The Next Step Season 4

If you want animation that is not just for kids, The Next Step Season 4 is available on and right now. A compact run that never overstays its welcome. 57 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Victoria Baldesarra's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

The Next Step Season 4 arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The look of The Next Step Season 4 gets people in the door, but the writing is what keeps them there. After winning Internationals in Miami, A-Troupe has made a name for themselves in the dance world, putting The Next Step Dance Studio on the map. But their return to Regionals means the departure of beloved team-meates, forcing the team to start from scratch. A-Troupe must fight harder than ever to make it back to the top. Victoria Baldesarra and Brittany Raymond lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2016. 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.

If you have been sleeping on The Next Step Season 4 because of the format, the format is not the issue here. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. The writing operates at a level the format's reputation does not fully prepare you for. Adult animation that actually works for adults.