diff --git a/vortex-array/public-api.lock b/vortex-array/public-api.lock
index 84b3fb9513d..16f7122e63d 100644
--- a/vortex-array/public-api.lock
+++ b/vortex-array/public-api.lock
@@ -3182,7 +3182,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::child_name(array: vortex_array::A
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::deserialize(&self, dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -3922,7 +3922,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::child_name(array: vortex_array::Array
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::deserialize(&self, _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -6022,7 +6022,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::child_name(array: vortex_array::A
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::deserialize(&self, dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -6320,7 +6320,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::child_name(array: vortex_array::Array
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::deserialize(&self, _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -19676,7 +19676,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::child_name(array: vortex_array::A
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::deserialize(&self, dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -19760,7 +19760,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::child_name(array: vortex_array::Array
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::deserialize(&self, _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -20692,7 +20692,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::child_name(array: vortex_array::A
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::deserialize(&self, dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -20776,7 +20776,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::child_name(array: vortex_array::Array
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::deserialize(&self, _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -23398,7 +23398,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::child_name(array: vortex_array::A
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::deserialize(&self, dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -23482,7 +23482,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::child_name(array: vortex_array::Array
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::deserialize(&self, _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -24662,7 +24662,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::child_name(array: vortex_array::A
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::deserialize(&self, dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::patched::Patched::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
@@ -24746,7 +24746,7 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::child_name(array: vortex_array::Array
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::deserialize(&self, _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _metadata: &[u8], _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren, _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ArrayParts<Self>>
 
-pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute(array: vortex_array::Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionResult>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::Slice::execute_parent(array: vortex_array::ArrayView<'_, Self>, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
 
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/canonical.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/canonical.rs
index 73a9b1c856a..70f3bb4b3cd 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/canonical.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/canonical.rs
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@ use crate::IntoArray;
 use crate::array::ArrayView;
 use crate::arrays::Chunked;
 use crate::arrays::ChunkedArray;
+use crate::arrays::ListView;
 use crate::arrays::ListViewArray;
 use crate::arrays::PrimitiveArray;
+use crate::arrays::Struct;
 use crate::arrays::StructArray;
 use crate::arrays::chunked::ChunkedArrayExt;
 use crate::arrays::listview::ListViewArrayExt;
@@ -45,7 +47,6 @@ pub(super) fn _canonicalize(
                 &owned_chunks,
                 Validity::copy_from_array(array.array())?,
                 struct_dtype,
-                ctx,
             )?;
             Canonical::Struct(struct_array)
         }
@@ -66,24 +67,22 @@ pub(super) fn _canonicalize(
 /// Packs many [`StructArray`]s to instead be a single [`StructArray`], where the [`DynArray`] for each
 /// field is a [`ChunkedArray`].
 ///
-/// The caller guarantees there are at least 2 chunks.
+/// The caller guarantees there are at least 2 chunks, and that all chunks are already
+/// canonicalized to [`StructArray`] by iterative execution.
 fn pack_struct_chunks(
     chunks: &[ArrayRef],
     validity: Validity,
     struct_dtype: &StructFields,
-    ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx,
 ) -> VortexResult<StructArray> {
     let len = chunks.iter().map(|chunk| chunk.len()).sum();
     let mut field_arrays = Vec::new();
 
-    let executed_chunks: Vec<StructArray> = chunks
-        .iter()
-        .map(|c| c.clone().execute::<StructArray>(ctx))
-        .collect::<VortexResult<_>>()?;
-
     for (field_idx, field_dtype) in struct_dtype.fields().enumerate() {
         let mut field_chunks = Vec::with_capacity(chunks.len());
-        for struct_array in &executed_chunks {
+        for chunk in chunks {
+            let struct_array = chunk
+                .as_opt::<Struct>()
+                .vortex_expect("struct chunk pre-canonicalized by iterative execution");
             let field = struct_array.unmasked_field(field_idx).clone();
             field_chunks.push(field);
         }
@@ -103,7 +102,8 @@ fn pack_struct_chunks(
 ///
 /// We use the existing arrays (chunks) to form a chunked array of `elements` (the child array).
 ///
-/// The caller guarantees there are at least 2 chunks.
+/// The caller guarantees there are at least 2 chunks, and that all chunks are already
+/// canonicalized to [`ListViewArray`] by iterative execution.
 fn swizzle_list_chunks(
     chunks: &[ArrayRef],
     validity: Validity,
@@ -135,7 +135,11 @@ fn swizzle_list_chunks(
     let mut sizes = BufferMut::<u64>::with_capacity(len);
 
