time travelling dog cartoon

Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

'Mr. Peabody And Sherman' Trailer: The Story Of A Time Traveling Dog And His Pet Boy

Roles are reversed in the upcoming Rocky and Bullwinkle spinoff, Mr. Peabody and Sherman . Mr. Peabody is the world's smartest dog and Sherman is his adopted human boy. Together they'll get into time traveling adventures, with characters voiced by the likes of Ty Burrell, Allison Janney, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Stanley Tucci, Patrick Warburton, Lake Bell and Dennis Haysbert .

The 3D animated film, set for release March 7, is directed by  Rob Minkoff ( The Lion King ) and the first trailer has just been released. Check it out below.

Here's the first trailer via Apple .

Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous boy Sherman, use their time machine – The Wabac – to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes The Wabac out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidently rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most important events in world history. Before they forever alter the past, present and future, Mr. Peabody must come to their rescue, ultimately facing the most daunting challenge of any era: figuring out how to be a parent. Together, the time traveling trio will make their mark on history.

Screen Rant

10 best animated movies about time travel, ranked.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

10 Time Travel Movie Rules, Ranked Worst To Best

Every hayao miyazaki movie ranked, including the boy and the heron, your name ending explained (in detail).

• Animated movies offer more creative freedom for exploring time travel concepts and expanding on them in unique ways.
• Animated movies, including those about time travel, are not just for kids. They contain valuable life lessons for both children and adults.
• Time travel movies in animation can touch on important themes like family and empathy, providing heartwarming and emotional experiences.

Many movies have taken advantage of animation to make some of the best time travel movies. As animation isn't hindered by what an actor is able to do on set, there is a lot more freedom when making an animated movie. It makes time travel an excellent plot device for animated movies to use, as they can really expand on the concept in unique ways.

A common belief is that animated movies are meant purely for kids. While there are a lot of kid-friendly animated movies, there are plenty of animated movies for adults , too, including Grave of the Fireflies, Loving Vincent , and even South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut . Animated movies tend to contain life lessons that are beneficial to kids and adults alike, and the ones about time travel are no exception, seeing as some of the best touch on subjects such as family and the importance of empathy.

Time travel movies are often riddled with plot holes, but some of them, like Interstellar, manage to stick to their own rules from beginning to end.

10 Regular Show: The Movie (2015)

A time travel flick based on the cartoon network show.

Regular Show: The Movie takes place between the first two episodes of the Cartoon Network show's seventh season. It follows Mordecai, Rigby, and their friends as they try to fix a mistake the duo made in their past. Mordecai and Rigby had made a time machine in high school that is now being used by their former volleyball coach for evil. Regular Show: The Movie maintains the wacky comedy that makes the TV series so popular. Its message on the importance of friendship and communication is surprisingly heartwarming as Mordecai and Rigby come to understand how past actions have hurt each other.

9 Steins;Gate: The Movie - Load Region Of Déjà Vu (2013)

A follow-up to the popular anime.

Taking place one year after the events of the anime series, Steins;Gate: The Movie - Load Region of Déjà Vu discusses a popular issue with time travel, what happens when one goes too far with it. The film takes it in an interesting direction as Rintaro Okabe's consistent time travel causes him to disappear from reality with only Kurisa Mikase remembering him. Steins;Gate succeeded at making a good anime sequel movie , which is a feat in itself. The movie is surprisingly emotional, as Kurisa's love for Rintaro is constantly tested by failures to rescue him. The movie does well at balancing the drama with a unique time travel story.

8 Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)

A dog and his human son have to fix time.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a DreamWorks movie about a young boy whose antics rip a hole in time. Sherman and his dog adoptive father, Mr. Peabody, have to undo the damage while dealing with child protective services. The relationship between Mr. Peabody and Sherman is sweet and provides a lot of the movie's humor. Mr. Peabody & Sherman has a lot of heart and contains a lot of commentary on family and how families can be different. The overall message, that just because a family looks different doesn't mean it's bad, is one that will stand the test of time. Although parts of the movie were slow, the heart behind Mr. Peabody & Sherman makes up for it.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman is based on characters from The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends . Mr. Peabody and Sherman were in the segments titled Peabody's Improbable History .

7 Quantum Cowboys (2022)

A live-action/animated sci-fi western.

The ever-changing style of Quantum Cowboys makes it one of the most interesting animated movies. A sci-fi Western following two drifters who decide to help a woman get her land back, Quantum Cowboys is a unique mix of live-action and animation . The constant stylistic switches can make it difficult to understand, but once the plot gets moving and the idea of reality is thrown out of the window, the movie becomes engaging and philosophical. The ambition behind Quantum Cowboys is what makes it such a good time travel movie. As a lot of time travel movies focus on action, it's refreshing to see a time travel film take a more philosophical route.

6 Godzilla: The Planet Of The Monsters (2017)

Humans must flee earth after godzilla attacks.

After a Godzilla attack nearly makes humans extinct, the survivors are forced to flee Earth with two alien races on the ship Aratrum . 20 years later, Captain Haruo Sakaki convinces everyone to take the Aratrum back to Earth after finding Godzilla's weakness. When the Aratrum returns, 20,000 years have passed on Earth, and the planet has been drastically altered by Godzilla's presence. Like the best Godzilla franchise movies , Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters has incredible visuals and engaging action scenes . Although the characters are not fleshed out well, the beauty of the film overshadows that. The visuals, especially those of Godzilla, are magnificent and capture the essence of the kaiju genre wonderfully.

Two sequels were made in 2018, Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle and Godzilla: The Planet Eater.

5 The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

A girl's time travel exploits begin to have consequences.

In The Girl Who Leapt Through Time , teenager Makoto Konno discovers a device that allows her to jump through time. She uses it to avoid being late, get perfect grades, and avoid awkward situations. As she continues to use this new power, Makoto realizes that not only does she have a limited number of time jumps, but her actions have affected those around her. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a fun coming-of-age movie that feels like a Studio Ghibli movie. The imagery and softness of the film, juxtaposed with the real danger Makoto puts herself and others in, add a lot of weight to the film. The movie drives its message of understanding the consequences of one's actions home perfectly.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is loosely based on a novel of the same name by Yasutaka Tsutsui.

Hayao Miyazaki is one of the biggest names in animation, and here's how all of his movies, including The Boy and the Heron, compare to each other.

4 Mirai (2018)

A young boy time travels to learn about his family.

In Mirai , 6-year-old Kun is distraught by the arrival of his baby sister, Mirai, as he is jealous of the attention she gets. Throughout the movie, Kun goes into the garden and travels through time. Every time he does so, Kun meets various people, and each one turns out to be a member of Kun's family, including a version of Mirai from the future and Kun's great-grandfather. Like The Girl Who Leapt Through Time , Mirai 's imagery and plot make it feel like a Studio Ghibli film. It's interesting to see time traveling affect the present in such an intimate way. The biggest change to come from Kun's time traveling in Mirai is within Kun himself as he learns to be more understanding of his family.

3 Meet The Robinsons (2007)

Kid-friendly time travel adventure.

Disney's Meet the Robinsons is a fun and heartwarming time travel adventure movie. Young inventor Lewis is taken to the future by a boy named Wilbur, who needs his help. Lewis bonds with Wilbur's family, the Robinsons, and soon becomes entangled in a conflict with the mysterious Bowler Hat Guy. Meet the Robinsons is full of emotion and humor as it tackles topics such as family and guilt. It's the perfect movie to watch again as an adult to catch hidden details about Meet the Robinsons ' characters , who are the ones who truly make the movie spectacular. Each one brings something different, and they are so complex that it makes Meet the Robinsons feel real, even if the setting and plot are fantastical.

2 Your Name (2016)

An emotionally charged anime movie about body-switching.

After wishing to be a boy in her next life, Mitsuha Miyamizu switches bodies with Taki Tachibana, a boy living in Tokyo. The two continue to switch bodies on certain days and help each other in their personal lives. When Taki tries to find Mitsuha, however, he learns that they've been time traveling as well, as Mitsuha died three years earlier when a comet destroyed her village. Your Name 's subversion of a classic trope makes it feel new and exciting. Despite the sci-fi aspects of it, Your Name stays incredibly grounded and focuses on everyday life. The intimacy of the film is what makes it so special, and every emotion that it invokes is genuine.

Your Name, a 2016 animated film, combines an emotional love story with a sci-fi time travel element in a plot that can be hard to follow.

1 A Christmas Carol (2009)

An animated retelling of the classic novel.

Disney's version of Charles Dickens' novel, A Christmas Carol , was shot using motion capture and follows the original tale closely. Wealthy miser Ebenezer Scrooge is taken throughout his past, present, and future by three ghosts to show him the error of his ways. Many versions of A Christmas Carol have been made with varying degrees of accuracy. A Christmas Carol is one of the most prominent time travel stories, and the 2009 film did it brilliantly. The animation never takes away from the heart of the story and actually helps to enhance it at times. It maintains the fantastic nature of Dickens' novel while still maintaining the reality of the story.

