Kids on the Slope is currently streaming in the US on Kanopy, and it uses the format for more than just a visual hook. Across 1 season, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. Its 8/10 TMDB score, built from 73 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. The visual style is immediately recognisable, but the writing is what keeps you watching. Put it on tonight on Kanopy and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Kids on the Slope earns its spot. Visually distinctive and narratively ambitious, Kids on the Slope operates well above the genre average. Two different students - a successful but aloof academic and a rebellious but kindhearted delinquent - form a friendship through their love for music. Yuuka Nanri and Ryohei Kimura bring more to it than the format typically demands. It first aired in 2012. 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.

If you have been sleeping on Kids on the Slope because of the format, the format is not the issue here. The tonal similarities to NANA are real, though Kids on the Slope carves out its own identity quickly. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Yuuka Nanri brings more to the role than the format usually demands. A harder one to justify skipping than to start.

Kids on the Slope wrapped up in 2012 — 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.