Many of us enjoy a good film or series. However, animation movies are rarely the top choice when unwinding and taking some down-time.

When it comes to cartoon movies, it’s easy to assume that they’re strictly for children. However, that’s not necessarily the case since gambling industry is investing a lot of money in attempt to get the cartoons closer to the gambling. Many slot machines are in the theme of cartoon heroes and if you’ve ever spent time playing slots on a site like CasinoPortugal.Online, then you’ll know how entertaining animation can actually be even for the adults.

While animated films are indeed excellent for keeping the little ones busy, there are countless world-class titles for everyone to enjoy.

Our expert author, Victoria Oliveira, has compiled a list with some of the best animation films to watch when taking a break from online gambling.

Spirited Away

This 2003 Academy Award-winning Japanese animation was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. As chart-topper ranking number one in many publications, Spirited Away is a favourite amongst many of all ages and backgrounds.

The film follows the tale of a young girl and her family as they travel through their new neighbourhood and stop at an amusement park. Her parents are turned into pigs, and as she discovers, they’ve been trapped in a spirit world.

She agrees to work in exchange for her and her parent’s eventual freedom. However, it’s not as simple as it seems.

The Triplets of Belleville

Sylvain Chomet directed and wrote this french comedy animation. It was well-received by critics and movie-goers alike and received two Academy Award nominations.

It depicts the story of an elderly woman, Souza, who is searching for her grandson, Champion. He was kidnapped by the French mafia while participating in the Tour de France.

She comes across the infamous Belleville triplets and joins their musical group. While the quartet is performing in a restaurant, they notice the mafia boss and the adventure to find Champion begins.

Persepolis

This exciting animated film is based on Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel with the same name. As with the previous two movies, it also received Academy Award recognition.

Persepolis is about a young lady reflecting on her life with her family as they fight the system during the Iranian revolution. Marji becomes outspoken against the government, causing problems for her parents.

We follow her journey as she is sent to school in Europe, where she faces another world of problems. Marji is just as troublesome as before returning home.

Waltz With Bashir

Waltz with Bashir is an animated documentary drama that portrays the story of a former IDF infantry soldier as he tries to reflect on his time during the Lebanon War. He realizes he battles to remember what occurred before having a hallucinogenic type flashback.

He reconnects with former peers to help put the pieces together and decipher between true memories and delusions. We follow his journey as he deals with his role in the Sabra and Chatila massacres during the war.

Princess Mononoke

In this exciting animated film, we see the battle between humans and nature in a new light. A cursed young warrior searches for a cure when he comes across Princess Mononoke. She’s in the midst of a battle to protect the forest where ancient gods live.

It’s in danger as human greed and civilization push to tear it down for their own advancements. In this interesting take, there’s no clear good versus evil, as we witness the struggles and complications the characters encounter.

Grave of the Fireflies

Grave of the Fireflies is another Japanese classic, this time set during World War 2. It’s likely the most heart-wrenching of all the films on the list.

Two young children are left to survive and fend for themselves after their mother dies during the war. Initially, the pair cope fairly well, but soon the harsh realities of the situation settle in.

The young boy must learn how to care for his sister during the dire circumstances of the war and growing up.

It’s an excellent animated war drama but be prepared for the wave of emotions that may ensue.

Akira

Some would say that Akira was ahead of its time, but it definitely paved the way for future cyberpunk projects and sci-fi films.

While the movie takes place in Neo-Tokyo, 2019, it was actually released in 1988. To this day, it’s still rated amongst the top animations in the world.

We learn of a young biker who is infected by a mysterious substance, giving him psychic powers. Things take an unexpected turn as military secrets surface, leaving the world in danger. This sci-fi thriller is one for the books and a must-watch.

The Wind Rises

This movie is based loosely on the life of Jiro Horikoshi, an aeronautical engineer, and Tatsuo Hori’s novel, The Wind Has Risen. Interestingly, it’s also the last film that renowned filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki made.

The Wind Rises takes us through Jiro’s life as a young child fascinated with aircraft, to becoming a pilot in adulthood. He faced many challenges during his life in Japan, but still achieved his goal of creating a dream plane.

He’s the brains behind the Mitsubishi A5M World War II fighter plane, and its successor, A6M Zero.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya

The elegant paint-style animation is inspired by the Japanese folklore tale of The Bamboo Cutter. It was also nominated for an Academy Award and is one of the most expensive Japanese films ever made.

A bamboo cutter finds a young girl in a bamboo shoot, so he takes her in with his wife, and they raise her as their own. She grows to become a beautiful young lady and attracts many in the village.

We learn about her transgressions and how she needs to pay for her sins in this enigmatic drama.

Yellow Submarine

The list wouldn’t be complete without the iconic Yellow Submarine.

The fictional Pepperland is home to thousands of music-lovers, but when they’re under threat of the Blue Meanies, they need help. The mayor sends for The Beatles because they’re the only ones that can defeat the terrible music-hating Blue Meanies.

This is a feel-good cartoon that encapsulated the groovy tunes of the world’s most beloved Fab Four.

Conclusion

Animations are often looked down upon, especially when they’re foreign, but some of the best adventures are found within them. They often portray a story in a beautiful and uniquely artistic way.