Sarafina!

Sarafina! Has built a real following in the US on Paramount Plus Essential and YouTube TV among viewers who do not usually seek out animation. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Leleti Khumalo brings more to the role than the format usually demands. Available now on Paramount Plus Essential — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Sarafina! Arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Sarafina! Has the visual identity that makes it immediately recognisable, and the writing to back it up. A Soweto schoolgirl named Sarafina is galvanized to protest apartheid after her teacher is arrested for her activism, leading her to join the student resistance movement. Leleti Khumalo and Whoopi Goldberg lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1992. The visual gags in Sarafina! Reward close attention without ever depending on it. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Sarafina! Works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Leleti Khumalo'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.