My 6 Animated Movies to Travel With

What if the journey begins right from our armchair? What if the small screen stopped making us want to increase our material possessions and sparked our desire to discover the world?

Here, I share my favorite animated films to inspire travel enthusiasts with my 5 best cartoons for traveling while staying on your couch!

And if this topic interests you, the article on animated series should also please you!

This animated film released in 2009 adapts a story we all know: the one inspired by the character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912. I love the graphics of this lush jungle, the journey close to nature, and our cousins the gorillas.

A special shoutout for the quirky character of Jane and her humor.

Less well-known perhaps, this Japanese animated film is a must-see! Released in 2006, this film plays with the border between dream and reality with a lot of imagination and poetry.

Full of positive energy, the character of Paprika is a blast! And the film's soundtrack is the best wake-up call to start the day in a good mood (even on Monday mornings!). A great favorite! (Psst: I still talk about it here, in a special Japan article!)

This animated feature released in 2009 immediately captivated me. The first minutes of the film are truly touching... So emotional, in fact, that I cannot watch them without shedding a few tears (not to mention a veritable torrent!) - probably because it depicts one of my worst nightmares: saving, planning to leave, then getting caught up in everyday life and ultimately being overtaken by death itself without realizing one's dreams.

Fortunately, the rest of the film is filled with wonder, humor, and some great lines. This little boy, who is used to playing at adventure, and this dog, who loves to help, are simply adorable!

The soundtrack is also stunning and often accompanies me in the morning on my way to work, a little bubble of oxygen and optimism. We even played it at our wedding!

I mentioned this one, but it could have been almost any animated feature from Studio Ghibli, such as Castle in the Sky, Tales from Earthsea, Princess Mononoke... For those who are not familiar yet: don't hesitate!

These are good classics to discover the unique worlds of Japanese animation. There is a certain coherence and guiding line in these animations: the child - the innocence that asserts itself and blooms, fighting against adults for a good cause, often related to ecology, all depicted with a lot of poetry and delicacy. The landscapes and music of these films are often splendid.

This animated film from 2000 takes us on a journey with Tulio and Miguel, two small-time con artists, from Spain to the mysterious city of El Dorado. These charming characters bounce from adventure to catastrophe, always managing to come out with style... in the Spanish way!

I love this quirky humor that gives rise to some delightful quotes. The scene that we particularly enjoy, François and I, is where our two anti-heroes are locked in the ship's hold and preparing their escape using a foolproof plan:

Older kids charmed by Indiana Jones will not resist this Spanish animated film! Released in 2012, Tadeo Jones takes us on an adventure! Far from the prestige and charisma of Indiana, Tadeo is a scaredy-cat and indecisive. Caught up in outrageous events, he finds himself right in the middle of the Amazon rainforest.

Full of humor, this parody of Indiana Jones is touching and dazzles us with beautiful graphics and stunning landscapes through Peru, a country that I particularly love!

The director, Enrique Gato, presents his hero Tadeo as: >.

And I reserve the right to give a little bonus: >. This animated film from 2002, an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name, holds a special place, which is why it doesn't directly make the top 5. It is an autobiographical story that explores new lands. Both in its subject matter and its realization, the depth and presentation make it stand out from the usual paths of animation.

The story is about Jung, a small Korean boy adopted by a Belgian family in the 1970s, like 200,000 other Korean children after the Korean War. This animated film puts us in the shoes of this child, sharing his experience of being neither from here nor there. The uprooting, integration into the family and society, jealousy towards his adopted sister, the construction of his identity, the particular relationship with > (his imagined mother and his adoptive mother) are addressed through the eyes of a child, capturing the innocence, raw emotions, humor, and poetry.

In this existential quest, the narrator transports us from memories to the present, between flashbacks of his childhood and the search for answers in adulthood during a trip to Korea, with a remarkable blend of real and animated images. The direction is magnificent and brims with authenticity, reflecting this very intimate film.

And this film is even more moving knowing that the screenwriter-director is none other than this child. Jung has harnessed the cathartic power of writing, elevating and sharing his story through his book and this animation. A beautiful achievement.

I could still have talked about many others, such as The Emperor's New Groove (2000) - which I really love for its humor, Anastasia (1997), Finding Nemo (2003), Madagascar (2005), Rango (2011)... But that wouldn't be a top 6 anymore

And what about you, what are your favorite animated films to travel from your sofa?

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