Room on the Broom

Room on the Broom, in Australia on Stan and ABC iview, and in the UK on BBC iPlayer, treats animation as a tool, not a limitation. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it in order — the character development is cumulative. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Stan.

There is a reason Room on the Broom keeps coming up in conversation. Room on the Broom has the visual identity that makes it immediately recognisable, and the writing to back it up. Animated film based on the wonderful children's picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The story of a kind witch who invites a surprising collection of animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. The gang ultimately saves the witch from a fearsome dragon, and in gratitude she rewards them with a magnificent new broom which has room for everyone. Every line from Gillian Anderson and Timothy Spall lands with more craft than you'd expect. It hit screens in 2012. The animation style is distinctive enough to be immediately recognisable, but it is the writing underneath that keeps viewers coming back for more. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Room on the Broom works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Gillian Anderson brings more to the role than the format usually demands. A harder one to justify skipping than to start.

Room on the Broom was released in 2012, directed by Max Lang. The full 25-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.