Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor

Forgotten Island Buzz, CinemaCon Shakeups, and a Very Strange Wonka Future (Ep. 355)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:10:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the biggest animation and industry stories coming out of CinemaCon 2026, including Drew’s early look at DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island. They also dig into a surprisingly strong box office weekend, Studio Ghibli’s return to theaters, and some truly unexpected developments in the world of Willy Wonka. Along the way, the two share insights on theatrical windows, upcoming animated projects, and what’s really happening behind the scenes in Hollywood animation.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Super Mario Brothers Galaxy nears $750M worldwide as the franchise crosses $2B total
• Pixar’s Hoppers continues a solid run, with digital and physical release plans coming soon
• Paramount commits to a 45-day theatrical window while Steven Spielberg pushes for longer exclusivity
• Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 lineup revealed, including Ponyo, Spirited Away, and anniversary screenings
• Warner Bros. Animation developing anime-inspired Scooby-Doo series Go-Go Mystery Magic
• Drew shares his spoiler-free reactions to DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island after CinemaCon screening
• Netflix’s Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory sets up a darker, heist-style Wonka story
• Updates on Disney Animation’s Hexed, including casting and creative changes

HOSTS
• Jim Hill (@JimHillMedia)
• Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored)

FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com - your go-to source for discounted Disney and Universal theme park tickets. Plan smarter, save money, and make your next trip more magical.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pixar’s “Be Fri” Mystery, Netflix’s Animation Expansion & the Future of Theatrical Animation (Ep. 354)

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Jim and Drew dig into a packed week of animation news, from the surprising cancellation of a promising Pixar project to Netflix’s growing global animation footprint. Along the way, they explore box office winners, long-gestating passion projects finally coming to life, and the evolving relationship between streaming, theatrical releases, and viral animation hits. It’s a wide-ranging conversation that highlights just how quickly the animation industry continues to shift.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Pixar’s canceled “Be Fri” project revealed - a female-led film that was deep into development before being shelved amid studio shifts and Disney+ strategy changes
• “Super Mario Galaxy” tops the box office while global competition heats up from international hits like China’s “Pegasus 3”
• Netflix expands its animation empire with a new Vancouver studio hub, joining Disney and Sony in a growing production hotspot
• Fathom Events brings viral hit “The Amazing Digital Circus” to theaters, highlighting the pipeline from YouTube to the big screen
• Brad Bird’s long-awaited “Ray Gunn” finally unveils first images after decades in development
• Warner Bros. and Netflix continue investing in YA and reimagined fairy tale animation, including “Steps” and new book adaptations
• One Piece grows into a full franchise push with new seasons, specials, and theme park experiences

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Planning a Disney or Universal trip in 2026? Save money and skip the stress with expert help from UnlockMagic.com, your go-to source for theme park tickets and deals.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mario’s Massive Opening, AI Animation Backlash, and the Mystery Disney Drone Show (Ep. 353)

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off this week’s Fine Tooning with a real-life animation-adjacent story involving Bob’s Burgers’ Eugene Mirman, before diving into a huge Easter weekend box office led by Nintendo’s latest animated hit. From Disney+ shorts and Netflix trailers to Broadway updates and AI controversy, this episode covers a wide swath of animation and industry news. Plus, the guys explore a lingering mystery involving Disney’s experimental drone shows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Eugene Mirman, the voice of Gene Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, is involved in a serious electric vehicle accident in New Hampshire and shares a humorous recovery update
• The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Movie opens to a massive $372 million worldwide, outperforming expectations despite mixed reviews
• Pixar’s Hoppers continues its theatrical run with $332 million globally, while Project Hail Mary climbs to $420 million worldwide
• Disney+ debuts “Versa,” a visually ambitious animated short exploring grief and loss, alongside two new Short Circuit entries
• Netflix releases the trailer for Swapped, a new animated feature from Tangled co-director Nathan Greno
• Disney’s Hercules stage musical sets a closing date in London as speculation continues about a possible U.S. transfer
• WildBrain faces backlash for AI-upscaled episodes of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! airing on MeTV Toons
• A closer look at Disney’s evolving Short Circuit program and the final Disney work of legendary animator Mark Henn
• Updates on Disney theatrical projects including the live-action Tangled and the evolving Hercules film concept
• The growing use of AI in animation restoration and the debate over preserving original artistic integrity

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. If a Disney or Universal trip is on your radar for 2026, get expert help securing the best ticket deals with no stress. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to start planning your next theme park adventure.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Super Mario Galaxy Fever, KPop Demon Hunters Mania, and a Shifting Disney Villains Land (Ep. 352)

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack a packed week in animation, from Universal’s massive push behind Super Mario Bros. Galaxy to the continued global surge of KPop Demon Hunters. They also break down the latest box office winners, Pixar’s underappreciated Hoppers, and what’s really going on with Disney’s evolving Villains Land plans. Plus, a look at DreamWorks’ ambitious Forgotten Island and how live-action remakes keep reshaping animation’s future.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Super Mario Bros. Galaxy gears up for a massive $150–$165 million opening, with Universal deploying aggressive cross-promotion across NBC and its theme parks
• Project Hail Mary holds strong at No. 1 with $300 million worldwide, blending practical puppetry and VFX for its standout character Rocky
• Pixar’s Hoppers nears $300 million globally, continuing the studio’s tradition of dual-form character storytelling
• KPop Demon Hunters expands into a full franchise with a sequel planned for 2029, a global live tour in development, and continued music dominance
• Streaming windows tighten as films like Goat, Zootopia 2, and Search for SquarePants quickly transition to digital platforms
• Disney’s Villains Land plans shift toward a more playful, interactive tone, with concepts like an Ursula spinner and a Villains Funhouse coaster resurging
• DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island aims for bold, personal storytelling from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish filmmakers Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
• Live-action remake strategy evolves with returning voice actors like Gerard Butler and Cate Blanchett, while Moana continues to expand across film and parks

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic. If a Disney or Universal trip is on your radar for 2026, Unlocked Magic helps you secure great ticket deals with expert guidance from people who truly know the parks. Start planning your next adventure at UnlockedMagic.com.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zootopia 2’s Billion-Dollar Run, Firefly’s Animated Comeback & A Trip Through LA’s Art Scene (Ep. 351)

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill returns from Los Angeles with stories from animation bookstores, gallery visits, and Pixar’s latest hit, while Drew Taylor dives into a packed week of industry news. From “Zootopia 2” nearing another major milestone to surprise revivals like “Firefly,” this episode covers the evolving animation landscape across film, TV, and streaming. Plus, the Oscars shake things up and new theatrical experiments blur the line between TV and cinema.

HIGHLIGHTS
• “Zootopia 2” continues its global box office dominance, closing in on another billion-dollar milestone as rumors swirl about a possible themed land at Disney California Adventure
• Pixar’s “Hoppers” shows strong legs in its third weekend, crossing $240 million worldwide and earning praise as one of the studio’s funniest recent releases
• The 98th Academy Awards make history as “KPop Demon Hunters” becomes the first non-Disney or Pixar animated film to win two Oscars
• An animated “Firefly” revival is officially in development, potentially arriving in 2027 - over 25 years after the original series debuted
• Netflix experiments with theatrical releases for TV animation as “Stranger Things: Tales from ’85” gets limited screenings ahead of its streaming launch
• Jim shares highlights from his LA trip, including visits to Stuart Ng Books and Gallery Nucleus, plus rare animation art finds and industry collectibles
• A closer look at Kickstarter success stories like “Clara & the Below” and what they signal about the future of independent animation funding
• New Disney+ series “Maul: Shadow Lord” expands the Star Wars animated universe, raising questions about connections to earlier film versions
• Drew discusses moderating a LAIKA-focused panel and reveals details about the upcoming “Art of Wildwood” book

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic - your go-to source for great deals on Disney and Universal theme park tickets. If a 2026 trip is on your radar, their team can help you save money and plan smarter. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to learn more.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shannon Tindle on Ultraman, Lost Boys, and Animating the World of John Wick (Ep. 350)

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Animation writer-director Shannon Tindle joins Drew Taylor for a wide-ranging conversation about breaking into animation, developing new projects, and navigating Hollywood’s ever-changing animation landscape. Shannon reflects on his career from CalArts to DreamWorks and beyond, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from Ultraman Rising, Kubo and the Two Strings, and projects that never made it to the screen. He also discusses his upcoming animated John Wick prequel and how animation opens creative possibilities that live action can’t.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shannon Tindle discusses how artists today can break into animation from anywhere in the world thanks to digital portfolios, social media, and global collaboration.

• The evolution from analog portfolios and paper storyboards to Cintiq tablets and fully digital pipelines - and how that shift changed how animation talent gets discovered.

• Shannon shares details about his unproduced Disney animated series inspired by The Haunted Mansion, which would have followed a young girl tracking down escaped ghosts from the attraction’s famous “999 happy haunts.”

• A second Disney concept explored a modern take on the Lost Boys from Peter Pan, imagining a diverse group of kids in today’s world and a girl challenging the group’s “no girls allowed” rule.

• Behind-the-scenes insights into developing Ultraman Rising, including how the project began as an original concept before becoming an official Ultraman film and how Japanese fans reacted to the finished movie.

• Shannon explains how his upcoming animated John Wick project will expand the franchise with stylized action sequences impossible in live action while also exploring the emotional origin story of John and Helen.

• The creative challenge of balancing large-scale action with quiet character moments - something Shannon sees as essential to preserving the tone that makes the John Wick films work.

• Stories from Shannon’s time at DreamWorks working alongside artists like Nico Marlet, Carlos Grangel, and Tony Siruno, and how collaborative studio environments sharpen artists’ skills.

HOSTS

• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

GUEST

• Shannon Tindle - IG: @shannon_tindle

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hoppers Leaps to Number One, The Wild Robot gets a Sequel, and Cartoon Lagoon Has New Projects Coming (Ep. 349)

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back together after Drew's birthday escape to Palm Springs, and they've got plenty of animation news to talk about. Pixar has its biggest ever box office for an original film opening, Pete Docter's Wall Street Journal interview takes an odd turn but at least they have a musical on the way, and of course there are the Old Spice marketing tie-ins to the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy movie that want you to smell like Bowser.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Disney Legend Floyd Norman's screening and Q&A at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC has been postponed with no rescheduled date available as of yet

• Hoppers has the best opening for a Pixar original film yet with an 88 million dollar worldwide gross

• The first 40,000 fans through the gates on March 31st at the L.A. Dodgers game against the Cleveland Guardians will get an exclusive Yoshi bobblehead

• Drew drops an exclusive story about the upcoming sequel to The Wild Robot

• Cartoon Lagoon has a new film, Kindred Spirits, coming in 2028

• Jim and Drew discuss Pete Docter's recent interview with the Wall Street Journal and the reactions to it

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR

Unlock Magic
Planning a Disney or Universal trip in 2026? Unlock Magic helps you secure the very best deals on theme park tickets, with expert support from people who truly know the parks. Visit unlockedmagic.com to start planning your next adventure.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Criterion Crowns KPop, Zootopia 2 Climbs Higher & Smiling Friends Signs Off (Ep. 348)

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off this week’s show a little early to accommodate Drew’s Palm Springs getaway, but that doesn’t slow down the animation news. From Netflix making a rare physical media play with KPop Demon Hunters to Zootopia 2 quietly becoming 2025’s biggest domestic hit, there’s a lot to unpack. They also look at Smiling Friends stepping away at its peak, new anime headed to theaters, and a wave of animation-themed events happening coast to coast.

HIGHLIGHTS

• KPop Demon Hunters lands a rare Criterion Collection physical media release after sweeping major awards, signaling a big win for Netflix animation.

• Zootopia 2 becomes 2025’s top domestic release and sees strong demand for its 4K Steelbook on launch day.

• Smiling Friends ends on its own terms, with two final episodes set to air April 12.

• Crunchyroll dates the next That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime movie for May 2026 as Season Four arrives this spring.

• Hulu’s upcoming animated comedy Swap Meet begins development at 20th Television Animation and Sony Pictures Television.

• Don Hahn’s Huz: Drawn to Life spotlights Disney animator Ron Husband and his legacy.

• Dana Terrace premieres The Knights of Guinevere pilot and plans a March panel and gallery event in Alhambra.

• Drawing Magic: Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida opens in Orlando with a March 8 creators panel.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KPop Demon Hunters Sweeps the Annies While Toy Story 5 Steps Into the Spotlight (Ep. 347)

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed week in animation, from awards-season shakeups to shifting box office math and a first real look at Pixar’s next big sequel. Along the way, they spotlight a streaming acquisition that could become a Halloween favorite, a few strategic release-date moves, and close with a heartfelt remembrance of a behind-the-scenes legend whose work helped shape modern animation.

HIGHLIGHTS

• KPop Demon Hunters dominates the Annie Awards with 12 wins, including Best Feature, while Zootopia 2 goes home empty-handed despite its box office strength
• Corrected Presidents Day numbers boost GOAT’s opening and reshape its rivalry with Wuthering Heights in weekend two
• Pixar debuts the first official Toy Story 5 trailer, centering Jessie and introducing a toys-versus-tech conflict
• Sony begins development on an animated Venom project with Tom Hardy producing
• TMNT: Mutant Mayhem 2 moves its release date up by a month
• Netflix acquires I Am Frankelda, Mexico’s first stop-motion animated feature, for a fall debut
• A tribute to Jane Baer, whose career included Sleeping Beauty, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Little Mermaid, and more

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR

This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. If a Disney or Universal trip is on your radar for 2026, their team can help you secure great ticket prices and plan smarter. Learn more at UnlockedMagic.com.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Simpsons at 800: No Finale, Just More Springfield (Ep. 346)

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

As The Simpsons hits its 800th episode, Jim Hill takes a moment to appreciate how this once-scrappy Fox upstart became an animation institution that may never actually end. From the long-lost series finale concept where Homer and Krusty were secretly the same person to the show’s upcoming theatrical sequel and Disney’s long-term park plans, this week’s Fine Tooning looks at how Springfield keeps evolving. Plus, box office updates, Avatar sequel math, Matt Braly’s next move after Sony, and a wild Steven Spielberg phone call that changed animation history.

NEWS

• The Simpsons celebrates its 800th episode with “Irrational Treasure,” the 14th episode of Season 37, as the series eyes renewal through Season 40 and a second theatrical film set for September 3, 2027.

• Disney+ viewers can compare Season 1’s “Santa’s Little Helper” to the new milestone episode to see just how dramatically the show’s animation quality has evolved since 1989.

• Sony Pictures Animation’s Goat opens strong over Presidents Day weekend, reportedly close behind Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights, with final box office numbers still shifting.

• Zootopia 2 crosses $1.83 billion worldwide, becoming the ninth highest-grossing film of all time, though its upcoming March 3 home video release may slow its push toward $2 billion.

• Avatar: Fire & Ash reaches $1.46 billion globally, profitable but well below the franchise’s prior installments, raising questions about costs and expectations for Avatar 4 and 5.

• Matt Braly and Rebecca Sugar’s previously in-development Sony feature is shelved, but Braly launches a Kickstarter on March 13 for his indie gothic horror pilot Clara and the Below.

• The RiffTrax team raises nearly $1.9 million on Kickstarter for The RiffTrax Experiments, offering a hopeful blueprint for creator-driven animation crowdfunding.

FEATURE

• The behind-the-scenes story of how Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss were hired by Steven Spielberg to write The Land Before Time, following his surprise discovery of Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird.

• Spielberg’s now-legendary phone call to Freudberg, initially mistaken for a prank, ultimately led to a creative partnership that bridged Sesame Street and major animated feature filmmaking.

HOSTS

• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com

• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR

This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Get real discounts on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12% off. Unlocked Magic is run by the team behind DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, making it easy to plan your 2026 Central Florida trip and save big.

Grab your tickets today at UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to tell them Drew and Jim sent you.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh D’Amaro Gets the Big Chair, Dana Walden Gets the Creative Keys at Disney (Ep. 345)

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Welcome back to Fine Tooning, where Drew Taylor and Jim Hill record on Super Bowl Sunday, dodge football talk, and instead zero in on animation news, box office bruises, and one of the biggest corporate shake-ups in Disney history. Along the way, there is chatter about Super Bowl trailers, art books you are not allowed to open yet, and why studios still love spending big bucks for 30 seconds of attention. Then the conversation turns serious as Disney’s future leadership comes sharply into focus.

NEWS
• Super Bowl 60 trailer watch, including expected spots for Toy Story 5, Hoppers, and whether Universal should hype the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie
• A rough North American box office weekend, with Send Help limping to number one and Zootopia 2 still padding its already massive worldwide total
• Angel Studios news, including a release date for Andy Serkis’ long-awaited Animal Farm
• GKIDS picks up a new original animated feature from Macross creator Shoji Kawamori
• Genndy Tartakovsky reportedly circling an animated Game of Thrones spin-off, plus a look at Netflix’s Stranger Things: Tales from ’85

FEATURE
• Disney announces its next era as Josh D’Amaro is named CEO, effective March 18, 2026
• A deep dive into D’Amaro’s path through Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and why Iger ultimately chose him
• Dana Walden promoted to President and Chief Creative Officer, with oversight of Disney’s vast entertainment portfolio
• What this leadership pairing signals for Disney’s creative direction, corporate culture, and long-term strategy

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Unlocked Magic helps you save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off. Just pick your dates, grab your tickets, and go. Visit UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to tell them Drew and Jim sent you.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From “Goat” to “Hoppers,” Why 2026 Is Shaping Up to Be the Year of Animated Animals (Ep. 344)

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0000

This week on Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick things off on Groundhog Day weekend by leaning into an appropriately animal-heavy episode. From Sony Pictures Animation’s upcoming sports comedy Goat to Pixar’s sci-fi action comedy Hoppers, the guys break down why animated animals are having a moment and how recent box office and streaming successes are shaping what comes next. Along the way, there’s box office chatter, awards-season surprises, toy fair buzz, and a heartfelt remembrance of one of animation’s great voice talents.

NEWS
• Goat from Sony Pictures Animation lines up its February 13 release with NBA All-Star Weekend, and Drew shares what he learned talking directly with the filmmakers.
• Pixar’s Hoppers draws internal debate over its bold comedy, with Pete Docter and Andrew Stanton stepping in to defend Daniel Chong’s vision.
• Zootopia 2 continues its strong box office run, reinforcing why studios are doubling down on animal-driven stories.
• Streaming and awards updates include KPop Demon Hunters, Grammy nominations, and what dominated viewing charts in 2025.
• Big animation-adjacent headlines from the Nuremberg Toy Fair and the return of classic Looney Tunes shorts to Turner Classic Movies.

FEATURE
• A deeper dive into Goat, including the challenges of animating Roarball, the film’s underdog themes, and its sequel potential.
• Pixar’s Hoppers explained - its sci-fi premise, visual style, and how Mabel’s intense personality was shaped into a Pixar-friendly lead.
• Remembering Catherine O’Hara and her lasting legacy in animated film and television voice performances.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @DrewTailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets - sometimes up to 12 percent off - by visiting UnlockedMagic.com. Unlocked Magic is run by the same team behind the DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, making it easy to plan your 2026 Central Florida trip and lock in serious savings.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Last-Minute Fixes That Turned The Lion King into a Classic (Ep. 343)

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down a very strange January weekend for animation and the box office. Between a massive snowstorm shutting down hundreds of theaters, surprise Oscar nominations, and some heartfelt remembrances of animation legends, this episode covers a lot of ground. There is industry news, Disney history, and a few thoughtful detours along the way.

NEWS
• How a nationwide snowstorm shut down more than 400 theaters and dragged the North American box office down to just $58 million for the weekend
• Why Mercy managed to knock Avatar: Fire & Ash out of the top spot with a historically soft number one opening
• Zootopia 2 crosses $400 million domestically and gets a confirmed digital and physical release timeline
• Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short, including why KPop Demon Hunters looks like the current front-runner
• A first look teaser for The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Movie introduces Yoshi ahead of its April release

FEATURE
• A deep dive into the legacy of Roger Allers and how The Lion King was reshaped in the final weeks before release
• Behind-the-scenes stories from Disney Animation’s most turbulent eras, including last-minute fixes that would never fly today
• Remembering restoration legend Ron Stark of S/R Laboratories and his quiet but essential impact on animation history

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Unlocked Magic helps you save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off. Plan your 2026 Central Florida trip with confidence at UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to tell them Drew and Jim sent you.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Mr. Magoo to Speedy Gonzales - How Animation History Keeps Repeating Itself (Ep. 342)

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Right in the thick of awards season, Drew Taylor and Jim Hill cover a wide swath of animation history and current events - from box office heavyweights and streaming announcements to the complicated legacies of mid-century cartoon characters. Along the way, they connect the dots between past controversies, present-day reappraisals, and how modern creators are recontextualizing classic animated icons.

NEWS
• Why Avatar: Fire & Ash remains unstoppable at the box office, holding the top spot for a fifth straight week
• Zootopia 2 climbs into the global Top 10 all-time, surpassing Inside Out 2 and Disney’s The Lion King remake
• A new Phineas & Ferb movie is officially in the works for Disney+, with a time-bending premise
• What’s next for Pixar’s Hoppers, following Drew’s recent trip to Emeryville
• Updates on How to Train Your Dragon 2, including Cate Blanchett’s return as Valka

FEATURE
• A deep dive into the rise and fall of UPA, from Mr. Magoo’s Oscar wins to the studio’s eventual collapse
• How changing cultural standards sidelined characters like Magoo, Cholly, and UPA’s Dick Tracy supporting cast
• The newly revealed documentary Animation Mavericks: The Forgotten Story of UPA and why it matters now
• Why Jorge Gutierrez developing a Speedy Gonzales movie could signal a long-overdue shift in how legacy characters are handled

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @DrewTailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic, where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Learn more at UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to let them know Drew and Jim sent you.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fire in the Ink & Paint Department – How “Banjo the Woodpile Cat” Lit a Fuse at Disney (Ep. 341)

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Right in the thick of awards season, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down to read the tea leaves on this year’s animation race while also digging into a pivotal - and often misunderstood - moment in Disney animation history. From Annie Award trends and box office signals to Don Bluth’s garage-era rebellion, this episode covers how a shortage of effects animation talent helped spark one of the biggest talent walkouts the studio ever faced.

