176. The Black Cauldron (1985)

This week, J.B. and Eddie dive headfirst into the zany, genre-bending world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. From its groundbreaking animation/live-action hybrid to the utterly deranged performance of Judge Doom, they debate whether this movie still holds up, and what Disney would even do with a project like this today.Later, they react to Pixar's current box-office flop Elio.

This week, J.B. and Eddie dust off one of Disney’s hidden gems: The Great Mouse Detective. They celebrate Vincent Price’s unhinged performance as Professor Ratigan, marvel at the animation of the Big Ben finale, and reflect on why Basil of Baker Street deserves more love. Along the way, they unpack the film’s weird tonal balance, bat-based jump scares, and the offbeat charm that helped set the stage for the Disney Renaissance.

In this episode of Honey, We Made a Disney Podcast, J.B. and Eddie leap to the present day to deep dive into Andor Season 2. From the sheer mastery of Tony Gilroy’s storytelling to the intense emotional stakes that redefine Star Wars, the guys take their time savoring every moment. They discuss the show’s methodical pacing, its revolutionary themes, and the characters who make it unforgettable—particularly Cassian, Bix, Luthen, Mon Mothma, Dedra, and everyone’s favorite chaotic pair, Syril and Dedra. It's a full breakdown of the structure, the style, and the soul of what might be the best Star Wars storytelling ever.

This week, J.B. and Eddie dive into the dark and divisive Disney classic The Black Cauldron. They discuss how the film nearly sank Disney animation, why Gurgi sounds suspiciously like a certain precious-loving creature, and whether there’s actually a good movie buried beneath all the chaos. Plus, Eddie shares a Star Wars revelation discovered through Spanish dubs, and the duo rattle through some rapid-fire Disney news.00:00 – Intro00:56 – The Black Cauldron review05:00 – Genre-bending ambitions & Disney’s struggle to reinvent animation10:23 – The movie’s plot14:00 – Gurgi = Gollum17:00 – Witches and confused children20:14 – Is this Disney’s worst animated film? The case for and against25:07 – The baffling climax & that awkward exposition dump30:00 – Box office bombshell and the animation team's demotion33:05 – Parks & legacy34:15 – Ratings35:04 – Disney News Rapid Fire58:42 – Family Talk

We’ve finally digitized ourselves into Disney's ambitious, neon-lit cult classic: Tron (1982). Join J.B. and Eddie as they explore the film’s groundbreaking visuals, early CGI innovations, and the wild decisions that brought this techy odyssey to life—plus why this movie may have confused, amazed, or bored audiences in equal measure. We unpack the surprising religious overtones, arcade-era obsession, and Disney’s attempts to reboot the magic. Also in Disney news: a surprise Star Wars announcement from Celebration Japan and the internet’s relentless takedown of Snow White continues.

Today we're singing our way into EPCOT history with a deep dive into the gloriously bizarre Epcot Center Grand Opening TV Special. From Danny Kaye’s musical explanations to Drew Barrymore predicting high school on Mars, it’s a delightful mess. We unpack Dreamfinder’s magical mustache, Marie Osmond's confusing ballad, future tech that never came to be, and the weird robot musical number that somehow worked. And of course, we honor the giant golf ball in the sky: Spaceship Earth.TIMECODES00:00 Intro00:58 The Epcot Center Grand Opening TV Special39:04 Disney+ Deals at the Parks46:40 30th Anniversary of The Goofy Movie48:50 Snow Whites other story52:51 Look ahead to Star Wars Celebration55:51 Family News

This week, J.B. and Eddie wrestle with the complicated friendship dynamics of The Fox and the Hound—a film with cute woodland creatures, recycled voice actors, and surprisingly few fox-friendly morals. They talk about the film’s pacing problems, the infamous train scene, and the animation studio drama that changed Disney forever. Plus, Disney news is popping off: Snow White flops, Tangled gets paused, Luke Skywalker shows up in Galaxy’s Edge, and Universal's Epic Universe officially raises the bar. And of course—public nudity.00:00 Intro00:56 The Fox and the Hound review34:00 Snow White Flop Fallout39:00 Seasons of the Force42:41 Epice Universe47:02 Cinemacon Disney Releases51:32 Family News

Eddie and J.B. take a nostalgic trip back to the 1979 movie you never knew existed... The Black Hole (00:58), Disney's ambitious dive into the sci-fi craze. Their first attempt at PG rating (05:00), those robots (12:49), magnificent ending (24:12). In Disney news (32:11), we cover the strange Marvel cast list for Doomsday, tons of trailers, and Coco 2. Plus J.B. reviews his cruise mistakes (48:53).

J.B. and Eddie dive into Pete’s Dragon (1977), the live-action/animation hybrid that Disney hoped would recapture the magic of Mary Poppins. They break down the film’s unexpected musical format, its Broadway-style numbers, and how it compares to the 2016 remake. From discussing Disney’s obsession with orphan stories to the oddest elixir ever sold, they unpack the film’s quirks, its animation legacy, and its presence in the Disney Parks. Plus, stay tuned for the latest Disney news, including South by Southwest announcements, the Snow White PR disaster, and Disney’s massive pullback on Disney+ content.Timestamps00:00 – Intro00:02:34 – Initial reactions: “Wait… this is a musical?”00:03:36 – The film’s connection to Mary Poppins and The Apple Dumpling Gang00:05:52 – Disney’s obsession with orphan stories00:08:07 – Comparing the 1977 and 2016 versions of Pete’s Dragon00:13:06 – The most uncomfortable song in the film00:15:34 – The strangest elixir ever00:16:17 – Was this secretly a human trafficking story?00:18:02 – Pete’s Dragon in the Disney Parks: The Main Street Electrical Parade00:21:02 – Disneyland’s 90s Night: Where’s The Rescuers?00:26:25 – Disney Imagineering’s full PR push at South by Southwest00:28:05 – Disney’s bizarre, Snow White “no press allowed” premiere00:30:41 – The Snow White box office disaster: How bad will it be?00:36:28 – Disney officially pulling back from Disney+ original films00:40:40 – J.B.’s daughter is officially hooked on Disney Parks

J.B. and Eddie take on The Rescuers (1977), Disney’s thrilling animated adventure about two heroic mice on a mission to save a kidnapped girl. They dive into the film’s surprisingly dark themes, its impact on Disney’s animation legacy, and why it became one of the studio’s biggest hits of the decade. Plus, they discuss Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor’s legendary performances, the film’s abandoned 101 Dalmatians connection, and the surprising history behind The Rescuers Down Under. Stick around for Disney news, including a major Captain America: Brave New World breakdown, Andor Season 2 trailer reactions, and the bombshell report that Kathleen Kennedy is out at Lucasfilm.Timestamps00:00 – Intro and nostalgic childhood memories of The Rescuers04:00 – The film’s original connection to 101 Dalmatians10:00 – Why The Rescuers was Disney’s biggest animated hit since The Jungle Book14:45 – Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor’s perfect voice-acting chemistry19:30 – Disney Parks discussion: Why The Rescuers has no representation24:00 – Disney’s first animated sequel: The Rescuers Down Under connection29:00 – Captain America: Brave New World review and reactions48:00 – Disney admits its parks are too expensive, shifting focus to business outcomes53:00 – Andor Season 2 trailer reaction57:45 – Kathleen Kennedy out at Lucasfilm