Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor revisit Disney’s unmade Don Quixote and the ambitious animation projects that slipped away as the studio grew more cautious. A graphic novel by the Brizzi brothers offers a new reason to explore their extraordinary visual storytelling. They also discuss Wildwood’s PG-13 rating, Jim’s visit to The Magic of Disney Animation, and the latest animation books and Pikmin shorts. NEWS Wildwood and the double standard facing PG-13 animation. Drew’s Cat in the Hat panel and his enthusiasm for its animation and score. The Magic of Disney Animation’s Once Upon a Studio touches and a nod to My Peoples. Animation books, from The Owl House to Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn. Patrick Stewart and Eric Bauza’s voice work, plus Nintendo’s charming Pikmin shorts. FEATURE How the Brizzi brothers’ work on Hunchback and Fantasia 2000 led to an ambitious Don Quixote proposal. Why Disney’s changing priorities left bold projects unmade, and how a graphic novel brings the brothers’ storytelling back into view. HOSTS Jim Hill: Instagram @JimHillMedia | X @JimHillMedia | JimHillMedia.com Drew Taylor: Instagram @drewtailored | X @DrewTailored | DrewTaylor.work FOLLOW Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews YouTube: @jimhillmedia TikTok: @jimhillmedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR Be Our Guest Vacations offers free planning services for Disney and Universal vacations, including help with hotels, park admission, and dining reservations. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. JimHillMedia.com/sponsor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill opens the archives for a special look at Don Bluth, the animator whose departure from Disney helped change the industry. Drawing on past conversations with Drew Taylor and Eric Hersey, this retrospective follows Bluth from Disney’s animation department to the arcade success of Dragon’s Lair and his collaborations with Steven Spielberg. Along the way, they revisit The Secret of NIMH, An American Tail, and the footage removed from The Land Before Time. HIGHLIGHTS • Why Don Bluth and a group of fellow animators left Disney, and how Banjo the Woodpile Cat helped set the stage. • The production pressures surrounding Pete’s Dragon, The Fox and the Hound, and The Black Cauldron. • How The Secret of NIMH’s box-office disappointment led to the unlikely arcade breakthrough of Dragon’s Lair. • How Steven Spielberg and George Lucas became involved in Bluth’s animated films, and why the Spielberg partnership eventually ended. • The Land Before Time’s deleted footage, its rivalry with Oliver & Company, and Bluth’s willingness to make animation a little scary. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - https://jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - https://drewtaylor.work • Eric Hersey - X/Twitter and Instagram: @erichersey - https://strongmindedagency.com FOLLOW • Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews • YouTube: @jimhillmedia • TikTok: @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 If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Jim Hill revisits Don Bluth’s Disney departure, Dragon’s Lair, and the Spielberg collaborations that helped reshape animation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor have plenty to discuss as Disney's upcoming animated feature Hexed takes center stage, with a fresh trailer, striking visual designs, and new details about the creative team. They also explore the latest animation announcements from New York Comic Con, a milestone anniversary for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and the next chapter for Disney's long-running Broadway productions. Plus, Don Bluth gets the documentary treatment, LAIKA prepares to unveil Wildwood, and KPop Demon Hunters heads to the Criterion Collection. HIGHLIGHTS • Disney's Hexed reveals more of its magical world ahead of its November 25 theatrical debut, with directors Jason Hand, Josie Trinidad, and Fawn Veerasunthorn at the helm. • Drew shares insights from Disney's recent press event, including a look at the new animated short Lilo & Scratch and the jewel-toned visual style of Hexed. • New York Comic Con brings updates on Avatar: Seven Havens, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Marvel's upcoming animated projects. • It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown celebrates its 60th anniversary with a Starbucks merchandise collection that disappears almost as quickly as it arrives. • Disney's The Lion King prepares to reimagine its record-breaking North American tour, while BOOP! The Musical hits the road. • Animation legend Don Bluth gets a new documentary, while Ron Clements shares decades of Disney history in Making Disney Magic. • LAIKA's Wildwood heads to theaters, and KPop Demon Hunters receives a Criterion Collection release packed with bonus features. