Pitt plays Sinbad while Marina is played by Catherine Zeta Jones

Pitt takes the title role in the Dreamworks film, which opens in the UK on 25 July, leading a cast which includes Catherine Zeta Jones, Michelle Pfieffer and Joseph Fiennes.

The 39-year-old, best known for films like Ocean's Eleven and Fight Club, said most of the cast wanted to appear in a film their families could watch.

"Most people that are doing this have some association with kids, and I have nieces and nephews and I wanted to do something they could see," he said.

Both Pitt and co-star Joseph Fiennes paid tribute to the animation skills of the film's producers, with Fiennes saying it was harder to work without dealing directly with his fellow actors.

"You're not working with the actors or the character, but it's a testament to the animators that they can bring that level of interaction together in the final cut," he said.

Pitt admitted the role was not as fulfilling as a live action role, but said taking part in the production was "good fun".

"We're such a small component of what went on," he said.

"They had 500 to 600 animators working endlessly on the film."