Published Feb 5, 2026, 3:15 PM EST
Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant who also covers Movies and Music. He's published over 2500 articles at SR, including weekly binge guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions.
Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston.
One of the greatest animated series of the 2020s has just arrived on Netflix, and you can binge the whole thing in one night. Consisting of 21 4-minute episodes, the series has a total runtime of just 84 minutes, which is shorter than the average length of a movie.
This binge-worthy series has been called a modern animated masterpiece, not only for its style and design, but for its emotional and sharp storytelling. Whether you're a fan of animated series or not, this masterwork transcends its medium and is a must-watch hidden gem on Netflix this weekend.
Émilie Tronche's Samuel Just Hit Netflix – What It's About
The beloved animated series Samuel, created by the renowned French filmmaker Émilie Tronche, arrived on Netflix on Thursday, February 5, 2026. The series consists of 21 microscopic episodes, each only 4 minutes long, which makes it perfect to binge in just one night.
Samuel is a touching and beautiful animated series about a boy becoming a young man through the various stages of adolescence. Tronche takes this simple subject and creates something mesmerizing and immersive, landing a final product that feels relatable, educational, and special.
Samuel is a one-person production by Tronche, who wrote, directed, and animated the coming-of-age story. The boy protagonist, Samuel, experiences the growing pains of his teenage years during the early 2000s, adding a charming nostalgic quality. Samuel undergoes the common pressures and anxieties of adolescence, including his attraction towards a girl named Julie.
Samuel's animation style is simple and two-dimensional, composed in a sketchbook style, giving it a childlike tone that juxtaposes the adult themes of the story at play. After becoming a hit in France, Netflix licensed the rights to the celebrated series, which is now available to stream for millions of its subscribers for the very first time.
Samuel Is Worth A One-Night Netflix Binge This Weekend
While Netflix's various crime thrillers and comedy series are great options to binge this weekend, Samuel offers something fresh and highly original for viewers to enjoy in just one sitting. It's one of those endearing and surprisingly deep animated series that all film and TV lovers should see at some point, similar to the 2012 animated masterpiece It's Such a Beautiful Day by Don Hertzfelt.
Samuel has not yet reached a wide enough audience to gain the attention of the top critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but viewers who have seen the series have applauded it for its unexpected emotional depth that would rival any great live-action streaming series. For a one-of-a-kind viewing experience this weekend, binge Samuel on Netflix, now available for the first time on the giant streaming platform.
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