Flipper

If you want animation that is not just for kids, Flipper is available on streaming right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. Its 6/10 TMDB score, built from 353 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Elijah Wood's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Flipper earns its spot. Flipper has the visual identity that makes it immediately recognisable, and the writing to back it up. Sandy Ricks is sent by his mom to Coral Key, a rustic island in the Florida keys, to spend the summer with his uncle Porter Ricks. Sandy dislikes everything about his new environment until a new friend comes into his life, a dolphin named Flipper, that brings uncle and nephew together and leads Sandy on the summer adventure of a lifetime. Elijah Wood and Paul Hogan lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1996. The visual gags in Flipper reward close attention without ever depending on it. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Genuinely enjoyable for a wide range of viewers, Flipper treats animation as a delivery mechanism, not a limitation. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete film is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Elijah Wood'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.