Dumbo

If you want animation that is not just for kids, Dumbo is available in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Disney Plus right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. The visual style is immediately recognisable, but the writing is what keeps you watching. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Dumbo keeps coming up in conversation. Dumbo has the visual identity that makes it immediately recognisable, and the writing to back it up. Dumbo is a baby elephant born with over-sized ears and a supreme lack of confidence. But thanks to his even more diminutive buddy Timothy the Mouse, the pint-sized pachyderm learns to surmount all obstacles. Edward Brophy and Margaret Wright bring voice work that does more than the format usually asks for. It was released in 1941. Dumbo uses the freedom of animation to tell stories live-action could not attempt. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Genuinely enjoyable for a wide range of viewers, Dumbo treats animation as a delivery mechanism, not a limitation. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Edward Brophy's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. If you have been sleeping on it because of the format, the format is not the thing here.