A style expert shares fresh Target finds to help you kick off summer — from $10

• Share this —

• Watch Full Episodes
• Read With Jenna
• Inspirational
• Relationships
• TODAY Table
• Newsletters
• Start TODAY
• Shop TODAY Awards
• Citi Concert Series
• Listen All Day

Follow today

More Brands

• On The Show
• TODAY Plaza

It's about time: 'Mr. Peabody & Sherman' time-travel comedy charms parents too

Finally a reboot of a beloved retro series that feels fresh and fun. Cartoon characters "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" got their start in the 1960s, but their new full-length movie doesn't feel one bit dated. DreamWorks has filled in more of a personal back-story for the dog-dad-and-human-son duo, and kept the wacky time-traveling Wayback Machine that let them mingle with Marie Antoinette, Leonardo DaVinci and other historical figures.

Parents may remember the intellectual dog and his gawky red-headed boy from the "Peabody's Improbable History" segments of "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show." But even if they don't, they'll likely get a kick out of the new big-screen 3-D film. Here's a parents' guide.

Will kids enjoy it? Yes. Even Gen Z types who've never heard of the "Rocky & Bullwinkle" skits will be sucked into the charm of the brainy canine and his charmingly clueless son. The action is quick but not hyper, the characters are relatable, and there are a few fart jokes to keep the grade-schoolers giggling. Parents be warned: If this is your kid's first introduction to King Tut, they may come away from the film knowing only that his name rhymes with "butt."

What about their parents? Parents should enjoy it too. The film's salted with jokes that are obviously intended only for them, including an "I'm Spartacus!" bit that's all the better for taking a while to pay off, and plenty of verbal puns. Sherman plays the stand-in for the kid audience, repeatedly laughing and then saying "I don't get it," after his dog dad delivers a zinger that requires historical knowledge he doesn't have. Kids won't always get it either, but the film zooms on quickly and they won't care.

What age level will appreciate the movie? Should be fine for kindergartners and up unless they're very sensitive. "Mr Peabody & Sherman" is rated PG for "some mild action and rude humor." The action is mild as cream cheese — some sword-fighting and a few chase scenes — and the "rude humor" includes the aforementioned butt and fart jokes. The scariest scenes don't involve the battles, but the plot where a creepy social worker (voice of Allison Janney) threatens to take Sherman away from his doggie daddy. Smart parents could easily turn this into a learning opportunity, taking the car ride home to discuss adoption, families and other relevant issues. And older grade-schoolers might be intrigued enough by some of the historical segments to want to seek out the real story. The Trojan War, the painting of the Mona Lisa, King Tut and Egyptian mummies, the French Revolution, Gandhi, George Washington, and even Bill Clinton make appearances.

Should viewers seek out the 3-D? It's not as dazzling as the stunning ice and snow flying at the audience in "Frozen," but overall, the added dimension is fun here. Swords jut out at the audience, rocks whiz around, and a fun sequence features Sherman swooping through the air on DaVinci's flying machine. If you don't mind the ticket surcharge, go for it, though if your local theater offers 2-D only, don't fret.

Got a bathroom break guide? The film's a fast 90 minutes, so most kids can sit through it all. But if you need a plot-free moment to duck out, the Trojan War battle scenes are a good bet. (Yes, that's "Seinfeld's" Puddy — Patrick Warburton — as Agamemnon. Gotta support the team.)

40 of the best witch movies ever made

Nicholas Galitzine to play He-Man in ‘Masters of the Universe’ film

They worked together on ‘Ezra.’ Now Tony Goldwyn wants to help his co-star get on ‘Law & Order’

The ‘Wicked’ movie gets the Lego treatment in a new ‘brickified’ trailer

What is the true story behind ‘Sight’? Movie details life of immigrant and surgeon Dr. Ming Wang

Brad Pitt and George Clooney reunite onscreen after 16 years in ‘Wolfs’ teaser

Blue Ivy and North West are hard launching their careers through 'The Lion King'

AMC leaked Beyoncé’s concert film news but kept Taylor Swift’s a secret — and fans are outraged

What happens at the end of 'Hit Man'? Glen Powell breaks down the surprise ending

Jennifer Lopez reacts to Netflix's cheeky billboard about her: 'Just a friendly reminder'

'Mr. Peabody & Sherman': A dog and his boy go way-back

Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a time-travel movie, a father-and-son movie, a boy-meets-girl movie, and a movie that doggedly celebrates the art of the pun.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman is a time-travel movie, a father-and-son movie, a boy-meets-girl movie, and a movie that doggedly celebrates the art of the pun.

But most significant, it is a movie about the smartest creature on Earth - a Nobel Prize-winning scientist who just happens to be a beagle - and his adopted human boy, and the epic trouble that the bowtied canine and his bespectacled kid find themselves in, exploring history firsthand, and firstpaw, thanks to their WABAC Machine. (Yes, that's pronounced way-back .)

A smart, snappy CG-animated adaptation of the 1960s' "Peabody's Improbable History" segments of the classic Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon series, Mr. Peabody & Sherman has a cool, midcentury-modern look (dog and boy live in a populuxe Manhattan penthouse) and a voice cast that may not be A-list but fits the bill nicely.

Modern Family's Ty Burrell is just right as the aloof, erudite Peabody. As Sherman, The Neighbors' Max Charles brings the playfulness, and insecurities, of a 7-year-old to life. And Ariel Winter (Alex in Modern Family ) is Penny, the prissy classmate who takes an immediate dislike to the know-it-all nerd, mocking and bullying him - until, without permission, Sherman tries to impress her by hopping the WABAC and heading for Egypt, 133 B.C.

Mr. Peabody & Sherman ricochets through the centuries: Renaissance Florence, the French Revolution, ancient Troy, Ben Franklin and his kite, and so on. As the plot thickens, our four-legged polymath protagonist faces challenges both parental and physical, as in laws of physics. Wormholes, black holes, and vagaries in the space-time continuum figure prominently. Where are Spock and Kirk when you need them?

Director Rob Minkoff ( The Lion King , Stuart Little ) and his animation team stay true to the spirit of the original episodes - created by the Valley Forge cartoonist Ted Key (also of the popular weekly single-panel cartoon Hazel ). But the filmmakers inject a whooshy, propulsive sense of fun into the proceedings, too. And the relationship at the heart of the story, the brainiac dog and his eager-to-please pipsqueak charge, develops in ways that are emotionally genuine, if just a tiny bit far-fetched.

Fetch, Sherman, fetch.

215-854-5629

@Steven_Rea

www.inquirer.com/onmovies

Mr. Peabody & Sherman  *** (Out of four stars) Directed by Rob Minkoff. With the voices of Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, and Stephen Colbert. Distributed by Twentieth Century Fox. Running time: 1 hour, 32 mins. Parent's guide: PG (cartoon violence) Playing at: area theaters

Mr. Peabody time-travels to the 21st century for new film

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

Tuna, a Chiweenie with an overbite and more than 700,000 followers on Instagram, was there. So were Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, Beethoven, Marley, Toto and several other dogs of renown.

The canine A-list had gathered in Hollywood in February to celebrate one of their own. Yes, they had also come because their trainers were tossing bits of hot dog onto the red carpet, but really, the main attraction was Mr. Peabody, the hyper-intelligent, time-traveling beagle from the 1960s cartoon shorts “Peabody’s Improbable History,” who was getting his paw prints enshrined at the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Mr. Peabody, who first attained fame in the series of wryly humorous, six-minute shorts wedged between Rocky and Bullwinkle and Dudley Do-Right cartoons, is staging a career comeback in the new DreamWorks Animation movie “Mr. Peabody & Sherman.”

BEST MOVIES OF 2013: Turan | Sharkey | Olsen

As with many aging stars, Mr. Peabody’s second act has come with some cosmetic changes as well as personal growth. That it’s happening at all is thanks largely to the persistence of his two-legged collaborators, notably director Rob Minkoff and Tiffany Ward, the daughter of one of his creators, Jay Ward.

In the original cartoon as well as the new film, which opens Friday, Mr. Peabody is a Nobel laureate, a master inventor and a fabulous dinner party host. But Minkoff and writer Craig Wright have added some emotional depth to Peabody’s relationship with Sherman, his adopted human son.

Voiced by “Modern Family’s” Ty Burrell, Mr. Peabody has trouble expressing his feelings when Sherman (Max Charles), goes off to school. When a classmate (Ariel Winter) engages in some species-ist bullying, Sherman takes his father’s greatest invention, a time travel device called the WABAC machine, for a dangerous joy ride to impress her.

On the set: movies and TV

With stops in ancient Greece, Renaissance Italy and revolutionary France, the film preserves many of the chief conventions of the series, including Peabody’s reliance on verbal humor.

“The adventurous thing was always going to be a part of it,” said Minkoff, who directed “The Lion King” and “Stuart Little” movies. “The question was, ‘What were we going to do to flesh out the story? How were we going to treat this as a more dimensional thing?’ The show was six minutes, the setup was superclear: a dog and his boy. Peabody says he built the time machine because a growing boy needs to get out and living in Manhattan is tough. So it was, ‘What do they do when they’re not time traveling? What’s the other side of the coin?’”

