Brother Bear

Brother Bear has built a real following in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus among viewers who do not usually seek out animation. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. 5,799 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Joaquin Phoenix's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Brother Bear keeps coming up in conversation. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious, Brother Bear operates well above the genre average. When an impulsive boy named Kenai is magically transformed into a bear, he must literally walk in another's footsteps until he learns some valuable life lessons. His courageous and often zany journey introduces him to a forest full of wildlife, including the lovable bear cub Koda, hilarious moose Rutt and Tuke, woolly mammoths and rambunctious rams. Joaquin Phoenix and Jeremy Suarez bring voice work that does more than the format usually asks for. It was released in 2003. The visual gags in Brother Bear reward close attention without ever depending on it. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Brother Bear belongs on any best-of list regardless of format. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Joaquin Phoenix brings more to the role than the format usually demands. A harder one to justify skipping than to start.