     for chunk in chunks {
-        let chunk_array = chunk.clone().execute::<ListViewArray>(ctx)?;
+        let chunk_array = chunk
+            .clone()
+            .try_downcast::<ListView>()
+            .ok()
+            .vortex_expect("list chunk pre-canonicalized by iterative execution");
         // By rebuilding as zero-copy to `List` and trimming all elements (to prevent gaps), we make
         // the final output `ListView` also zero-copyable to `List`.
         let chunk_array = chunk_array.rebuild(ListViewRebuildMode::MakeExact)?;
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/mod.rs
index b152311e6bb..5d2d7d35734 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/chunked/vtable/mod.rs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ use vortex_error::vortex_err;
 use vortex_error::vortex_panic;
 use vortex_session::VortexSession;
 
+use crate::AnyCanonical;
 use crate::ArrayEq;
 use crate::ArrayHash;
 use crate::ArrayRef;
@@ -237,6 +238,19 @@ impl VTable for Chunked {
     }
 
     fn execute(array: Array<Self>, ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionResult> {
+        // Iteratively request execution of each chunk until it reaches canonical form.
+        // This gives the scheduler visibility into child execution and enables
+        // cross-step optimizations between chunk decoding steps.
+        for i in 0..array.nchunks() {
+            if !array.chunk(i).is::<AnyCanonical>() {
+                return Ok(ExecutionResult::execute_slot::<AnyCanonical>(
+                    array,
+                    i + CHUNKS_OFFSET,
+                ));
+            }
+        }
+
+        // All chunks are now canonical — combine them.
         Ok(ExecutionResult::done(_canonicalize(array.as_view(), ctx)?))
     }
 
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/filter/vtable.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/filter/vtable.rs
index 75258f542e5..3237a680d8e 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/filter/vtable.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/filter/vtable.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use vortex_error::vortex_panic;
 use vortex_mask::Mask;
 use vortex_session::VortexSession;
 
+use crate::AnyCanonical;
 use crate::ArrayEq;
 use crate::ArrayHash;
 use crate::ArrayRef;
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ use crate::buffer::BufferHandle;
 use crate::dtype::DType;
 use crate::executor::ExecutionCtx;
 use crate::executor::ExecutionResult;
+use crate::require_child;
 use crate::scalar::Scalar;
 use crate::serde::ArrayChildren;
 use crate::validity::Validity;
@@ -142,14 +144,18 @@ impl VTable for Filter {
         if let Some(canonical) = execute_filter_fast_paths(array.as_view(), ctx)? {
             return Ok(ExecutionResult::done(canonical));
         }
+
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.child(), CHILD_SLOT => AnyCanonical);
+
         let Mask::Values(mask_values) = &array.mask else {
             unreachable!("`execute_filter_fast_paths` handles AllTrue and AllFalse")
         };
 
-        // We rely on the optimization pass that runs prior to this execution for filter pushdown,
-        // so now we can just execute the filter without worrying.
+        // Child is pre-canonicalized — apply the filter directly.
+        debug_assert!(array.child().is_canonical());
+        let child = array.child().to_canonical()?;
         Ok(ExecutionResult::done(
-            execute_filter(array.child().clone().execute(ctx)?, mask_values).into_array(),
+            execute_filter(child, mask_values).into_array(),
         ))
     }
 
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/list/vtable/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/list/vtable/mod.rs
index 300ff5c59a2..d5403629765 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/list/vtable/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/list/vtable/mod.rs
@@ -23,9 +23,11 @@ use crate::array::Array;
 use crate::array::ArrayId;
 use crate::array::ArrayView;
 use crate::array::VTable;
+use crate::arrays::Primitive;
 use crate::arrays::list::ListArrayExt;
 use crate::arrays::list::ListData;
 use crate::arrays::list::array::NUM_SLOTS;
+use crate::arrays::list::array::OFFSETS_SLOT;
 use crate::arrays::list::array::SLOT_NAMES;
 use crate::arrays::list::compute::PARENT_KERNELS;
 use crate::arrays::list::compute::rules::PARENT_RULES;
@@ -34,6 +36,7 @@ use crate::buffer::BufferHandle;
 use crate::dtype::DType;
 use crate::dtype::Nullability;
 use crate::dtype::PType;
+use crate::require_child;
 use crate::serde::ArrayChildren;
 use crate::validity::Validity;
 use crate::vtable;
@@ -114,7 +117,7 @@ impl VTable for List {
         let elements = slots[crate::arrays::list::array::ELEMENTS_SLOT]
             .as_ref()
             .vortex_expect("ListArray elements slot");
-        let offsets = slots[crate::arrays::list::array::OFFSETS_SLOT]
+        let offsets = slots[OFFSETS_SLOT]
             .as_ref()
             .vortex_expect("ListArray offsets slot");
         vortex_ensure!(
@@ -180,6 +183,7 @@ impl VTable for List {
     }
 