Moose and squirrel

In 1958, Jay Ward, an entrepreneurial California real estate agent with a creative itch, persuaded General Mills to sponsor a cartoon series built around a moose and a squirrel, and enlisted UPA writer and producer Bill Scott to help him.

“They were thinking all they’d need was five minutes or so,” Tiffany Ward said in an interview with Minkoff before the paw prints ceremony. “After they signed the deal, they realized it’s a half-hour show.” To fill out the time, Jay Ward and Scott would have to add other serials, and cartoonist Ted Key suggested one about a boy with a time travel belt and a dog.

“Dad switched it around,” Tiffany Ward said, “and said, ‘Let’s make the genius the dog.’”

The various iterations of “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,” which aired on ABC and NBC, were never a ratings hit, but they acquired a cult status thanks to a high/low style of humor. In one episode, Peabody and Sherman talked Beethoven out of a cooking career so he’d get back to work composing the Ninth Symphony; in another, Geronimo offered Peabody an autographed picture of Tonto and two tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm in exchange for a rocking horse.

PHOTOS: Actors who’ve been turned down for famous roles

For many kids of the 1960s and ‘70s, including Minkoff, 51, “Peabody’s Improbable History” was an entertaining entry point to the social sciences.

“I loved the fact that Peabody was a teacher and that he would take Sherman on these incredible adventures to meet these crazy characters,” Minkoff said. “And I got introduced to these historical figures. As a kid, you’re like, ‘This must be important.’ And you can laugh at the silliness of it. And then, of course, later you’re learning about those figures in class, and it was good to have a little connection to it. History turned out to be my favorite subject.”

As part of “The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show,” Peabody and Sherman have lived on in syndication on cable. Since her father’s death in 1989, Tiffany Ward has developed his characters on behalf of Jay Ward Productions in other media with uneven results. There was the 1997 live-action box office hit “George of the Jungle” for Disney and the 2000 dud “The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle” for Universal.

“I’ve always looked at everything from his perspective or how he would handle it,” Ward said. “Dad wanted theatrical movies, but he was very reclusive and wasn’t out there marketing. One of his rules was that his characters could never be seen with other characters, but one of my visions was to be in theme parks. You have to get it down to the next generation and have the interactive part. I haven’t done anything he wouldn’t be really proud of, but there were a few changes.”

Over the years, Ward said, she has also fended off 21 separate lawsuits over rights to her father’s characters. “Every musician who’d ever worked on it came out of the woodwork, every artist came out of the woodwork,” Ward said.

In 2002, she and Minkoff met for the first time, finding a shared passion for her father’s work and beginning a more-than decade-long effort to bring Peabody and Sherman to the big screen. Ward and Minkoff outlasted a rotating cast of production partners, and they recovered from the revelation late in the scripting process that the 2010 animated film “Despicable Me” had a nearly identical plot involving a villain stealing the seven wonders of the world.

In 2011, DreamWorks Animation greenlighted the film, and Minkoff and Wright, whose credits include “United States of Tara” and “Dirty Sexy Money,” sculpted the story around a modern parenting theme.

PHOTOS: Box office top 10 of 2013 | Biggest flops of 2013

Artists at the Glendale-based animation studio toyed with changing Peabody’s appearance, but largely preserved his upright, graphically spare design, bow-tie and glasses.

“This idea that Sherman would be going to school for the first time, that’s a seminal moment for parents,” said Minkoff, who has an 18-month old. “Even though he’s a dog, that’s not what it’s about. He’s a father who has a son and the relationship is going through a change.”

(Ward has dogs; Minkoff, who “does not currently,” said, almost sheepishly, “We’re building a house and we have a 11/2 -year-old.”)

In 2012, DreamWorks bought Classic Media, the company that had managed the rights to Peabody and Sherman in a joint venture with Jay Ward Productions as well as owning more than 400 other nostalgic brands including Lassie and Casper the Friendly Ghost.

Early reviews for “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” have praised its sophisticated wit, and the film has grossed $39 million so far in the international territories where it opened last month.

DreamWorks and its distribution partner, 20th Century Fox, have marketed “Mr. Peabody & Sherman by emphasizing its most universally accessible side — the canine one. In addition to the paw print ceremony, a costumed version of the celebudog rang the opening bell for the NASDAQ stock market in February, and Burrell made an appearance last month at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in New York.

[email protected]

More to Read

With ‘Jim Henson Idea Man,’ Ron Howard renews appreciation for the Muppet mastermind

May 30, 2024

Review: Stuffed with in-jokes for parents, ‘The Garfield Movie’ isn’t a cat-astrophe

May 24, 2024

Review: ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ monkeys with a durable sci-fi concept, to smart ends

May 9, 2024

Review: It’s a ruff road to redemption in ‘Arthur the King,’ a well-trained tail of bonding

March 15, 2024

Emotionally complex and visually distinctive styles mark the animated shorts contenders

Feb. 19, 2024

Company Town

Screamboat Willie? Mickey Mouse horror films lurk as cartoon enters public domain

Jan. 2, 2024

Review: Recognizably human for a duck tale, ‘Migration’ flies from studio fare, but not too far

Dec. 20, 2023

Oscars rewind — 2004: Animation makes its mark with ‘Finding Nemo’

Science & Medicine

Remembrances of apes past: Chimpanzees and bonobos can recognize long-lost friends

Dec. 18, 2023

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Former staff writer Rebecca Keegan covered film at the Los Angeles Times until 2016 and is the author of “The Futurist: The Life and Films of James Cameron.” Prior to joining The Times, she was the Hollywood correspondent for Time magazine. A native of New York State, she graduated from Northwestern University.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Review: ‘Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara’ is a harrowing interfaith showdown

May 31, 2024

Cannes festival reportedly sued by model who alleges assault by guard on red carpet

Review: Carved out of rough-hewn elements, ‘The Dead Don’t Hurt’ charms with retro-western poise

Review: ‘In Our Day’ sees a master returning to his usual elements — in endless variation

Film Review: ‘Mr. Peabody & Sherman’

Swift, peppy and defiantly unendearing, DreamWorks’ latest toon updates the zany adventures of the time-traveling dog-and-his-boy sideshow from 'Rocky and Bullwinkle.'

By Guy Lodge

Film Critic

• ‘Elementary’ Review: French Docmaker Claire Simon Returns to the Schoolroom With Endearing Results 2 hours ago
• ‘To Live, to Die, to Live Again’ Review: Gaël Morel’s ’90s-Set AIDS Drama Seems a Throwback Before Pointing to a Brighter Future 2 days ago
• ‘Filmlovers!’ Review: Arnaud Desplechin Gets Back on Track With a Breezy but Thoughtful Ode to Cinephilia 3 days ago

It was Samuel Butler who wrote of dogs that “you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” He did not reckon with the prissy, annoyingly infallible canine hero of “Mr. Peabody & Sherman.” Swift, peppy and defiantly unendearing, DreamWorks’ latest toon updates the zany adventures of the time-traveling dog-and-his-boy sideshow from Jay Ward’s 1960s TV series “Rocky and Bullwinkle” — an arcane starting point for contempo kiddie fare, and not one that adapts entirely comfortably to the studio’s blend of state-of-the-art imagery and touchy-feely personal issues. Though the pic is sufficiently bright and gag-laden to lure families in a release frame short on comparable distractions, its commercial legs will depend on how readily tots accept its bizarre premise.

The film’s release in Blighty on Feb. 7 precedes its U.S. opening by a month — a surprising strategy, considering how many of its elements, from the source material to the lead vocal presence of “Modern Family” star Ty Burrell, are identifiable principally to American audiences. The “Rocky and Bullwinkle” characters may seem dated even to accompanying parents, though the film cleverly addresses the problem by locating the modern-day narrative in a New York nonetheless laden with ’60s retro styling — from Mr. Peabody’s Jetsons-meets-Philip Johnson dream house to the pair’s natty Coke-bottle spectacles — that cannily evokes the rubberized chic of Pixar’s “The Incredibles.”

Popular on Variety

The design will reassure any nostalgia-chasing fans of the original series that they’re in an equivalent universe, as will the script’s fondness for the knowingly lame punnery that was Ward’s comic stock-in-trade; the pre-credit sequence alone exhausts the verbal possibilities of the word “dog.” (The revelation that our canine genius graduated “valedogtorian” is as witty as it gets.) In most other respects, however, the rules of this story world have been rather dramatically altered. Ward’s creation treated as a jaunty absurdity the concept of a talking dog with an adopted human son and a time machine named the WABAC: With the freakishly intelligent Mr. Peabody treating doltish schoolboy Sherman more like a pet than a son (like the power play between Charlie Brown and Snoopy taken to surreal extremes), it wasn’t a setup played for emotional truth.