NEWS
• Why KPop Demon Hunters and Pixar’s Elio leading the Annie nominations could matter as Academy voting begins
• The third Avatar film dominates the box office again as Zootopia 2 closes in on Lion King-level numbers
• GKIDS picks up Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom for a Halloween release
• Remembering composer Guy Moon and his legacy across The Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, and more

FEATURE
• How shrinking FX animation departments in the 1970s quietly changed Disney’s films
• Why Don Bluth created Banjo the Woodpile Cat as a “training exercise pretending to be a movie”
• Ron Miller’s rejection of Banjo and how that decision helped trigger Bluth’s mass exit from Disney
• The ripple effects that delayed The Fox and the Hound, reshaped the studio, and helped set the stage for Disney’s 1980s reboot

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. Save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets - sometimes up to 12 percent off - at UnlockedMagic.com. When you book, please let them know Drew and Jim sent you.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The End of Oscar Night on Network TV and the Rise of the 2026 Animation Arms Race (Ep. 340)

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0000

Welcome back to Fine Tooning with Jim Hill and Drew Taylor, who is officially back behind the mic after a very eventful hiatus. Before diving into a mountain of animation news, the guys catch up on where Drew has been, why Burbank’s Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center has more Disney history than you might expect, and why this might be one of the biggest transition moments the entertainment industry has seen in decades.

NEWS
• The Academy Awards announce a major media shift, with the Oscars leaving broadcast television for YouTube beginning in 2029
• Awards season logistics break down, including nomination voting dates, announcement timing, and the March ceremony
• Box office check-in on Avatar: Fire and Ash crossing the billion-dollar mark worldwide
• Zootopia 2 becomes the highest-grossing film ever released by Walt Disney Animation Studios
• A huge year for global animation, with Ne Zha 2, anime theatrical releases, and Netflix hits reshaping the marketplace

FEATURE
• A comprehensive look at the major animated theatrical releases scheduled for 2026
• Pixar, Illumination, Disney, DreamWorks, Sony, Laika, and more line up an unusually crowded slate
• Why films like Toy Story 5, Hoppers, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and Coyote vs. Acme carry especially high expectations
• What shifting release strategies and streaming decisions may signal for animation’s future

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic, where you can score real savings on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off. Unlocked Magic is run by the same trusted team behind the DVC Rental Store and the DVC Resale Market. Planning a Central Florida trip in 2026? Pick your dates, grab your tickets, and go. Learn more at UnlockedMagic.com.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fine Tooning Looks Back at 2025, From Disney’s AI Gamble to Animation’s Biggest Wins (Ep. 339)

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 13:05:00 -0000

As 2025 comes to a close, Jim Hill flies solo on this Drew-free edition of Fine Tooning to take stock of one of the biggest, strangest, and most consequential years the animation industry has seen in decades. From record-shattering box office runs and surprise streaming hits to uncomfortable conversations about AI and the future of creative labor, this episode connects the dots between where animation has been and where it appears to be heading next.

NEWS
• Why Disney’s $1 billion investment in OpenAI has the animation world divided and how a Jerry Beck-hosted editorial argues that Walt Disney might have embraced AI himself
• A year-end box office check-in including Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire & Ash, and Angel Studios’ faith-based animated feature David
• Netflix confirms KPop Demon Hunters has been watched more than 500 million times worldwide and what that means for its sequel and merchandising future
• Major release-date shakeups for The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender and Pixar’s Gatto and why March releases are no longer considered box office poison
• A rundown of upcoming animation books, UPA retrospectives, and why supporting animation historians matters more than ever

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @DrewTailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Unlocked Magic helps you save big on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off. Unlocked Magic is run by the same team behind DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market, making it easy to plan your 2026 Central Florida vacation. Pick your dates, grab your tickets, and go. Visit UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to tell them Drew and Jim sent you.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How “The Small One” Became a Very Big Problem for Disney (Ep. 338)

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

With Drew Taylor sidelined by a nasty case of the Christmas crud, Jim Hill flies solo for this end-of-year edition of Fine Tooning. After a bit of seasonal vamping, Jim dives into animation news before kicking off the first half of a deep-dive holiday history lesson. This week’s episode sets the stage for a story that begins with a modest Disney featurette and ends up triggering one of the biggest upheavals in the history of Walt Disney Feature Animation.

NEWS
• Avatar: Fire & Ash dominates the global box office with a massive $345 million opening weekend.
• Angel Studios’ David surprises with a strong $22 million domestic debut, outperforming several major animated releases.
• Zootopia 2 continues its historic run, crossing $1.27 billion worldwide and exceeding the original film by more than $200 million.
• The Academy reveals its Best Animated Short shortlist, with notable inclusions and at least one eyebrow-raising omission.
• Adult Swim renews Haha, You Clowns for two additional seasons after an initially underestimated debut.

FEATURE
• The origins of Disney’s 1978 animated featurette The Small One and why the studio once believed it would become a perennial holiday classic.
• How Charles Tazewell’s mid-20th-century holiday stories caught Disney’s attention and lingered in development for nearly 15 years.
• Behind-the-scenes tensions at Walt Disney Feature Animation in the late 1970s, including the controversial decision to hand directing duties to Don Bluth.
• Why this seemingly small production planted the seeds for a massive creative and personnel shakeup soon to come.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @DrewTailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Unlocked Magic helps you save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off. Plan ahead for your 2026 Central Florida trip by picking your dates, grabbing your tickets, and letting the savings add up at UnlockedMagic.com.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney’s 200-Character OpenAI Bet and a Detour Down the Yellow Brick Road (Ep. 337)

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill kick off this week’s show with a genuinely wild media landscape where holiday releases, awards season, and corporate maneuvering are all colliding at once. From a brewing battle over Warner Bros. Discovery to Disney’s latest tech-flavored swing, the first half is a rapid tour through what’s breaking (and what might be breaking next). Then Jim takes the wheel solo for a longer, history-packed trip over the rainbow, tracing how animation veterans, studio deals, and a certain pair of feuding cartoon animals keep finding their way back to Oz.

NEWS
• Netflix and Paramount Skydance are reportedly lining up competing bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, with the situation edging into hostile takeover territory
• Disney signs a three-year OpenAI licensing and investment deal, reportedly tied to short-form character content and platform experimentation
• Zootopia 2 clears the $1 billion worldwide mark, adding to a renewed “WDAS is back” narrative after recent holiday stumbles
• The trailer drops for Andy Serkis’ Animal Farm, with Seth Rogen voicing Napoleon and Angel Studios handling distribution
• A quick remembrance of animator Tony Benedict, whose career path traced the industry’s mid-century churn from Disney to TV animation

FEATURE
• Why Chuck Jones left Termite Terrace, briefly detoured to Disney, then later set up shop at MGM
• How Disney’s MGM licensing deal and the later Turner-Time Warner corporate shuffle complicated who “owned” what in the Oz rights maze
• The surprisingly effective mash-up of MGM legacies in Tom & Jerry and the Wizard of Oz (and why it was successful enough to inspire a return trip)
• A lightning round of other animated Oz side-quests, including costly misfires and international oddities

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Unlocked Magic - Get real savings on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12% off. Unlocked Magic is run by the same team behind the DVC Rental Store and the DVC Resale Market, so you can pick your dates, grab your tickets, and go. Visit UnlockedMagic.com and let them know Drew and Jim sent you.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Netflix Buys Warner Bros. Discovery and an Animated Trip Over the Rainbow (Ep. 336)

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Jim and Drew unpack one of the biggest industry shakeups in years as Netflix snaps up Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that reshapes everything from Adult Swim to the broader animation marketplace. Then the guys follow the yellow brick road into this week’s feature, exploring the strange, stop-and-start history of Hollywood’s many attempts to revisit Oz, from Disney’s abandoned visions to Filmation’s long-delayed Journey Back to Oz.

NEWS
• Netflix acquires Warner Bros. Discovery for $82.7 billion and what this lightning-fast deal could mean for Paramount, cable networks, and Adult Swim.
• How the sale compares to Disney’s 2017–2019 acquisition of Fox once you adjust for inflation.
• Industry chatter around the merger’s approval process amid concerns from competing studios.

FEATURE
• A colorful tour through Hollywood’s many post-MGM attempts to return to Oz.
• Disney’s near-miss projects, including the almost-produced “Rainbow Road to Oz.”
• Rankin/Bass, Chuck Jones, and the surprising number of animated Oz interpretations in the 1960s.
• Filmation’s turbulent decade-long journey to complete Journey Back to Oz, featuring Liza Minnelli, missing dialogue tapes, and recycled Sammy Cahn music.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic — where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Planning a 2026 trip? Pick your dates, grab your tickets, and let Unlocked Magic handle the rest. And don’t forget to tell them Jim and Drew sent you.
UnlockedMagic.com

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zootopia 2 Runs Wild in China and Oz Takes Over the Holidays (Ep. 335)

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Jim goes solo this week while Drew speeds back toward LA for an early press screening of “Avatar: Fire & Ash.” In the meantime, Jim catches us up on a very eventful week in animation news, from the monster launch of “Zootopia 2” in China to Disney Parks animatronics already slipping into B mode. He also spotlights new shorts, holiday specials, and takes a deep dive into the surprising Hollywood history behind “The Wizard of Oz.”

NEWS
• Zootopia 2 shatters expectations with a $156M domestic debut and a staggering $275M in China.
• Shanghai Disneyland’s Zootopia Land proves to be a major factor in the sequel’s overseas success.
• Early operational issues arise with the Clawhauser animatronic at Animal Kingdom’s new “Zoobetter Together” attraction.
• Plymptoons launches a TikTok account and announces a December studio art sale in NYC.
• Locksmith Animation debuts “Cardboard,” a touching new short drawing awards-season buzz.

FEATURE
• Jim traces the fascinating Hollywood history of “The Wizard of Oz,” from Disney’s thwarted attempt to acquire the rights to the abandoned “Rainbow Road to Oz.”
• How MGM’s 1939 classic became a television institution and shaped Disney’s musical ambitions.
• A preview of next week’s continuation on animated Oz adaptations of the 1960s and 70s.

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com, where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Just pick your dates, grab your tickets, and go. And when you do, please let the folks at Unlocked Magic know that Drew and Jim sent you.
Unlocked Magic

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inside the Animation Money Machine: Zootopia 2, Frozen Paydays & the New Economics of Disney Franchises (Ep. 334)

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

As Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down just hours before Zootopia 2 preview screenings begin, they dig into the film’s early reactions, the surprising box-office shape of the holiday season, and the escalating economics behind today’s animated franchises. HIGHLIGHTS

Early reactions to Zootopia 2 and what Drew learned from scoring sessions and long-lead press days.
How Wicked: For Good outpaced the original film’s opening—and why reviews may complicate the long-term outlook.
Stephen Schwartz’s long history with animation—from Pocahontas to The Prince of Egypt—and his record-breaking opening weekend.
A surprise Thanksgiving return for Prep & Landing and why Snowball Protocol deserved more promotion.
Drew breaks down the blockbuster salaries behind Frozen 3 and 4—and how favored-nations deals shaped the cast’s negotiations.
Tim Allen completes his Toy Story 5 recording, plus a look back at the franchise’s evolving pay scale.
Trailer talk: David, Hoppers, and what Pixar’s 2026 slate signals for the studio.

Hosts

Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com Drew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work Follow Us

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews YouTube: @jimhillmedia TikTok: @jimhillmedia Producer Credits Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey Sponsor This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, from the team at DVC Rental Store — offering discounted Disney theme park tickets, including special events. Save on your next trip at UnlockedMagic.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trailers, Box Office Surprises & SpongeBob’s Return: Animation’s Holiday Push (Ep. 333)

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:58:00 -0000

As the long Thanksgiving weekend approaches, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a flurry of newly dropped animation trailers, surprising box office projections, and the industry shifts shaping Spring and Summer 2026. Recorded just as holiday season ramps up, this week’s Fine Tooning mixes news, nostalgia, and some unexpected industry history.

HIGHLIGHTS

Why studios dropped so many major trailers this week — and what their early online rollouts say about today’s marketing playbook.
A look at the weekend box office projections, including the strong debut for Now You See Me, Now You Don’t 3 and the surprising second-week drop for Predator: Badlands.
Angel Studios’ upcoming animated musical David and its early pre-sale strategy heading into the crowded December slate.
First impressions of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants — plus memories from the 1980s Jetsons revival session featuring Mel Blanc.
Updates on Super Mario Bros. Galaxy Movie, new leadership at Paramount Animation, and how “evergreen” franchises like Toy Story continue to evolve.
A quick detour into the Magic Castle, close-up magic legends, and why those spaces still influence entertainment creatives today.

Hosts

Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
Drew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

Patreon

Love what we do? Support the show and get exclusive content at:
https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/

Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
YouTube: @jimhillmedia
TikTok: @jimhillmedia

Producer Credits

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey — Strong Minded Agency

Sponsor

This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com, where you can save up to 12% on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets — including select after-hours events and holiday offerings. Run by the same trusted team behind DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market. When you book, tell them Drew & Jim sent you!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Sky Fell: The Turbulent Legacy of Chicken Little (Ep. 332)

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 20:46:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor salute Veterans Day and talk about Xavier “X” Atencio, the new Disney Editions book celebrating the Imagineer behind the Haunted Mansion’s “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” Then, Drew and Jim dive into the weekend box office — from Predator: Badlands breaking franchise records to the upcoming Zootopia 2 — before Jim goes solo to finish his deep-dive on the 20th anniversary of Chicken Little: Disney’s first CG feature and the film that changed everything at the studio.

HIGHLIGHTS

Disney Legend spotlight: The new Xavier X. Atencio biography reveals rare sketches, wartime cartoons, and Haunted Mansion concept art — including the one-eyed cat that almost was.
Box office breakdown: Predator: Badlands lifts Disney past $4 billion for 2025, while Zootopia 2’s early projections could redeem TRON: Ares’ underperformance.
Streaming watch: Netflix’s In Your Dreams wins praise from Collider and The Hollywood Reporter; Star Wars: Visions Vol. 3 drops on Disney+.
The forgotten fowl: Why Chicken Little struggled in 2005 — from corporate pressure and story changes to a release window crushed by Goblet of Fire.
Animation turning point: How Pixar’s arrival, John Lasseter’s leadership, and Ratatouille’s success permanently shifted Disney away from hand-drawn animation.

Hosts

Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
Drew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

Patreon
Support Fine Tooning and the entire Jim Hill Media Podcast Network at patreon.com/jimhillmedia

Follow Us
Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews | YouTube: @jimhillmedia | TikTok: @jimhillmedia

Producer Credits
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey — Strong Minded Agency

Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com — where Disney and Universal fans can save up to 12% on park tickets and after-hours events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights. Powered by the same trusted team behind DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When “Chicken Little” Took Flight: Disney’s First CGI Gamble and What Came Next (Ep. 331)

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0000

This week on Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor mark the 20th anniversary of Chicken Little — Disney’s first fully computer-animated feature — and trace how the film’s rocky launch reshaped the studio’s animation strategy in the mid-2000s. Recorded the morning after Daylight Savings Time kicked in, this episode mixes history, humor, and behind-the-scenes insight as the guys unpack what really happened inside Disney Animation during one of its most volatile eras.

HIGHLIGHTS

Drew and Jim revisit the creative chaos that followed The Emperor’s New Groove and how Mark Dindal & Randy Fullmer’s next project evolved into Chicken Little.
Why Bob Iger’s early plans to buy Pixar cast a shadow over the film’s release.
How Chicken Little became both a casualty and catalyst in Disney’s CGI transformation.
Updates on the new Zootopia Zoobetter Together 4-D show at Animal Kingdom and why fans may want to wait for the Merrie Menagerie’s return.
Studio Ghibli Fest’s finale screenings of The Boy and the Heron, plus news on Laika’s upcoming Wildwood and ESPN’s animated Monsters Funday Football event.

Hosts
Drew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work
Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com

Patreon
Support Fine Tooning and the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network on Patreon: patreon.com/jimhillmedia

Follow Us
Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews | YouTube: @jimhillmedia | TikTok: @jimhillmedia

Producer Credits
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey — Strong Minded Agency

Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com — where you can save up to 12% on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, including hard-ticket events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn More⁠⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Disney’s “Pinocchio” Became the Studio’s Most Terrifying Classic (Ep. 330)

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor celebrate Halloween week by taking a deep dive into Disney’s darkest fairy tale — and the long, strange legacy of “Pinocchio.” From canceled attractions and creepy Hong Kong mazes to Julie Taymor’s unrealized Broadway musical, this little wooden boy has haunted Disney history for over 80 years.

Why Walt Disney once scrapped six months of work on “Pinocchio”
The forgotten Disneyland expansion that almost gave us “Pinocchio Square”
How Hong Kong Disneyland turned the film into a full-blown haunted maze
Julie Taymor’s eerie, abandoned “Pinocchio” stage musical
The odd connections between “Pinocchio,” “Wicked,” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”
Plus Drew talks about four new animated shorts that he recently saw at Disney Studios which are up for Oscar consideration next year

A spooky, story-filled episode perfect for animation fans and Halloween listeners alike.

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From Disneyland to “Charlotte’s Web”: The Sherman Brothers’ Forgotten Tunes (Ep. 329)

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week on Fine Tooning, Drew Taylor and Jim Hill explore how Disney’s most beloved songwriting duo—the Sherman Brothers—found new creative life after leaving the Mouse House in 1968. From the heartfelt melodies of Snoopy Come Home to the timeless charm of Charlotte’s Web, Jim revisits how their music carried Disney’s spirit into other studios’ animated worlds.

Drew shares highlights from the Animation Is Life event, including Q&As for ChaO and Arco
Why TRON: Ares’s box office dip has Disney nervous
The rise of Gabby’s Dollhouse as a Universal park franchise
A live-action Jetsons film that’s finally moving forward—again
The legacy of Marsupilami and Nickelodeon’s attempt to revive it

Jim wraps things up by celebrating the Sherman Brothers’ post-Disney era—two films that remind us that great songs can make any animation studio feel like home.

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Inside the Animation Is Film Festival with Matt Kaszanek (Ep. 328)

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor welcome special guest Matt Kaszanek, Program Director for the Animation Is Film Festival, to talk about what fans can expect at this year’s event at the TCL Chinese Theatre. From exclusive screenings and panels to the state of the animation industry, this episode dives deep into the heart of Hollywood’s celebration of animated storytelling. Jim and Drew also cover the latest box-office chatter, streaming updates, and big animation headlines.

• Why Tron: Ares may still have a chance to rebound despite a soft opening
• The premiere lineup and behind-the-scenes planning of the Animation Is Film Festival
• Drew’s firsthand look at Sony’s new Animation campus and Infinity Festival highlights
• Updates on Primal Season 3, Bat-Fam, and The Bad Guys: Breaking In
• Guillermo del Toro’s new stop-motion school and what it means for future filmmakers

Whether you’re a longtime animation fan or just curious about what’s next on the big screen, this episode of Fine Tooning packs plenty of insight, stories, and laughter from Hollywood’s animation insiders.

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Inside “Zootopia 2” – Drew’s First Look at Disney’s Next Big Sequel (Ep. 327)

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week on Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Jim Hill and Drew dive into Disney’s animation future, beginning with Drew’s firsthand report from the “Zootopia 2” press day. From the creative direction behind the sequel to updates on everything from “The Simpsons Movie 2” to Quentin Tarantino’s surprise animated project, this episode covers the wild world of animation news and commentary with Jim and Drew’s trademark insight.

What Drew learned at Disney’s “Zootopia 2” press day
Why “The Simpsons Movie 2” finally got the green light
Quentin Tarantino’s new animated sequence for “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair”
The legacy of Disney animator Rick Hoppe
How Elon Musk’s latest controversy pulled “Dead End: Paranormal Park” back into the spotlight

From sequel scoop to animation history, this week’s Fine Tooning is packed with stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Tune in for the latest news and a heartfelt tribute to one of Disney’s greats.

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The Long, Strange Journey of The Cobbler and the Thief (Ep. 326)

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor wrap up September with a packed episode of Fine Tooning. From this year’s sold-out Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood to the long, winding saga of Richard Williams’ unfinished opus The Cobbler and the Thief, the guys cover the latest in animation news, box office battles, and even a courtroom clash over Steamboat Willie.

Highlights from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights 2025
Pixar’s Gatto facing off against heavy-hitting sequels in 2027
Crunchyroll’s Oscar campaign for Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Richard Williams’ book Adventures in Animation and the legacy of The Cobbler and the Thief

With October on the horizon, Jim and Drew bring insights, history, and some big questions about the future of animation.

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How Mighty Mouse Accidentally Invented Saturday Morning Cartoons (Ep. 325)

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

This week on Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor rewind to the mid-1950s to uncover how a forgotten studio sale and one scrappy rodent changed television forever. Along the way, they’ll cover everything from box office updates to Paw Patrol holiday specials, plus the latest shake-ups inside Disney corporate.

The Disney-related twist behind CBS launching Mighty Mouse Playhouse in 1955
How that decision created the Saturday morning cartoon tradition
What the Jimmy Kimmel controversy means for Bob Iger and Disney’s upcoming animated releases
New trailers and festival buzz for projects like The Sisters Grimm and Splinter Cell: Deathwatch

From network rivalries of the 1950s to today’s streaming-first landscape, Jim and Drew connect the dots on how animation keeps reshaping the industry.

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Demon Slayer Shatters Records, Toy Story 5 Sneak Peek, and Skydance Eyes Warner Bros (Ep. 324)

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back with another packed episode of Fine Tooning. From anime shattering records at the box office to Pixar showing off the future of Toy Story, the duo break down the biggest stories shaping animation this week.

Demon Slayer’s record-breaking $70 million North American debut and what set this release apart
Toy Story’s 30th anniversary celebration and the first five minutes of Toy Story 5 revealed at Destination D
Disney updates on Frozen 3, Incredibles 3, and Coco 2
Streaming and theatrical news for Elio, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, Cat’s Eye, and ParaNorman
Skydance’s reported bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and its potential impact on animation

From record-breaking anime to billion-dollar mergers, Jim and Drew guide listeners through an especially eventful week in the world of animation.

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From Venice to Toronto: Festival Favorites and Fall Film Buzz (Ep. 323)

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Awards season is heating up, and Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are here to break it all down. From the Venice Film Festival and TIFF premieres to box office shocks and studio shakeups, this episode dives into the films and animated projects making headlines around the globe.

