Daktari has built a real following in the US on Hoopla among viewers who do not usually seek out animation. 4 seasons in, and the quality has not slipped. Its 7/10 TMDB score, built from 31 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Marshall Thompson's voice work is a big part of what makes it distinctive. Put it on tonight on Hoopla and see for yourself.

There is a reason Daktari keeps coming up in conversation. The look of Daktari gets people in the door, but the writing is what keeps them there. Daktari is an American children's drama series that aired on CBS between 1966 and 1969. The series, an Ivan Tors Films Production in association with MGM Television, stars Marshall Thompson as Dr. Marsh Tracy, a veterinarian at the fictional Wameru Study Centre for Animal Behaviour in East Africa. Marshall Thompson and Hari Rhodes bring voice work that does more than the format usually asks for. It ran for 4 seasons (1966–1969), and the writing holds up across every one of them. What makes Daktari 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.

Daktari belongs on any best-of list regardless of format. R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour is the obvious comparison, but Daktari earns its own place alongside it. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Marshall Thompson brings more to the role than the format usually demands. A harder one to justify skipping than to start.

Daktari wrapped up in 1969, created by Ivan Tors and Art Arthur — and 4 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.