Written by playwright and TV stalwart Craig Wright (“Six Feet Under,” “Dirty Sexy Money”), “Mr. Peabody & Sherman” offers a slicker, sweeter take on the idea, adding a wholesome dose of family values to the central relationship — complete with syrupy montage, scored to John Lennon’s “Beautiful Boy,” detailing just how this strange adoption came to pass. Peabody (Burrell), a beagle-like pooch whose precocious humanoid behavior left him unclaimed at the puppy farm, finds the infant Sherman (Max Charles) abandoned in an alleyway, takes him in and raises him as his own. “If a boy can adopt a dog,” a judge reasons, “I see no reason why a dog can’t adopt a boy.”

Very young viewers may take a similarly diplomatic view of the situation. Others may find it all a bit disconcerting, particularly as the film launches full-throttle into the era-hopping action — with the aforementioned backstory saved for later, the opening setpiece sees Peabody whiz Sherman off to 18th-century Versailles for a firsthand history lesson with Marie Antoinette, before we’ve ascertained the exact relationship between these oddly matched principals.

“Just Go With It” would have been a suitable alternate title for the film, but even those who take these outlandish goings-on at face value may be thrown when we’re invited to invest in the psychological reality of this father-son bond. When Sherman starts elementary school, the skepticism of his fellow students — notably Penny (Ariel Winter), a classroom bully on whom the boy nurses a poorly disguised crush — arouses enough conflict to draw the villainous attention of gorgon-like social worker Miss Grunion (Allison Janney). The film’s underlying themes of accepting difference and familial belonging run obviously counter to Grunion’s fast-held conviction that a dog is no suitable parent for a human boy — though it’s hard not to wonder if she has a point, and what the real-world equivalency is for the film’s opposing stance.

It’s probably best not to think about these things too hard — which is just as well, since the narrative’s time-travel element allows for plenty of fluffy, fleet-footed action, particularly when contrived circumstances lead to Sherman and Penny taking the WABAC out for an unsupervised spin. There was presumably a learning-while-playing intent behind the film’s irreverent whistle-stop tour of assorted historical eras, from Ancient Egypt (where Penny is briefly betrothed to King Tut) to Renaissance Italy (where Peabody’s pratfalls serve as the inspiration for Mona Lisa’s smile), though it’s doubtful young auds will leave the theater with much academic insight — beyond the knowledge that George Washington is a useful man to have around in the middle of a space-time continuum crisis.

It’s worth noting that this is director Rob Minkoff ’s first fully animated feature since “The Lion King,” though he hasn’t carried much old-school Disney texture over to the familiar DreamWorks house style. With Oscar-winning cinematographer Guillermo Navarro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) on board as a visual consultant, the animation retains the wonky proportions and elastic movement of the original cartoons, though with a lushly expanded palette and a now-requisite airbrushed finish that hampers expressivity in the case of certain characters. (The 3D is sleek and, with the exception of a few thrusting swords in more historically heated interludes, entirely dispensable.) Danny Elfman’s score, like much else here, is zippy in the moment but not especially distinctive.

Reviewed at Vue West End, London, Feb. 1, 2014. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 91 MIN.

• Production: (Animated) A 20th Century Fox release of a DreamWorks Animation presentation of a PDI/DreamWorks, Bullwinkle Studios production. Produced by Denise Nolan Cascino, Alex Schwartz. Executive producers, Tiffany Ward, Jason Clark, Eric Ellenbogen.
• Crew: Directed by Rob Minkoff. Screenplay, Craig Wright, based on characters created by Jay Ward. Editor, Michael Andrews; music, Danny Elfman; production designer, David James; art director, Timothy Lamb; re-recording mixer, Ryan Cole; visual consultant, Guillermo Navarro; visual effects supervisor, Philippe Denis; associate producer, Holly Edwards. 
• With: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Ariel Winter, Stephen Colbert, Leslie Mann, Allison Janney, Stanley Tucci, Lake Bell, Patrick Warburton, Stephen Tobolowsky, Mel Brooks, Karan Brar.

More From Our Brands

Steve miller praises eminem’s ‘abracadabra’-interpolating ‘houdini’: ‘i’m honored’, garrison brothers just dropped 4 new ultra-limited bourbons, nl west dominates mlb attendance as al central lags, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, outlander’s jamie and claire greet the revolution in first teaser — watch, verify it's you, please log in.

• Underrated Masterpieces
• Quintessential Animated Films
• Favorite Theme Songs
• Great Movies That Are Also Brilliant
• Animated Shows About Families
• Must-See Newer Animated Shows
• The Best Cartoons of the 1990s
• '80s & '90s Saturday Morning
• The Best 'Toons for Grown-Ups
• The Best Series of the Decade
• The Greatest Cartoon Comedy Shows Ever Made
• Greatest '80s 'Toons
• Greatest Cartoons of All Time
• Nickelodeon's Best Cartoons
• Best '90s Movies That Weren't Disney
• History's Greatest Animated Films
• Cartoons That Blatantly Ripped Off Other Cartoons
• Top Animated TV Series Ever Made
• The Top Animated Series Airing Now

• Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
• DreamWorks Pictures

The 16 Best Animated Movies About Dogs That Are Paw-Sitively Perfect

Self-proclaimed dog lovers know that we're drawn to anything and everything that is dog-themed - and this extends to animated films. Luckily, there are plenty of dog-focused movies to choose from. 

We've got the original dog cartoons, like All Dogs Go To Heaven and 101 Dalmatians . Looking for something with more of a rom-com vibe? Lady and the Tramp and that famous spaghetti scene is waiting for you. There are dog-centric movies for kids, like Bolt and The Secret Life of Pets, as well as dog movies that are great for adults, like Isle of Dogs and The Plague Dogs . 

Which dog-starring movie are you going to watch next?

Lady and the Tramp

• Buena Vista Film Distribution

Premise:  This classic film was released way back in 1955, and audiences instantly fell in love with the star-crossed lovers of Lady and Tramp. 

As their names suggest, Tramp, a mutt, lives on the street while Lady, a cocker spaniel, lives in a fine home. 

Lady soon also finds herself on the streets, after her owners' aunt sabotages her and blames her for making a mess in her home. Tramp finds Lady and shows her that life out of the confines of a home isn't so bad. 

Standout Scene:  The spaghetti scene because it's so iconic. Two dogs sharing a plate of pasta, only to accidentally choose the same noodle… and kiss as they slurp it up. It's the stuff of rom-com dreams. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? This is for those hopeless romantic pups. It's really their version of Kate and Leo in Titanic. 

All Dogs Go to Heaven

• United Artists/MGM/UA Communications Co.

Premise: Murder, cons, gambling… doesn't exactly sound like a kids movie, does it? Yet, All Dogs Go to Heaven manages to turn these adult themes into a lovable tale about a German Shepherd named Charlie. When we first meet Charlie, he's into some shady business, running a casino riverboat. When his business partner kills Charlie to keep the profit for himself, Charlie finds himself in heaven, as “all dogs are inherently good,” so they all automatically go to the pearly gates. 

Charlie, wanting to get revenge on his business partner, manages to return to Earth, where he befriends a young orphan, Anne-Marie, who helps him rethink his selfish ways. 

Standout Scene: After Charlie saves Anne-Marie, damning himself, he unknowingly re-earns his spot in heaven. However, before accepting his new life above the clouds, he's granted a chance to say goodbye to Anne-Marie. The scene is touching, as Anne-Marie gently strokes the dog's nose as he promises he'll see her again one day.

Why Would Your Dog Like It? Learning you have a guaranteed spot in heaven just for being a doggo? Who wouldn't love that message! (Disclaimer: With this knowledge, your dog may chew up your slippers with little remorse.)

101 Dalmatians

• Buena Vista Distribution

Premise:  Another classic canine flick, 101 Dalmatians follows Pongo and Perdita, who recently had a litter of puppies. The devious Cruella De Vil learns of the puppies' existence and decides to dognap them - so she can kill them for a one-of-a-kind coat. 

This sets Pongo and Perdita on a journey to find and rescue their pups (and a few more orphans they meet along the way). 

Standout Scene:  Desperate for information regarding their puppies' location, Pongo and Perdita initiate the “Twilight Bark,” a network of dogs throughout London. Soon, nearly every dog in the city is barking. To humans, this seems like an annoyance, but to dogs, it's a vast intelligence system at play. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? Cruella is one of the great villains to come out of Disney. Rooting for her downfall is fun for any pup. 

• Universal Pictures

Premise:  Are you even a fan of dog-starring movies if you haven't seen Balto ? The classic animated film is based on the true story of Balto, an Alaskan husky. 

In 1925, Balto led a sled dog team on a trek from Nenana, Alaska to Nome. The team was carrying precious cargo: diphtheria antitoxin that had to be delivered ASAP to save the children who were suffering from an outbreak in Nome. 

The film gives Balto a voice and personality as he embarks on this dangerous journey. 

Standout Scene:  At one point, Balto is stranded in a blizzard, about to give up on himself. Yet, a white wolf appears, reminding Balto that being half-wolf (which has long been the source of ridicule by other dogs) is actually a strength. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? Just as humans love to learn about real-life heroes, pooches will idolize Balto and his story of bravery. 