Highlights include:

Venice Film Festival winners and early buzz from TIFF
“The Conjuring: Last Rites” breaking horror records
Updates on “The Bad Guys 2” and Aaron Blaise’s hand-drawn short “Snow Bear”
Disney’s new animated feature “Hexed” and “Ice Age: Boiling Point”
What’s ahead for “Zootopia 2,” LEGO Disney Princess, and Bluey’s big-screen debut

Whether you’re tracking festival favorites, the latest box office trends, or Disney’s evolving animation slate, this episode offers insights, context, and commentary you won’t want to miss.

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Inside Netflix’s Biggest Animated Hit and What’s Next for Aardman & Pixar (Ep. 322)

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off September with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering the biggest stories in the world of animation:

The record-shattering success of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix and what’s next for the franchise
Updates on Big Mouth, its Emmy legacy, and the upcoming series Mating Season
Aardman’s latest projects, including Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
Pixar’s Elio and how its international release stood out in unexpected ways
30 years of Toy Story returning to theaters, plus collectibles and nostalgia
Bill Plympton and “Weird Al” Yankovic team up for a one-of-a-kind animation retrospective

Jim and Drew also revisit classic shorts once shown at Disney-MGM Studios, share news from Studio Ghibli Fest, and look ahead at Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie and more.

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Box Office Surprises, “KPop Demon Hunters” Rise, and Muppets on Broadway (Ep. 321)

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill is solo this week and breaks down the end of the 2025 summer movie season and why traditional blockbusters are struggling at the box office. From shocking second-weekend drop-offs to Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” taking the No. 1 spot in theaters, Jim covers the hits and misses of the season.

How films like Fantastic Four: First Steps and 28 Years Later stumbled in their second weekends
Why streaming habits continue to disrupt box office expectations
“KPop Demon Hunters” theater debut and record-breaking soundtrack buzz
The English-dubbed release of Ne Zha 2 and its global box office dominance
“The Bad Guys 2” performance compared to the original
Broadway news: Muppets joining Rob Lake’s magic show, Disney’s Broadway Week deals, and more
New York attractions for animation fans, from Nightmare Before Christmas light trails to Black Cauldron’s 40th anniversary screening

Plus, Jim shares updates on upcoming animation books, CTNX 2025, Pixar’s Elio, and what fans can expect from Futurama Season 13.

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The Voice of Your Childhood: Jim Cummings Joins Fine Tooning (Ep. 320)

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, highlighted by an interview with legendary voice actor Jim Cummings. From Pooh and Tigger to Darkwing Duck, Jim shares behind-the-scenes stories from a career that shaped generations of animation fans.

The shifting release date of Shrek 5 and what it means for DreamWorks
Why Disney pulled back marketing on The Rocketeer opening weekend
This week’s box office projections — and why Jim calls them “wild guesses”
Streaming success of KPop Demon Hunters and Disney’s King of the Hill revival
Pixar’s Elio box office performance and upcoming digital release
Jim Cummings’ Disney origins with Dumbo’s Circus and Goof Troop
Voicing legacy characters like Pooh, Tigger, and Pete — plus his work on Star Wars
His hidden singing credits in Hollywood films and dream of a country album

From industry news to animation nostalgia, this episode blends updates, history, and an in-depth conversation with one of the most recognizable voices in Disney history.

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From Dog Stars to “Fixed” and What’s Next for The Bad Guys (Ep. 319)

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with another jam-packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering everything from Sirius the Dog Star to the latest in animated film and TV news. This week’s stories span box office winners, Netflix premieres, and the challenges of recasting beloved characters.

• The history of the “Dog Days of Summer” and why Sirius is more than just a bright spot in the sky
• Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed - the long road to Netflix for this R-rated animated comedy
• Box office breakdown - how Weapons, Freakier Friday, and The Bad Guys 2 are performing worldwide
• Why The Bad Guys franchise may or may not be headed for a third installment
• The $2.2 billion success of Ne Zha 2 and what’s ahead for Ne Zha 3
• King of the Hill revival on Hulu - navigating the absence of key characters
• KPop Demon Hunters’ Netflix success and upcoming sing-along screenings
• New and upcoming animation releases - The Twits, Zootopia 2, Spider-Punk, and Dr. Seuss projects including Cat in the Hat

From nostalgic callbacks to forward-looking animation news, Jim and Drew bring their trademark mix of history, humor, and industry insight.

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How “The Simpsons” Took Over America (with Author Alan Siegel) (Ep. 318)

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down with Alan Siegel from The Ringer to discuss his new book Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television and America Forever. Together, they revisit how Matt Groening’s crude interstitials on The Tracey Ullman Show evolved into a cultural juggernaut, what nearly derailed the series before it ever aired, and why The Simpsons continues to matter nearly four decades later. Along the way, the guys dig into:

• The box office performance of The Bad Guys 2 and Paramount’s Smurfs
• The cautious rollout of the Zootopia 2 trailer
• How Netflix’s K-Pop: Demon Hunters is shaping up to be the next Frozen
• The surprising backstories behind Homer’s voice, Bart’s balloon, and the show's first merchandising blitz
• Why “Mr. Plow” might be the perfect Simpsons episode

Stick around for tales of drone shows, disaster movie homages, and the writer’s room prank that involved fake stairway carnage and a box of trash. Plus, Alan shares his favorite episode and what The Simpsons taught us about comedy, family, and biting satire with heart.

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Chris Sanders Returns for Lilo & Stitch 2 After Billion-Dollar Success (Ep. 317)

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor wrap up July with box office milestones, Comic-Con exclusives, and some major animation developments:

Chris Sanders returns to write Lilo & Stitch 2 – After the billion-dollar success of the live-action film, Disney is moving forward with a sequel, with Sanders bringing fresh ideas from the original “Pitch to Stitch.”
Inside the “Magic of Disney Animation” revival – A massive reimagining of the former Star Wars Launch Bay at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is on the way, with tributes to Mulan, Brother Bear, and hand-drawn classics.
Comic-Con highlights – Drew and Jim reflect on activations for Lilo & Stitch, Godzilla at 70, King of the Hill, and more from San Diego.
Box office report – Fantastic Four: First Steps opens strong, Jurassic World: Rebirth crosses $700M, and Elio slips out of the Top 10.
Animation updates – Warner Bros. finally sets a date for Coyote vs. Acme, DreamWorks teases Bad Guys 2, and Mrs. Claus heads to the big screen in Margie Claus.

Plus: Avatar: Seven Havens, Paramount’s South Park shocker, and the end of Drew’s long-running Light the Fuse podcast.

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Get ready for a very animated San Diego Comic-Con (Ep. 316)

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by discussing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” that new show at Disneyland Park in Anaheim.

examineThey then look at how Paramount Pictures’ new “Smurfs” film performed at the domestic box office.

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

Who did Chris Buck & Kevin Lima originally want to voice Tantor the elephant in Disney’s animated version of “Tarzan”
Which role will Josh Gad be playing in the live concert version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” (which will be presented at the Hollywood Bowl August 1 – 3rd)
How many songs from the soundtrack of “KPop Demon Hunters” (i.e., Netflix’s latest hit animated film) wound up in Billboard’s Hot 100
Why did Sony Pictures Animation opt to push back the release date of “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse”
When will San Diego Comic-Con be celebrating Fox’s Animation Domination programming block

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SpongeBob Returns with Flying Dutchman and a Star-Studded Teaser (Ep. 315)

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:25:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a wide-ranging conversation about box office trends, Comic-Con reveals, and the growing debate around casting A-list celebrities in animated films. Highlights include:

Paramount debuts the first teaser for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Mark Hamill joins as the Flying Dutchman, and Jim reflects on the franchise’s enduring magic.
Godzilla’s 70th anniversary celebration hits San Diego Comic-Con – Drew previews his panel, and Jim geeks out over Super7’s pop-up recreating the “Godzilla Minus One” train scene.
Chris Pratt returns for Garfield 2 – But should Hollywood rely less on celebrities and more on trained voice actors? Jim revisits old rants and Billy West’s take on the trend.
Michelle Yeoh joins the English dub of Ne Zha 2 – Now the highest-grossing animated film globally, the dubbed version hits U.S. theaters in August.
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires – Warner Bros. Animation unveils a visually stunning reimagining of the Dark Knight at Comic-Con.

Plus: tributes to Pokémon voice legend James Carter Cathcart, Bugs Bunny’s 85th birthday at the Hollywood Bowl, and a sneak peek at Bluey at the Cinema: Let’s Play Chef coming soon to Europe.

It’s an episode packed with nostalgia, news, and insights from both coasts as Jim and Drew tackle everything from kaiju cosplay to cartoon casting.

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Jurassic World Breaks Records, Elio Stalls, and Looking Back at 'The Mouse Factory' (Ep. 314)

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a packed slate of animation and entertainment news—including box office wins, deep animation history, and Broadway updates:

Universal celebrates a huge opening for Jurassic World Rebirth with $318M globally, while How to Train Your Dragon crosses the half-billion mark.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar club, expected to cross the threshold by the time Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters later this month.
Pixar’s Elio struggles at the box office, with $96M worldwide after three weekends and its Disney+ debut now supposedly slated for September.
“Boop the Musical” to close on Broadway, while Disney’s Frozen the Musical West End run hits Disney+ with a professionally filmed version.
Ward Kimball’s The Mouse Factory – Jim revisits Disney’s forgotten answer to The Muppet Show, cancelled after just two seasons to protect the studio’s Sunday night ratings.

Plus: Updates on Camp Cretaceous: Chaos Theory, the retirement of animation legend Tom Sito, changes at Cartoon Brew, and the long-awaited arrival of The Cat in the Hat—now with Things 1 through 18.

A jam-packed episode filled with history, industry insight, and a look ahead at what’s next.

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Lilo & Stitch 2 Announced, Elio Holds, and Akira’s Live-Action Deal Expires (Ep. 313)

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite (despite a case of post-Annecy crud) to cover a wide range of animation and industry news, including:

Disney officially announces Lilo & Stitch 2 after the live-action original crosses $945M globally.
Elio holds better than expected with a solid second weekend as it climbs past $42M domestically.
Live-action Tangled delayed to 2029, reportedly to make room for the Lilo & Stitch sequel.
Warner Bros. loses the rights to Akira after years of development—setting the stage for a new studio to reimagine the cyberpunk classic.
Laika’s ParaNorman returns to theaters for Halloween 2025 as part of the studio’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Also in this episode: KPOP Demon Hunters debuts at #2 globally on Netflix, Broadway updates on Beauty and the Beast and Hercules, and what’s really in those Dragon Flame-Grilled Whoppers at Burger King.

It’s a shorter episode while Drew recovers—but packed with news, box office insight, and some wild theme park popcorn bucket trivia.

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Annecy, Disneyland Paris, and the Animation News You Missed While Drew Was in France (Ep. 312)

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

On this week’s jet-lagged edition of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor keep things quick but packed with insight. Drew is back from his travels—and despite the sleep deprivation, he’s ready to recap his time at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and his first-ever visit to Disneyland Paris.

How Annecy 2025 addressed AI concerns and global animation trends
Jared Bush’s surprising hint at the return of hand-drawn animation at Disney
Highlights from Annecy’s screenings, filmmaker encounters, and festival buzz
Drew’s impressions of Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park
The popcorn bucket taking over Walt Disney World (yes, another one)
Box office updates for How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, and Lilo & Stitch

Plus, news on upcoming releases (F1 – The Movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, Smurfs, Fantastic Four) and a reminder that yes, Evita is saving Rachel Zegler’s career.

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Beauty and the Beast at 30, Elio Projections, and the Live-Action Dragon’s Box Office (Ep. 311)

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers the latest from the animation and box office world while Drew Taylor wraps up his trip to Annecy and Disneyland Paris. This week’s highlights include:

Live-action How to Train Your Dragon opens to $197M globally, including a $83M domestic debut that surpasses every previous entry in the franchise.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar mark, with over $858M earned just four weeks after release.
Pixar’s Elio faces a soft box office forecast, but Jim urges caution against writing it off before opening weekend.
Peter Sohn tapped to direct Incredibles 3, with a screenplay by Brad Bird and expectations riding high after Elemental's surprise turnaround.
Jim interviews Matt West, director of the 30th Anniversary Tour of Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical, and shares the story of how the animated film came together after a theme park pre-show opened doors for new talent.

From billion-dollar contenders to Broadway anniversaries and surprise animation industry milestones, it’s a jam-packed episode filled with insight, stories, and a little history.

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Lilo & Stitch Still Soars, Dragon Whoppers Reviewed, and Fantasia’s Forgotten Soundtrack (Ep. 310)

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:06:00 -0000

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers a whirlwind of animation news, box office milestones, and fast food tie-ins—while Drew Taylor checks in from Annecy. Topics include:

Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch nears $800M globally, but with How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, and Jurassic World approaching, can it hold on?
A live-action Tangled revival is gaining momentum, possibly hitting theaters in 2029.
Burger King’s How to Train Your Dragon menu gets taste-tested, including the Dragon Flame-Grilled Whopper and Viking’s Chocolate Sundae.
Universal’s Simpsons rights could end in 2028, putting attractions like Krusty Burger on the clock.
The forgotten Dolby stereo Fantasia soundtrack from 1982, featuring a 125-piece orchestra, Jimmy Macdonald’s new click track, and backlash from classical music fans.

Plus: LEGO’s $200 Krusty Burger, Seth Rogen’s porcine resume, and why blue drinks raise red flags. It’s a classic Jim-only episode packed with oddball insight and animation industry intel.

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Pixar’s Elio Revealed, Coco 2 Confirmed & Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Sparks Debate (Ep. 309)

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack the biggest stories in the animation world, including Drew’s visit to Pixar for an exclusive look at Elio. The upcoming original film continues to evolve creatively, now led by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, and features bold technical advances and emotional storytelling. The duo also confirms Coco 2 is officially on the way—with directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina returning—though its release date may be in flux.

They also dive into the mixed reactions to Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, including fan frustrations over missing characters and deeper critiques from Hawaiian viewers. Other topics include:

The legacy of Destino and its unlikely connection to a Coronado Springs hotel
The controversy surrounding the live-action Lilo & Stitch ending and themes of colonialism
Streaming stats for Bluey and the puzzling world of animation metrics
Updates on the King of the Hill reboot and Rick & Morty Season 8
Remembering Alf Clausen’s musical legacy on The Simpsons

Plus, Drew shares behind-the-scenes insights from Elio, including a surprise reference to The Shining, its Epcot-like opening scene, and the technical feat that is the Communiverse.

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Lilo & Stitch Surprises at the Box Office, Toy Story 5 Adds Conan, and Epic Universe Impressions (Ep. 308)

Tue, 27 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite to cover a packed Memorial Day weekend full of animation and theme park headlines, including:

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch stuns with a $183M opening, far surpassing projections and proving the power of theatrical releases.
Conan O’Brien joins Toy Story 5 as Smarty Pants, revealed during Disney’s Licensing Expo presentation.

First look at Zootopia 2 – A mysterious villain, new districts, and plenty of fan theories sparked by the teaser trailer.
Drew’s full report from Epic Universe – A deep dive into Isle of Berk, Ministry of Magic, Celestial Park, and the tech behind Monsters Unchained.

A can't-miss episode filled with theatrical wins, sneak peeks, and theme park reveals from one of the biggest weekends in entertainment.

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Gumby Turns 70, DreamWorks Eyes Cocomelon, and Peppa Pig Teams Up with Walmart (Ep. 307)

Tue, 20 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill dives into a packed week of animation news while Drew Taylor covers the opening of Epic Universe in Florida. Topics include:

The 70th anniversary of Gumby – A look back at Art Clokey’s clay-animated classic and upcoming updates like Gumby Kids.
Faith-based animation on the rise – Following the box office success of The King of Kings, Fairly OddParents creator Butch Hartman launches a new animation studio focused on spiritual storytelling.
DreamWorks embraces early childhood IP – From the upcoming Cocomelon feature to Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie and Bad Guys 2.
Paramount’s shifting release schedule – New dates for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2, The Legend of Aang, and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie.
Peppa Pig’s gender reveal episode debuts… on Walmart.com – A bold retail-media crossover with exclusive merchandise tied to streaming content.
Smurfs movie sparks fan backlash – Rihanna’s new song “Friend of Mine” fails to impress her Navy, despite her upcoming role as Smurfette.
AI in animation – With $42 million raised by AI animation startups like Cartwheel and Hedra, concerns about job displacement echo the shift from hand-drawn to CG in the ’90s.
New Shaun the Sheep movie announced – Aardman’s The Beast of Mossy Bottom arrives in 2026 with a Halloween theme.

A thoughtful and wide-ranging episode covering preschool hits, legacy IP, streaming trends, theatrical strategy, and the evolving role of AI in the animation industry.

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Lilo & Stitch Controversy, Frozen 3’s Castle Reveal, and Fox Doubles Down on Adult Animation (Ep. 306)

Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers a wide range of animation news and commentary while Drew Taylor is away covering the global premiere of Mission: Impossible 8. Topics include:

Controversy around Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch – Director Dean Fleischer Camp shares concept art of Pleakley in a dress after Disney reportedly vetoed the idea.
A first look at Elsa’s new castle from Frozen 3 – How Disney Abu Dhabi’s concept art may hint at major design elements from the upcoming 2027 sequel.
Box office updates – Thunderbolts maintains momentum in its second weekend, and The King of Kings becomes a success story for South Korea’s Mofac Studios.
Fox renews Grimsburg, Krapopolis, and Universal Basic Guys – More early multi-season orders continue the trend of long-term investments in adult animation.
Seth MacFarlane returns for Ted: The Animated Series – A new sequel series is in the works at Peacock, picking up after Ted 2.
Remembering Marc and Alice Davis – A new website offers replicas of artwork by Marc Davis that once adorned the couple’s home.

It’s a packed episode full of industry insight, animation history, and a few heartfelt tributes along the way.

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Simpsons Renewed Through Season 40, Thunderbolts Tops the Box Office, and Disney’s Broadway Plans (Ep. 305)

Tue, 06 May 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor explore a wide range of animation and entertainment industry news, including:

The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, and American Dad each get renewed for four more seasons—an unprecedented move ensuring job security and a pipeline of adult animation through the end of the decade.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts debuts at #1 at the domestic box office with $76 million, signaling a possible rebound for the MCU.
Korean animated feature The King of Kings becomes the highest-grossing Korean film in U.S. history, surpassing Parasite.
Big City Greens celebrates its 100th episode with a special titled “One Hundred,” now streaming on Disney+.
Boop! The Musical and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary Tour – A look at how cartoon-based Broadway shows are faring in 2025 and what’s next for Disney Theatrical.
A heartfelt look at aging voice talent, with reflections on cast longevity for The Simpsons and how Disney once replaced Paul Winchell as Tigger.

Tune in for box office updates, Broadway insights, and thoughtful takes on how long-running franchises are managing the realities of time and talent.

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FanFest at Universal Hollywood, King of the Hill Returns, and Animation Highlights from Annécy (Ep. 304)

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor cover a busy week in animation and theme park news, including:

Drew’s full report from FanFest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, including Back to the Future Hill Valley experiences, new anime tie-ins, and what could be coming to the East Coast.
King of the Hill revival update – A new panel announced for the ATX TV Festival, with co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels and voice actors returning.
The Simpsons streaming hiccups – Yellow Planet, the Earth Day episode, struggles to launch properly on Disney+.
Annécy 2025 preview – Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm prepare for a massive presence, including previews for Zootopia 2, Toy Story 5, Elio, and Eyes of Wakanda.
Warner Bros. Animation’s Cartoon Network 25th Anniversary Panel featuring Genndy Tartakovsky, Craig McCracken, Pendleton Ward, and Rebecca Sugar.
Netflix rescues Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed after Warner Bros. dropped it—world premiere planned for Annécy.
New announcements – Disney Television Animation’s Dragon Striker series, updates on Combat Carl in Toy Story 5, and more.

Join Jim and Drew for the latest animation industry news, major event coverage, and a look at what’s ahead!

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Not Just a Goof: Celebrating A Goofy Movie with the Filmmakers Behind the Disney+ Documentary (Ep. 303)

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down with filmmakers Eric Kimelton, Christopher Ninness, and Scott Seibold to talk about the making of Not Just a Goof, the heartfelt new Disney+ documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of A Goofy Movie. They discuss lost footage, creative challenges, pop culture legacy, and their unexpected journey from fans to contributors in Goofy’s story.

Also in this episode:

Star Wars animation news out of Tokyo – Updates on Tales of the Underworld, Visions: Volume 3, The Ninth Jedi, Maul: Shadow Lord, and Young Jedi Adventures.
Tim Allen teases Toy Story 5 – Including the return of multiple Buzz Lightyears and emotional story beats.
Hailee Steinfeld talks Beyond the Spider-Verse – How she’s embracing the long development process.
DreamWorks announces Forgotten Island – A new original comedy rooted in Philippine mythology, coming September 2026.
Big City Greens celebrates its 100th episode, Bill Plympton’s Guard Dog goes free on YouTube, and Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 begins with Kiki’s Delivery Service.

It’s a jam-packed episode full of nostalgia, animation history, and exclusive insights.

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How long was “Black Cauldron” actually in the works at Disney (Ep 302)

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by offering birthday greetings to a modern animation master. They then welcome Neil O’Brien, author of “After Disney,” to discuss what it was like to work on the Burbank Lot back in the Late 1970s / Early 1980s

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

When did “BOOP: The Musical” do its out-of-town try-out in Chicago
How long after Charles Dickens’ death was his short story, “Life of Our Lord,” published
When did Glen Keane first begin working at Walt Disney Animation Studio
Which song from DreamWorks Animation’s “The Prince of Egypt” wound up winning an Oscar
Who did Andreas Deja share a room at Disney Studios with during the development of The Black Cauldron”

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Minecraft Breaks Records, Disney Pauses Tangled, and Animation Takes Over CinemaCon (Ep. 301)

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the biggest stories shaking up the animation world, including:

The explosive box office debut of A Minecraft Movie – Surpassing expectations with $157 million, becoming the biggest opening ever for a video game adaptation.
Disney pauses its live-action Tangled remake – After Snow White’s underperformance, the studio rethinks its strategy for adapting more recent animated hits.
CinemaCon 2025 highlights – Major announcements from Paramount and Disney, including updates on Elio, Zootopia 2, How to Train Your Dragon, The Smurfs, and a John Wick animated prequel.
Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke plummets post-IMAX run, while The Day the Earth Blew Up vanishes from the charts.
TV animation shake-ups – New seasons for Phineas & Ferb and South Park, and multi-season renewals for The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and American Dad.
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld – A new animated anthology from Lucasfilm launching May 4 on Disney+.

