The first trailer for Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn has gone online.  While the teaser does a good job of selling the action, it doesn't overcome two major hurdles the film is facing.  First, US audiences aren't familiar with Tintin and they need an introduction.  The book may be acclaimed in Europe, but the books simply haven't gained mainstream recognition in the states.  Second, moviegoers have an aversion to fully mo-capped features because of the way that characters fall into the uncanny valley.  The teaser tries to dodge that problem by showing as little of the characters' faces as possible (except for the final shot of Tintin) but they'll have to show us eventually.

Hit the jump to check out the trailer.  The film stars Jamie Bell, Daniel Craig, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Cary Elwes, Toby Jones, Mackenzie Crook, and Daniel Mays.  Steven Moffat (Doctor Who), Joe Cornish (Attack the Block), and Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead) wrote the script; Peter Jackson co-produced the film.  The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn opens in 3D on December 23rd.

Click over to Apple to see the trailer in HD.

Here's the official synopsis for The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn:

Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures Present a 3D Motion Capture Film "The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn" directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish. Starring Jamie Bell ("Billy Elliot," "Defiance") as Tintin, the intrepid young reporter whose relentless pursuit of a good story thrusts him into a world of high adventure, and Daniel Craig ("Quantum of Solace," "Defiance") as the nefarious Red Rackham.

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