The Secret Life of Pets

Premise:  The Secret Life of Pets doesn't just focus on dogs - it includes a whole roster of domesticated animals. The protagonist is Max, a Jack Russell terrier who isn't happy with his owner adopting a mutt named Duke. 

As the two dogs try to get rid of each other, they end up getting jumped by a gang of cats, who steal their collars. To survive, they try to join a group of disgruntled animals, led by a white rabbit named Snowball. They call themselves the Flushed Pets and hate humans after being abandoned by them.

Before long, Max and Duke have Snowball and the Flushed Pets after them too as they work to get back to their owner. 

Standout Scene:  Gidget, a white Pomeranian who is in love with Max, singlehandedly takes down the whole gang of the Flushed Pets. Watching this tiny dog disarm everything from an alligator to a snake is an example of some true girl power. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? We're convinced that our dogs do have a secret life when we're not at home. So getting to see this on-screen is no doubt a delight for them. 

• Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Premise:  Bolt isn't your average dog - he's a super dog! (Or so he thinks.) Bolt has lived his entire life on a TV set, where he stars in a hit show with his 12-year-old owner, Penny. 

In the show, Bolt has superpowers that defeat the evil villains. And to make Bolt's acting more believable, the filmmakers have convinced Bolt that his powers are real. When Penny gets kidnapped on the show, Bolt of course thinks this is real. So, he breaks out of his Hollywood trailer and ends up in New York City. From here, he has to figure out how to cross the country to get back to Penny (with a few new friends). 

Standout Scene:  When Bolt is hungry (for the first time in his life) and Mittens shows him how to do the “sad dog” face to get scraps. Bolt then wanders around a campground with his little sad face, getting more food than Mittens has had for ages. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? Humans love to imagine what life would be like as a superhero - why wouldn't dogs? 

Oliver & Company

Premise:  You might be wondering what a movie named after a cat is doing on this list. While the protagonist is Oliver, a young cat, he befriends a group of tough dogs. Over time, this gang of dogs turns into Oliver's pseudo-family, rescuing him and helping him feel less alone in the world.

Standout Scene:  The dogs are showing Oliver how they survive on the streets. Despite things looking down, they never give up on their dreams. This is highlighted in the song Rita sings called “Streets of Gold.” 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? The dogs tend to steal the scenes when they're on-screen, and we're sure your dogs would appreciate that. 

Isle of Dogs

• Fox Searchlight Pictures

Premise:  Isle of Dogs is the stop-motion brainchild of director Wes Anderson, who has produced a couple animated films as of late (another being Fantastic Mr. Fox ). The film captures the quirky essence of Anderson films as it follows 12-year-old Atari as he tries to reunite with his beloved dog, Spots. 

The problem is that Spots, along with every other dog in the Japanese city of Megasaki, has been confined to “Trash Island,” after a canine flu has threatened to infect humans. Atari teams up with a group of dogs to find Spots, while avoiding the mayor's henchmen who are trying to stop the reunion. 

Standout Scene:  When Chief and his gang of dogs fight off a rival crew for a bag of rotten scraps of food. In the kerfuffle, one of the other dogs' ears gets bitten off. Victorious in the fight, Chief looks down at the amputated ear and bats it out of sight of the audience. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? A human who will go to the ends of the Earth to rescue his dog? Why, it's the dream of every pup to have an owner that committed. 

Frankenweenie

Premise:  In the ‘50s, a young Victor Frankenstein lives with his parents and beloved dog, Sparky. After Sparky is hit by a car, Victor decides to reanimate him, based on learnings from his recent science class. Sparky comes back to life - which soon inspires Victor’s classmates to try to bring back their own deceased pets. 

The other students aren't as successful as Victor, leading to a group of monster pets. 

Standout Scene:  Weird Girl tries the reanimation process on her cat, Mr. Whiskers. However, as he's holding a dead bat, the cat transforms in front of our eyes into a winged, long-limbed vampire creature. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? Humans love a good creepy movie, especially one spearheaded by Tim Burton. Now, your dog has a great option to pop in around Halloween (or anytime, really). 

The Fox and the Hound

• Buena Vista Pictures

Premise:  Are you already welling up just thinking of this movie? That's the effect it had on many of us who grew up watching the development of the friendship between Tod the fox and Copper the hound dog. 

The film shows the pair as they're growing up, becoming fast friends. However, as they get older, we see how Copper, who was raised to be a hunting dog, is faced with an impossible decision regarding his friend. 

Standout Scene:  When the two are older, Copper is forced to hunt Tod with his owner. But as they are tracking him down, the dog and human are cornered by a bear. Despite them literally hunting him down, Tod decides to save the pair - seemingly sacrificing himself in the process.  Why Would Your Dog Like It? Everyone likes a story about uncommon friends. If your dog befriends cats or any other creatures, we're sure they'd like this one. 

The Tibetan Dog

Premise:  A boy, Tenzing, lives in a city with his mother. However, after his mother dies, Tenzing is forced to move to Tibet to live with his estranged father. As the boy tries to assimilate into life on a sheep farm, he's cornered by a wolf. A golden Tibetan Mastiff saves Tenzing, and the two soon form a bond. 

Standout Scene:  Throughout the film, a massive creature is terrorizing the small town. We finally get to see the huge beast clearly when he faces the pack of village dogs. Each dog goes after the animal, only to be batted away easily. The golden Tibetan Mastiff, however, outsmarts the creature by driving him into a rock wall and eventually, into an avalanche. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? For some reason, animators seem to prefer small dogs to star in films. Here, a huge, chonky boy is the hero of the tale. 

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Premise:  In this story about everyone's favorite crime-solving Great Dane, we see how a young Shaggy and Scooby-Doo meet, as well as how they come to know Fred, Velma, and Daphne. 

As they get older, a new villain is after Shaggy and Scooby. Wanting Scooby's skull to open the gates to the Underworld, the Mystery Machine gang must jump into action to save the pooch. 

Standout Scene:  The first scene we're introduced to young Shaggy and Scooby-Doo. Shaggy is a lonely kid, desperate to make friends but unsure how. When he sees a giant sand mound, he pretends that's his new friend. 

Little does Shaggy know that inside the pile of sand is Scooby, hiding from police for stealing some meat. When he discovers the pup, Shaggy offers him some of his sandwich - and the rest is history. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? In a lot of Scooby-Doo episodes, Scooby just kind of tags along. Here, he's the true protagonist of the film. 

Rover Dangerfield

• Warner Bros.

Premise:  Written by and starring comedian Rodney Dangerfield , the film tells the story of a dog, Rover, who enjoyed a life of luxury in Las Vegas. His owner, a showgirl, leaves on business and has her boyfriend look after her dog. 

Mad at Rover for interrupting a shady business deal, the boyfriend puts the dog in a bag and throws him off the Hoover Dam. Rover survives the fall and ends up on a farm. Here, he has to adjust to the slower pace of life. 

Standout Scene:  Rover heroically saves the farm's turkey from a pack of wolves who attack. However, when the farmer comes to check on the bird, Rover discovers that the turkey died after all - from shock. 

Rover's wide eyes and head movements nearly mirror the real-life Rodney Dangerfield. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? “Your dog moving to a farm" usually is code for a much worse fate. But getting to actually see a dog move to a farm, and find himself, is a good flick for any pooch to watch. 

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

• 20th Century Fox

Premise:  Mr. Peabody is a highly intelligent dog who adopts a human boy named Sherman. Mr. Peabody regularly takes his son back in time to learn about history in the time machine the dog built. Chaos ensues when Sherman and a fellow classmate, Penny, travel back in time and make some monumental changes. 

Standout Scene:  When we first meet Mr. Peabody, we learn he won a court case to be able to adopt Sherman. Then we're gifted a glimpse into his brilliance when he whips up a meal of crab, truffled quails, and baked Alaska. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? This film flips the “human owning dog” concept on its head - and we can't help but think dogs would like the idea of running the show. 

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Premise:  In this film about the antics of Wallace and his beagle Gromit, the former has created a device to stop rabbits from eating from the gardens of the townsfolk. The way he's able to do this is by using a brainwashing machine to make rabbits not like vegetables. 

However, he pushes the wrong button and accidentally melds his brain with a rabbit - starting a process where he turns into a giant were-rabbit. 

Standout Scene:  At first, we're not sure who the were-rabbit is. The duo think it's one of their caught rabbits at first. But Gromit soon realizes that it's his human who has been wreaking havoc. When we finally get to see Wallace transform into the massive hare, it's worth the wait. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? In the film, the true hero is Gromit, who figures out how to save the town and his owner. A dog's gonna love that flip in the hierarchical structure. 

The Plague Dogs

• MGM/UA Entertainment Co.

Premise:  A much heavier film, The Plague Dogs focuses on themes of animal cruelty and experimentation. 

Two dogs, Rowf and Snitter, live in an animal laboratory. Rowf has had his brain experimented on, leading to a large scar across his skull, while Snitter is repeatedly drowned to test resuscitation methods. The two escape the lab one night, only to struggle to survive on their own as they're hunted due to rumors that they are spreading the bubonic plague. 