With so much news packed into one week, Jim and Drew cover everything from theatrical blockbusters to the streaming wars—and what it all means for the future of animation.

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Princess Mononoke Returns, The Critic Revival Buzz, and What’s Next for Looney Tunes (Ep. 300)

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this milestone 300th episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into the biggest animation stories of the week, including:

GKIDS’ 4K re-release of Princess Mononoke – How this Studio Ghibli classic led the box office in per-screen average nearly three decades after its debut.
Disney’s Snow White struggles at the box office – What the 66% second-week drop means for the future of live-action remakes.
Jon Lovitz and Al Jean hint at a revival of The Critic – Could Jay Sherman return for a new season in today’s influencer-driven media world?
Warner Bros. to demolish Building 131, once home to Looney Tunes legends like Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng.
Netflix orders a live-action Scooby-Doo origin series, reimagining the gang’s early days at summer camp.
A Goofy Movie turns 30 – A new Disney+ documentary is on the way, and Disneyland celebrates with a Max-as-Powerline popcorn bucket.

Join Jim and Drew as they celebrate 300 episodes of Fine Tooning with industry insight, animation history, and a look at what’s next.

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Snow White’s Box Office, Coco 2, and Pixar’s Elio Gets a Rewrite (Ep. 299)

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Jim Hill and Drew dive deep into the latest news and developments in the world of animation:

Snow White’s Slow Start – Disney’s live-action remake stumbles at the box office, and Drew shares his take after seeing the film.
Coco 2 Announced (and Unannounced) – A sequel to Pixar’s Coco is confirmed by Bob Iger... and then quietly walked back.
The Elio Overhaul – Pixar’s original story of a shy kid mistaken for Earth’s leader has been rewritten into a buddy comedy. Drew breaks down the changes in tone, direction, and voice cast.
The Long Journey of Toy Story 5 and Tron: Ares – Updates on test screenings and long-in-development sequels finally seeing the light of day.
Forgotten Disney Projects – From the scrapped Rose Red spinoff to the sci-fi Snowstar, Jim and Drew explore the alternate versions of Snow White that never made it to the screen.
Coyote vs. Acme & Looney Tunes Drama – Ketchup Entertainment offers Warner Bros. $50 million for the rights to release Coyote vs. Acme.

Plus, hear about Jim’s surprise birthday video from Josh Gad, Drew’s Art of Amphibia book launch, and how Disney almost brought The Seven Dwarfs back as a fantasy trilogy.

A packed episode filled with history, hot takes, and the latest headlines in animation.

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Snow White’s Box Office Concerns and the Future of Disney’s Live-Action Remakes (Ep. 298)

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dive into the latest animation and entertainment news, including:

Disney braces for a rough opening weekend for Snow White – How revised box office projections signal trouble for the live-action remake.
The Lilo & Stitch trailer breaks records – Why it’s Disney’s second-most viewed live-action trailer ever.
What’s next for Disney’s live-action Tangled – Could Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi return for cameo roles?
A disappointing start for The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie – What went wrong at the box office?
Warner Bros. quietly removes 255 classic Looney Tunes shorts from Max – What does this mean for the future of the franchise?
Anika Noni Rose speaks out on Tiana’s cancellation – Could a Disney+ special revive the character?

Tune in as Jim and Drew break down the latest industry shifts, box office surprises, and behind-the-scenes animation news.

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Disney Cancels Tiana Series and Favreau’s Oswald Project (Ep. 297)

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down a massive week in animation news, including:

Disney’s shocking decision to cancel the Tiana series for Disney+ and why the studio is stepping away from long-form streaming content.
Ne Zha 2’s unprecedented box office run – How the Chinese animated film crossed $2 billion and is climbing the list of the highest-grossing films ever.
Jon Favreau’s new Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series – What to expect from this live-action/animation hybrid for Disney+.
A Disney animator’s story of loss and gratitude – How the studio’s unexpected gesture helped one artist recover after the Eaton Canyon fire.
Big moments in animation history up for auction – Van Eaton Galleries’ Bob Clampett collection goes on sale.

Tune in for behind-the-scenes stories, expert insights, and the latest in animation!

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“Flow,” “In the Shadow of the Cypress” take home Oscar gold (Ep.296)

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the 97th Academy Awards. They then offer up a tribute to the late great publicist & animation champion, Fumi Kitahara

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

When is “Ne Zha 2” expected to blow through the $2 billion barrier at the worldwide box office

Which produced-by-Marvel-Animation series just got renewed for a fifth season

Why is the redesign of the characters for “Shrek 5” really not a big deal

How many “Krypto” shorts is Warner Brothers Discovery supposed to be producing after “Superman: Legacy” is released to theaters this July

What Halloween-themed short was the most viewed piece of animation on Netflix in the second half of 2024

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Ne Zha 2 Breaks Records, Mufasa Hits Streaming, and The Future of Adult Animation (Ep. 295)

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the latest in animation news, including:

Ne Zha 2’s historic box office run – How the Chinese animated epic became the highest-grossing animated film worldwide, surpassing Frozen 2.
Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King and DreamWorks’ Dog Man hit digital – What their home release means for the industry.
The rise of adult animation – Robot Chicken celebrates 20 years, while Nikelodeon expands its lineup with Avatar: The Seven Havens.
Disney+’s latest animation drops – Thoughts on Win or Lose and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
The Simpsons’ Disney+ exclusives – Are they living up to the hype?

Tune in for expert analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, and the latest in animation!

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How to Train Your Dragon’s Live-Action Leap and The Race for Best Animated Feature (Ep. 294)

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dive into the biggest stories in animation, including:

The live-action How to Train Your Dragon – Drew shares behind-the-scenes details from his visit to the Universal lot, where he sat in the editing bay with director Dean DeBlois.
The Academy Awards race heats up! With the Oscars just two weeks away, The Wild Robot and Flow battle for Best Animated Feature.
Box office updates: Ne Zha 2 smashes records in China, surpassing Frozen 2’s worldwide gross in just 18 days.
The return of Feathers McGraw! Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl wins big at the BAFTAs, and Drew uncovers how Aardman revived the iconic villain.
Disney blinks! Elio moves its release date after the first How to Train Your Dragon trailer drops.

Tune in for exclusive industry insights, awards buzz, and deep dives into animation’s biggest stories!

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The Wild Robot Sweeps the Annies and The Lost Coyote vs. Acme Movie (Ep. 293)

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down one of the biggest nights in animation as The Wild Robot dominates the Annie Awards, winning eight major categories. They also dive into the frustrating fate of Coyote vs. Acme, the Warner Bros. live-action/animated film that was shelved despite glowing reviews. Plus, they discuss Dog Man’s unexpected second-week box office drop and the shifting landscape of animated features.

Also in this episode:

Why The Wild Robot’s Annie Award sweep could signal Oscar momentum.
How Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to scrap Coyote vs. Acme has angered fans and filmmakers.
What Dog Man’s box office drop-off means for the future of mid-budget animated films.
Where to stream Flow, the Oscar-nominated indie animated film making waves worldwide.

Tune in for expert insights, industry updates, and deep dives into the world of animation!

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How Dog Man Became DreamWorks’ First Big Hit of 2025 (Ep. 292)

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

Dog Man’s impressive $36M opening weekend and what it means for DreamWorks Animation.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the fascinating history behind Splash Mountain’s reimagining.
Will Ferrell’s viral Buddy the Elf moment at an LA Kings game and his surprising reason for rejecting Elf 2.
Updates on The Simpsons’ upcoming season and exclusive Disney+ episodes.
The changing landscape of animated indie films like The Day the Earth Blew Up and Wed Wabbit.

Tune in as Jim and Drew break down the latest animation news, industry trends, and behind-the-scenes stories!

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Animated Oscars Buzz: The Wild Robot, Flow, and Surprising Snubs (Ep. 291)

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:10:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

Warner Bros. Animation’s ambitious adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and its 2028 release plans.
The marketing genius behind DreamWorks’ Dog Man, including a new The Bad Guys short premiering with the film.
Animated Academy Award nominees, from The Wild Robot to Flow, and surprising snubs like Moana 2.
The evolving Oscars strategy for animated features, including Disney’s hits and misses in the Best Song category.
Changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, including new animation-themed shows replacing MuppetVision 3D.

Join Jim and Drew for an in-depth look at animation news, awards buzz, and how studios are shaping the future of family entertainment!

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How Hades Became the Star of Disney’s Hercules (Ep. 290)

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

A behind-the-scenes look at Disney’s Hercules, from the creation of Hades to Jeffrey Katzenberg’s surprising influence on the character.
The passing of legendary filmmakers David Lynch and Robert Verrall, celebrating their lasting impact on cinema and animation.
Box office highlights, including Moana 2 crossing the billion-dollar milestone and Mufasa: The Lion King’s continued success.
Exciting new releases, including trailers for Pixar’s Win or Lose and DreamWorks’ Dog Man.

Join Jim and Drew for insights, stories, and industry updates that celebrate animation’s rich history and exciting future.

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Wildfires Impact Animation and Josh Gad’s Olaf Journey (Ep. 289)

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:50:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

The devastating wildfires in Southern California and their impact on the animation industry.
Updates on box office hits like Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3.
The intriguing backstory of Olaf’s creation in Frozen and Josh Gad’s journey to voicing the beloved character.
Changes to Fox’s Sunday night “Animation Domination” lineup and what it means for The Simpsons.
The Visual Effects Society Awards nominees, including The Wild Robot.

Join Jim and Drew as they highlight the latest animation news, heartwarming stories, and reflections on industry challenges.

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Animation at the Golden Globes and Donald Duck’s Wartime Legacy (Ep. 288)

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

The 82nd Golden Globes nominees for Best Animated Motion Picture, including Inside Out 2, Moana 2, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Hayao Miyazaki’s enduring creative spirit as the Studio Ghibli legend celebrates his 84th birthday.
Disney’s history of using Donald Duck to rally Americans during WWII, including the creation of patriotic animated shorts like The New Spirit.
Updates on Mufasa: The Lion King’s box office performance and the evolving plans for Disney theme park attractions.
A sneak peek at Marvel Animation’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man series arriving on Disney+ this month.

Join Jim and Drew as they explore animation’s rich history, exciting present, and promising future.

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A Look Back at 2024 and What’s Next for Animation in 2025 (Ep. 287)

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In this final episode of Fine Tooning for 2024, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor explore:

How Mufasa: The Lion King roared back at the box office, edging out Sonic 3 during the holiday weekend.
Updates from Pixar, including Tim Allen’s return as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5 and the lingering delays around Win or Lose.
A sneak peek at 2025’s animated lineup, from Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl to Pixar’s Elio and Zootopia 2.
The unconventional tradition of watching King Kong to ring in the New Year, and other quirky viewing habits.

Join Jim and Drew as they close out the year with a mix of animation insights, industry updates, and a look ahead at what’s coming next.

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Bluey’s Disney Debut and the Challenges of Mufasa: The Lion King (Ep. 286)

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dive into:

The excitement surrounding Bluey's upcoming presence in Disney theme parks and its debut on Disney Cruise Line.
Highlights from the Annie Awards, where The Wild Robot, Inside Out 2, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl lead the nominations.
The box office performance of Mufasa: The Lion King and how franchise timing and audience expectations played a role.
Updates on Netflix and Sony’s animated Ghostbusters project, directed by Kris Pearn.
The history of DreamWorks' B.O.O. and its journey through development limbo.

Join Jim and Drew for animation industry insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and a look at what’s ahead in the world of animation.

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Celebrating 35 Years of The Simpsons and Bluey’s Big Screen Debut (Ep. 285)

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 20:24:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

The 35th anniversary of The Simpsons debut with "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire," and how production challenges shaped its legacy.
The upcoming Bluey feature film, its creator’s vision, and how the beloved pup is heading to theaters in 2027.
Warner Bros. Animation’s Dynamic Duo, an innovative mix of animation, puppetry, and CG that explores the origins of two iconic Robins.
Sony’s Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and what’s next for the groundbreaking trilogy.
Updates on Disney+ animated premieres, including Win or Lose and Marvel’s What If… Season 3.

Join Jim and Drew as they explore the latest animation news and uncover hidden details from entertainment’s past!

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How Roy E. Disney got “Fantasia Continued” greenlit (Ep 284 )

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 16:46:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how well “Moana 2” did at the box office over its second weekend in theaters.

They also talk about why “Paddington in Peru” had its release date pushed back to February 14, 2025

Listeners will learn about these highlights:

How long did it take the original “Fantasia” to finally turn a profit

Which spec song led to the creation of the “It’s a SpongeBob Christmas” back in 2012
How many “Best Animated Feature of the Year” awards has “Flow” already claimed

According to James Gunn, why was “Creature Commandos” the very first project out the door after he took over as the new head of DC Studios at Warner Brothers Discovery

How long had Disney’s live-action version of “Snow White” been in development prior to the start of production

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What became of Disney+’s “Tiana: The Series” (Ep 283)

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 04:20:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing how well “Moana 2” did at the domestic box office over its opening weekend.

They then talk about the role that General Electric’s housewares division played in creating

that beloved holiday special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

 How did “Flow” ‘s Per Theater Average over its opening weekend in North

America compare to that of “Wicked – Part One”

 Which Japanese animation studio handled the stop motion on “Rudolph the Red-

Nosed Reindeer”

 What was the title of the very first animated holiday special created for network

television

 Who took over as the new lead writer & director on “Tiana: The Series” back in

2022

 How did “Shrek the Halls” back in 2007 lead to Walt Disney Animation Studio

creating the original “Prep & Landing” in 2009

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From Wicked’s Box Office Smash to Oliver & Company’s 80s Charm (Ep. 282)

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor bring you the latest in animation news and insights. Tune in as they dive into:

"Wicked" Dominates the Box Office: Universal Pictures’ adaptation dazzles with a massive opening weekend. Jim and Drew discuss the strategic marketing behind its success and what it means for future blockbusters.
Animated Feature Oscars Update: A record 31 animated films are in the running for this year’s Academy Award. Hear predictions for frontrunners like The Wild Robot and dark horse contenders including Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Sonic 3 and The Bad Guys 2: Explore the buzz surrounding upcoming sequels like Sonic 3 (coming this December) and DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys 2, continuing the franchise’s creative streak with festive specials.
Pixar’s "Dream Productions" Limited Series: A sneak peek into Pixar’s upcoming four-episode series debuting on Disney+ this December. Jim and Drew discuss how this unique project breaks new ground for the studio.
"Oliver & Company” Retrospective: Take a nostalgic trip back to Disney’s 1988 animated classic. Learn about its ambitious use of computer-assisted imagery and its surprising connection to the Great Movie Ride.

Don’t miss these stories and more on this week’s Fine Tooning!

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Rediscovering Disney’s Lost "Hero of Otherwhere" (Ep. 281)

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:27:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss:

The history and mystery behind Disney’s forgotten project The Hero of Otherwhere, a live-action/animation hybrid tied to Pete’s Dragon and Jerome Courtland's career.

The evolution of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, celebrating 15 years of The Princess and the Frog while previewing the updates coming to the reimagined attraction.

Highlights from D23 Brasil, including the announcement of Ice Age 6, Toy Story 5, and Pixar's highly anticipated new feature, Hoppers.

Alan Menken’s enduring musical magic, from The Little Mermaid to his contributions to Netflix’s upcoming Spellbound.

Laika’s Wildwood, Coraline returning in 3D, and fresh updates on Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse and more.

Join Jim and Drew as they uncover hidden gems from animation’s past and highlight what’s coming next!

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Inside the 'Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail': Tim Burton’s Latest Haunting Spectacle (Ep. 280)

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dive into the magical world of Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail. Hear all about Jim's recent visit to this dazzling event at the New York Botanical Gardens, where he experienced life-sized sculptures, fog-filled forests, and stunning light displays that bring Burton's eerie, whimsical vision to life.

Also in this episode:

The Wild Robot still dominates the box office, edging closer to $300 million worldwide.
D23 Brasil’s big animation reveals, including a new Ice Age film and Toy Story 5 updates.
Behind the scenes on Skydance and Netflix's Spellbound promotion in Times Square.
Updates on Marvel’s animated lineup and what’s in store for 2025.

Get ready for all this and more on this week’s Fine Tooning!

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Did You Know Godzilla Had a Sidekick? Godzilla's Forgotten Cartoon (Ep. 279)

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:19:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dive into some of animation’s quirkiest corners and biggest news:

Godzilla’s 70th Anniversary: Celebrating Godzilla Day with a look back at the 1978 Godzilla animated series and the fascinating story behind Hanna-Barbera’s unique take on the King of Monsters.
The Wild Robot’s Box Office Success: DreamWorks' hit continues to climb, surpassing $250 million worldwide.
"Emily the Strange" Returns: A new animated feature from Warner Bros. and J.J. Abrams brings the iconic goth character to life.
The Simpsons’ NFL Takeover: A real-time Simpsons Monday Night Football game using innovative animation technology.
Halloween Treats & Holiday Previews: Highlights from Netflix’s That Christmas, Marvel’s upcoming series lineup, and spooky animated specials.

Tune in for a monster-packed episode celebrating everything from classic kaiju to modern animation news!

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The Disney Hitchcock Movie That Never Was (Ep. 278)

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 12:37:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor explore a wide range of animation news and insights:

Netflix's Spellbound and Disney’s Thanksgiving Line-Up: A look at Netflix’s upcoming animated feature Spellbound set to compete with Disney’s holiday releases, plus details on Disney’s latest Thanksgiving promotions.
King of the Hill Returns: A sneak peek at Hulu’s revival of King of the Hill, including aged-up characters and exclusive artwork reveals.
Inside Out Universe Expands: Updates on Pixar’s Inside Out spinoff series, Dream Productions, and what fans can expect from Riley’s imaginative world.
SpongeBob’s New Stop-Motion Christmas Special: Details on SpongeBob and Sandy’s Country Christmas, the latest festive stop-motion treat featuring everyone's favorite sea sponge.
Disney's Lost Hitchcock Tribute: A deep dive into Frady Cat, Disney's ambitious but abandoned Hitchcock-inspired animated film. Discover the story of how it almost became a Halloween classic.

Tune in for all this and more on this week’s Fine Tooning!

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Behind the Scenes of Moana 2: New Adventures, Big Challenges, and the Return of Maui (Ep. 277)

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:06:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take you behind the curtain of Moana 2, diving deep into the highlights from Drew’s recent panel at the Animation is Film festival. They explore the exciting details shared by directors David Derrick Jr. and Jason Hand, including Moana’s continued journey, new characters, and thrilling challenges in this upcoming sequel.

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor also explore some of the biggest news and exciting developments in animation:

"Creature Commandos" Preview: Dive into DC Studios' upcoming animated series, set to premiere on Max this December. With James Gunn at the helm and voice talents like Alan Tudyk and David Harbour, this series is set to shake up the DC animated universe.
Halloween-Themed Animated Shorts: From The Simpsons to Sing, we break down the latest Halloween-inspired shorts, including a nod to Michael Jackson’s "Thriller" and Disney+’s spooky surprises.
The Wild Robot's Box Office Success: The Wild Robot continues to dominate, having surpassed $100 million domestically. What’s next for this DreamWorks hit?
"Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur" Cancellation: Disney Channel's beloved animated series wraps up after two seasons, but the character still has some exciting crossovers in store with "Spidey and His Amazing Friends."
New Marvel Preschool Show: Get ready for Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends, a new show for Disney Junior and Disney+ slated for 2025, introducing preschoolers to the Marvel Universe.

Tune in for these topics and more on this week’s Fine Tooning!

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The Lost Mickey Mouse Projects and Animation's Future (Ep. 276)

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 04:00:00 -0000

in this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take you on a fascinating journey through Disney’s forgotten Mickey Mouse projects, including the untold story of "Mickey Columbus" and other abandoned ideas that never made it to the big screen.

They also dive into Disney's challenges while bringing Mickey into the world of CGI, from his iconic ears to scrapped anniversary projects like "The Search for Mickey.”

The Wild Robot's Box Office Triumph: DreamWorks Animation's The Wild Robot continues its strong performance at the box office, paving the way for a sequel. Jim and Drew discuss what’s next for this hit film, based on Peter Brown’s popular book series.
Wallace & Gromit Are Back!: Aardman Animations is bringing the beloved duo back to the screen with Vengeance Most Fowl. Jim and Drew break down the significance of this return and what fans can expect from the upcoming Christmas release.
What’s Next for Animation Fans: With new releases like Transformers One and the latest from Aardman, there’s a lot to look forward to in the world of animation.

Tune in for all this and more on this week’s Fine Tooning!

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The Fleischer Studios Legacy: Miami’s Forgotten Animation Powerhouse (Ep. 275)

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:04:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill dives into the latest animation news and rumors.

With Drew Taylor away, Jim covers:

Unraveling Studio Feuds and Hollywood Drama: What caused the downfall of Fleischer Studios and their ultimate takeover by Paramount Pictures?

Jennifer Lee’s Next Move: Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer steps down to focus on Frozen 3 and Frozen 4, while Jared Bush steps in.

Joker: Folie à Deux’s Box Office Struggles**: Warner Bros. Discovery faces losses as the Joker sequel underperforms despite the original film's success.

MuppetVision 3D’s Future: Rumors swirl about the potential impact of Disney’s new Monsters Inc. door coaster on MuppetVision 3D at Hollywood Studios.

Plus, updates on DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot and Warner Bros.’ upcoming Dynamic Duo superhero film using innovative animation techniques. Don’t miss this deep dive into the latest animation industry news and history!

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What was it like to see “Steamboat Willie” ‘s world premiere back in 1928 (Ep 275)

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:47:00 -0000

Jim Hill starts a solo edition of this podcast by discussing how well “The Wild Robot” did at the domestic box office this past weekend.

