The Next Karate Kid

The Next Karate Kid is currently streaming in the UK on Netflix and Sky Go, and it uses the format for more than just a visual hook. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 5/10 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 Netflix.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, The Next Karate Kid is worth clearing space for. The Next Karate Kid treats animation as a medium, not a limitation. Mr. Miyagi decides to take Julie, a troubled teenager, under his wing after he learns that she blames herself for her parents' demise and struggles to adjust with her grandmother and fellow pupils. Pat Morita and Hilary Swank lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1994. The visual gags in The Next Karate Kid reward close attention without ever depending on it. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

If you have been sleeping on The Next Karate Kid 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. The writing operates at a level the format's reputation does not fully prepare you for. Adult animation that actually works for adults.