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work 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 Planning a fall getaway to Orlando? BeOurGuestVacations.com can help take the stress out of your next Disney or Universal vacation. As both a Platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and a Universal U-Preferred Platinum Planning Partner, their team can assist with hotels, theme park tickets, and dining reservations at no additional cost to you. Be sure to tell them Jim and Drew from Fine Tooning sent you! If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/ Disney's Hexed takes the spotlight alongside New York Comic Con animation news, Peanuts' 60th anniversary, Broadway updates, and a celebration of Don Bluth's legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take a trip through animation history as they explore the life and legacy of Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. Following Drew's visit to Lantz's historic Toluca Lake home, Jim traces the animator's unlikely career, from inheriting Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to becoming one of the last producers of theatrical cartoon shorts. Along the way, they discuss Disney's latest Netflix licensing strategy, the London Film Festival premieres of Wildwood and Ray Gunn, and the return of Coco to the concert stage. Plus, why Lantz's greatest contribution to animation may have been keeping his artists employed long after other studios had moved on. NEWS • Wildwood and Brad Bird's Ray Gunn make their London Film Festival debuts, with Tom Waits lending his voice to both animated features. • Disney licenses all five Ice Age films to Netflix ahead of Ice Age: Boiling Point, while keeping major franchises like Frozen and Toy Story exclusive to Disney+. • Pixar's Coco hits the road with a live-to-film concert tour as Disney continues developing a theatrical sequel. • The stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away prepares for its exclusive U.S. engagement in Los Angeles in 2027. • Forgotten Island continues its theatrical run as Wildwood and The Cat in the Hat prepare to enter the family animation market. FEATURE • Drew visits Walter Lantz's restored Art Deco home in Toluca Lake, where the legendary animator lived for decades. • Jim explores how Lantz inherited Oswald the Lucky Rabbit after Walt Disney lost the character, sparking a decades-long professional friendship and rivalry. • From Andy Panda to Woody Woodpecker, Lantz built an animation studio that followed industry trends while giving generations of artists steady work. • Why Walter Lantz Studios outlasted Disney and Warner Bros. in theatrical cartoon production, finally closing its doors in 1972. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - drewtaylor.work 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 Planning a fall getaway to Orlando? Be Our Guest Vacations can help you book hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and more for both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. As a Platinum-level EarMarked Disney travel agency and Universal U Preferred Platinum Planning Partner, their team knows the ins and outs of both destinations. Best of all, their vacation planning services come at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com and tell them Jim and Drew sent you. 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

With Drew Taylor sidelined by a broken foot, Jim Hill takes the controls for a solo edition of Fine Tooning packed with animation news and Disney history. Jim checks in on DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, Studio Ghibli Fest, Dana Terrace's Knights of Guinevere, and Drew's new making-of book, The Art of Wildwood. Then he digs into Bob Chapek's new memoir, Behind the Castle Walls, and questions the former Disney CEO's account of how The Return of Jafar came to be. Along the way, Jim revisits The Rescuers Down Under, Disney's early sequel strategy, and the Robin Williams dispute that complicated any plans for another theatrical Aladdin adventure. NEWS • DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island shows encouraging word of mouth despite a disappointing start at the box office.• Studio Ghibli Fest brings Spirited Away: Live on Stage back to theaters for another special screening.• Episode Two of Dana Terrace's Knights of Guinevere arrives on Glitch's YouTube channel.• Drew Taylor's new Rizzoli book, The Art of Wildwood, goes behind the scenes of Laika's upcoming stop-motion feature. FEATURE • Jim examines Bob Chapek's claim that he pushed Disney Animation to create an Aladdin sequel after the original film became a VHS phenomenon.• The Rescuers Down Under complicates the idea that Disney's animation executives were fundamentally opposed to theatrical sequels.• Robin Williams' very public falling-out with Disney created a major obstacle to producing another Aladdin movie for theaters.• The Return of Jafar ultimately became a direct-to-video blockbuster after beginning life as material connected to Disney's Aladdin animated television series. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work 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 GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSOR Planning a trip to Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando? The team at BeOurGuestVacations.com can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that go into building an Orlando vacation, all at no additional cost to you. Be sure to tell them Jim from Fine Tooning sent you. 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

