Film

Around the World in 80 Days

Name: Around the World in 80 Days
Genre: Animation, Family, Comedy
Released: 2021
Cast: Damien Frette, Julien Crampon, Kaycie Chase, Céline Ronté, Véronique Augereau

Other titles called Around the World in 80 Days: the 1956 film, the 2004 film, the 2021 series (ZDFmediathek).

Treasure hunt
Light-hearted

A spirited animated adventure about a scholarly marmoset and a scheming frog racing around the world in eighty days. Bright, energetic, and packed with globe-trotting set-pieces, it's pure popcorn entertainment for families. The kind of film where plot moves faster than character development, but nobody minds because the next location is already spectacular.

TMDb rating

2.9

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a bright, busy kids' adventure where a mismatched pair of animal characters bicker and bluster their way across the world, with the gags and sight-gags landing as fast as the scenery changes.

Skip it if you find frantic, cartoonish slapstick wearing thin, or you want a faithful, carefully paced telling of Verne's novel rather than a loose, chaotic reimagining with talking animals.

What it asks of you: It runs about eighty minutes and keeps moving, so it asks for a short stretch of attention and a tolerance for noise, with little time spent on quiet reflection.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Paddington 22017

A masterclass in family adventure that balances genuine humour for adults with emotional warmth. Every frame bursts with colour and invention, and the stakes feel real despite the whimsy.

But If you find the British politeness and cuteness exhausting, the relentless charm might test your patience.

The Lego Movie2014

Gleefully anarchic animation that never stops moving, building jokes and action sequences at breathless speed. Smart enough to work for adults, silly enough that kids never feel talked down to.

But The constant gags can feel scattershot, and if you don't love the Lego aesthetic, nothing here will convert you.

Spirited Away2001

A young person thrust into an impossible quest across a fantastical landscape, with animation that still astounds. Every frame justifies itself. Studio Ghibli's masterpiece of wonder and perseverance.

But At two hours, it's slower and more meditative than typical family fare. Some find it ponderous rather than contemplative.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Around the World in 80 Days

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Fantastic Mr. Fox2009

Both are globe-trotting capers driven by morally slippery characters willing to con their way forward. The adventure matters less than the companionship forged in its service.

A heist-adventure narrated by a con artist, told in stop-motion that looks like nothing else. Wes Anderson's constraint paradoxically frees the story: every frame earned, every colour purposeful. A masterclass in style and story serving each other.

But The stilted, theatrical dialogue and stationary camera work alienate viewers who expect naturalism. Anderson's tics are either genius or unbearable.

Raya and the Last Dragon2021

Disney animation of real quality, with a road-trip structure that mirrors your film's globe-trotting energy. Sharp action, actual stakes, and a lead character with steel in her spine.

But The middle act sags noticeably, and the final emotional beat lands harder if you care deeply about the lore.

Klaus2019

Hand-drawn animation of extraordinary beauty, telling a simple story with genuine heart. Proof that family films can move you without sentimentality or shouting.

But The warmth is unrelenting. If you prefer your entertainment bracing, this might feel cloying.

How to Train Your Dragon2010

Dreamworks at its best: assured direction, characters you actually invest in, and action sequences that still hold up. A teen hero learning the world is bigger than his expectations.

But The plotting is fairly formulaic beneath the spectacle, and some voices have dated poorly in the decade since.

Encanto2021

A family adventure where every character wants something different, creating genuine narrative tension. Vibrant, funny, and weirdly complex about disappointment and belonging.

But The magic system is deliberately loose, which frustrates viewers who want clear rules. Some find the tone whiplashy.

A Boy Called Christmas2021

A young person on a journey across a magical landscape, discovering that the world is kinder and stranger than he imagined. Beautiful production, genuine wonder, zero cynicism.

But The sentimentality is thick. It asks a lot of belief in pure goodness, which not everyone has the patience for.

DuckTales: The Movie - Treasure of the Lost Lamp1990

An older adventure that understands the genuine thrill of exploring the unknown. Charming rather than slick, with real craft in the writing and animation.

But It's from 1990, and it shows. The pacing is slower, the animation less ambitious, which modern viewers sometimes mistake for lack of effort.

DuckTales: The Movie - Treasure of the Lost Lamp poster

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas2003

A thieving, charismatic rogue dragged into the impossible. Both films know that the best adventures are driven by characters who shouldn't work together but do.

DreamWorks' hand-drawn adventure with genuine swagger and wit, told in a register closer to screwball than mush. The voice acting crackles, the action breathes, and it understands that adventure should feel reckless.

But It bombed, which meant nobody finished watching it. The latter half stumbles when trying to balance humour with sentiment, and it feels rushed.