Khumba

Skip the assumption that animation means lightweight — Khumba, in Australia on Stan and Beamafilm, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and UP Faith & Family Apple TV Channel, is not. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 273 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. The visual style is immediately recognisable, but the writing is what keeps you watching. Available now on Stan — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Khumba earns its spot. The look of Khumba gets people in the door, but the writing is what keeps them there. A half-striped zebra is blamed for the drought and leaves his herd in search of his missing stripes. He is joined on his quest by an overprotective wildebeest and a flamboyant ostrich; they defeat the tyrannical leopard and save his herd. Every line from Jake T. Austin and Liam Neeson lands with more craft than you'd expect. Khumba came out in 2013. The visual gags in Khumba reward close attention without ever depending on it. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you have been sleeping on Khumba because of the format, the format is not the issue here. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious in ways that hold up regardless of format. Worth watching in order from the beginning.

Khumba was released in 2013, directed by Anthony Silverston. The full 85-minute film is available to watch now. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.