Free Rein is currently streaming in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Netflix, and it uses the format for more than just a visual hook. Every one of its 3 seasons holds up. With 215 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. The visual style is immediately recognisable, but the writing is what keeps you watching. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Free Rein is worth clearing space for. Free Rein treats animation as a medium, not a limitation. A 15-year-old from LA spends the summer at her mom's childhood home on an island off the coast of England, where she bonds with a mysterious horse. The voice work from Jaylen Barron and Céline Buckens adds real texture, not just recognisable names. Across 3 seasons (2017–2019), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. The animation style is distinctive enough to be immediately recognisable, but it is the writing underneath that keeps viewers coming back for more. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Animation fans will appreciate the craft, but Free Rein works for viewers who do not typically seek out animation too. Viewers who responded to Holly Hobbie will find a lot to like here too. A contained run means every episode is doing real work. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious in ways that hold up regardless of format. Worth watching in order from the beginning.

Free Rein was cancelled in 2019, created by Kirstie Falkous, Anna McCleery and Vicki Lutas — 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.