He then discusses the Halloween-themed “The Bad Guys” special which will soon be debuting on Netflix

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

How will Warner Bros. Discovery be celebrating Scooby Doo this month

Who will be introducing “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” at this year’s Animation is Film Festival

What did the “Mufasa: The Lion King” production do to differentiate this film from Disney’s photo-realistic “Lion King” from 2019

Where did “Shrek the Musical” do its out-of-town try-out

Why was Jeffery Katzenberg reportedly upset with a plaque he found in the lobby of the Broadway Theater

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Jennifer Lee Steps Down, Disney’s Creative Shift, and Pixar’s Behind-the-Scenes Struggles (Ep. 274)

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss the surprising news of Jennifer Lee stepping down as Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and what it means for the future of Disney’s animated films.

They explore:

Jennifer Lee’s New Role: How she’s shifting her focus to the upcoming Frozen 3 and Frozen 4.

Jared Bush Takes the Lead: What does this creative shake-up mean for Disney, and what projects might be on the horizon?

Pixar’s Pressure to Perform: The intense working conditions at Pixar and the studio’s struggle to produce hits like Inside Out 2 and Elio amidst high expectations and long hours.

Plus, hear the latest updates on DreamWorks’ Dog Man, The Wild Robot, and more!

Don’t miss this deep dive into the latest animation industry news and insights.

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How Coraline’s Revival Sparked Disney’s Return to Theaters (Ep 273)

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:29:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss how the successful 15th-anniversary re-release of Coraline inspired Disney to bring back some of its beloved classics to theaters.

Find out how The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are making their return to the big screen this Halloween season.

Join us as we cover:

Coraline’s Box Office Success: How a cult classic reignited Disney’s interest in re-releases.

The Return of Hocus Pocus: Why is this Halloween favorite back in theaters, and what does it mean for Disney's strategy?

The Wild Robot’s DreamWorks Triumph: Early reviews from the Toronto premiere and its impact on the animation industry.

Tune in for all this and more, as we dive into the latest animation news and Halloween favorites making their way back to theaters!

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Hocus Pocus: The Halloween Hit That Left Spielberg Feeling Betrayed (Ep. 272)

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 04:00:00 -0000

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take you behind the scenes of Disney’s beloved Hocus Pocus and its unexpected connection to Steven Spielberg.

Discover the untold story of how the Halloween classic was pitched, nearly lost, and ultimately stolen away from Spielberg.

Tune in as we explore:

The Spielberg-Kirschner Drama: How did the An American Tail creator’s decision to pitch Hocus Pocusto Disney instead of Spielberg create tension in Hollywood?
Disney's Billion-Dollar Halloween Gamble: What convinced Jeffrey Katzenberg to greenlight Hocus Pocus after an unconventional pitch?
South Park Hiatus: Why Trey Parker and Matt Stone are putting South Park on pause until 2025 and how the Paramount-Skydance merger affects its future.
The Wild Robot World Premiere: DreamWorks’ adaptation of The Wild Robot hits the Toronto International Film Festival, and Jim & Drew dive into the excitement leading up to its wide release, including a sneak peek at The Art of DreamWorks The Wild Robot.
The Animated Opener of Joker: Folie à Deux: Learn how Sylvain Chomet brings a Looney Tunes-style sequence to life for the Joker sequel’s Venice Film Festival debut.

Join Jim and Drew for an inside look at one of Halloween’s most iconic films, plus the latest in animation news and commentary.

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“The Wild Robot” gets ready for its world premiere in Toronto (Ep. 271)

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 21:03:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing how “Inside Out” became the highest grossing animated feature of all time.

They also take a look at the upcoming new “Wallace & Gromit” film, “Vengeance Most Fowl”

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

How many films in Hollywood history have grossed over a billion dollars overseas

Why won’t Quentin Tarantino watch “Toy Story 4”
\
How long has it been since the last “Wallace & Gromit” (i.e., “A Matter of Loaf & Death”) debuted on BBC One

Which emotion was originally supposed to be Envy’s twin in “Inside Out 2”

Who acquired the North American theatrical distribution rights for “The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie”

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Which screen legend almost directed “Pete’s Dragon” (Ep. 270)

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by seeing how “Inside Out 2” ‘s worldwide box office stacks up against Jon Favreau’s photo-realistic “Lion King.”

They also talk about that Nightmare Before Christmas-themed light trail that’s coming to New York’s Botanical Gardens

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

This long-running animated series just celebrated its 25th anniversary back in January

Will Warner Bros. be releasing Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Fixed” anytime soon

When will Pixar’s latest feature-length film be available for purchase on Blu-ray

How many movies did Robert Stevenson direct for Walt Disney Studios

Who almost played Nora, the daughter of the lighthouse keeper in “Pete’s Dragon”

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Pixar’s “Win or Lose” debuts on Disney+ on December 6th (Ep. 269)

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at some of the animation-related news that came out of the D23 Expo.

They also discuss a number of the books that event attendees could pick up at this year’s eve

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

Who now is voicing Elio’s aunt in Pixar Animation Studios’ big release for June of 2025

Why it’s kind of ironic that the Mouse House just decided to make Frank Oz a Disney Legend

What’s the reported premise for “Hoppers,” Pixar’s Spring 2026

What’s intriguing about the visual clues that were included in the “Frozen 3” concept art that Jennifer Lee showcases at the Honda Center

How many episodes of Pixar’s “Dream Productions” did D23 members get to see at this year’s Expo

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What’s interesting about the way Netflix is marketing “Spellbound” (Ep. 268)

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by looking back at the

“Jurassic World: Chaos Panel” he moderated at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con.

Then Jim Hill discusses the three feature-length films that were made at Fox Animation

Studios in Phoenix

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

 What spot did Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” just claim on the list of all-time worldwide top

grossing films

 When will the Boomerang streaming service officially get folded into Max

 Which “Gravity Falls” -related book now tops the New York Times bestseller list

 On what television broadcast back in the Summer of 2016 did the “Moana” teaser

trailer first appear

 Back when “Titan AE” was still supposed to be a live-action production, what was

the title of this film originally supposed to be

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What you really need to see at this year’s D23 Expo (Ep. 267)

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about how “Inside Out 2” just became the highest-grossing animated feature of all time (barring Disney’s photo-realistic “Lion King” of 2019).

They also take a look back at “The Rescuers”

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about;

Which character was Phil Harris originally supposed to voice in “The Rescuers”

How many art students did Disney initially invite to take part in the Studio’s inaugural animation boot camp?

What advice did Bob Newhart give Don Rickles in regards to voicing Mr. Potatohead in Pixar’s “Toy Story”

Which Disney featurette from the mid-1970s did the Studio’s animation trainees cut their teeth on?

What film did better than the original “Star Wars” when it was finally released in France in 1977

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When Cruella almost starred in Disney’s “The Rescuers” (Ep. 266)

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:20:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” panel Drew will be hosting at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

They then talk about which animated film franchise is currently the top earner

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

How many people have been to every single Comic-Con since the first event was held in San Diego back in 1970
When did Disney Legend Ken Anderson retire from the Company
Why was Disney forced to make “The Story of Robin Hood” in the UK back in the early 1950s

How many days will separate the release of “Toy Story 5” & “Shrek 5” during the Summer of 2026

Where is William Stout’s booth located in the San Diego Convention Center

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The “Nightmare” that led to “Toy Story” (Ep. 265)

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the two books that Josh Gad will be bringing to the marketplace in the next six months.

They then take a look at how “Inside Out 2” & “Despicable Me 4” have been doing at the box office

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

How many episodes for “Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs: The Animated Series” were produced
When does Season 12 of “Futurama” get underway on Hulu

Who did Tim Burton share an office with when he worked at Walt Disney Animation Studios back in the 1980s

Which member of the “Inside Out” cast joined Joy & Sadness at DCA’s Pixar Pier Bandstand last month

When will “Shrek 5” be arriving in theaters

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How “The Circle of Life” became the “Lion King” anthem (Ep. 264)

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:50:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the animated feature that just blew past a billion dollars at the worldwide box office.

They also take a look at how Universal Pictures’ promoted “Despicable Me 4” in Las Vegas

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about;

How tall is the High Roller Ferris wheel (which towers above the Las Vegas Strip)

How many “SpongeBob” movies have been released theatrically to date

What was one of the last scenes to be animated for the original version of Disney’s “The Lion King” (which was first released to theaters back in June of 1994)

When did “Batman: The Animated Series” debut on television as part of the Fox Kids programming block

Where was Lebo M working prior to helping Hans Zimmer record the soundtrack for Disney’s “The Lion King”

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Who animated the Toontown section of “Roger Rabbit” (Ep. 263)

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 13:08:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about “Inside Out 2” ‘s continuing dominance at the worldwide box office.

They then discuss some of the television-related news that came out of this year’s Annecy International Film Festival and Market

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

What’s the subtitle of the next holiday special in Disney’s “Prep & Landing” series supposed to be called

Who did Steven Spielberg want to hire to handle all of the animation in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

What’s the title of the new “Gravity Fall” -related book that’s supposed to hit store shelves on July 23rd

Where is the world premiere of DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” going to be held

What happened in the “Pig Head” scene that was cut out of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

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Where can you find Figment in “Inside Out 2” (Ep. 261)

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor is fresh back from France. And he tells Jim Hill all about the animated films that he got to see at this year’s international animation film festival and market

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

What did Nick Park have to say when he learned of Steven Spielberg’s love of the runaway train scene in “The Wrong Trousers”
Which recently retired Disney Legend received this year’s Annecy Walk of Fame Award

Where do Porky, Daffy & Petunia Pig work in “The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie”

The work of which visual futurist reportedly served as the inspiration for the world in which Dreamworks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” is set

How is Disney expanding the cast for “Moana 2”

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How did Pixar decide which movies to make early on (Ep. 261)

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing how “The Garfield Movie” has been doing at the domestic box office. They also share some fond memories of Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman

In this episode, listeners will learn about:

Which animated feature – released to theaters a year ago this week – sold $120 million worth of tickets over its opening weekend in North America

What part of the score for “Pooh’s Hunny Hunt” (i.e., the first trackless ride at a Disney theme park) did Richard M. Sherman personally direct

What limitation of early CG convinced Pixar’s original brain trust that they needed to make movies like “A Bug’s Life,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo” & “Wall-E”

According to early box office projections, how much is “Inside Out 2” expected to earn over its first weekend in domestic release

In the future, what will the new release pattern be for the animated features released by Pixar Animation Studios

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When the Sherman Brothers left Disney Studios (Ep. 260)

Tue, 28 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill first talks about how “The Garfield Movie” did domestically over the long Memorial Day Week.

He then discusses that new YouTube documentary, “Beyond the Glass: The WDW Animation Building”

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

Which fairy tale classic was supposed to have served as the basis of Disney’s first-ever live-action musical for television
How much of the staff up in Emeryville was reportedly let go as part of the recent round of lay-offs at Pixar Animation Studios
Which two movie musicals did the Sherman Brothers write the score AND the screenplays for
How many films have been produced to date as part of the “Mad Max” movie series
Which installment has been the highest-grossing film (to date) in the “Kung Fu Panda” series

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Remembering Jim Henson’s “Muppet Babies” (Ep. 259)

Tue, 21 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the first full trailer for Netflix’s “Ultraman: Rising.” They then talk about “Flow,” the dialogue-free post-apocalyptic animated feature which will be debuting at Cannes next week

In this episode, listeners will learn about:

Who will be voicing Garfield’s Dad in the new animated feature that Sony will be sending out to North American theaters on May 24th
Which George Lucas-produced film was Marvel Productions trying to turn into an animated series in 1984
What company did Illuminations get into bed with back in 2017 to help promote the release of “Despicable Me 3”
How many “South Park” specials have Matt Stone & Trey Parker produced for Paramount+ so far
What was the name of the very first puppet-based series that Jim Henson produced for television

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How Motel 6 is helping to promote “The Garfield Movie” (Ep. 258)

Wed, 15 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up “Exploding Kittens.” They then take a look at Mark Dindal’s career as the director of full-length animated features

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

What was the one-and-only film to be produced by Turner Feature Animation
Why is the Henson family reportedly not all that fond of Pixar’s “Monsters Inc”
How many “Garfield” TV specials were produced for CBS back in the late 1988 / early 1990s
Where can you go to get an earlier look at “Slide,” Bill Plympton’s next animated film
Who voiced Anna & Elsa’s Mom in the first “Frozen” movie

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Remembering MGM’s “Magic of Disney Animation” (Ep. 258)

Tue, 07 May 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the series finale for that Lucasfilm Animation production, “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” They then talk about how pleased Paramount+ is with the debut of its “Knuckles” mini-series

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

Where did the “Bluey’s Big Play” traveling stage show make its North American debut
When will “The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish” be debuting on Nickelodeon
Who was supposed to voice the title character in Jorge Guiterrez’ “I, Chihuahua”
When did the $70 million custom-built Walt Disney Feature Animation – Florida production facility officially come online
Which animation historian will be creating original content for the Classic television Network’s soon-to-debut channel, MeTV Toons

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“Shrek 2” celebrates its 20th anniversary (Ep. 256)

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up Pixar Fest (which starts this weekend at Disneyland Park).

They then look ahead to which studios will be doing presentations at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival & Market

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

How many Disney-related items are coming up for bid at Van Eaton Galleries’ next big event, “The Joel Magee Auction: Part Two”
Which Pixar veteran is directing “Transformers One” for Paramount Animation
When will “Robot Dreams” be released to select theaters in North America
What became of the plaque in the lobby of NYC’s Broadway Theater which commemorates “Steamboat Willie” ‘s world premiere in that same space back in 1928
Who was supposed to originally voice Fiona in the “Shrek” film series

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Which emotions didn’t make it into “Inside Out 2” (Ep. 255)

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up "Ultraman: Rising.” They then discuss which animation studio is soon to be honored with a Palme D’Odr at this year’s Cannes Film Festival

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

Which character in Pixar’s “Up” did Peter Docter’s daughter Elizabeth voice
What does the future potentially hold for the “Bluey” animated series
Which Pixar film was “B.O.O,” DreamWorks Animation’s cancelled supernatural comedy, supposed to go head-to-head with back in June of 2015
How long is the “Mary Blair’s Wonderland: Imagining Disney’s Alice” exhibit running at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University
Which Animal Planet series from the 2000s is Warner Bros. Pictures Animation reportedly using as the jumping-off point for a feature-length project

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The creatures that got cut from Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur” (Ep. 254)

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by looking back at how Walt Disney Studios did effects back in the 1960s. They also talk about the version of “Toy Story 3” that Circle 7 Studios had in development

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

When will “Kung Fu Panda 4” be available for viewing on digital platforms like Amazon Video & iTunes
How far back did the release date of Disney’s live-action version of “Moana” get pushed back
When did Happy Meals toys rethemed around Pixar’s “Elio” become available for purchase in Mexico
What name did Disney used for “The Good Dinosaur” when this Pixar production was first announced at the D23 Expo back in August of 2011
Who will be voicing the Mother of the title character in Pixar’s “Elio”

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How we went from Bluto to Brutus & back again (Ep. 253)

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:07:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about many of the animation-related books that will hit store shelves later this year. They also discuss how “Aladdin” commemorated its 10th year on Broadway

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

Which member of the “Frozen” voice cast just collaborated on a Putnum’s Book for Young Readers
How does “Disney Junior’s Ariel!” blend the 1989 animated feature with the 2023 live-action reboot
What made the Hanna Barbera-produced “Popeye” cartoons different from the shorts that previously starred this character from King’s Feature Syndicate
When was “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse” originally supposed to be released to theaters
How old were Hiccup & Astrid originally supposed to be in Dreamworks’ first “How to Train Your Dragon” movie

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When Tim Allen almost played the Cat in the Hat (Ep. 252)

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off by revealing what he saw at the preview event for this year’s D23 Expo. Then Jim Hill shares a history of Genndy Tartakovsky’s never-completed “Popeye”

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

Which D23 Expo events are going to presented this time around over at the Honda Center, rather than inside of the Anaheim Convention Center

Why did Robin Williams want Walt Disney Productions to fly some Imagineers over to Malta back in 1980

Which sequel did Sony Pictures Animation officials ask Genndy Tartakovsky to work on out ahead of proceeding with his feature-length animated version of “Popeye”

Why did Bluto get replaced with Brutus back in the early 1960s

How did the cancellation of the “Sprockets” movie factor into Mike Myers agreeing to play the title role in Universal Pictures’ “The Cat in the Hat”

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Disney Movie Club closes for good on May 20th (Ep. 251)

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the 96th Academy Awards. They then take a look at how well “Kung Fu Panda 4” did at the domestic box office over this past weekend.

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

What did Totie Fields say to Gene Simmons when they met backstage at “The Mike Douglas Show”

Which animated feature did many Hollywood insiders think was going to take home the Oscar this year
Who is the author of the best-selling series of books that DreamWorks Animation’s “The Wild Robot” is based on
Which sitcom star from the 1970s played the villain in Disney’s “Scandalous John”
How many people lost their jobs last week when Warner Bros Discovery announced that they were shutting down Roosters Teeth after 21 years

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“Maximum Horsepower” & other animated series that didn’t get greenlit (Ep. 250)

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Sean Bailey’s sudden departure from Walt Disney Studios.

They then talk about why WDAS vet Hyrum Osmond will be sorely missed by “Frozen” fans

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

How has the “Curious George Goes to Town” area at Universal Studios Florida been repurposed
When was “Song of the South” last released to theaters
What do “Psycho 4” and “A Day in the Park with Barney” have in common
Which Disney franchise was based on Bambi’s best friend
Why did Walt Disney Television Animation start producing series based on hit Disney films like “Aladdin” & “The Lion King” in the early 1990s

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How “Rhapsody in Blue” became part of “Fantasia 2000” (Ep. 249)

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about Warner Bros Discovery’s Q4 earnings call. They then talk about which animated features & shorts took home awards at this year’s Annies

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

What was the name of the “Fantasia” follow-up that Disney had in the works in the early 1980s
How many nominations did “Nimona” have going into this year’s Annie Awards ceremony
At which animation studio did Ken Melton start out sculpting maquettes
Which members of the original “Fairly Oddparents” creative team are returning to work on “A New Wish”
Who did Michael Eisner originally try & recruit to become as the celebrity conductor who’d then ride herd on “Fantasia Continued”

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Multiple “Moanas” are heading for your local multiplex come 2024 & 2025 (Ep. 428)

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor returns with a detailed recap of what’s been going on with “Coyote vs Acme.” Then Jim Hill talks about the recently released trailer for “Iwaju,” that animated limited series from Disney & Kugali

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

When will the “Valley of the Witches” be opening at Ghibli Park over in Japan

Who reportedly personally petitioned Disney execs & Dwayne Johnson to get Thomas Kail the job as director of the live-action version of “Moana”

How did Pixar’s “Turning Red” do at the North American box office this past weekend

Where is “Tiana: The Series” (i.e., that new limited series for Disney+) being produced

Who handled the live-action portion of “Looney Tunes: Back in Action”

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Why Pixar’s “Newt” got neutered (Ep. 247)

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill starts off this week’s show with a solo news section. Then Drew Taylor joins the fun in a pre-taped segment that looks back at Gary Rydstrom’s animated films

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

How many Annie nominations did Pixar’s “Elemental” receive this year

Which William Shakespeare play provided the inspiration for “Strange Magic”

What Pixar movie were the blobby alien characters seen in “Lifted” originally designed for

When is the sequel to “Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey” supposed to arrive in theaters

How well did Pixar’s “Soul” do when it was finally released to theaters earlier this month

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How Hanna-Barbera got started in animation for television (Ep. 246)

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In a solo show this week, Jim Hill starts things off by recapping what happened at this year’s Golden Globe. He shares what he’s heard about the lay-offs that are reportedly coming to Pixar Animation Studios later this year.

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about;

When will the Blu-ray version of Disney’s “Wish” be hitting store shelves

Where did Bill Hanna & Joe Barbera set up their first animation-for-television studio in Hollywood

What do Disneyland fans have to say about the “Pixar Fest” marquee / photo-up that weill be set in that theme park later this Spring

Which infamous Hollywood mogul from the 1940s & 1940s helped fund the creation of H-B Enterprises, Inc.

Why is the “Superman” TV series from the 1950s (i.e., the one that starred George Reeves) sometimes associated with Charlie Chaplin

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Which animated features were released first by Disney Home Video (Ep. 245)

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing which animated films are up for awards at the 2024 Golden Globes. They take a look at some of the superhero-themed animation that’s headed your way.

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

What did Disney initially charge for VHS and beta versions of that Studio’s films

When will Season 2 of “Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur” debut on the Disney Channel

Which four US cities did Walt Disney Home Video field-test the idea of selling VHS copies of the Studio’s film

When did DC Comics first publish its “Crisis on Infinite Earths” series

Which three Golden Globes was “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” up for this year

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When did Disney’s villains start singing? (Ep. 244)

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by looking at how Illumination’s “Migration” is doing at the box office. They then look at how network television & streaming services are handling animated series differently.

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

What do the Fairy Godmother in Disney’s “Cinderella” & the Red Queen in “Alice in Wonderland” have in common
How did “Archer” wrap its 14 season long run on FXX
Why do you NOT want to take the tour of the Warner Bros. lot over the holiday season
How many different names did “My Peoples” have while it was in production at Walt Disney Feature Animation – Florida
After Andreas Deja stepped away from “Kingdom of the Sun,” which Disney animated feature did he then go work on

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DWA’s “The Prince of Egypt” celebrates its 25th anniversary (Ep. 243)

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing why Hollywood is celebrating Dick Van Dyke’s 98th birthday. They then chat about what impact the rumored merger of Warner Bros Discovery & Paramount could have on animation

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 242: Netflix’s “Leo” out-shines Disney’s “Wish” this holiday season

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill return with an all-new edition of this animation news podcast. They pay tribute to master animator Mark Henn, who is retiring from the Mouse House after 44 years

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 241: Which 1960s sitcom stars wound up voicing characters for Disney

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by describing what it was like to attend the world premiere of Disney’s “Wish” at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theater. Then Jim Hill looks back at how the success of Disney’s “Aristocats” influenced the development of the Studio’s next animated feature, “Robin Hood”

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 240: Why Disney decided to make a “Big Hero 6” movie

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Walt Disney Animation Studios production workers decision to unionize. They then talk about box office projections for Disney’s “Wish” (which debuts in theaters on November 22nd)

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 239: And the first animated Halloween special for television was …

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0000

It’s an unusual episode this week, folks. Drew Taylor does a quick drive-by while he covers this year’s Lightbox Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center. And then Jim Hill pays tribute to Matthew Perry & Richard Moll

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 238: Skydance Animation shifts distribution of its films from Apple to Netflix

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about the two panels he hosted at this year’s “Animation is Film” festival in Hollywood. Then Jim Hill pays tribute to Edward Bleier, the ABC executive who persuaded Warner Bros. to allow its library of “Looney Tunes” to be shown on television

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 237: “Once Upon a Studio” is an artful, heartfelt tribute to Disney Animation

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0000

(Jim had a technical issue from 5min-10min in this show. If the crackle is too distracting, jump to 10:22 into the show. It's clean again after that point.)

