Spirit Untamed

If you want animation that is not just for kids, Spirit Untamed is available in Australia on Foxtel Now, and in the US on Peacock Premium and USA Network right now. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. A harder one to justify skipping than to start. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Foxtel Now.

There is a reason Spirit Untamed keeps coming up in conversation. Spirit Untamed treats animation as a medium, not a limitation. Lucky Prescott's life is changed forever when she moves from her home in the city to a small frontier town and befriends a wild mustang named Spirit. Every line from Isabela Merced and Julianne Moore lands with more craft than you'd expect. It was released in 2021. The visual gags in Spirit Untamed 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 Spirit Untamed works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Isabela Merced'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.