Standout Scene:  When the dogs are swimming in the sea at the end of the film. Rowf is positive he sees an island in the distance - one where they will finally be free. As the mist comes in, we're not entirely sure the fates of the dogs. 

Why Would Your Dog Like It? There are some days when we're just in the mood for a movie that tackles social issues. For your dog, this could be the perfect film to put on when that vibe hits. 

• Entertainment
• Animated Movies
• Watchworthy

Lists about films and TV shows told by the visuals-intensive medium that allows storytellers to weave fantastical legends told by unforgettable characters.

10 Best Kid-Friendly Movies About Time Travel

• May 25, 2022

Time travel can be quite an overwhelming notion to grasp. Even adults will cook their noodles to comprehend such an idea and the tangled implications that this theory presents. So, how can one even hope to introduce time travel to kids? Well, there are several fantastic kid’s movies out there that tackle this concept in such a way that a child can grasp the gist of it. 

For today’s article, we will be looking at the best time travel movies suitable for kids. These films should arouse children’s interest in the theory of time travel and even physics in general. 

Time Travel Movies for Kids

1. mr. peabody and sherman (2014).

In this CGI science fiction kid’s movie, we follow the adventures of Mr. Peabody (Ty Burrell) and his adopted son, Sherman (Max Charles). Mr. Peabody is a super-intelligent scientist and inventor who also happens to be an anthropomorphic dog. Mr. Peabody invents a time machine that he calls the WABAC machine or the Wayback Machine and, along with Sherman, goes on an epic time-traveling adventure. 

The two go on to meet some of the most well-known figures in history, but when Sherman breaks the cardinal rule of time travel, the duo must go on a literal race against time to fix the timeline. The movie’s time travel plot is relatively straightforward. However, it also touches upon the concept of the Butterfly Effect, in which one small act can cause a ripple effect that will lead to significant consequences down the line. 

Amidst the science-centric plot, there is also a theme of the importance of family at the center that holds the movie together. The chemistry between Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy Sherman evolves throughout the film, and both will learn the importance of acceptance and trusting their children.

Duration: 1 h 32 min

2. The Last Mimzy (2007)

While The Last Mimzy also dabbles in the notion of time travel, it incorporates more of a mysticism vibe to the primary plot device. If you consider that people from the past will most likely view our technology today as magic, maybe this film is on point. 

The movie follows Noah (Chris O’ Neil) and Emma (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn), who discovers a box of inconspicuous toys and artifacts. One of the toys, a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy, becomes telepathically connected to Emma. As a result, both children start developing special powers, and their intellect also grows exponentially. 

Soon, the two children and their parents are apprehended by the FBI when one of Noah’s inventions causes a citywide blackout. The kids then reveal that the future is in grave danger, and they must get Mimzy back to the future. 

The Last Mimzy only touches upon time travel, but the core message of children being the hope of our future is a seed that is important to plant in the younger generation. 

Duration: 1 h 30 min

3. Meet the Robinsons (2007)

In this 2007 CGI science fiction-family film from Disney, the story follows a 12-year-old genius inventor named Lewis who hopes to get adopted finally. However, his world gets turned on its head when he meets a young time-traveler, Wilbur Robinson, who is on a mission to save the future by stopping the nefarious Bowler-Hatted Man.

At first, Lewis is rightfully skeptical of Wilbur’s claims. So, to prove that he is telling the truth, Wilbur brings Lewis to the future to meet his oddball but kind family. The movie handles time travel and the repercussions of one’s action quite well. It also teaches children to keep moving forward no matter how tough things get.

Meet the Robinsons is loosely based on the 1990s children’s book,  A Day with Wilbur Robinson , written by William Joyce. This movie has laughs, thrills, and a heartfelt story that will keep kids glued to the adventures of its main characters. 

Duration: 1 h 35 min

4. A Christmas Carol (2009)

We have dozens of choices here, but we will be going with the CGI motion-captured 2009 version. A Christmas Carol is based on the classic Charles Dickens novel of the same name. The 2009 CGI full-length feature has several fantastic actors attached to the project. Jim Carrey voices the old and grumpy Ebenezer Scrooge with his signature frenetic energy. Along for the ride is a solid supporting cast that includes Gary Oldman, Bob Hoskins, Colin Firth, Robin Wright Penn, and Cary Elwes. 

Everyone knows the story of A Christmas Carol as it has been a staple during the yuletide season. While the time-traveling aspect of the story is not precisely based on science, it does help open up that concept for young minds.

The story’s core message of compassion and being good to your fellow man is always an important lesson to give to children. 

Duration: 1 h 36 min

5. Time Bandits (1981)

This movie is a classic fun adventure tale that only the feverish mind of Terry Gilliam can deliver. The story is about an 11-year-old boy named Kevin, who his parents often neglect due to their jobs. Kevin is also fascinated by history and spends most of his days buried in books. 

When six time-traveling dwarves suddenly fall into his room, Kevin will have the chance of a lifetime to experience the things that he only reads in his books. Kevin decides to tag along with the dwarves to steal treasures from key historical figures such as the Time Bandits. 

The film is a wild and imaginative time-hopping adventure with an incredible cast that includes Sean Connery as King Agamemnon, John Cleese as Robin Hood, and Ian Holm as Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Duration: 1 h 50 min

6. Flight of the Navigator (1986)

Yet another 80s gem cracks this list; this time, it is the beloved Flight of the Navigator. Again, the movie features time travel in the most realistic depiction of the concept by attaching it to space travel. Young David Freeman is taken by aliens and imprints his brain with a vast star chart map. As David travels through the cosmos with a sleek spaceship to get back home, he realizes that the two-hour-long travel he made equated to eight years on Earth.

The theoretical time travel in this movie is caused by the scientifically proven time dilation effect. Time dilation slows down the perception of time for one individual compared to another depending on their current velocity. 

As David starts to understand the gravity of his current predicament, he must find a way to travel back to his original timeline. But is such a thing even possible, even with a super-advanced spaceship at his disposal? 

7. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Considered by most fans to be the best Harry Potter entry in the series, it holds one of the most notable third acts. At the helm, award-winning director Alfonso Cuaron undoubtedly helped craft the best Harry Potter film. 

As you might have already guessed, the time travel here is not based on any scientific theories, but all other elements of the concept are accounted for in the film. That shocking third-act twist caught everybody unfamiliar with the book by surprise. 

The less known about how it all plays out, the better. Let’s say that the time travel implementation in the film will automatically have you clamoring for a repeat viewing. 

Duration: PG

Rating: 2 h 22 min

8. The Girl Who Left Through Time (2006)

This 2006 Japanese anime science fiction film is loosely based on the 1967 novel by Yasutaka Tsutsui of the same name. It follows the story of a 17-year-old high school student, Makoto Konno, who discovers that she can time leap at will. 

Makoto, at first, casually uses this power at a whim to solve even the simplest of power and for personal gain. But, of course, one cannot tamper with time without consequences, and Makoto will learn that every action she makes has an equal reaction. 

The movie is a mix of hilarious, lighthearted moments. The final act shifts to a heavier theme and shows the repercussions of Makoto’s abuse of time travel and how it affects those around her. Will she be able to fix the mess she inadvertently made? 

Duration: 1 h 38 min

Rating: TV-PG

9. Back to the Future (1985)

We can’t have a list of time travel movies without including the most iconic one, can we? Back to the Future is a staple in pop culture with its memorable characters and iconic time-traveling DeLorean. Starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown, the duo will go on a time-hopping adventure for the ages. 

This film pretty much wrote the fictional rules of time travel in movies and is one of the most influential in the genre. Back to the Future has two sequels under its belt, but the first one will always have that special place in fans’ hearts. 

Duration: 1 h 56 min

10. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

The culmination of more than a decade of story-telling using different movies was unprecedented, and Avengers: Endgame showed that it could be achieved. This superhero blockbuster extravaganza is the climax of the MCU’s Infinity Stone Saga, and what a ride it was. 

Avengers: Endgame shows just how convoluted time travel can get by implementing a time travel element but completely reshaping the concept. One funny line in the movie has Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) realizing that all of the rules made by popular time travel movies are entirely wrong. 

Avengers: Endgame has everything that both kids and adults will love. The time travel plotline should spark interest in young audiences about that radical concept and its possibilities. 

Duration: 3 h 1 min

Rating: PG-13

© Next Level Pictures 2023 All Rights Reserved

This Site Is Affiliated With Monumetric (Dba For The Blogger Network, LLC) For The Purposes Of Placing Advertising On The Site, And Monumetric Will Collect And Use Certain Data For Advertising Purposes. To Learn More About Monumetric’s Data Usage, Click Here: Publisher Advertising Privacy

14 Kids Time Travel Cartoons

Children’s animated series featuring time travel encompass The Magic School Bus, Dora the Explorer, Gravity Falls, My Little Pony, and The Powerpuff Girls.

One of the most potent facets of animation is its capacity to vivify a creator’s imagination. Whether it’s through meticulous hand-drawn sketches or vibrant computer-generated images, it can perfectly materialize entities and locations, unhindered by real-world limitations.