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the “Animation is Film” Festival, which is being held in Hollywood later this week. They then share some of the animation-related news that came out of New York Comic Con this past weekend.

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 236: How “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” helped change Feature Animation at Disney

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how well “Exorcist: Believer” & “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” did at the box office this past weekend. They then discuss the “mixed production model” that DreamWorks Animation will soon be adopting

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 235: How “Toy Story Funday Football” turned Wembley Stadium into Andy’s Bedroom

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about this year’s edition of Fantastic Fest. They then discuss “Pencils Vs Pixels,” the upcoming documentary that discusses how the rise of CG in the 1990s led to 2D animation’s fall

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 234: Which obscure Disney toons turn up in “Once Upon a Studio”

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0000

The guys divide-and-conquer this time around. With Jim Hill doing the news segment of this week’s show all by his lonesome. Then Drew Taylor interviews acclaimed author Dave Bossert about his two new Disney-related books

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 233: What got cut out on Don Bluth’s “The Land Before Time”

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how many ways one can view the stage musical version of Dreamworks’ “The Prince of Egypt.” They also talk about the “Harley Quinn” spin-off that Warner Bros. Animation just put into production

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 232: Who almost played the villain in Disney’s “The Rescuers”

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the big reaction “Once Upon a Studio” got at this year’s Destination D23. They then talk about “Good Chemistry: The Story of Elemental,” which debuts on Disney+ later this week

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 231: Remembering Arleen Sorkin, the original voice of Harley Quinn

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about which villainous cartoon characters are supposed to appear at DCA during this year’s “Oogie Boogie Bash.” They also reveal who’ll now be voicing Rocky the Rooster in Aardman’s long-awaited sequel to “Chicken Run.”

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 230: 4K version of “Cinderella” debuts this Friday on Disney+

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing how well Laika’s “Coraline” did at the box office during its recent re-release to theaters. They then talk about how ABC Audio is readying a 12 episode podcast which expands Disney’s “Frozen” franchise

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 229: Get ready for “Playdate with Winnie the Pooh”

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing what Pixar president Jim Morris had to say about “Elemental.” They then touched on a number of animation-related events around the country that are coming to a close in the not-so-distant future

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 228: Remembering Paul Reubens AKA Pee Wee Herman (1952 – 2023)

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 16:48:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by paying tribute to the animated film which first debuted in theaters 24 years ago this week. They then talk up “The Inventor,” the stop motion puppet / 2-D animated film which bows on August 24th.

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 227: “Steamboat Silly” brings Mickey Mouse short series to a triumphant close

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing which Sony Pictures productions now have new release dates thanks to the strikes. They also look back at when “The Simpsons Ride” replaced “Back to the Future: The Ride” at the Universal Parks

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 226: How “The Adventures of Andre & Wally B” came to be

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about what it was like to panel in Hall H at this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego. Then he & Jim Hill recount what happened on the show floor at the Paramount booth right after the “Star Trek” panel ended

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 225: How are Illumination & DreamWorks Animation films impacting WDAS

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about the premiere of Disney’s new “Haunted Mansion” movie which was held down in Anaheim. Then Jim Hill reviews this Saturday & Sunday’s offerings at San Diego Comic-Con.

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 224: Which animated classic from Disney is next slated to receive the live-action redo treatment

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about “Nimona,” Netflix’s newest animated feature. They then shine a spotlight on a number of the animated projects coming from Warner Bros Discovery this Summer

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 223: Which animated classic from Disney is next slated to receive the live-action redo treatment

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 04:00:00 -0000

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 222: What Drew got to see at Annecy

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” bested Pixar’s “Elemental” at the North American box office this past weekend. Mr. Taylor then shares all of the fun film-related stuff he got to do in France & Italy

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 221: How is Disney’s “Little Mermaid” doing at the overseas box office

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a listener’s experience at “The Elemental Experience” mall tour. They then talk about how Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has changed the packaging of its animated film library in conjunction with the Company’s 100th anniversary celebration

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 220: All of the other actresses who almost voiced Ursula

Tue, 30 May 2023 04:00:00 -0000

First Drew Taylor share his impressions of the soon-to-be-released “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” Then Jim Hill talks about the path that led to Howard Ashman working on animated features for Walt Disney Studios

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 219: The many ways Disney has reinvented Winnie-the-Pooh

Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up Leslie Iwerks’ latest documentary series. They then talk about the less-than-warm reception Warner Bros Discovery head David Zazlav received this past weekend when he delivered the commencement speech at BU

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 218: Craig McCracken to revisit “Powerpuff Girls” & “Foster’s Home”

Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the next six weeks’ worth of animated films which will be arriving in theaters. They then talk about the upcoming LA debut of “Immersive Disney Animation”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 217: Why Disney got into the cel production business in the 1990s

Thu, 11 May 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how much “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” has earned to date at the worldwide box office. They then talk about the most recent set of lay-offs at DreamWorks Animation

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 216: What’s coming next from Disney, DreamWorks, Illumination & Paramount

Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 -0000

n a special CinemaCon edition of this podcast, Drew Taylor recaps his recent visit to Las Vegas. He and Jim Hill then talk about what the various studios screened for exhibitors in the Colosseum at Caesar’s

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 215: Chris Meledandri to be honored for Excellence in Animation

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by looking over this year’s schedule for CinemaCon. They then talk about how soon “The Super Mario Bros Movie” will blow through the billion-dollar barrier when it comes to worldwide ticket sales.

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 214: How “Peter & the Wolf” almost wound up in “Fantasia”

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how well the “Super Mario Bros Movie” did at the worldwide box office. They then talk about Warner Bros Discovery is rebranded HBO Max as Max in an effort to take on Disney+

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 213: What powers the storyline of Pixar’s “Elemental”

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how well “Super Mario Bros” is expected to do at the box office over its opening weekend. They also shine a spotlight on an upcoming reunion of the cast & crew of “The Brave Little Toaster”

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 212: Get ready for “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken”

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing which films took home the Best Animated Feature & Best Animated Short Oscars. They then pay tribute to Disney Legend Burny Mattinson

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 211: “Disney Animation: Immersive Experience” continues its multi-city roll-out

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the films that influenced Chris Williams’ Oscar-nominated “The Sea Beast.” They then discuss the four-part Hayao Miyazaki that GKIDS recently acquired the North American rights to

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 210:: Looking ahead to Season 2 of “Star Wars: Visions”

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” & “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” did at this year’s VES Awards. Mr. Taylor then shares what it was like to attend the grand opening of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 209: Why “Metro” – that proposed “Cars” spin-off -- never got made

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “Mushka,” Andreas Deja’s long-in-the-works hand-drawn film. They also discuss Disney & Pixar’s recently announced plans to produce further sequels to “Toy Story,” “Frozen” & “Zootopia”

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 208: When the Mouse almost made a movie version of Terry Pratchett’s “Mort”

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing Eddie Murphy’s thoughts when it comes to “Shrek 5.” They also talk about why “Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book: Making a Masterpiece” has just extended its run at the WDFM

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 207: How the Disneyland Resort is celebrating Disney100

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about this year’s Academy Award nominees for Best Animated Feature & Short. They also reflect on those two year renewals that “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” & “Bob’s Burgers” just got

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 206: How Disney’s “Mad Doctor” wound up in the public domain

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the Mickey Mouse short that wound up being banned in the UK & Nazi Germany. They also discuss Disney Music’s recent move into the lofi market

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 205: Disney+ orders 40 new episodes of “Phineas & Ferb”

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing all of the animation-related news they’ve heard coming out of the TCA’s Winter Tour. They go on to discuss the history of Sony Pictures Animation

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 204: How “Nimona” went from Blue Sky Studios to Netflix

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show talking about the second special episode of “The Owl House” (which debuts on the Disney Channel on January 21st). They also talk about how the 2023 Awards Season may have played into “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” popping up on Amazon Prime Video this past Friday.

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 203: Which animated features to watch for in 2023

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” has been doing so far at the box office. They also take a look back at the past year when it comes to feature & television animation

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 202: Best Animation Art of Books for 2022

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 23:41:20 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Netflix just pulled the plug on Sergio Pablos’ “Ember.” They also discussed the 30th anniversary of Disney’s “Beauty & the Beast” special which recently aired on ABC & just became available for viewing on Disney+

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 201: Looking back at Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing their thoughts on the “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” teaser trailer. They then take a look at which animated feature is now leading the pack as we head into the 2023 awards season.

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 200: Disney100 kicks off with “Oswald Returns”

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Eric Goldberg, Mark Henn & Randy Haycock’s latest special project for Walt Disney Animation Studios. They also share their thoughts on the latest “Super Mario Bros” trailer

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 199: Why happened with Disney’s “Strange World”

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about DreamWorks Animation’s new logo. They then focus on why Don Hall & Qui Nguyen’s latest film for WDAS failed to connect with audiences

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=Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 198: What About Bob (the sequel): Chapek out, Iger in

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing some of what they’ve heard over the past 24 hours in regards to Disney’s corporate drama. They also discuss how a gold medal ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan led to “Beauty & the Beast” on Broadway

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 197: DreamWorks Animation preps a “Bad Guys” holiday special

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the “Encanto Live-to-Film Concert Experience” at the Hollywood Bowl. They also pay tribute to the late Kevin Conroy, who’s been the official voice of Batman since the early 1990s

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 196: Remembering Alice Estes Davis (1929 – 2022)

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by looking back on the “Art of DuckTales” panel he just hosted at Gallery Nucleus. Then Drew & Jim Hill look back on the life & career of a Disney Legend

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 195: Get ready for Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio”

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how “The Sea Beast” has become Netflix’s most viewed original animated feature. They also look back at the career of Animagic pioneer Jules Bass

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor - Episode 194: Why “The Shadow King” got shut down at Disney

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about that “Kingdom Hearts” animatic that just popped up online. They also discuss those “Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi” shorts that debut on Disney+ later this week.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 193: Remembering Dame Angela Lansbury (1925 – 2022)

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the heroic death of “Yu-Gi-Oh!” creator Kazuki Takahashi. They then share their opinions of the first trailer for Illuminations’ “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 192: What happened to Disney’s “Mickey Columbus” featurette

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

While Drew Taylor is away on assignment, Jim Hill shares the latest Warner Bros. Discovery-related news. He also talks about the two Disney Animation-based experiences that will soon be debuting stateside

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 191: October brings a coast-to-coast Laika celebration

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show with an update on the Warner Bros Discovery situation. They then talk about Jodie Benson’s new memoir, “Part of My World”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 190: Remembering Ralph Eggleston (1965 – 2022)

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the animation news that was revealed at this year’s D23 Expo. They also offer up a theory about what David Zaslav is really doing over at Warner Bros. Discovery

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 189: Remembering Disney’s “Fluppy Dogs”

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the vocal cast for Laika’s new stop motion / CG film, “Wildwood.” They then share which subscription streaming services are thinking about snatching up HBO Max’s “Batman: Caped Crusader” animated series

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 188: How Disney’s very first Silly Symphony came to be

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about what’s been going on with a number of animated series over on HBO Max. They then talk about the never-completed Chris Farley version of DreamWorks Animation’s “Shrek”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 187: How DWA’s “Kung Fu Panda” became a full-fledged franchise

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill starts off this week’s episode by talking up the “Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio” exhibit which debuts at the MOMA in NYC this December. They also discuss why animation fans might need to go visit a Great Wolf Lodge next month.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 186: How Phil Tippett changed the world of stop motion

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to shelve “Scoob!: Holiday Haunt.” They also talk about how Skydance Animation’s first feature length project, “Luck,” wasn’t all that lucky when it came to positive reviews

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 185: So is Skydance Animation’s “Luck” worth a look?

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the teaser trailer for Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pinocchio.” They then discuss the “Walt Disney’s Jungle Book: Making a Masterpiece” at the Walt Disney Family Museum.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 184: DC Animated Original Films gets ready for its 50th release

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing what Craig McCracken now has in the works. They also talk about some of the entertainment-related books these two are now reading.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 183: Live-action “Lilo & Stitch” gets a new director

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing some updates about this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. They then discuss an old right-of-passage that used to happen to new Walt Disney Animation Studio staffers back in the 1950s & 1960s

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 182: Get ready for the 2002 edition of Comic-Con International

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by plugging Jake S. Friedman’s “The Disney Revolt: The Great Labor War of Animation’s Golden Age.” They then list some of the panels & presentations that animation fans shouldn’t miss if they’re headed down to San Diego later this month

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 181: Is “Marcel the Shell with Shoes On” the best animated feature of the year

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how well “Minions: The Rise of Gru” seems to be doing at the domestic box office. They also talk about the “Baymax!” limited series that just debuted on Disney+.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 180: “Making of Jungle Book” exhibit opens at Walt Disney Family Museum:

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by continuing their discussion on the disappointing domestic box office for Pixar’s “Lightyear.” Drew also shares his thoughts on “Baymax!” the series (which debuts on Disney+ this week)

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 179: What Disney revealed at this year’s Annecy Animation Festival 2022

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing how “Lightyear” did over its opening weekend at the North American box office. They also talk about the stage version of Disney’s “Hercules,” which the Papermill Playhouse will present in the Winter of 2023

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 178: How Major Matt Mason inspired the creation of Buzz Lightyear

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill starts off this week’s show by describing the many different versions of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” Disney Studios created ahead of “Encanto” ‘s theatrical release. He also talks about the number of new animation studios that are opening up in Vancouver

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 177:Celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Kim Possible”

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show discussing that first look at Disney’s “Hamster & Gretel” which just got released. They then shine a spotlight on that new two-LP vinyl soundtrack for “The Iron Giant” which Varese Sarabande is about to release.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 176: The history of Buzz Lightyear in the Disney Parks

Tue, 31 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how “Top Gun: Maverick” is impacting the box office potential of “The Bob’s Burgers Movie.” They also talk about the “Winnie the Pooh” -themed comedy slasher movie, “Blood and Honey.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 175: How Disney’s lawyers helped make “Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescuer Rangers” happen

Tue, 24 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about “Elemental,” Pixar’s next feature-length animated film. They also recall Tom Hanks’ guest appearance on ABC’s “Happy Days” back in November of 1982

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 174: When H. R. Pufnstuf took Ronald McDonald to court

Tue, 17 May 2022 04:21:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the teaser trailer for “Luck,” that Skydance Animation production that Apple Original Films will be releasing later this Summer. They also talk about Krofft Kon, which is being held in Orinda, CA this Saturday

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 173: Disney Branded Television launches 100th animated series

Tue, 10 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by following up on Drew’s story for The Wrap about what’s been going on with Netflix’s animated series. They then look back at how Walt Disney Studios cast voices for its animated features

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 172: Why Universal’s “Super Mario Bros” got pushed back to April 2023

Tue, 03 May 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about his hit & run trip to Las Vegas to cover Paramount Pictures’ presentation at this year’s CinemaCon. Jim Hill then looks back at the history of Bugs Bunny dressing up in women’s clothes for the Looney Tunes shorts

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 171: “Lightyear” salutes 70’s style sci-fi

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about what’s going on with Netflix Kids & Family Animation. They also look back at Blue Sky Studios’ struggles to deliver the original “Ice Age” movie

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 170: Remembering Gilbert Gottfried (1955 - 2022)

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Blue Sky Studios’ “Nimona” which had been shut down by Disney last year has since been revived by Netflix. They then reveal the role that Jeffrey Katzenberg played in Gilbert Gottfried being cast as the voice of Iago.

For more information about the feature part of this episode, go to this Jimhillmedia article.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 169: “Encanto” gets ready to light up Disneyland Park

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by paying tribute to the late Estelle Harris. They then talk about how the producer & director of “Turning Red” have taken on new leadership positions at Pixar Animation Studios

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 168: So what happens now with Disney’s “Aladdin” sequel

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing what happened in Hollywood’s Dolby Theater on March 27th. They also look back at the past 21 years' worth of Best Animated Feature winners & losers

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 167: A Look into Disney Mirrorverse

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Rich Moore just joined the talented team over at Skydance Animation. They then talk about Jorge Gutiérrez’s next animated feature for Netflix

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 166: Pixar puts same sex kiss back into “Lightyear”

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by sharing what he’s learned about the Imagineers’ efforts to persuade Disney CEO Bob Chapek to cancel WDI’s move to Lake Nona. Then he & Jim discuss the “Encanto” -related controversy that’s begun brewing around ABC’s live broadcast of this Academy Awards ceremony.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 165: How “Turning Red” almost turned out differently

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Disney’s ongoing effort to mitigate Bob Chapek bobbling the Company’s response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. They also talk about how “John Carter” ‘s failure at the box office led to Andrew Stanton directing “Finding Dory”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 164: How many different actors voiced Draco the Dragon

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing The Walt Disney Company’s response (or lack thereof) to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill. They then talk about John DiMaggio returning to voice Bender in that “Futurama” reboot

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 163: What’s it like to be aboard the Halcyon

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor looks back on his recent trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. Where he was one of a handful of reporters who got to tour the “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” prior to its first public voyage on March 1st

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 162: Lin Manuel Miranda talks about Disney’s “Encanto”

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor looks back on his recent interview with this Academy Award-nominee for The Wrap. Drew also talks with Jim Hill about “Ray Gunn,” Brad Bird’s passion project from the mid-1990s, which just got revived by Skydance Animation

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 161: Get ready for Pixar’s “Turning Red”

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing which animated features got nominated for the Academy Awards this year. They then talk about a number of animated characters & series -- among them Gumby & “Futurama” -- that have recently been revived

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 160: Let’s not panic about Minnie’s pant suit

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about his conversation with Craig McCracken about the final season of “Kid Cosmic.” Jim Hill then joins in to talk about “The Sea Beast,” Chris Williams’ solo directorial debut at Netflix

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 159: Behind the Peter Dinklage / Disney “Snow White” brawl

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about Skydance Animation’s “Luck,” which will now be debuting on AppleTV+ on August 5th. Jim Hill then shares what he knows about “Rose Red,” Disney’s never-produced side-quel to “Snow White”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 158: When Walt’s brother almost shut down Disney Feature Animation

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by paying tribute to the late Louie Anderson & Meatloaf. They then talk about how production of the original “Aristocats” nearly didn’t happen.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 157: How Don Rickles became the voice of Mr. Potato Head

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up “Belle,” that Mamoru Hosoda film which is only in North American theaters ‘til January 20th. They then shine a spotlight on the new project that Kevin Lima has in the works for Sony.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 156: Meet the directors of “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania”

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill interview Derek Drymon & Jennifer Kluska, the co-directors of the fourth & final installment of this Sony Pictures Animation franchise. They also discuss Disney’s decision to shift Pixar’s “Turning Red” from a theatrical release to premiering on the Company’s subscription streaming service

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 155: Remembering Betty White (1922 - 2021)

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill open up about how they got into the entertainment writing game. They also share their thoughts about what some of the biggest animation milestones of the past 50 years have been

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 154: Will Netflix’s animation expansion continue in 2022

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill take a look back at 2021 in this special year-end edition of their podcast. They also talk about how which animated features & shorts received professional recognition when the Annie nominations were announced just last week

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 153: How the Met mounted its first-ever Disney inspired exhibition

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about that stop motion “Ted Lasso” holiday thing which just debuted on Apple TV+ & YouTube. They also follow up on the putting-Jessica-Rabbit-in-a-trench-coat controversy coming out of Disneyland Park

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 152: Why Jessica Rabbit got a new outfit

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing the many new animated series & specials that have been debuting recently on Netflix. They then discuss the rather significant change that was recently made to one of the main characters found in the “Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin” ride at Disneyland Park

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 151: The real origin of “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by revealing how longtime “Simpsons” showrunner Al Jean would like to bring that animated series to a close. They also talked about which studios Disney vets Ron Clements & John Musker wound up directing a new animated feature for.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 150: Why “Elf” & Pixar’s “Up” were so important to Ed Asner

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by noting the sad passing of Stephen Sondheim, legendary Broadway composer, at the age of 91. They then answer a listener question about which veteran Disney FX artist got loaned out by Walt to go work on “The Ten Commandments” & “Forbidden Planet”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 149: Behind-the-scenes on Aardman’s “Robin Robin”

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing all of the animation-related news that came out of Disney+ Day. They then share an interview with Daniel Ojari & Michael Please, the directors of Netflix’s new holiday special

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Wondery Preview: Flip & Mozi’s Guide to How to Be An Earthling

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Introducing Flip & Mozi’s Guide to How to be an Earthling, the intergalactic musical podcast that brings conservation into the conversation for kids and their grown-ups. From the creators of the #1 Kids and Family podcast, Wow in the World, in collaboration with Grammy-nominated, The Pop Ups, each audio animated, humor-filled episode inspires a sense of environmental stewardship, both for the Earth and all of its animal earthlings. Visit flipandmozi.com for more!

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 148: Chris Butler looks back on “ParaNorman”

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0000

In a very special episode, Drew Taylor interviews the co-director & writer of this much-beloved stop motion fantasy horror-comedy. Which Fathom Events -- in honor of LAIKA Studios 15th-anniversary celebration -- is returning to theaters TONIGHT for one night only

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 147: Behind the scenes on “Back to the Outback”

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about the challenges animation fans recently faced if they were looking to attend the Hollywood premiere of Disney’s “Encanto.” Jim Hill then shares an interview that he did with the creatives behind Netflix’s next animated feature.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 146: Looking back at Pixar’s “Monsters, Inc.”

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how the online community reacted to the teaser trailer for Pixar’s “Lightyear.”

