Everything helps tell a narrative in a Disney animated feature or short, from the script and music to the characters and effects. No truer is this than a core feature of every picture: the scenic art. These backgrounds paint a picture of the tone and context. Over the years dozens of Disney animated films and even more cartoons and shorts have set the stage for incredible backgrounds that sometimes don’t get the center stage attention they deserve. But in Chronicle Books’ new September title, The Wonderful Worlds of Disney: The Scenic Art of Walt Disney Animation Studios, we see so many of these examples with commentary from some of the artists who brought these creations to life. This book is written by Didier Ghez, the renowned author of countless Disney books including the They Drew As They Pleased series. On this episode, host Brett Nachman brings Didier back to Notably Disney to discuss the process of curating the art and illuminating the stories from the animators' perspectives.

The Wonderful Worlds of Disney debuts on September 29 from Chronicle Books. It will also be available wherever you get books, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Check out more of Didier's content on his Disney history blog that showcases info on new and forthcoming book releases, as well as find him on the Disney History Institute Facebook group.

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

For years one space online has represented a hub of Muppets information, news, opinions, and fun content, and it’s called ToughPigs.com, so it only made sense to enlist two of its key figures for a tribute episode to the 30th anniversary of one of the Muppets’ classic parodies: Muppet Treasure Island. Setting sail with host Brett Nachman are Joe Hennes, ToughPigs Co-Owner & Editor-in-Chief / Executive Producer of the Muppet Fan Podcasts with ToughPigs.com channel, as well as Ryan Roe, ToughPigs Co-Owner, Head Writer, and Co-Host, Editor, and Producer of the Movin’ Right Along podcast. 

Check out all of the ToughPigs content, including articles and podcasts, on their website. You can follow ToughPigs on BlueSky, Instagram (@ToughPigs), TikTok (@ToughPigs), and YouTube. Follow Joe on Instagram (@ToughPigsJoe) and Ryan on BlueSky (@MeRyanRoe). 

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

Here on Notably Disney we often think about the background score as setting the mood and energy of the visuals we are enveloped in. Composer Mike Rubino plays a major role in accomplishing that, whether in contributing scoring to marketing materials for films like Avengers: Endgame, Tron Legacy, Dumbo, and Planes: Fire and Rescue, to composing the background music for updates to Disneyland’s Mickey’s Toontown and, more recently, Walt Disney World’s Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. His work can also be found across projects like Nickelodeon’s It’s Pony series and the podcast Telepathy Tapes. Today on Notably Disney host Brett Nachman speaks with Mike on to unpack a cool career where he has had his hands in some incredible ventures. 

Check out Mike's music on his Spotify, as well as following him on Instagram (@mvrubino)!

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

Studying Disney has reached a new level of appreciation in academic settings through the relatively recent debut of the International Journal of Disney Studies. In this journal readers can find a variety of pieces about all aspects of The Walt Disney Company with a scholarly sensibility. On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman welcomes on the journal’s co-editors - Dr. Rebecca Rowe, Assistant Professor of Children’s Literature at East Texas A&M, and Dr. Lisa B. Fiore, Assistant Dean of Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Tufts University - to share how this publication came to fruition and what to find within its content, among other topics. 

Check out more about the International Journal of Disney Studies via its website, Instagram (@ijdisneystudies), and via publisher Intellect Books' Instagram (@IntellectBooks).

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

In the new book Disneyland and the Rise of Automation: How Technology Created the Happiest Place on Earth, scholar Dr. Roland Betancourt deconstructs how Walt’s original family park served as a foundational space for automation during a time when humans increasingly relied on technology for many of their needs and desires. This well-researched title from Princeton University Press explores how many of Disneyland’s foundational attractions have relied on sophisticated technologies to make modern mechanical magic. Dr. Betancourt is Chancellors’ Professor in the Department of Art History at the University of California, Irvine. On this episode we discuss the book’s development and content. 

Learn more about the book on the Princeton University Press website.