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back with a packed week of animation news, including Disney+ finally ordering its long-in-development Darkwing Duck reboot to series with Mark Hamill, Seth Rogen, and Lizzy Caplan among the announced voice cast. They also check in on DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, react to the trailer for Skydance Animation's Ray Gunn, and look ahead to the next chapter of Dana Terrace's Knights of Geneviere. Plus, Drew previews the Animation Is Film Festival, Netflix brings KPop Demon Hunters into the real world, and Sherri Shepherd prepares to make Disney Broadway history. NEWS • Disney+ orders the Darkwing Duck reboot to series, 35 years after Drake Mallard's original animated adventures. • Mark Hamill voices Darkwing Duck, with Seth Rogen as Launchpad McQuack and Lizzy Caplan as Gosalyn Mallard. • DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island arrives in theaters as Universal looks to build another fall animation success. • Skydance Animation's Ray Gunn heads to Netflix in December, with select theatrical and 70mm screenings beginning earlier in the month. • Netflix expands KPop Demon Hunters with an immersive experience featuring Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird. • Dana Terrace's Knights of Geneviere returns with its second episode on October 9 and a decidedly twisted new trailer. • Drew previews the 2026 Animation Is Film Festival at the TCL Chinese Theatre and some of the animation headed to the big screen this fall. • Sherri Shepherd prepares to make Broadway history as the first woman to play the Genie in Disney's Aladdin. • Drew looks ahead to The Art of Wildwood, while Jim flags Ron Clements' upcoming Making Disney Magic. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter & Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter & Instagram: @DrewTailored - drewtaylor.work 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 Planning a Disney or Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, cruises, and all the details that go into your getaway, with planning services at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning your next trip. 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

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into Hasbro’s “Transformers: The Apology Tour,” marking 40 years since Transformers: The Movie traumatized a generation by killing Optimus Prime. They also look at Peter Cullen’s final performance as the Autobot leader, his lesser-known Disney animation work, and Jim Cummings’ pointed reaction to the latest class of Disney Legends. Plus, there’s animation news from DreamWorks, Netflix and Laika, along with a box-office milestone for Coyote vs. Acme. HIGHLIGHTS • DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island heads to theaters on September 25 as the studio previews an extended opening sequence. • Netflix keeps KPop Demon Hunters in the spotlight with new General Mills cereals while unveiling the trailer for its Cinderella-inspired animated musical Steps. • Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn is headed to Netflix in December, while Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory is slated for a theatrical run before its 2027 streaming debut. • Coyote vs. Acme crosses $50 million at the domestic box office, passing the reported price Ketchup Entertainment paid for its distribution rights. • Hasbro’s “Transformers: The Apology Tour” revisits the still-infamous death of Optimus Prime in the 1986 animated feature. • The 40th-anniversary theatrical release pairs Transformers: The Movie with the new CG short Optimus Prime: Awakening, featuring Peter Cullen’s final performance as Optimus Prime. • Jim and Drew trace Cullen’s Disney animation history, including his work as Eeyore and the original voice of Monterey Jack on Chip ’n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers. • Jim Cummings’ reaction to the latest Disney Legends ceremony sparks a larger discussion about who the honor should recognize. • Laika releases the final trailer for Wildwood ahead of its October theatrical debut, with Drew’s The Art of Wildwoodarriving from Rizzoli Universe. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter and Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - drewtaylor.work 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 Planning a Disney or Universal Orlando vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, and the details that make vacation planning easier, all at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning your next getaway. 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