They then shine a spotlight on “The Ghost & Molly McGee,” the latest series from Disney Television Animation

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 145: Why did “Runaway Brain” wind up locked away in the Disney Vault

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about Drew’s conversation with Enrico Casarosa, the director of Pixar’s “Luca.” Jim then shares a story about Jon Provost (of “Timmy & Lassie” fame)’s encounter with the original “King Kong” stop motion puppets

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Wondery for Kids Preview: Melon's House Party

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Melon’s House Party! Did you know that the objects in your house sing and speak all day long? They just do so in a key only dogs can hear. Enter, Melon, an eight pound dog with a thousand pound heart who is the key to a world right under our noses! She lives in a world full of friends; an always singing record player, a soulless computer, her bookshelf therapist and many more. But her best friend in the world is Couch. No musical adventure is too big for Melon and Couch as long as they can figure out a way to do it together. As Melon learns about herself and the world around her, she shows us how to appreciate the little things in life and the importance of friendship and family. This is just a preview of Melon’s House Party but you can listen to the rest of the episode now at https://wondery.com/shows/melons-house-party/

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 144: Why you really need to watch “Maya and the Three”

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by paying tribute to David H. DePatie & Ruthie Tompson. Then Drew talks with Jorge Gutierrez & Sandra Equihua about how Netflix’s ambitious new animated mini-series came together

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 143: Why “War Eagles” never went into production

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about what’s unusual about “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” making its streaming debut on Amazon Prime Video in mid-January of next year. Drew & Jim then reflect on how much they enjoyed the Season One finale of “Marvel’s ‘What If?’ “

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Wondery Preview: Who, When Wow! with Rebecca Sheir

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Introducing... Who, When, Wow! A new Tinkercast original podcast from the creators of the #1 kids & family podcast, Wow in the World. Join host Rebecca Sheir on auditory journeys into the lives of history's unsung heroes and amazing humans who make us say "WOW!" This is just a preview of Who, When, Wow! But you can listen to the full episode at https://wondery.com/shows/who-when-wow/

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 142: How “Muppets Haunted Mansion” got made

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Disney settling its beef with Scarlett Johansson. They then talk with writer / director Kirk Thatcher about his nearly 30-year-long quest to get a Halloween-themed Muppet movie or TV show produced.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 141: Meet the directors of Disney’s “Encanto”

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the recently revealed vocal cast for Illuminations’ “Mario Bros.” movie. They then share some behind-the-scenes info about that famous roadside attraction, the Cabazon Dinosaurs

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 140: Craig Gillespie talks about directing Disney’s “Cruella”

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about which animated series took home Creative Arts Primetime Emmy Awards this past weekend. Drew then shares his thoughts on the new Disney+ series, “Star Wars Visions”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 139: How the University of Oregon got Donald Duck as its mascot

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” made Disney Studios change its plans for its Fall 2021 releases. They also reveal which Blu-rays the Disney Movie Club is exclusively making available to its concierge level members

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 138: Remembering Ed Asner (1929 - 2021)

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about many of the great Japanese animated films & TV shows GKIDS is now making available to the North American market. They then share Greg Weisman’s heartfelt tribute to the veteran performer who voiced Hudson on Disney’s “Gargoyles”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 137: Mickey & Spidey compete for preschool audience

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about his last-minute trip to Las Vegas and what he saw at CinemaCon. Jim Hill then shares what he’s heard about how the “Archer” production team plans to pay tribute to the late, great Jessica Walter

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 136: How Jeffrey Katzenberg tripped up “Toys”

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by offering updates on “Cruella 2” & “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania.” They then talk about why Robin Williams got so mad at the Mouse back in late 1992 / early 1993 over the way “Aladdin” was being promoted

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 135: What happens next with "Hotel Transylvania 4"

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing their thoughts on those new Goofy short-shorts which just debuted on Disney+. Drew then goes on to talk about his recent trip to the Disneyland Resort and the Pixar veteran he bumped into while visiting those theme parks.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 134: Kirk DeMicco talks about the making of “VIVO”

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about Walt Disney Animation Studios’ second set of Short Circuit shorts. They then interview the director of the animated feature Lin Manuel Miranda spent 11 years shepherding to the screen.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 133: Deleted scenes & storylines from Pixar’s “Luca”

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about that trio of new “Goofy” shorts that animation master Eric Goldberg created. They then take a look back at “DuckTales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp,” which was the last Walt Disney Animation Studios film that was produced using cel animation.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 132: Pixar and WDI collaborate on projects for Disney Parks

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by sharing the latest news coming out of ComicConAtHome2021. Jim then talks with Tasha Sounart about the creation of the new “Coco” sequence for “Mickey’s PhilharMagic”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 131: Meet the writers of “Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans”

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by sharing their thoughts on the teaser trailer for Pixar’s “Turning Red.” They then chat with Dan & Kevin Hageman about DreamWorks Animation’s new full-length feature which will then wrap up the “Tales of Arcadia” feature

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 130: How the director of “Space Jam” carved out a new legacy

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing their thoughts on the teaser trailer for Disney’s “Encanto.” They then talk with Malcolm D. Lee about the challenges he faced while working on his first big FX film

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 129: Is a return to Portorosso in Disney+’s future?

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show talking about the “Coco” scene which is about to be added to “Mickey’s PhilharMagic” at the Disney theme parks. They then interview Tom McGrath, the director of DreamWorks Animation’s “The Boss Baby: Family Business”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 128: Meet the makers of Disney Zenimation

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how “The Simpsons” paid tribute to Conan O’Brien’s last show on TBS. They then share a lengthy interview with David Bess of Walt Disney Animation Studios & Shannon Mills of Skywalker Sound

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 127: Why “Hotel Transylvania: Transformania” shifted its release date to October

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Tailor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about what Adult Swim did to help raise awareness of their recent animated acquisition, “Tuca & Bertie.” They then discuss why the audience for feature-length animated films maybe isn’t quite ready to return to their local multiplex

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 126: Zenimation shines a spotlight on the true artistry of Disney Animation

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about Walt Disney’s battles with the home owner association at Smoke Tree Ranch. They then reveal what Disney+’s new “Monsters at Work” animated series has in common with “Planes: Fire & Rescue”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 125: Meet the director & producer of Pixar’s “Luca”

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing a somewhat depressing aspect of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest short, “Us Again.” They then talk with Enrico Casarosa & Andrea Warren about the challenges of making a full-length animated feature during a pandemic.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 124:: Remember when DreamWorks Animation made tradigital films

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up Chronicles Books’ “Art of Pixar’s Luca.” They then look at the 2002 film that inspired “Spirit Riding Free” & “Spirit Untamed”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 123: Why Disney’s “Gremlins” movie never got off the ground

Tue, 25 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by sharing his impressions of Disney’s “Cruella.” Then Drew & Jim Hill talk about the “Walt Disney Studios and World War II” exhibition at the Walt Disney Family Museum

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 122: Why the “Roger Rabbit” sequels all stalled out

Tue, 18 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about which minor character from “The Muppets Take Manhattan” has now joined the cast of the “Muppet Babies” reboot. They then talk about Steven Spielberg’s complicated relationship with the Walt Disney Company

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 121:How Rainbow Mickey really came to be

Wed, 12 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how Amy Mebberson used her Pocket Princesses strip to pay tribute to Mother’s Day. They then look back at when walk-around versions of the Disney characters were rushed into EPCOT Center’s Future World section back in 1985

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 120: Do you remember those animated “Far Side” specials

Tue, 04 May 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about Seth McFarlane’s attempt to revive / reinvent “The Flintstones” back in 2011. They then discuss how “Vivo” went from being a DreamWorks Animation project to a Sony Picture Animation release that will soon be showing up on Netflix

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 119: Who’s directing the sequel to “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about HBO Max’s next “Adventure Time: Distant Lands” special. They then take an in-depth look at the performance capture films that ImageMovers Digital produced

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 118: The tangled tale of “Tusker” & “The Legend of Tembo”

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how the recently announced closure of the Arclight Cinemas & Pacific Theatres chain may impact the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. They then talk about a pair of pachyderm-based animated features that never made it into a theater near you.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 117: How horror legend Vincent Price became a Disney favorite

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Tailor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the extra features that can be found on the version of “Raya and the Last Dragon” which is NOT playing on Disney+. They then share what Adult Swim did this year on April Fools Day

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 116: Why animation studios love William Joyce

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Disney Studios’ latest readjustment of its theatrical release schedule will impact Pixar’s “Luca.” They then look back at how WDAS’ “Meet the Robinsons” came to be.

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Fine Tooning:with Drew Taylor - Episode 115: Disney +’s “Rescuers Rangers” movie begins production

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the 700th episode of “The Simpsons.” They then look back at Disney Television Animation’s plans for its “TaleSpin” series

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Fine Tooning:with Drew Taylor - Episode 114: Pepé Le Pew’s very weird back story

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing which animated features & shorts were nominated for Academy Awards this year. Then Drew shares what he learned from reading the screenplay for Disney’s never-produced, live-action “Gargoyles” movie

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Fine Tooning:with Drew Taylor - Episode 113: How Judy Hopps became the lead character in Disney’s “Zootopia”

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing why the Golden Globes recognized Kemp Powers as the co-director of Pixar’s “Soul” just five hours before that awards ceremony. They also talked about who just got signed by Gracie Films to replace Harry Shearer as the official voice of Dr. Julius Hibbert on “The Simpsons”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 112: “Moana” & “Big Hero 6” fans are going to love “Raya and the Last Dragon”

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by marveling at how “The Croods: A New Age” (which was originally released to theaters back in November of last year) is still at the top of the box office. Drew then shares his thoughts on Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 59th feature-length production

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 111: “Us Again” marks Disney’s return to theatrically released shorts

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by explaining why animation fans should really give Disney’s “Cruella” a chance. They then talk with “Tom & Jerry” director Tim Story about what it took to create a modern-day live-action / CG film which was then based on this 81-year-old set of cartoon characters

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 110: Which animated projects made Oscar’s short list

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill talk about Disney’s short-sighted decision to shutter Blue Sky Studios. They also talk about Netflix’s ongoing efforts to challenge the Mouse’s domination when it comes to animation

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 109: How did the “Frozen” FX team help solve a 60-year-old mystery

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about which character Luke Evans will be playing in Robert Zemeckis’ live-action redo of Disney’s “Pinocchio.” They then look back at how Pixar genuinely struggled to find a fitting comeuppance for the villain in 2009’s “Up”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 108: DreamWorks Animation’s magical “To: Gerard”

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by revealing how Blue Sky Studios’ “Epic” was almost made by Pixar. They then talk with writer/director Taylor Meacham & producer Jeff Hermann about how DWA’s latest short was developed.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 107: What’s particularly impressive about the “Pixar Popcorn” shorts

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill first talk about Season 3 of Matt Groening’s “Disenchantment” on Netflix. They also discuss the “Soul” international dubbing controversy and why it’s important to remember when this Pete Docter movie was originally supposed to be released.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 106: What’s the best time of year to release an animated feature?

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Pete Docter appears to be stepping away from directing films for Pixar Animation Studios. They also explain why the theatrical release of “Bob’s Burger: The Movie” will be a somewhat bittersweet experience for the folks at Bento Box Entertainment

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 105: What Arnold Schwarzenegger has in common with Harvey Fierstein

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how many of the animated features are hopefully headed into theaters in 2021. Then Drew takes a look back at the development of Disney’s “The Emperor’s New Groove”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 104: Get ready for “Dog Man: The Movie”

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing all of the animation-related news that came out of last week’s Investors Day event. Drew then does a deep dive on the historical significance of WDAS’ 1990 release, “The Rescuers Down Under”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 103: DuckTales” reboot done after just 3 seasons

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor talks about the worst kept secret in television animation (i.e., That Disney ceased production of its popular “DuckTales” series over a year ago). Then Jim Hill looks back at when Walt Disney Animation Studios seriously toyed with setting 1973’s “Robin Hood” in the Deep South, rather than in Merrie Olde England

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 102: Who John Candy almost voiced in Disney’s “Pocahontas”

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 17:03:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by sharing their thoughts on the “Animaniacs!” reboot which debuted on Hulu on November 20th. They then go on to talk about how Warner Bros. decision to release “Wonder Woman 1984” to theaters on the exact same day this Patty Jenkins film debuts on HBO Max may change Hollywood forever

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 101: The wonders of “Wolfwalkers”

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill starts off this week’s show by talking about what he watched on YouTube as a distraction as he waited for Election Results. Then Drew Taylor shares his thoughts on “Soul,” Pixar’s new animated feature (which will begin streaming on Disney+ on December 25th)

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 100: The truth about Circle 7 Studios

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 05:00:00 -0000

Bob Hilgenberg joins Drew Taylor & Jim Hill on the 100th episode of “Fine Tooning.” As the co-writer of “Monsters, Inc. 2: Monsters in Scaradice” & a never-produced version of “Toy Story 3,” Bob shares his memories of working at Circle 7 Studios.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 99: How “Trollhunters” traveled from Disney to DreamWorks

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the recent restructuring at The Walt Disney Company and how it will impact animation going forward. They then conclude their history of Disney Double Dare You, which was to have launched a whole new arm at the Studio that made “ … films that thrill & chill for children of all ages.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 98: The road to Disney Double Dare You

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Pixar’s “Soul” will now premiere on Disney+. They also look back at how Disney’s family-friendly reputation actually prevented Walt from making the sorts of movies he wanted his Studio to produce

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor: Episode 97: What happened to Henry Selick’s “Shadow King”

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about what David Lowery is doing to bring a little diversity to Neverland. They also look back at the stop motion movie that Disney stopped production on just 14 months before it was due to be released to theaters.

Check out six clips of Henry Selick's work on "Shadow King" here.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 96: Inside Pixar’s “Burrow”

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Tailor starts off this week’s episode by talking about the SparkShort that Madeline Sharafian directed which will debut in front of Pete Doctor’s “Soul.” Then Jim Hill looks at “Animal Crackers,” the 3D computer-animated feature that got tangled up in Harvey Weinstein’s legal troubles

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 95: What will “Inside Pixar” reveal about Emeryville’s inner workings

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill celebrate “Harley Quinn” getting picked up for a third season (Though not at DC Universe, but -- rather -- over on HBO Max). They also look back at “Freakazoid !,” Steven Spielberg’s third collaboration with Warner Bros. Animation

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 94: Don Bluth launches new animation studio

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “Once Upon a Snowman,” the new short from Walt Disney Animation Studios which will be premiering on Disney+ on October 23rd. Jim also shares a letter that Bugs Bunny supposedly sent to Mickey Mouse back in January of 1984

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 93: Which animated feature will Disney remake next?

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by talking about why The Walt Disney Company had to reveal that the live-action version of “Mulan” is coming to Disney+ this December. Jim Hill then wonders if it’s wise that Netflix’s “Over the Moon” & Sony Pictures Animation’s “Connected” share the same October 23 rd release date

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 92: “Over the Moon” gets ready for its October 23 rd debut on Netflix

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by paying tribute to Saturday morning television veteran Joe Ruby. They then talk about how Disney’s recent “Raya and the LastDragon” news is pretty much par for the course when it comes to modern day feature animation product at the Mouse House

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 91: Behind-the-scenes on Disney’s “The Black Cauldron”

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill first talk about how DC’s recent round of layoffs may throw a damper on this weekend’s FanDome event. They then talk about the enormous impact that Don Bluth’s September 1979 exit from Walt Disney Feature Animation had on that studio

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 90: When Disney went to pot to help “Fantasia” turn a profit

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 19:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the Crumpet / Kermit cameo in Disney’s “Amphibia.” They also discuss that recent spate of spinoffs & revivals that are going forward without any input from the creators of those series

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 89: What will Disney+’s “Beauty & the Beast” prequel series be called

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the impact that Disney’s decision to unscheduled its live-action “Mulan” could potentially have on Pixar’s “Soul.” They then interview animation historian Didier Ghez about the sixth & final volume of his “They Drew As They Pleased” series

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 88: Get ready for Don Hahn’s “Howard”

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by sharing what Richard Linklater told him about his “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Adventure” project. Then Jim Hill talks up Drew’s upcoming Zoom conference at Gallery Nucleus

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 87: The “Popeye” feature that Fleischer almost made

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the “Gravity Falls” tribute episode which will be airing on Disney’s “Amphibia” in August. They then look back at how Walt Disney & Max Fleischer battled for animation supremacy in the 1930s

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 86: Remembering Kelly Asbury (1960 - 2020)

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how Viacom is teaming with Mike Judge to revive “Beavis & Butthead.” They then pay tribute to an animation legend who showed incredible grace & courage in the face of serious health challenges and films that struggled at the box office

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 85: That time when Josh Gad dropped by

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0000

In an extra-special episode, the voice of Olaf / host of “Reunited Apart” comes in to chat with Drew Taylor & Jim Hill. Over a half hour long interview, Josh reveals that everyone’s favorite snowman once had some pretty dark dialogue in “Frozen II.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 84: Remembering Walt Disney Feature Animation - Florida

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by explaining why he ranked “Toy Story 4” as the very best film in that Pixar franchise. Then Jim Hill looks back at the early days of Disney-MGM’s walk-thru animation exhibit

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor - Episode 83: Pocahontas in the Park

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 03:45:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this episode by talking about the “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” sequel that Walt Disney Animation Studios had in development. They look back at when 100,000 people crowded onto the Great Lawn of NYC’s Central Park to catch the world premiere of Disney’s 33rd full-length animated feature

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 82: ILM’s flirtation with Frankenstein

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 21:30:00 -0000

First Drew Taylor shines a spotlight on Apple TV’s “Central Park” and HBO Max’s “Looney Tunes” cartoons. Then Jim Hill talks about how the success of “Toy Story” made Universal Pictures decide to go in a very different direction when it came to that Studio’s very first attempt at creating a feature-length CG film.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 81: Looking back on “Moana”

Thu, 28 May 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by congratulating Disney Channel & Disney Junior for scoring 44 Daytime Emmy nominations for their animated programming. These two then talk up how much they enjoyed Disney+’s new “Zenimation” series

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 80: Get the inside scoop on “Scoob!”

Wed, 20 May 2020 02:48:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by paying tribute to Nancy Kanter, who’s stepping away from the Disney Channel in January. They then interview Tony Cervone, the director of Warner Animation Group’s latest feature, about how “Scoob!” pays tribute to the world of Hanna-Barbera

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 79: Is Disney already making plans for more “Mulan” ?

Thu, 14 May 2020 01:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how much they’ve been enjoying Dan Lanigan’s “Prop Culture” on Disney+. They then talk about “Monkeys of Mumbai,” the ambitious animated musical that got canceled when NBCUniversal bought DreamWorks back in April of 2016

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 78: When is three animation studios one studio too many?

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by saying “So long” to “Doc McStuffins,” which ended its 5-season run on Disney Junior back on April 18th. They then look back at why “Loonatics Unleashed” crashed & burned on the WB back in 2005

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Fine Tooning with DrewTaylor Episode 77: How Kris Pearns adapted “The Willoughbys” for animation

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 23:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about how Comic-Con’s cancellation doesn’t bode well for other big fan events that were supposed to be staged in Southern California this Summer. They then share a phone interview that Drew & Jim recently did with the writer & director of Netflix’s latest animation feature.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 76: 25 years of being the Goofiest dad

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill starts off this episode by talking about how there’s far more going on with DreamWorks Animation’s “Trolls” franchise than this week’s world-premiere-at-home of “Trolls World Tour.” Then Drew Taylor shares all sorts of behind-the-scene stories about Disney’s “A Goofy Movie”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 75: Looking back at the creation of “Dragon’s Lair”

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 17:45:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about whether shifting the release date of “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run” will impact the launch of Nickelodeon’s new animated series, “Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years.” They then look back at how poor tickets for “The Secret of NIMH” back in the Summer of 1982 led to Don Bluth getting in the arcade game business in 1983.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 74: When will America’s movie theaters re-open for business

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 01:45:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about NATO’s veiled threat when it comes to “Trolls World Tour” being available on demand April 10th. They also look back at the career of Stuart Gordon, the late filmmaker who helped develop Disney’s “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” back in the late 1980s.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 73: How “Trolls World Tour” will soon make Hollywood history

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:15:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by wondering how many animated features will wind up being pushed off of their original release dates this year thanks to COVID-19. They also look back at when John Lasseter took home a Special Achievement Oscar in March of 1996 for the creation of the original “Toy Story”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 72: Why “Dumbo” can be shown on Disney+ but “Song of the South” can’t

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill first talk about the “Song of the South” news that just came out Disney’s annual shareholders meeting. Then Drew & Jim discuss some of the characters & storylines that Dan Scanlon & his team at Pixar Animation Studios explored for “Onward” but ultimately abandoned.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 71 : “Scoob!” celebrates Hanna-Barbera’s heritage

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 16:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill starts off this week’s show by talking about the difference between Pixar films that are well reviewed and Pixar films that produce strong revenue streams. Then Drew Taylor reveals what he learned at the long lead day for Warner Animation Group’s next big release, “Scoob!”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 70: Why WDAS vets just don’t like Manny the Mammoth

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 00:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by reminiscing about what it was like to write “The Art of Pixar’s Onward” for Chronicle Books. Then Jim Hill tells the story of the role that the original “Ice Age” played in the downsizing of Disney’s hand-drawn animation operation.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 69: Get ready for “Onward”

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 00:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by talking about what it was like to attend the world premiere of Pixar Animation Studios’ latest animated feature at the El Capitan Theater. Then Jim Hill takes a look at one of the weirder promotional events ever staged at a Disney theme park, “Pooh for President.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 68: Pooh’s path to popularity

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 01:35:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episodes with a quick recap of the 92 nd

Academy Awards. They then talk about how Winnie-the-Pooh went from a literary property that Walt

pursued for decades to Disney’s most profitable IP next to Mickey Mouse

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 67: And the Oscar for Best Animated Feature goes to … ?

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 19:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off by discussing how Emma Watts’ decision to step down as head of 20th Century could potentially impact Blue Sky Studios. They also talk about how the series finale of “Bojack Horseman” sort of syncs up perfectly with everything that’s going on in & Around LA right at this moment.

