Sarah & Duck Season 1

Sarah & Duck Season 1 has built a real following on and among viewers who do not usually seek out animation. A compact run that never overstays its welcome. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch it in order — the character development is cumulative. Available now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Sarah & Duck Season 1 is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious, Sarah & Duck Season 1 operates well above the genre average. The series follows the adventures of Sarah, a very kind, polite seven-year-old girl, with big eyes, rosy cheeks and a green hat, and her best friend Duck, a Mallard. The central theme is the relationship between these two characters and the adventures they have together. CBeebies state that the show has two learning themes: 'Friendship and imagination' and 'Problem Solving'. Tasha Lawrence and Roger Allam lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2013. The animation style is distinctive enough to be immediately recognisable, but it is the writing underneath that keeps viewers coming back for more. The hit rate here is high enough that skipping ahead never feels like an option.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Sarah & Duck Season 1 works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Tasha Lawrence'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.