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

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

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