American Dreams has built a real following among viewers who do not usually seek out animation. Every one of its 3 seasons holds up. A 5/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Gail O'Grady's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, American Dreams earns its spot. American Dreams has the visual identity that makes it immediately recognisable, and the writing to back it up. Set to the soundtrack of the 1960s, a Philadelphia family moves toward the cultural upheaval in the years ahead. The Pryors' teen daughter Meg tries to shed her 'good girl' image by hanging with her worldly friend Roxanne and pursuing a dream of being an American Bandstand dancer. Meg's emerging personality, and the changes her mother's going through, don't sit well with Father. Gail O'Grady and Tom Verica bring more to it than the format typically demands. It ran for 3 seasons (2002–2005), and the writing holds up across every one of them. What makes American Dreams more than a curiosity is writing that would hold up in any format. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Genuinely enjoyable for a wide range of viewers, American Dreams treats animation as a delivery mechanism, not a limitation. Fans of Tyler Perry's The Oval will recognise the sensibility here immediately. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious in ways that hold up regardless of format. Worth watching in order from the beginning.

American Dreams wrapped up in 2005, created by Jonathan Prince — and 3 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.