Animated Movies Set in Exotic Locales

We can't go back in time. We may not even be able to afford a plane ticket. But crivens, we can still visit the lively Scottish Highlands in medieval days as beautifully rendered by the awesome creative team at Disney/Pixar. From bagpipe music and kilt-wearing lords, to bold Scottish accents and Gaelic lullabies, Brave has layers upon layers of culture woven into the story -- not to mention the gorgeous animated forests, mountains and castles. The movie may be full of comical jiggery pokery, but the research that went into getting Scotland right is no joke. If you want to learn more about Scotland or other elements in the film, check out these Brave - movie related activities for kids and families. (Rated PG, Recommended for ages 5+)

Colorful characters, vibrant animation and a lively beat bring life to this festive flick about a blue macaw's wild adventure in Brazil. Experience paradise as you soar over the famous Sugarloaf Mountain and trek through the boldly animated jungle. Harnessing the distinct spice and flavor of the Marvelous City, Rio will make you want to get on the next flight heading south. And as you travel, listen to the exciting soundtrack, featuring festive music from Brazilian music legend Sergio Mendes, talented percussionist Carlinhos Brown, and popular musicians such as Jamie Foxx, will.i.am and Taio Cruz. Help kids learn more about Brazil as they watch with our Rio Movie Scavenger Hunt. (Rated G, recommended for ages 4+)

Our zany friends from the NY Zoo are wild about world travel in the three Madagascar movies. In Madagascar, the animals escape from the zoo and unwittingly end up on the exotic island of Madagascar. Kids will be thrilled to be able to locate that little island on a globe. In Madagascar 2: Excape to Africa, the animal crew and a few new friends accidentally end up in Africa, where they have a series of adventuresome and life changing experiences. And, in Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, the animals create quite a raucous as they travel Europe with a group of circus animals. (All three rated PG, recommended for ages 5+)

Race around the world with your favorite Cars friends, Lightning McQueen and Mater, in this high-speed, mega-action animated flick. On tour for the World Grand Prix, Lightning focuses on trying to win, while Mater gets caught up in international espionage. We start out in the fictional, small-town America setting of Radiator Springs. Then the adventure begins, taking us to far off places like Tokyo, Italy and France. Help your kids find famous landmarks and cultural elements as you watch. This is Pixar, so there are a lot of little details subtly hanging out in the backgrounds of the film. (Rated G, recommended for ages 7+)

The Disney/Pixar movie Up will do more than tug at your heart strings, it will also transport you to the jungles of Venezuela. In the movie, an old man decides to make a trip to Paradise Falls in South America. He finds out too late that a boy wilderness explorer named Russell has tagged along, and the two have a cathartic adventure in the South American jungle.

While Paradise Falls itself is a fictional location, Up filmmakers visited Canaima National Park in Venezuela to research the landscape, flora and fauna so the film would be true to South American jungle landscapes. The movie contains the majestic flat mesas called tepuis that are characteristic of the area, as well as massive caves and native plants.

But that's not all! The Blu-ray version of the movie contains a game that allows viewers to travel the globe and learn where all the different countries and continents are located, as well as all of the United States and the capital cities! The game is one of the best I've seen on any Blu-ray or DVD ever, and it is highly educational and fun. (Up is rated PG, Recommended for ages 5+)

Nothing says France like excellent cuisine -- just try not to think about the fact that it was prepared by a rat. Remy the rat arrives in the city of love to fulfill his dream of being a chef. As Remy wanders the city and then secures a precarious place at a fine French restaurant, we get to look at the mouthwateringly beautiful animated version of Paris and experience the delicious sounds of French music. Just make sure you have snacks for this one. Looking at all that French food will make you hungry! (Rated G, recommended for ages 4+)

Also, for a small taste of the quaint French countryside, watch Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The cartoon is set in a fictional village in Victorian France. A few French words and terms are used in the movie, and some characters have French accents. (Rated G, recommended for ages 4+)

Following the story of a fun-loving and food-loving panda named Po, the Kung Fu Panda movies are set in the exquisitely beautiful world of ancient China. Various people who worked on the film went to China and/or consulted experts on Chinese culture, and the film has actually been praised for staying fairly true to culture and traditions of the country. In addition to culture and setting, both Kung Fu Panda and Kung Fu Panda 2 offer heavy doses of comedy and martial arts style action, and the films have enjoyed huge success at the box office. (Both are rated PG, recommended for ages 4-6+)

Another film that portrays a different aspect of ancient China, is the Disney movie Mulan.

Set in America in 1920s New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog delivers a movie as flavorful as Cajun cooking. Experience the musical streets of the city and the swampy depths of the Bayou as Tiana tries to find out who she is and what she really wants in life. The movie also contains both dark and comical elements of voodoo and black magic, which could definitely spark some good conversations about customs and beliefs. (Rated G, recommended for ages 5+)

The animated scenery in The Lion King certainly is stunning, but it's the animals who steal this show. Get to know the animals of Africa as the circle of life unfolds in this beautiful story about a lion cub who must learn to be a king. From meerkats and warthogs to hyenas and many more, endearing animal characters make this movie a thrilling African adventure for kids of all ages. (Rated G, Recommended for ages 2+)

Set in 1926 Stalinist Russia, Anastasia is a fairy tale princess story told against a historical backdrop. The movie is full of excitement, danger and romance, following the lost Russian Princess Anastasia and her journey to find her true identity. The movie is a great way to spark kids' interest in Russia and Russian history; however, the true story of Anastasia Romanov is, unfortunately, not a pretty one. (Rated G, Recommended for ages 6+)

The shorts and movies on this DVD are among the first cartoons for which die heard animators actually traveled the globe to gather research and information, and the film shows footage from some of Walt and his teams' adventures. Visit countries like Mexico, Brazil, and more, and see animated and live action footage replete with the culture, traditions and surroundings of Latin American countries. Old school though they may be, the festive cartoons on this DVD represent the pioneering spirit and dedication to animation that made Disney a success. (Rated G, Recommended ages 4+)