Accel World has built a real following in the US on Hulu and Hoopla among viewers who want their sci-fi to think as hard as it looks. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. With 153 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Yuki Kaji — the performance elevates material that could easily tip into self-seriousness. Available now on Hulu — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Accel World is worth clearing space for. Accel World uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. A short, overweight student uses the Neuro Link, an evolution of the Nerve Gear, to escape himself from the reality. But his skills in the virtual world brings him to the attention of Kuroyukihime, a popular student who introduces him to the Brain Burst. The human element stays intact thanks to Yuki Kaji and Sachika Misawa, who anchor every scene. It first aired in 2012. What separates Accel World from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Sci-fi fans who want ideas alongside the spectacle will find Accel World genuinely rewarding. Fans of Dragon Ball Z will recognise the sensibility here immediately. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Yuki Kaji anchors it with a performance that makes the more abstract moments feel personal. If you have been burned by ambitious sci-fi before, this is the exception.

Accel World wrapped up in 2012 — and 1 season is available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro's free voice app makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just say the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.