Episodes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down one of the biggest nights in animation as The Wild Robot dominates the Annie Awards, winning eight major categories. They also dive into the frustrating fate of Coyote vs. Acme, the Warner Bros. live-action/animated film that was shelved despite glowing reviews. Plus, they discuss Dog Man’s unexpected second-week box office drop and the shifting landscape of animated features. Also in this episode: Why The Wild Robot’s Annie Aw...

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: Dog Man’s impressive $36M opening weekend and what it means for DreamWorks Animation. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the fascinating history behind Splash Mountain’s reimagining. Will Ferrell’s viral Buddy the Elf moment at an LA Kings game and his surprising reason for rejecting Elf 2. Updates on The Simpsons’ upcoming season and exclusive Disney+ episodes. The changing landscape of animated indie films like The Day the Earth Blew ...

In this episode of Fine Tooning , Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: Warner Bros. Animation’s ambitious adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and its 2028 release plans. The marketing genius behind DreamWorks’ Dog Man , including a new The Bad Guys short premiering with the film. Animated Academy Award nominees, from The Wild Robot to Flow , and surprising snubs like Moana 2 . The evolving Oscars strategy for animated features, including Disney’s hits and misses in the Best Song cate...

In this episode of Fine Tooning , Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: A behind-the-scenes look at Disney’s Hercules , from the creation of Hades to Jeffrey Katzenberg’s surprising influence on the character. The passing of legendary filmmakers David Lynch and Robert Verrall, celebrating their lasting impact on cinema and animation. Box office highlights, including Moana 2 crossing the billion-dollar milestone and Mufasa: The Lion King ’s continued success. Exciting new releases, including trailers...

In this episode of Fine Tooning , Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: The devastating wildfires in Southern California and their impact on the animation industry. Updates on box office hits like Moana 2 , Mufasa: The Lion King , and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 . The intriguing backstory of Olaf’s creation in Frozen and Josh Gad’s journey to voicing the beloved character. Changes to Fox’s Sunday night “Animation Domination” lineup and what it means for The Simpsons . The Visual Effects Society Awards nomi...

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: The 82nd Golden Globes nominees for Best Animated Motion Picture, including Inside Out 2, Moana 2, and Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. Hayao Miyazaki’s enduring creative spirit as the Studio Ghibli legend celebrates his 84th birthday. Disney’s history of using Donald Duck to rally Americans during WWII, including the creation of patriotic animated shorts like The New Spirit. Updates on Mufasa: The Lion King’s box office pe...

In this final episode of Fine Tooning for 2024, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor explore: How Mufasa: The Lion King roared back at the box office, edging out Sonic 3 during the holiday weekend. Updates from Pixar, including Tim Allen’s return as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story 5 and the lingering delays around Win or Lose . A sneak peek at 2025’s animated lineup, from Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl to Pixar’s Elio and Zootopia 2 . The unconventional tradition of watching King Kong to ring in the New ...

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, di...

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...

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 How many “Best Animated Feature of the Year” awards has “F...

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...

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. Animated Feature Oscars Update: A record 31 animated films are in the running for this year’s Academy Award. Hear predictions for frontrunners like ...

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 ant...

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 Brasi...

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 ...

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: Upd...

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 Comm...

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 ...

In this episode of Fine Tooning , Jim Hill dives into the latest animation news and rumors. With Drew Taylor away, Jim covers: Unraveling Studio Feuds and Hollywood Drama : What caused the downfall of Fleischer Studios and their ultimate takeover by Paramount Pictures? Jennifer Lee’s Next Move : Disney Animation’s Chief Creative Officer steps down to focus on Frozen 3 and Frozen 4 , while Jared Bush steps in. Joker: Folie à Deux ’s Box Office Struggles**: Warner Bros. Discovery faces losses as t...

Jim Hill starts a solo edition of this podcast by discussing how well “The Wild Robot” did at the domestic box office this past weekend. He then discusses the Halloween-themed “The Bad Guys” special which will soon be debuting on Netflix Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How will Warner Bros. Discovery be celebrating Scooby Doo this month Who will be introducing “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” at this year’s Animation is Film Festival What did the “Mufasa: Th...

In this episode of Fine Tooning , Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss the surprising news of Jennifer Lee stepping down as Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and what it means for the future of Disney’s animated films. They explore: Jennifer Lee’s New Role : How she’s shifting her focus to the upcoming Frozen 3 and Frozen 4 . Jared Bush Takes the Lead : What does this creative shake-up mean for Disney, and what projects might be on the horizon? Pixar’s Pressure to Perform : The...

In this episode of Fine Tooning , Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss how the successful 15th-anniversary re-release of Coraline inspired Disney to bring back some of its beloved classics to theaters. Find out how The Nightmare Before Christmas and Hocus Pocus are making their return to the big screen this Halloween season. Join us as we cover: Coraline’s Box Office Success : How a cult classic reignited Disney’s interest in re-releases. The Return of Hocus Pocus : Why is this Halloween favorite ba...

In this episode of Fine Tooning , Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take you behind the scenes of Disney’s beloved Hocus Pocus and its unexpected connection to Steven Spielberg. Discover the untold story of how the Halloween classic was pitched, nearly lost, and ultimately stolen away from Spielberg. Tune in as we explore: The Spielberg-Kirschner Drama : How did the An American Tail creator’s decision to pitch Hocus Pocus to Disney instead of Spielberg create tension in Hollywood? Disney's Billion-Dollar...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing how “Inside Out” became the highest grossing animated feature of all time. They also take a look at the upcoming new “Wallace & Gromit” film, “Vengeance Most Fowl” Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How many films in Hollywood history have grossed over a billion dollars overseas Why won’t Quentin Tarantino watch “Toy Story 4” \ How long has it been since the last “Wallace & Gromit” (i.e., “A Matter of Loaf & Death”) de...