     fn execute(array: Array<Self>, ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionResult> {
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.offsets(), OFFSETS_SLOT => Primitive);
         Ok(ExecutionResult::done(
             list_view_from_list(array, ctx)?.into_array(),
         ))
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/masked/vtable/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/masked/vtable/mod.rs
index 337ce1b8dc3..5ed996c1de9 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/masked/vtable/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/masked/vtable/mod.rs
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ use vortex_error::vortex_ensure;
 use vortex_error::vortex_panic;
 use vortex_session::VortexSession;
 
+use crate::AnyCanonical;
 use crate::ArrayEq;
 use crate::ArrayHash;
 use crate::ArrayRef;
-use crate::Canonical;
 use crate::IntoArray;
 use crate::Precision;
 use crate::array::Array;
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ use crate::buffer::BufferHandle;
 use crate::dtype::DType;
 use crate::executor::ExecutionCtx;
 use crate::executor::ExecutionResult;
+use crate::require_child;
 use crate::scalar::Scalar;
 use crate::serde::ArrayChildren;
 use crate::validity::Validity;
@@ -166,7 +167,10 @@ impl VTable for Masked {
         // While we could manually convert the dtype, `mask_validity_canonical` is already O(1) for
         // `AllTrue` masks (no data copying), so there's no benefit.
 
-        let child = array.child().clone().execute::<Canonical>(ctx)?;
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.child(), CHILD_SLOT => AnyCanonical);
+
+        debug_assert!(array.child().is_canonical());
+        let child = array.child().to_canonical()?;
         Ok(ExecutionResult::done(
             mask_validity_canonical(child, &validity_mask, ctx)?.into_array(),
         ))
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/patched/vtable/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/patched/vtable/mod.rs
index f30094f57fe..64da095f710 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/patched/vtable/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/patched/vtable/mod.rs
@@ -31,10 +31,15 @@ use crate::array::ArrayView;
 use crate::array::VTable;
 use crate::array::ValidityChild;
 use crate::array::ValidityVTableFromChild;
+use crate::arrays::Primitive;
 use crate::arrays::PrimitiveArray;
 use crate::arrays::patched::PatchedArrayExt;
 use crate::arrays::patched::PatchedData;
+use crate::arrays::patched::array::INDICES_SLOT;
+use crate::arrays::patched::array::INNER_SLOT;
+use crate::arrays::patched::array::LANE_OFFSETS_SLOT;
 use crate::arrays::patched::array::SLOT_NAMES;
+use crate::arrays::patched::array::VALUES_SLOT;
 use crate::arrays::patched::compute::rules::PARENT_RULES;
 use crate::arrays::patched::vtable::kernels::PARENT_KERNELS;
 use crate::arrays::primitive::PrimitiveDataParts;
@@ -45,6 +50,7 @@ use crate::dtype::DType;
 use crate::dtype::NativePType;
 use crate::dtype::PType;
 use crate::match_each_native_ptype;
+use crate::require_child;
 use crate::serde::ArrayChildren;
 use crate::vtable;
 
@@ -242,12 +248,18 @@ impl VTable for Patched {
         SLOT_NAMES[idx].to_string()
     }
 
-    fn execute(array: Array<Self>, ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionResult> {
+    fn execute(array: Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionResult> {
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.base_array(), INNER_SLOT => Primitive);
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.lane_offsets(), LANE_OFFSETS_SLOT => Primitive);
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.patch_indices(), INDICES_SLOT => Primitive);
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.patch_values(), VALUES_SLOT => Primitive);
+
         let inner = array
             .base_array()
             .clone()
-            .execute::<Canonical>(ctx)?
-            .into_primitive();
+            .try_downcast::<Primitive>()
+            .ok()
+            .vortex_expect("base_array pre-canonicalized to Primitive");
 
