Episodes

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take a Fourth of July detour on Fine Tooning for a deep dive into the first 50 years of Disney animation directors. With Ron Clements’ memoir now pushed to October and The Great Mouse Detective celebrating its 40th anniversary, Jim and Drew trace how Disney’s animated features evolved from Walt’s hands-on oversight to the rise of the CalArts generation. Along the way, they revisit Snow White, Dumbo, Cinderella, The Jungle Book, The Rescuers, The Black Cauldron, and the f...

Drew Taylor is back from Annecy, sleep-deprived but fully loaded with animation news, studio reveals, and a few very good Brad Bird breakfast stories. This week, Jim and Drew look at Toy Story 5’s massive second weekend, Supergirl’s box office debut, and the Minions’ return to the big screen before diving into what Drew saw at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. From DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island to new Warner Bros. Animation projects, Disney and Pixar updates, and a tribute to Lilo...

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor look at a packed week in animation, from the box office surprises around Disclosure Day and Obsession to the latest honors for Aardman’s founders. They also preview Pixar’s Gatto, salute Floyd Norman’s upcoming Academy Honorary Award, and remember Tinker Bell reference model Margaret Kerry. The main event is Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch 2, with Chris Sanders returning to write and direct a brand-new story for everyone’s favorite blue alien experiment.NEWS• Discl...

Drew Taylor is back from the Toy Story 5 Premiere and Jim Hill gets all the details! They talk about some highly anticipated projects like The Doomies heading to Disney Plus, some Treehouse of Horror-related theming coming to The Simpsons at Universal, and plenty of other animation they’re looking forward to like Gatto from Pixar (with a teaser dropping pretty much right now!)NEWS• Toy Story 5 has it’s premiere, and Drew was there to get the scoop• Ice Age Boiling Point is on it’s way in F...

Drew Taylor and Jim Hill dive into one of the busiest weeks in animation and entertainment news, from early reactions to Pixar's Toy Story 5 and its surprisingly Jessie-focused story to major developments involving Rick & Morty, X-Men '97, Jorge Gutierrez, and Netflix animation. Along the way, they unpack box office surprises, discuss the end of Disney Twenty-Three magazine, and explore what the future may hold for some of animation's biggest franchises. This episode also includes Drew's thought...

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack a packed week in animation and themed entertainment news, from Warner Bros. officially developing a standalone Rick & Morty movie to Disney’s growing Bluey presence in both Anaheim and Orlando. Along the way, the duo discuss Universal Fan Fest’s future, the surprising Memorial Day box office performance of The Mandalorian & Grogu, and why Disney is already planning big for Mickey’s centennial celebration in 2028. They also pay tribute to legendary voice actor Tom ...

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the stunning debut of Laika’s “Wildwood” teaser trailer, the surprising revival of Matt Braly’s cancelled animated feature “Afterworld,” and Universal’s massive push behind the 25th anniversary of “Shrek.” They also discuss Warner Bros. Animation’s uncertain future, Disney’s latest animation-themed park projects, and new details on “CoCoMelon: The Movie” and Apple TV’s upcoming “Snoopy Unleashed.”AUDIO DISCLAIMER - we had some tech issues, but things clear u...

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack the latest animation and box office news, from the surprising strength of The Devil Wears Prada 2 to new reveals tied to Toy Story 5, Dragon Striker, and Netflix’s Annecy plans. The duo also discuss upcoming art books, anime releases, and Tom Sito’s new memoir about the animation renaissance of the 1980s and 1990s. Along the way, they reflect on how modern animation continues to blur the line between live-action and CG filmmaking.HIGHLIGHTS• The Devil Wears Pra...

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed episode that jumps from a galaxy far, far away to the runways of a surprise box office hit. They break down the evolving strategy behind Disney’s theatrical releases, spotlight a full-circle Star Wars character comeback, and dig into the unexpected success of a long-awaited sequel. Along the way, they explore new animation experiments, streaming debuts, and what’s next for both studios and theaters as summer heats up.HIGHLIGHTS• “The Devil Wore P...

Jim Hill goes solo this week while Drew Taylor is off moderating panels at a film festival, delivering a packed episode that jumps from animation industry headlines to box office chatter and even a bit of theme park savings strategy. Along the way, Jim reflects on past California travels, breaks down major animation announcements, and then dives deep into why Hollywood continues to struggle with blending animation and live-action. From legacy hits to modern misfires, it’s a thoughtful look at wh...

Jim Hill and Dan Graney unpack Marvel’s latest wave of announcements, from Avengers: Endgame returning to theaters with new footage to the growing sense that Doomsday is directly rewriting what came before. Along the way, they explore CinemaCon reveals, Infinity Vision, and what Disney’s internal shifts could mean for the future of the MCU. It’s a conversation about spectacle, strategy, and whether Marvel is quietly reshaping its own legacy in real time.HIGHLIGHTS• Avengers: Endgame returns t...

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.HIGHL...

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 ca...

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 ...

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 f...

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...

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 p...

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 scr...

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 Hunter...

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...

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...

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....

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 o...

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 mill...