If you want animation that is not just for kids, Brynhildr in the Darkness is available on streaming right now. The show says what it needs to say in a single season, no filler. 59 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. A harder one to justify skipping than to start. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Brynhildr in the Darkness is worth clearing space for. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious, Brynhildr in the Darkness operates well above the genre average. When he was a child, Murakami was friends with a girl he called Kuroneko. One day, while trying to prove the existence of aliens to Murakami, she is killed in an accident that he barely survives. Guilty of his role in the accident, Murokami decides to dedicate his life to proving that aliens exist. Ryota Osaka and Risa Taneda bring voice work that does more than the format usually asks for. Brynhildr in the Darkness premiered in 2014. What makes Brynhildr in the Darkness more than a curiosity is writing that would hold up in any format. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Brynhildr in the Darkness works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. If you have already watched Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi, Brynhildr in the Darkness is a natural next step. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single week. Ryota Osaka'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.

Brynhildr in the Darkness wrapped up in 2014 — 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.