5 Lesser-Known but Heartwarming Animated Films to Watch With Your Kids
Kind and inspiring movies that are nice to watch when you want to take a break from your worries.
Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks are probably the most famous animation studios. But what happens in other studios? They often release films that are part of prestigious international festivals and are as good as the top box office performers.
1. My Father's Dragon, 2022
Little Elmer loves his mother Dela and their store very much. But the Great Depression forces the family to leave their cozy corner and move to a big city, where there is neither a native store nor a warm home.
A cramped room in the attic, an evil landlady, lack of money and work – this is what kind-hearted Dela and little Elmer have to face. One day, poverty brings his mother to the limit, and she takes it out on her son.
Upset, Elmer runs away from home with a stray cat. Soon he finds out that it can talk. A new acquaintance promises to help the boy fulfill his wishes. He just needs to save a dragon named Boris.
2. Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds, 2023
Two sisters spend time with their neighbor. The girls are browsing through children's books and accidentally stumble upon an enchanted one, which transforms them into cats and lands them in the fictional world of the Kingdom of the Winds.
The sisters break the local laws – for which the girls are separated and the younger one is forced to marry an unpleasant young man.
The French animated film was a hit at home but went unnoticed abroad. We would like to believe that this fascinating movie, inspired by the works of Moebius and Hayao Miyazaki, will find its audience.
3. Icarus, 2022
Icarus loves to spend time exploring the world. When he is not busy helping his father Daedalus, he tries to make his own discoveries, but most of all he loves to watch the sunrise.
One day, Icarus goes on a journey with his father and ends up in the palace of King Minos – the building was once designed by Daedalus, who is considered the court's chief inventor.
While Minos gives Daedalus a new assignment, Icarus makes an unexpected discovery: it turns out that the half-man, half-bull Asterion is hiding in a secret corner of the palace. After learning the fate that awaits his new friend, Icarus decides to do whatever it takes to save Asterion.
4. Ron's Gone Wrong, 2021
Everyone should have a best friend. In today's world, the best person to fulfill this role is an Internet-connected robot. It doesn't matter if it can talk, as long as it can send new photos to social networks, read the news feed and communicate with text messages.
But Barney, a shy schoolboy, does not have an electric friend, so he endures the ridicule of his classmates.
One day, Barney's parents give him his very own robot for his birthday, but it turns out to be defective: Ron can barely move and can only say a few words. The owner's goal is to teach the artificial intelligence everything he loves and knows.
5. Titina, 2022
1978, Rome. A terrier named Titina and her elderly owner Umberto find an old movie that captures their legendary journey to the North Pole. Then, Titina was a homeless dog and Umberto was an airship builder.
Fate brought them together at the door of a sausage shop where a hungry Titina was trying to steal sausages. Umberto decided to feed her and could not leave her alone on the street.
Meanwhile, in Norway, polar explorer Roald is considering an expedition to the North Pole. Roald has a brilliant idea: he asks Umberto to build an airship and join him on the journey. Umberto agrees, and Titina flies with him.