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

Legendary composer Mark Isham has, for decades, provided some of the most dynamic film scores of our time with his distinct style that has drawn on many styles, including jazz and electronic music. His association with Disney dates back to 1983 with Never Cry Wolf and he has since crafted a number of scores for the Mouse House, from ABC’s long-running and critically-acclaimed Once Upon a Time series to movies like Miracle, Togo, and Invincible. The Emmy and Grammy award-winning composer holds an Academy Award nomination for A River Runs Through It and a Golden Globe nomination for Nell. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Eight Below, a stirring score that is a focal points for today’s conversation, in which he chats with host Brett Nachman about his career trajectory, composing process, and many of his beloved projects.

Learn more about Mark's work on his website: MarkIshamMusic.com.

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

Recently debuting on Disney+ the documentary Disneyland Handcrafted spectacularly shows the development of Walt’s original family park in compelling fashion by storied filmmaker Leslie Iwerks. Layered into this amazing documentary is the music of composer Cyrus Reynolds, who crafts compelling and epic orchestrations that evoke rich emotion out of its listeners. On this episode of Notably Disney Cyrus talks about his background and music that is featured in Disneyland Handcrafted, as well as the release of his new album!

Check out Cyrus' work at CyrusReynoldsMusic.com and his new album entitled Provenance of Dreaming.

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

In the earliest days of Disneyland, guests could visit a replica of a pharmacy on Main Street, replete with artifacts and exhibits. In the new book A Spoonful of Sugar: The Story of the Upjohn Pharmacy in Disneyland author and historian Stephen Hall pours out lots of new knowledge about how the Upjohn Pharmacy worked with Disney to create this special spot in the Happiest Place on Earth. It’s an intricate and insightful new title from The Old Mill Press. Listen in to find out how this pharmacy replica in Disneyland provided fun finds and facts about pharmacy life to millions of Guests.

Purchase a copy of A Spoonful of Sugar from The Old Mill Press or wherever you find books.

Check out more about The Coit Museum of Pharmacy & Health Sciences at the University of Arizona to check out the Upjohn Pharmacy collection in person!

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

For some movies, the music is as much of a character as the figures we see on screen. In the case of the three installments of Tron, the score represents one of the most core elements. Whether Wendy Carlos’ work in the original 1982 film, Daft Punk’s and Joseph Trapanese’s contributions for Tron: Legacy, or what we heard from Nine Inch Nails for Tron: Ares, each is a product of their time and also has an amazing ability to envelop us. Today on Notably Disney host Brett Nachman brings on Jonathan Goodman of the Music Behind the Magic podcast to talk about the Tron scores!

Check out the Music Behind the Magic podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more about the podcast on its website. Follow Jonathan on Instagram (@musicbehindthemagic) and join the Music Behind the Magic community on Facebook.

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first Tuesday of each month.

Emily McDermott and Courtney Kern of the late Book of the Mouse Club podcast have long been on Notably Disney, helping review a variety of books over the years. But one question has never quite surfaced in these conversations: how do you become a Disney book collector? Such is the spark of today’s dialogue in which host Brett Nachman welcomes on Emily and Courtney to untangle the process of Disney book collecting, from figuring out which books are worth getting to how to get good deals on books.

Be sure to check out the Book of the Mouse Club podcast archive on YouTube. Their email is [email protected]

Also make sure you follow the duo on Instagram: Courtney (@greatguthsby) and Emily (@emily_mickde).

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

What is it like to sail one of the newest Disney Cruise Line ships? On this episode of Notably Disney, host Brett Nachman is joined by author, professor, and musician Matthew Hodge, a frequent podcast guest, to discuss their time on the Disney Treasure. This sixth ship in the DCL fleet launched in late 2024 and has delighted tens of thousands of guests to date in its 7-night sailings in the Western Caribbean or Eastern Caribbean. 

Brett and Matt share their thoughts on the musical entertainment, dining, themed spaces, and activities aboard the beautiful vessel.

Check out Matt's music work on his YouTube channel and website.

Feel free to reach out to Brett via Bluesky @drnachman and Instagram @drnachman, subscribe to the podcast, and send your feedback to [email protected] 

New episodes of Notably Disney debut on the first and third Tuesday of each month.