It may not have begun in London, it may not feature humans as characters and it may not be ‘the’ adaptation of Jules Verne’s novel, but Around the world in 80 days, is truly an entertaining animated movie for the new generation. The novel, written nearly 150 years ago by French Writer Jules Verne, is superbly presented in the movie, set in an animal world.

For globe-trotting adventure, here is Phileas Frog, an amphibian version of Phileas Fogg, the person who set out on a quest to go around the world in the novel. For Passepartout, we have a young but deprived marmoset, a distant cousin of monkeys. Unlike the novel, Passepartout dreams of becoming an explorer and joins hands with Frog, a greedy animal with an unknown past. The journey is full of twists and surprises, with both Fogg and Passepartout dodging ‘Fix’ on one hand and exploring the planet on the other.

The only person who stands in the way of Passepartout’s dreams is his overprotective mother, but when Passepartout crosses paths with a Frog, they find themselves in the midst of a fortune. Following the book, a bank is robbed just before Frog and Passepartout leave for the trip, they interrupt a funeral and save a lady — of course, a female frog — and beat the hell out of the bad guys.

The last time there was an animated film regarding the novel, was way back in 1988. The animation from Australia, had a Fox as Fogg, while for Passepartout, a clumsy monkey was chosen. In the latest version, the lead characters are a frog and a monkey, and the world is also different.

There is a scorpion biker gang, a chase through the rooftops, a fight above a train as well as meeting the legendary Juan Frog, an explorer who went around the world in 90 days.

The 82-minute action adventure animation is directed by Samuel Tou­r­nex, who has been behind the creation of Even Pigeons Go to Heaven (2007) which was nominated for the Academy Award of the Best Short Film.

Around the World in 80 Days is the good option for those kids who want to take a trip around the world, and want their parents to give in to their demand. Well, if you want your plan to go ahead, watch this movie, and who knows the parents might give in to your demand.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, January 5th, 2022