If you want animation that is not just for kids, Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad is available on streaming right now. Across 1 season, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. An 8/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. A harder one to justify skipping than to start. Start it whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

There is a reason Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad keeps coming up in conversation. Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad treats animation as a medium, not a limitation. Koyuki Tanaka's boring life is changed after meeting Ryusuke Minami, a local musician with a bad attitude, who introduces him to foreign music. Every line from Daisuke Namikawa and Yuuma Ueno lands with more craft than you'd expect. It was aired in 2004–2005. The animation style is distinctive enough to be immediately recognisable, but it is the writing underneath that keeps viewers coming back for more. It rarely drops the ball, and when it does, it recovers fast.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. If you have already watched NANA, Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad is a natural next step. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Daisuke Namikawa'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.

Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad wrapped up in 2005 — 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.