This strength is particularly evident in the creation of landscapes that appear extraterrestrial or follow their own distinct logic.

Time-Traveling Toons

In children’s animation, venturing into other realms offers an exhilarating diversion for youngsters yearning for an intriguing reality. Yet, these expeditions are not always purely about enjoyment and play.

A hidden foe could be concealed behind an amicable grin, or a deep-seated lesson may be waiting just over the next hill. The characters and their audience can only unravel these enigmas if they muster the courage to move forward.

1 The Magic School Bus: Quantum Leap for Kindergartners!

What do you get when you mix an unconventional teacher, a magical school bus, and a dash of inquisitiveness? You get “The Magic School Bus” – a show that outshines any science textbook with its dynamic approach to learning. Ms. Frizzle, with her untamed hair and eclectic clothing, defies the conventional image of a teacher.

She, along with her trusty bus, can shrink to the size of a pinhead or voyage to outer space, transforming each school excursion into a journey through a novel dimension. Think your school trips were exciting? Imagine returning from lunch with firsthand experience of the human digestive system – from within!

2 Paw Patrol: Puppies in a Parallel Universe!

The crew of “Paw Patrol” is accustomed to heroic deeds in Adventure Bay, but how about other universes? Courtesy of an ancient artifact, our furry companions find themselves in “Mighty Pups: Super Paws,” grappling with a meteor that bestows upon them superpowers.

Suddenly, these pups are doing more than fetching balls; they’re retrieving entire planets! You name it whether it’s teleportation, time travel, or super speed! It’s all in a pup’s day’s work when their city is in peril.

3 Star Vs. The Forces of Evil

Upon turning fourteen, Princess Star Butterfly of Mewnie is gifted a magic wand, yet her impulsive nature prompts her parents to send her to Earth as a foreign exchange student, averting any potential havoc she could wreak on their castle. Here, she joins forces with a boy named Marco.

They delve into Earth’s customs, tackle monsters, and Star matures both as a magic practitioner and a princess. But the escapades of Star and Marco are not confined to Earth and Mewnie. With the aid of an artifact known as Dimensional Scissors, they navigate a myriad of universes, where most inhabitants have become conscious of each other’s existence through such dimensional travels.

4 Adventure Time: Tripping Through the Multiverse!

In “Adventure Time,” the adventures of Finn and Jake extend far beyond the confines of the Land of Ooo. These inseparable companions voyage through portals, alternative realities, and time itself. Fighting candy zombies in a post-apocalyptic Candy Kingdom? Done.

Mingling with sentient video game consoles in a digital domain? Absolutely. Dismiss your conventional bedtime narratives; the chronicles of this duo are legendary! Each episode presents a thought-provoking expedition that redefines ‘adventure’.

5 The Fairly OddParents: When Wishes Warp Reality!

Timmy Turner’s fairy godparents, Cosmo and Wanda, possess the ability to fulfill nearly any of his wishes. However, every wish can potentially distort reality or, perhaps, inadvertently spawn an entire universe in one’s bedroom (we’re referencing you, “Tiny Timmy” episode).

Whether their travels take them to Fairy World, Anti-Fairy World, or Pixies Inc., these magical adventures elevate the cautionary phrase ‘be careful what you wish for’ to an entirely new plane. Who would have thought a ten-year-old’s fancies could wield such cosmic power? One must look no further than his alter ego, The Crimson Chin.

6 Steven Universe: Gem-powered Galactic Journeys!

Steven Universe isn’t your average boy – he’s half-human, half-Gem, with an alien warrior mom and a belly button gemstone to boot! Throughout the series, Steven and the Crystal Gems warp across different parts of the universe, from the Gem Homeworld to distant planets, battling foes and making friends. Their exploits provide new meanings to ‘family vacation.’ So, next time you feel your family trips are weird, remember at least you’re not warping through space-time!

When Anne Boonchuy pilfers a music box for her pals, the box unveils a magical portal that catapults them into the realm of Amphibia. Stranded from her friends, Anne finds herself in the village of Wartwood, where she becomes part of the warm-hearted Planter family.

Together, they share cultural wisdom while striving to transport Anne and her companions back home. With its frog-dominated world, Amphibia extends broad creative freedoms, particularly with its fauna. A host of creatures, such as snakes, praying mantises, and dragonflies, exist as oversized versions of their Earth analogs, yet they flaunt unique traits that infuse them with an otherworldly air.

8 My Little Pony: Ponies in Parallel Universes!

In the enchanting realm of Equestria, friendship doesn’t just cast spells; it opens doors to other dimensions! When Twilight Sparkle and her buddies encounter a magical mirror portal, they transition from ponies to… high school girls in an alternate universe? From dealing with teen issues to combating sinister sirens, these ponies demonstrate their resilience in any situation, regardless of their form. So, saddle up, because in Equestria, the opportunities stretch as far as the rainbow!

9 Gravity Falls: When Summer Break Gets Supernatural!

Ah, the summer break! A season for unwinding, embarking on adventures, and… accidentally discovering a hidden interdimensional portal? Welcome to “Gravity Falls.” When twins Dipper and Mabel Pines move to Gravity Falls, Oregon, to live with their Great-Uncle Stan, they swiftly realize this town is far from average.

Their summer morphs into a thrilling cross-dimensional journey as they grapple with the complexities of their tween years while confronting gnomes, time-travelers, and a triangular dream demon. Who could’ve guessed that combating sinister entities could be part of the summer plans?

10 SpongeBob SquarePants: When the Sea Isn’t the Limit!

The profound depths of the ocean are merely a playground for our beloved sponge in square pants. SpongeBob and his buddy Patrick have undertaken quite a few adventures beyond the realms of Bikini Bottom. Recall when they ended up stranded in the wormhole-like domain of “Nowhere”?

Or the instances they encountered alternate realities with the help of Mermaid Man’s magical belt? Even a casual game of “Dunces and Dragons” transforms into an interdimensional excursion. With SpongeBob, something as mundane as a trip to the supermarket can escalate into an interstellar journey!

11 Over The Garden Wall

In “Over the Garden Wall,” Cartoon Network’s first-ever miniseries, we follow the eerie journey of two half-brothers, Wirt and Greg, who find themselves lost in a strange forest called The Unknown on Halloween night.

Accompanied by Beatrice, a bluebird who can talk, the duo must navigate back home while eluding the mysterious and sinister Beast lurking in the woods. The Unknown is more than just a location; it’s a character in its own right. It plays with perceptions, creating a surreal, dream-like landscape between a fairytale and a nightmare.

12 12 Forever

“Twelve Forever,” created by Julia Vickerman and available on Netflix, presents an imaginative exploration of the challenges and joys of growing up. The protagonist, Reggie Abbott, is a 12-year-old girl who isn’t quite ready to grow up. Her response to the daunting prospect of adolescence is to create her alternate universe, the Endless, populated with her old toys, drawings, and vibrant new friends.

As Reggie and her friends Todd and Esther journey into this realm, they engage in thrilling superhero games, enjoy exciting adventures, and escape the pressures of the real world. But even in the Endless, their real-world problems persist, following them into this magical realm and forcing them to confront them unexpectedly.

Endless Island, where much of the series takes place, is as much a character as the show’s human protagonists. Inhabited by creatures as vibrant and colorful as children’s toys, the island is a riot of offbeat designs and quirky inhabitants. However, these residents cannot make decisions independently, requiring the main characters’ intervention, a metaphor perhaps for the responsibility and agency that comes with growing up.

You may also like

12+ cartoon shows with witches, 13 sports romance anime, 17 anime like tokyo ghoul, 15 pirate cartoons for kids, 18 anime series inspired by greek mythology, 13 wild west theme anime series.

Our son is named after a cartoon dog. He loves having an unusual name.

• Just after we got married, my husband and I watched the movie "The Fox and the Hound."
• He said he wanted to name our first son Copper, after a dog in the film, and I just laughed.
• But he was serious, and over time the name grew on me. Our son loves his unusual name. 

My son Copper was named after a cartoon dog. In the nearly seven years of his life, we have met many dogs with the same name. (We have yet to meet another human with it.) It's a real conversation starter, with people saying, "Copper as in copper… like the metal?" I always respond, in a matter-of-fact way, "Yep, that's how you say it."

Yes, it's a noun that we turned into a proper noun, but, to our credit, Disney did it first. We just followed their lead.

The 1981 film "The Fox and the Hound" follows a dog named Copper and a fox named Todd who become the best of friends, so it was only natural we had a fox-themed nursery when Copper was born. Though the decor wasn't planned until my pregnancy, we decided on his name long before his birth. Just months after we were married, my husband put on the film. (His love of cereal and cartoons are just a few of the ways he's a child at heart.)

"Copper," he said while watching. "I like it. If we have a boy, that will be his name." I laughed it off, not ready to make that decision, and honestly, I quickly forgot about the conversation. Two years later, when I was actually pregnant with a boy, he reminded me of the choice.