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Fine Tooning Episode 66: Which Disney Short Circuit films stand tall

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing how Skydance Animation’s decision to hire Peggy Holmes to replace Alessandro Carloni as the director of “Luck” could actually be a lucky break for that animated feature. They then rate all 14 films from the first round of Disney Short Circuit productions

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 65 : Handicapping this year’s Oscar nominations

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 03:20:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how 2020 may finally be the year that Laika gets to take home an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. They then do an in-depth look at animated features that Walt Disney Pictures released theatrically that drew their inspiration from animated TV series.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 64 : Mike Myer’s Marvin the Martian movie

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 19:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill talk about “Coyote vs Acme,” “Space Jam 2” and some of the other projects that Warner Bros. Feature Animation has in production. Then Jim wraps up the convoluted history of Disney’s “The Aristocats.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 63: When WDAS almost shuttered

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by talking up “Harley Quinn,” that adult animated series that recently debuted on DC Universe. Then Jim Hill talks about how “Sleeping Beauty” seriously under-performing at the box office in 1959 severely impacted Walt Disney Animation Studios in the 1960s

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 62: Looking forward to “Onward”

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 18:45:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start things off this week by discussing how Disney’s “Frozen” sequel did over its third weekend in domestic release. They then talk about which scenes were changed in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” out ahead of this holiday special’s second airing on NBC back in December of 1965.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 61: How “Rudolph” wound up on Freeform

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill discuss what surprised them about this year’s Annie Award nominations. They also look back at the complicated history of the holiday specials produced by Rankin-Bass

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Fine Tooning Episode 60 : Hand-drawn “Klaus” is a heartfelt charmer

Sat, 30 Nov 2019 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by comparing what “Frozen 2” made over its opening weekend to how Jon Favreau’s “Lion King” redo did when it debuted domestically back in July. Then Drew & Jim talk about why Pixar & Walt Disney Animation Studios kept trading off the long-Thanksgiving-Weekend release window as the 1990s gave way to the 2000s

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 59: It’s Disney+ Day

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 22:35:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s podcast by discussing which shows on Disney’s new streaming service are worth seeking out. Drew also talks about “Frozen 2” (which he’s already managed to see twice).

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 58: Remembering Disney’s “Fraidy Cat”

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 03:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill start off this week’s episode with a lengthy excerpt from Sir

Elton John’s official autobiography where the singer / songwriter looks back on his role in the creation of

Disney’s “The Lion King.” Then Drew & Jim share what they know about Ron Clements & John Musker’s

aborted animated feature which was to have been an affectionate send-up of Sir Alfred Hitchcock’s

suspense films

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 57: Disney Double Dare You: What Happened

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 04:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how Tom Hanks & Robert Zemeckis may soon reunite to work on Disney’s live-action “Pinocchio” reboot. They then look back at Guillermo del Toro’s dream of collaborating with Walt Disney Animation Studios to create a series of family-friendly horror films

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 56: Resurrecting “The Addams Family”

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill uses the “Addams Family” strong ticket sales as an excuse to look at the nearly 80-year history of this freaky franchise. Then Drew Taylor shares his interview that he recently did with Brittney Lee & Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay about the development of Disney’s “Frozen 2”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 55: How “Frozen 2” came to be

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 01:15:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill starts off this week’s show by talking about “Klaus,” the

Sergio Pablos film that Netflix will be releasing to theaters on November 8th and then making available for

streaming one week later. Drew then shares an interview that he did recently with Chris Buck & Jennifer

Lee, the co-directors of the original “Frozen” and its eagerly anticipated sequel

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 54: How VR influenced the design of “Frozen 2”

Thu, 03 Oct 2019 16:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how well “Abominable” did over its opening weekend. Then Drew shares a recent interview that he did with Lisa Keene, the co-production designer on “Frozen 2,” & David Wormersley, the art director of environments on this highly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios production

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 53: How “Everest” became “Abominable”

Thu, 26 Sep 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about what Bob Iger revealed about Disney’s 2006 acquisition of Pixar in his new book, “The Ride of a Lifetime.” Drew then shares an interview that he did with Jill Culton, the co-director of the soon-to-be-released DreamWorks Animation / Pearl Studios co-production, “Abominable”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 52: Why Deja & Keane left WDAS

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by speculating about how MGM’s “Addams Family” may do over its opening weekend. They then continue their “Where are they now” feature by discussing the post-Disney careers of Andreas Deja & Glen Keane

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 51: The artistry of James Baxter

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 11:06:42 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how much they enjoyed “Steven Universe: The Movie.” They then reflect on the challenges of covering some animators’ post-Disney careers.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 50: Remembering Disney’s “Quack Pack”

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 21:40:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing several of the television animation-related panels at this year’s D23 Expo. Jim then looks back at what happened with the “Disney Afternoon” during the waning years of this syndicated animation programming block.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 49: Disney & Pixar news from this year’s D23 Expo

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 23:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about why “Angry Birds 2” failed to take flight. Then Drew shares what he learned this past weekend about Pixar’s “Onward” & “Soul” as well as Walt Disney Animation Studios’ November 2020 release, “Raya and the Last Dragon”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 48: What’s Disney’s plan for Blue Sky Studios?

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 00:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how “Angry Birds 2” garnered better reviews & sold more tickets over its opening weekend than the original “Angry Birds” movie did back in 2016. Drew & Jim then go on to discuss how both Disney & Comcast are struggling to carve out distinctive identities for all of the animation studios these two media giants currently control.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 47: “Bambi” ‘s troubled trip to the big screen

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 02:30:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill talk about some of the Disney theme park-related projects that animation master Eric Goldberg created new footage for. They also look back at how Walt Disney Animation Studios struggled in the late 1930s / early 1940s to create a full-length animated feature to follow the hugely successful “Snow White”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 46: Remembering Russi Taylor

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by paying tribute to the late Disney Legend who voiced Minnie Mouse for more than three decades. Drew then shares what he learned at the press junket for Skydance Media’s soon-to-be-released FX tour-de-force, “Gemini Man”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 45: Hans Zimmer fixes “Lion King” mistakes

Thu, 25 Jul 2019 14:45:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by sharing what he learned at the junket for DreamWorks Animation’s “Abominable” (which arrives in theaters on September 27th). He then shares a sit-down that he did with Academy Award-winner Hans Zimmer, who then talks about what it was like to work on both the 1994 animated version of Disney’s “The Lion King” as well as that studio’s photo-real remake of that film

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 44:Getting ready for Comic-Con

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by talking about what it was like to attend the world premiere of Jon Favreau’s “The Lion King” at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. Drew & Jim then discuss the very best strategies to employ if you’re traveling down to San Diego later this week to experience Comic-Con International

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 43: Why Disney’s “Toaster” got unplugged

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about some of the casting decisions that Walt Disney Studios has been making on its live-action reimagining of “The Little Mermaid.” They then look back at those two traditional animation / CG hybrid projects that Disney Studios almost produced in the early 1980s, “Where the Wild Things Are” & “The Brave Little Toaster”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 42: A “Flash” from Disney & Fox

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by discussing whether this summer’s pattern of sequels under-performing at the box office impacted “Toy Story 4.” They also discuss the animated feature Taika Watiti may tackle soon after turning his back on “Bubbles”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 41: How would Stephen Hillenburg have felt about “Kamp Koral” ?

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about “It’s A Wonderful Sponge” and the new CG series that Nick is spinning off of this May 2020 release. Drew & Jim discuss how underwhelming ticket sales for “The Secret Life of Pets 2” may impact Universal’s plans to turn this Illumination Entertainment series into a theme park franchise

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 40: Picking a proper princess song for “Aladdin”

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 11:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the teaser trailer for Pixar’s “Onward.” Then it’s a discussion of why it took Alan Menken four different tries before he finally found the perfect power ballad for Princess Jasmine to sing in Disney’s “Aladdin”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 39: Why Pixar Putt needs to come stateside

Tue, 28 May 2019 12:15:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this podcast by talking about how Paramount’s decision to push the release date of “Sonic the Hedgehog” back to February 2020 may have actually made it harder for this live-action / CG film to succeed at the box office. Drew then shares an interview he recently did with Alan Menken, where that Academy Award-winner talks about the development of the original animated “Aladdin” back in the late 1980s / early 1990s.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 38: Looking back at Disney’s animated “Mulan”

Tue, 21 May 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill start this podcast off by singing the praises of the “DuckTales” production team for the artful & heartfelt way they folded Darkwing Duck into this animated series. Jim then shares some stories about how “Mulan” became Walt Disney Feature Animation – Florida’s first solo production

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 37:Disney carves out its release date calendar

Tue, 14 May 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by sharing their concerns about the December 2019 release date that Disney selected for Blue Sky Studios’ “Spies in Disguise.” They also use the upcoming 10th anniversary of the release of Pixar’s “Up” as an excuse to look back at this Pete Docter movie

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 36: Why Figment keeps popping up in Pixar movies

Tue, 07 May 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about how fan reaction to the “Sonic the Hedgehog” teaser trailer forced Paramount Animation to rework the look of that film’s title character. Then Drew shares an interview that he did with “Toy Story 4” director Josh Cooley, who reveals why Pixar decided to go big with the fourth film in this acclaimed series

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 35: How a Mel Gibson movie became a Will Smith film

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s episode by sharing his thoughts on Warner Bros. “Pokémon Detective Pikachu.” Jim Hill then does a deep dive on “Gemini Man,” the long-in-development production that originally started off life as a project at Disney’s Secret Lab

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 34: Looking back at Disney’s “Hunchback of Notre Dame”

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about the parallels between “Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin” opening at Disneyland Park in January of 1994 and “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios getting its opening pushed back ‘til the Spring of next year. They also discuss what’s going on with “Frozen II” just seven months out from the theatrical release of this eagerly anticipated Walt Disney Animation Studios production

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 33: Are you ready for Bo Peep, action hero?

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Rich Moore’s decision to leave Walt Disney Animation Studios for Sony Pictures Animation. Drew also shares what he learned about “Toy Story 4” while taking part in the press day for this upcoming Pixar Animation Studios’ release

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 32: How Disney blew it with Don Bluth

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill look back at when Don Bluth resigned from Walt Disney Animation Studios in September of 1979 and then took 15% of that studio’s artists & animators with him. Drew then shares the interview that he did with Chris Butler, the director of “Missing Link” (i.e., Laika’s latest stop motion movie)

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 31: Looking back at Disneytoon Studios

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill kick off this week’s show by talking about “Steven Universe” ‘s win at the GLAAD Media Awards. Drew then shares an interview he did with Danny Devito at the press junket for Disney’s live-action “Dumbo”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 30: Tim Burton’s early days at Disney Studios

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by trying to sort out where exactly Disney & ABC now stand in regards to all those animated “Peanuts” specials. Then Drew shares the interviews that he did with Danny Elfman & Rick Heinrichs at the “Dumbo” media event.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 29: How MGM erased “Tom & Jerry” ‘s more racist moments

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by revealing which character Walt Disney Animation Studios favorite Alan Tudyk will be voicing in the live-action version of “Aladdin.” They then get into the convoluted history of Mammy Two Shoes, the seldom-seen-from-the-knees-up supporting character in the “Tom & Jerry” series that underwent an intriguing makeover in the 1960s & 1980s

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 28: Rob Marshall talks about Disney’s live-action “Little Mermaid”

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill talks about which films from the Disney Vault will actually be streamable when Disney+ goes live later this year. Drew also shares audio from the interview that he did just last week with the director of “Mary Poppins Returns” about the challenges Rob Marshall is now facing as he preps his next project for Walt Disney Pictures

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 27: Is Epcot’s “Journey into Imagination” pavilion about to get Docter-ed?

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this episode by wondering if John Lasseter’s luck is starting to run out at Skydance Animation. Largely because of that open letter Emma Thompson sent to the Los Angeles Times last week (in which Emma explained why exactly she was exiting Alessandro Carloni’s “Luck”). Drew & Jim then go on talk about how animated series like Netflix’s “Race to the Edge” & the Disney Channel’s “Hotel Transylvania: The Series” now factor into studios’ decisions to greenlight sequels like “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World” and “Hotel Transylvania 4.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 26: Who Anna and Elsa are searching for in that “Frozen 2” teaser trailer

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 11:23:00 -0000

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about things they

probably shouldn’t (EX: The name of that motorcycle-riding character from “Toy Story 4”). They then

sequin into sharing some audio from the recent media event that was held for “Spider-Man: Into the

Spider-Verse” out ahead of this Oscar-winning animated feature’s release on Blu-ray & 4K HD.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 25: When Disney wanted Michael Jackson to co-star in its “Mary Poppins” sequel

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 21:43:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s podcast by talking about how “Hidden World” director Dean DeBlois shared with him about the development of DreamWorks Animation’s third “How to Train Your Dragon” movie. Then Jim Hill shares the history of Epcot’s “Journey into Imagination” attraction and the role that Pixar may play in the future of this Future World pavilion

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 24: Animation News, SparkShort and Robin Williams was supposed to voice who?

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by recapping the 46th annual Annie Awards. They then debate the pros & cons of “Purl,” Pixar’s inaugural SparkShort, before then talking about how “Ralph Breaks the Internet almost started with the funeral of a famous video game character.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 23: Why it took Disney 18 years to produce its animated “Peter Pan”

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing Pixar veteran Darla Anderson’s decision to sign a multi-year deal with Netflix. They then discuss why it took Disney Studios nearly two decades to produce a full length animated version of J.M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 22: An animated discussion about this year’s Oscar nominations

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill talk about 2019’s nominees for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short Film. They also talk about how “Zootopia” being the highest grossing animated film in Chinese cinematic history eventually led to Shanghai Disneyland getting a new land built around these characters

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 21: “Spy Jam,” “Race Jam,” & “Skate Jam”: Warners’ 20+ years effort to get a “Space Jam” sequel made

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by comparing Lee Unkrich’s graceful exit from Pixar with John Lasseter’s awkward arrival at Skydance. They then do a deep dive on Warners’ “Space Jam,” tracing the origin of that live-action / animated feature back to Nike’s “Hare Jordan” & “Aerospace Jordan” commercials

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 20: Controversy engulfs Lasseter’s arrival at Skydance

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 16:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill discuss what’s sure to be one of the biggest animation stories of 2019: David Ellison hiring John Lasseter to be the new head of Skydance Animation. Drew & Jim also look back at Lasseter’s last year or so at Disney & Pixar and muse over whether “Cars 3” ‘s under-performance at the box office & the cancellation of “Gigantic” contributed to John’s downfall

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 19: The Year in Review for Animation 2018

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 00:02:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill look back at this year’s high points & low points when it comes to film and television animation. They also talk about projects that they’re really looking forward to in 2019 like Sergio Pablos’ “Klaus”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 18:Which animated films will come out on top for the 2018 holiday season?

Mon, 24 Dec 2018 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s podcast by discussing – given all of the stellar reviews that “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” has received to date – why this Sony Pictures Animation film only earned $35.4 million over its opening weekend in domestic release. Drew & Jim also look ahead to “The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part” & “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” which are both being released in February of 2019

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 17: Who actually did the animation for “Mary Poppins Returns” ?

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 18:22:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by talking about why the late Stan Lee’s cameo in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a real standout in that Sony Pictures Animation film. These two then talk about the possible impact that John Lasseter’s slow-motion exit from Disney & Pixar may have had on “The Incredibles 2” & “Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2.”

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 16: Fine Tooning Q & A, recorded live at WDW

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 20:02:00 -0000

Immediately after they finished doing a live recording of their "Fine Tooning" podcast at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort earlier this month, Drew Taylor & Jim Hill began taking questions from listeners who attended that event. The topics that got touched on in this off-the-cuff session include how "Winnie-the-Pooh" 's July 2011 release date helped kill off 2-D animation at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 15: Live from Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 05:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill start off this podcast (which was recorded in front of a live audience) by recapping their "Pixar in the Park" event. They then discuss all of the Disney talent that's now making new animated projects for Netflix. Finally Drew discusses "Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2" and what Disney-related gags got cut out of this Rich Moore/Phil Johnston film.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 14: As Guillermo del Toro readies his long-in-the-works "Pinocchio," Ed Catmull gets ready to retire

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill start off these week's podcast off by discussing the stop motion version of "Pinocchio" that Guillermo del Toro is now prepping for Netflix. Then it's how Hollywood is commemorating the 20th and 25th anniversaries of DreamWorks Animation's "The Prince of Egypt" and "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas." Finally, Drew and Jim talk about why Ed Catmull's legacy -- when it comes to animation -- is complicated, to say the least.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 13: "Cycles" breaks new ground for Walt Disney Animation Studios. Live-action "Lilo & Stitch" now in development

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 02:07:00 -0000

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill start off this week's podcast by sharing their impressions of the recently released teaser trailer for Disney's live-action reimagining of "Aladdin." Drew and Jim then discuss how the huge popularity of "Lilo and Stitch" overseas undoubtedly factored into the Studio's decision to put a live-action / CG hybrid reboot of this 2002 WDAS hand-drawn film into development. Finally Taylor talks about what it's like to experience "Cycles," Walt Disney Animation Studios' first-ever virtual-reality short

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 12: Brad Bird's next project and Disney's aborted Mickey Mouse "Christopher Columbus" featurette

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill first discuss all of the animation-related news coming out of this year's New York Comic-Con. They then puzzle over the live action / cg project that Brad Bird is supposedly working on as his follow-up to "The Incredibles 2." Finally Jim talks about the animated featurette that was supposed to serve as the follow-up to 1990's "The Prince and the Pauper," "Christopher Columbus" starring Mickey Mouse

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 11: Why does Disney princess Tiana look different in "Ralph Breaks the Internet"?

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start things off by talking bout the key role master animator Mark Henn played in translating Disney's hand-drawn princesses into CG characters. Next Drew & Jim discuss the "Harvey Birdman, Attorney General" special that will be airing on Adult Swim later this month. Then Taylor & Hill look back at Disney Legend Woolie Reitherman and the role that recycled / repurposed animation had to do with the adoption of xerography at Walt Disney Animation Studios in the early 1960s.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 10: Return of the Last Airbender, Mary Poppins Returns trailer, Bojack Horseman & The Venture Brothers

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 01:10:00 -0000

Drew Taylor starts off this week's "Fine Tooning" by focusing a spotlight on the first-ever official collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios & Pixar Animation Studios. Then Jim Hill talks about Frank Thomas' struggles when it came to animating those dancing penguins in the original "Mary Poppins" movie. Then Drew & Jim talk about some of the more innovative things that are going on in television animation -- including how Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media moved at warp speed to cash in on Disney Junior's latest star.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 9: Say farewell to Adventure Time. Look ahead to "Roger Rabbit" making-of book

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 04:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor pays tribute to his best friend from middle school, Penn Ward (i.e., the creator of "Adventure Time"). Then Jim & Drew discuss the history of Warner Feature Animation's efforts -- post-"Space Jam" & "Looney Tunes: Back in Action" -- to build a new feature film around various characters from the Looney Tunes stable.

They also make a big announcement about an upcoming Fine Tooning Live event from Disney World, with Storybook Destinations.

To join us for a very special Fine Tooning Live event from Disney World, November 9th through the 12th, go to storybook destinations.com for a complete schedule and booking info.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 8: Smallfoot Rugrats Duck Tales Disenchantment

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 02:42:00 -0000

Jim Hill & Drew Taylor report in from Burbank. Where Drew -- after catching an early press screening of "Smallfoot" at Warner Bros -- praises Alex Hirsch's new "Gravity Falls: Lost Legends" book. Meanwhile Jim discusses the development of the Disney Channel's "DuckTales" reboot as well as revealing how he accidentally got a peek at Nickelodeon's plans to revive its "Rugrats" animated series.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 7: Box Office News, the Medusa Project and Fox Deal Effects

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 17:00:00 -0000

In the seventh episode of this podcast series, Drew Taylor & Jim Hill talk about "Teen Titans Go to the Movies" and "Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation" has been doing at the box office. They also discuss Lauren Faust's now-cancelled "Medusa" project as well as looking ahead to how The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of select film & television assets owned by 21st Century Fox is going to impact Blue Sky Studios.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 6: Pixar Pier, Pete Docter,Gravity Falls and Hotel Transylvania 3

Mon, 23 Jul 2018 00:00:00 -0000

Episode 6 of "Fine Tooning," Drew walks listeners through Disney California Adventure's latest addition, Pixar Pier. He and Jim then talk about the challenges that Pete Docter will be facing as he takes over as the new creative lead of that Emeryville-based animation studios. Drew also shares what he knows about the soon-to-be-released "Gravity Falls -- The Complete Series" Blu-ray and DVD set.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 5: What's Incredible About Incredibles 2

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 21:00:00 -0000

Jim and Drew discuss how "Incredibles 2" has been doing at the box office and how Pixar's latest sequel stacks up against the original "Incredibles" from 2004.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 4: What's Old is New - Duck Tales, Thundercats, Wildthings, Toasters and Gravity Falls

Wed, 30 May 2018 00:00:00 -0000

Sure to be controversial, Drew and Jim wonder why animation fans were so quick to embrace Disney's "DuckTales" reboot but then rejected Cartoon Network's new take on "Thundercats." These two also talk about John Lasseter's attempts to get Walt Disney Animation Studios to produce CG versions of "Where the Wild Things Are" and "The Brave Little Toaster" back in the early 1980s.

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Fine Tooning With Drew Taylor Episode 3: CinemaCon and Tribeca

Sun, 06 May 2018 00:00:00 -0000

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor talk about all of the animation-related news that came out of CinemaCon and Tribeca this year. Don Hahn's new documentary about Howard Ashman, the murderous matriarch that "How to Train Your Dragon 2" almost had, and the "Black Cauldron" -inspired ride that the Imagineers wanted to build at Disneyland Park.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 2: Incredibles 2 and Brad Bird's 1906

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0000

Drew Taylor returns from Emeryville and shares what he's just learned about Pixar's Incredibles II. Drew and Jim then look back over Brad Bird's career. In particular, '1906' the film that was supposed have been his live-action debut which would have had Warner Bros. and Disney joining forces to recreate the Great San Francisco Earthquake.

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Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor Episode 1: Three Animated Disney Movies That Never Got Made

Thu, 05 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0000

In the first installment of this new podcast series, Drew Taylor and Jim Hill use John Musker's recent retirement from Walt Disney Animation Studios as an excuse to discuss 'Fraidy Cat'. Drew and Jim also shine a spotlight on the never completed animated version of Sinbad as well as the stage musical version of The Snow Queen.

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