Octonauts

If you want animation that is not just for kids, Octonauts is available in Australia on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and in the US on Netflix right now. Every one of its 10 seasons holds up. 58 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Keith Wickham brings more to the role than the format usually demands. Put it on tonight on Netflix and see for yourself.

Octonauts arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. Octonauts has the visual identity that makes it immediately recognisable, and the writing to back it up. Follows an underwater exploring crew made up of stylized anthropomorphic animals, a team of eight adventurers who live in an undersea base, the Octopod, from where they go on undersea adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles. The voice work from Keith Wickham and Simon Greenall adds real texture, not just recognisable names. Across 10 seasons (2010–2023), it never lost the thread that made it worth starting. The visual gags in Octonauts reward close attention without ever depending on it. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Genuinely enjoyable for a wide range of viewers, Octonauts treats animation as a delivery mechanism, not a limitation. The tonal similarities to The Backyardigans are real, though Octonauts carves out its own identity quickly. 10 seasons is a lot, but the quality holds all the way through. Keith Wickham'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.

Octonauts is currently airing new episodes, created by Michael C. Murphy and Vicki Wong — so there's no better time to catch up before the story moves forward. 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.