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick things off with Drew’s behind-the-scenes perspective on moderating the press day for DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, the studio’s Filipino mythology-inspired adventure. Then they run through the latest animation and box office news, from Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Coyote vs. Acme to Toy Story 5, Haunted Mansion Holiday, and Aardman’s anniversary celebrations. Finally, Drew shares an early look inside the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles and how it compares with the nearby Academy Museum. HIGHLIGHTS • Drew goes behind the scenes of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island press day and the film’s celebration of Filipino mythology and folklore. • Spider-Man: Brand New Day closes in on another major domestic box office milestone as Practical Magic 2 takes the weekend’s top spot. • Coyote vs. Acme continues its theatrical run while details begin emerging about its eventual 4K Steelbook release. • Pixar Place Hotel gets a Monsters, Inc. Halloween makeover as Disney marks 25 years of both the Pixar classic and Haunted Mansion Holiday. • Aardman celebrates its 50th anniversary with a Wallace & Gromit pop-up and the theatrical arrival of Shaun the Sheep and the Beast of Mossy Bottom. • Drew gets an advance tour of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park and compares it with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work 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 Planning a Disney or Universal vacation? The team at BeOurGuestVacations.com can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, cruises, and all the details that go into making your trip easier to plan - at no additional cost to you. 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

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed round of animation news, beginning with a fascinating follow-up to their Tim Curry tribute and the real story behind his brief run as the Joker on "Batman: The Animated Series." They break down a record-setting summer at the box office, from "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" to the theatrical comeback of "Coyote vs. Acme," "Cars," and "Akira." Plus, Jim and Drew look ahead to new projects from Matt Braly and Dana Terrace, the return of "Spirited Away: Live on Stage," and the upcoming opening of the revamped Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios. NEWS• Why Tim Curry's frightening Joker ultimately gave way to Mark Hamill on "Batman: The Animated Series."• "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" helps push the Summer 2026 domestic box office to a record $4.7 billion.• "Coyote vs. Acme," the 20th anniversary re-release of "Cars," and a 4K IMAX restoration of "Akira" find audiences in theaters.• Matt Braly's "Clara and the Below," Dana Terrace's "Knights of Guinevere," and "The Owl House" graphic novel "The Long Lived King" move forward.• "Spirited Away: Live on Stage" heads to theaters as Disney's Hollywood Studios prepares to open the new Magic of Disney Animation. HOSTS• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | jimhillmedia.com• Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | drewtaylor.work FOLLOW• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews• YouTube: @jimhillmedia• TikTok: @jimhillmedia• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ SUPPORTSupport the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia. PRODUCTION CREDITSEdited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com SPONSORPlanning a Disney or Universal vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations can help with hotels, theme park tickets, dining reservations, cruises, and the details that make vacation planning easier, all at no additional cost to you. Visit BeOurGuestVacations.com to start planning your next getaway. 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

Coyote vs. Acme finally gets its theatrical moment, and Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into the surprisingly strong opening weekend for the long-shelved Warner Bros. Animation film. They also reflect on the losses of Tim Curry and Peter Cullen, as well as stop-motion and visual-effects legend Phil Tippett’s retirement and the liquidation of Tippett Studio. Plus, the guys run through the latest animation news, from Aardman’s new Pokémon series to changes at Warner Bros. Animation and a promising awards run for Tangles. NEWS • Coyote vs. Acme opens to a strong $15.4 million weekend after Ketchup Entertainment’s theatrical rescue of the Warner Bros. Animation film. • Jim and Drew remember Tim Curry and Peter Cullen and look back at their lasting contributions to animation and entertainment. • Phil Tippett retires as his legendary Berkeley studio prepares for liquidation, prompting a look back at his remarkable stop-motion and visual-effects career. • Disney+ lands Aardman’s new Pokémon animated series, while Sam Register prepares to step down from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios. • IFC picks up Tangles for an Oscar-qualifying run, and Stranger Things: Tales from '85 returns with a new Season 2 trailer. HOSTS • Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia - Instagram: @JimHillMedia - jimhillmedia.com • Drew Taylor - X/Twitter: @DrewTailored - Instagram: @drewtailored - drewtaylor.work 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 Planning a Disney or Universal vacation can get complicated fast, and our friends at BeOurGuestVacations.com can help. They’re an EarMarked by Disney travel agency at the Platinum level and a Universal U Preferred Platinum Planning Partner. They can help with hotels, tickets, reservations, cruises, and all the little details that come with planning a trip. Best of all, their planning services come at no additional cost to you. 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