a turn toward cartoonish supervillainy, Asha, her suddenly talking pet goat, Valentino (Alan Tudyk), Star and others risk much to stop the king, who’s now getting high on his own supply … of wishes.

King Magnifico, voiced by Chris Pine, draws powers from the wishes of the people of his island in “Wish.” (Courtesy of Disney)

“Wish” is not without its issues.

The screenplay by Jennifer Lee — the writer and co-director of “Frozen” and “Frozen II,” who’s now the studio’s chief creative officer — and Allison Moore packs in so many supporting characters that few of them have an impact. Even Star, a very important player, never feels fully developed, but the silent little electric thing certainly has its magical moments.

Related Articles

‘Wish’ has lots of Disney star power

Ridley Scott wages war spectacularly in ‘Napoleon’

Adam Sandler’s ‘Leo’ a surefire hit for Netflix

‘Hunger Games’ prequel tops box office

Alan Tudyk brings voice talents to Disney’s ‘Wish’

And while Tudyk is good for a few laughs as the over-the-top Valentino, the “Harley Quinn” voice actor sounds as if he’s voicing a cross between Clayface and the Joker, his characters on that hilarious Max adult-oriented animated series, to the point that it’s a little distracting.

That said, directors Chris Buck — Lee’s co-director on the “Frozen” films” — and Fawn Veerasunthorn (head of story on Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon”) — keep things moving along nicely as they keep the focus on the two well-developed characters, Asha and Magnifico.

The performance by DeBose (“The Prom,” “West Side Story”) helps endear us to Asha from the film’s first few minutes, and the gifted singer shines with leading numbers including the yearnful “This Wish” and the determined “Knowing What I Know Now.”

However, it’s Pine (“Star Trek,” “Hell or High Water”) who steals the show as the power-hungry and vain magic man. The charismatic actor seems to be having a lot of fun singing the king’s disgruntled and self-loving “This Is the Thanks I Get?!”

As the self-referential “Wish” arrives in theaters on “Thanksgiving” week, the 100-year-old Walt Disney Animation Studios is all but asking for a little appreciation. Thanks to many films of this quality or better, it’s earned it.

‘Wish’

Where: Theaters.

When: Nov. 22.

Rated: PG for thematic elements and mild action.

Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes.

Stars (of four): 3.