         let PrimitiveDataParts {
             buffer,
@@ -258,17 +270,21 @@ impl VTable for Patched {
         let lane_offsets = array
             .lane_offsets()
             .clone()
-            .execute::<PrimitiveArray>(ctx)?;
+            .try_downcast::<Primitive>()
+            .ok()
+            .vortex_expect("lane_offsets pre-canonicalized to Primitive");
         let indices = array
             .patch_indices()
             .clone()
-            .execute::<PrimitiveArray>(ctx)?;
-
-        // TODO(aduffy): add support for non-primitive PatchedArray patches application (?)
+            .try_downcast::<Primitive>()
+            .ok()
+            .vortex_expect("patch_indices pre-canonicalized to Primitive");
         let values = array
             .patch_values()
             .clone()
-            .execute::<PrimitiveArray>(ctx)?;
+            .try_downcast::<Primitive>()
+            .ok()
+            .vortex_expect("patch_values pre-canonicalized to Primitive");
 
         let patched_values = match_each_native_ptype!(values.ptype(), |V| {
             let offset = array.offset();
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/slice/vtable.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/slice/vtable.rs
index b5552cdec3c..1cdb3c49dac 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/slice/vtable.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/slice/vtable.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ use crate::AnyCanonical;
 use crate::ArrayEq;
 use crate::ArrayHash;
 use crate::ArrayRef;
-use crate::Canonical;
 use crate::IntoArray;
 use crate::Precision;
 use crate::array::Array;
@@ -36,6 +35,7 @@ use crate::buffer::BufferHandle;
 use crate::dtype::DType;
 use crate::executor::ExecutionCtx;
 use crate::executor::ExecutionResult;
+use crate::require_child;
 use crate::scalar::Scalar;
 use crate::serde::ArrayChildren;
 use crate::validity::Validity;
@@ -141,20 +141,15 @@ impl VTable for Slice {
         vortex_bail!("Slice array is not serializable")
     }
 
-    fn execute(array: Array<Self>, ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionResult> {
-        // Execute the child to get canonical form, then slice it
-        let Some(canonical) = array.child().as_opt::<AnyCanonical>() else {
-            // If the child is not canonical, recurse.
-            return array
-                .child()
-                .clone()
-                .execute::<ArrayRef>(ctx)?
-                .slice(array.slice_range().clone())
-                .map(ExecutionResult::done);
-        };
+    fn execute(array: Array<Self>, _ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionResult> {
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.child(), CHILD_SLOT => AnyCanonical);
 
+        // Child is now canonical — slice it.
         // TODO(ngates): we should inline canonical slice logic here.
-        Canonical::from(canonical)
+        debug_assert!(array.child().is_canonical());
+        array
+            .child()
+            .to_canonical()?
             .into_array()
             .slice(array.range.clone())
             .map(ExecutionResult::done)
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/varbin/vtable/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/varbin/vtable/mod.rs
index b1fd1410b68..df7167419d9 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/varbin/vtable/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/varbin/vtable/mod.rs
@@ -18,14 +18,17 @@ use crate::array::Array;
 use crate::array::ArrayId;
 use crate::array::ArrayView;
 use crate::array::VTable;
+use crate::arrays::Primitive;
 use crate::arrays::varbin::VarBinArrayExt;
 use crate::arrays::varbin::VarBinData;
 use crate::arrays::varbin::array::NUM_SLOTS;
+use crate::arrays::varbin::array::OFFSETS_SLOT;
 use crate::arrays::varbin::array::SLOT_NAMES;
 use crate::buffer::BufferHandle;
 use crate::dtype::DType;
 use crate::dtype::Nullability;
 use crate::dtype::PType;
+use crate::require_child;
 use crate::serde::ArrayChildren;
 use crate::validity::Validity;
 use crate::vtable;
@@ -89,7 +92,7 @@ impl VTable for VarBin {
             "VarBinArray expected {NUM_SLOTS} slots, found {}",
             slots.len()
         );
-        let offsets = slots[crate::arrays::varbin::array::OFFSETS_SLOT]
+        let offsets = slots[OFFSETS_SLOT]
             .as_ref()
             .vortex_expect("VarBinArray offsets slot");
         vortex_ensure!(
@@ -187,6 +190,7 @@ impl VTable for VarBin {
     }
 
     fn execute(array: Array<Self>, ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionResult> {
+        let array = require_child!(array, array.offsets(), OFFSETS_SLOT => Primitive);
         Ok(ExecutionResult::done(
             varbin_to_canonical(array.as_view(), ctx)?.into_array(),
         ))