I sat on it for a few weeks deciding whether I liked it enough to give it to our child. I didn't not like it — I thought it was cute and different without being strange. Plus, it's spelled the way it's pronounced, which is my biggest rule for choosing a name for our child. Like any other parent, I want things to be easy for my kids and don't want them to spend their time and energy teaching people how to say or spell their names. (After all, I've had to teach people to spell my name my entire life — I know what it's like.) In the end, it grew on me.

Related stories

Before I was even six months pregnant, we had decided on his name.

Almost every nurse gets it wrong on the first try

He's dubbed "Cooper" by every nurse at every doctor's office we have ever attended. A nurse who doesn't know him is likely to call out the more common "Cooper" when it's time to take his vitals. They make the mistake only the first time, however; once I correct them (politely), it's a name no one forgets.

Most laugh and say, "Yep, that's how it's spelled — I just wasn't sure," or something to that effect. And to their credit, you can't always be sure. If you're unsure, it's always better to ask. But I digress.

All of the above, in part, is why we chose the safer (and, admittedly, more boring) name Colt for his younger brother. Ironically, Colt is often offended that he doesn't get the same attention toward his name.

Travel Dog Cartoon Images

• Add to collection
• Save to Pinterest

• car clipart
• Car cartoon
• Cartoon svg

• Cartoon cute
• Cartoon dog

• car driving

• desert safari

• Cartoon cat

• dog illustration
• illustrations

• celebration illustration

• managed services

• Cartoon drawing

• beach vacation

• cute illustration

• Cartoon illustration

• dog sitting

• cat character

• Cartoon road
• Cartoon landscape
• Cartoon scene

• flat illustration

• optometrist

• 3d character

• background travel
• travel world
• tourism traveling

• dog drawing

• Cartoon character

• Animals cartoon

I visited my son in college for the first time and noticed he'd changed. College was helping him become his true self.

• When I visited my son in college for the first time, his voice sounded different — higher.
• I realized my son had been lowering his voice to fit in with the conservative South.
• My openly gay son was finally able to become his true self in college.

My son, Caleb, was thrilled when he was accepted into the musical-theater program at the University of Michigan in April 2020, but I wasn't sure it was the right place for him. Both the out-of-state tuition and the long winters seemed less than ideal for a boy who'd spent his whole life in Georgia.

He was adamant, though, that attending one of the top programs in the country would be life-changing . I'd never been to Ann Arbor, but once he committed, I was a mom on a mission to find winter gear that would keep him warm and safe. I bought him a huge insulated down parka and prayed he wouldn't freeze to death.

I tried to anticipate the challenges Caleb would face as he started college , but I wasn't expecting him to change.

I noticed a surprising change in Caleb when I first visited him at college

The first time I visited my son in Michigan, two months after he started classes , I offered to take some of his friends out for dinner. He'd recently been paired with a senior buddy named Jack to help guide him during his freshman year . Caleb texted Jack, and we met for dinner downtown at a local pub. It was cold, windy, and dark outside.

As we waited for our drinks, I asked Jack about himself, though I'd already mildly stalked him on Instagram. He was a smart and generous young man who knew a lot about the industry and the program. He was also more out than most gay men we knew in the South.

As they were discussing a new instructor in the music department, Caleb said, "She seems really lovely." I turned and stared at him. I didn't think I'd ever heard Caleb use the word "lovely." He said it so softly and without self-consciousness — I wasn't sure I'd heard him correctly.

Why did his voice sound weird? It wasn't his accent; I could still hear Georgia. I realized his voice sounded slightly higher than I remembered, but why would his voice change in college?

What I was hearing was my son's real voice

He'd been lowering his voice throughout high school, booming from the stage as John Proctor and with his friends as they debated college football.

Caleb came out when he was a sophomore in high school. I doubt he ever consciously thought, "If I lower my voice, I'll be less obviously gay. I'll be safer that way." But a deeper voice helped him blend in, kept him safe, and made it possible for him to pass as straight when necessary. A deeper voice gave him some cover.

I did my best to anticipate what he might need by enrolling him in a high school with a good fine-arts program, but it was still in the middle of cotton fields in rural Georgia.

Now that Caleb wasn't the only boy in dance classes or the only gay kid at church, the bass in his voice had faded. He'd shed it like a winter coat in spring. There was a new lightness to him.

It wasn't that Caleb's voice had suddenly changed — it was that I was hearing his real, unguarded voice for the first time. His "let's talk about Broadway shows all day long" voice. His "this is me" voice. His "I'm safe now" voice. His "I got out of the South" voice. His "I'm not going back there" voice.

I hadn't realized the ways he'd been shape-shifting to fit in where we lived.

Caleb found his people quickly in college

I was so happy for Caleb that he'd found his people. But they weren't us, his little family back in Georgia. His place wasn't where we lived.

There's so much to love about the South: the fireflies and the peaches and the brilliant night sky; the daily rhythm of family, festivals, and small-town living; the wide-open spaces and accents that sound like honey. None of that matters, though, if it isn't safe for you to be your full self at home.

Over the next few years at college, Caleb's confidence grew. His clothes got tighter, and his shorts got shorter. He participated in Pride parades and dated cute guys. His voice was the change that started it all.

I'm haunted still that I didn't hear my son's true voice until he left home.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Bette Nash, the world's longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88

Rachel Treisman

American Airlines flight attendant Bette Nash greets passengers disembarking from her daily return flight to Boston at Reagan Washington Airport in 2017, at age 81. She died earlier this month. Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

The aviation world is mourning Bette Nash, a D.C.-based flight attendant who died earlier this month after spending nearly seven decades serving passengers in the skies — and making history along the way.

Nash began her career with now-defunct Eastern Airlines at age 21 in 1957, when Dwight Eisenhower was president, flights between New York and D.C. cost $12 and “stewardesses,” as they were called, served lobster on platters and passed out cigarettes on board.

The industry changed drastically during Nash’s tenure, especially with the introduction of technology (no more handwritten tickets, for example). American Airlines eventually took over some of Eastern's routes.

But, as she said at a celebration of her 60 years of service in 2017, the joys of the job remained.

Delta will begin paying flight attendants for flight boarding time

“My favorite part of flying over the years has been greeting my passengers as they board and deplane,” Nash said at the time. “People really are fascinating and it’s truly been a joy.”

Nash became an increasingly recognizable fixture on American Airlines flights in recent years — particularly on shuttle flights between Washington and Boston, which the company affectionately nicknamed “the Nash-Dash .” She preferred that route because it enabled her to spend time caring for her son , who has Down syndrome.

Nash earned the Guinness World Record for longest-serving flight attendant in 2022, by which point she had been working for more than 64 years.

And she never officially retired, according to ABC News . It reports she died in hospice care at age 88, following a recent breast cancer diagnosis.

American Airlines confirmed her death in a statement over the weekend. It called her “a legend at American and throughout the industry, inspiring generations of flight attendants.”

The Association of Professional Flight Attendants also mourned Nash’s passing , saying she “touched countless lives with her warmth, dedication and unparalleled service” throughout her remarkable career.

“Her passion for flying and her commitment to her passengers were truly inspiring,” continued the union, which represents thousands of American Airlines flight attendants. “Bette’s legacy will forever be remembered in the aviation community and by all who had the privilege of knowing her.”

Highlights from a historic career

A late-1950s photo of Nash as an Eastern Airlines stewardess. James M. Thresher / TWP hide caption

Nash was inspired to become a flight attendant from her first time on a plane as a teenager, flying from Washington to Dayton, Ohio.

She “fell in love with ‘the spiffy appearances and gracious manners of the crew members,’ ” according to American Airlines, and followed suit a few years later.

Air travel has gone to the dogs — literally. Here’s what to know about BARK Air

At the start of her career, in the late 1950s, passengers bought life insurance at an airport vending machine and paid their airfare on board, according to ABC affiliate WJLA .

Flight attendants had to wear gloves — a coworker remembered Nash would always pack two pairs , in case one got dirty — and weigh in before shifts.

“It used to be horrible,” Nash told WJLA in 2017. “You put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself, and then if you stayed that way, they would take ya off the payroll!”

Over the years, Nash served many famous passengers — including Jackie Kennedy, according to American Airlines. But she said her most memorable encounter wasn’t with a big-name celebrity.

In a 2019 interview with the travel site The Points Guy, Nash recalled an instance decades ago — before the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act — when a passenger with disabilities was left behind at the gate during boarding as the crew debated what to do. She said she helped him board and fed him during the flight, as he didn’t have use of his hands.

Airlines are ordered to give full refunds instead of vouchers and to stop hiding fees

American Airlines celebrated Nash’s “ diamond jubilee ” in 2017 at a ceremony at her home base of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, just outside D.C.

The company gave her a pair of diamond earrings to mark her 60th work anniversary and donated $10,000 to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Food Bank, a cause it said she regularly supported.

Nash said at the time that she didn’t plan to hang up her wings anytime soon.

“As long as I have my health and I’m able, why not work,” she said. “It’s still fun.”

• flight attendants
• guiness world records

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.