Episodes

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 th...

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 “Mufas...

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 b...

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 Pocusto Disney instead of Spielberg create tension in Hollywood? Disney's Billion-Dolla...

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 & Deat...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by seeing how “Inside Out 2” ‘s worldwide box office stacks up against Jon Favreau’s photo-realistic “Lion King.” They also talk about that Nightmare Before Christmas-themed light trail that’s coming to New York’s Botanical Gardens Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: This long-running animated series just celebrated its 25th anniversary back in January Will Warner Bros. be releasing Genndy Tartakovsky’s “Fixed” anytime soon When...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by looking back at some of the animation-related news that came out of the D23 Expo. They also discuss a number of the books that event attendees could pick up at this year’s eve Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Who now is voicing Elio’s aunt in Pixar Animation Studios’ big release for June of 2025 Why it’s kind of ironic that the Mouse House just decided to make Frank Oz a Disney Legend What’s the reported premise fo...

Drew Taylor starts off this week’s show by looking back at the “Jurassic World: Chaos Panel” he moderated at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con. Then Jim Hill discusses the three feature-length films that were made at Fox Animation Studios in Phoenix Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:  What spot did Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” just claim on the list of all-time worldwide top grossing films  When will the Boomerang streaming service officially get folded into Max  Wh...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about how “Inside Out 2” just became the highest-grossing animated feature of all time (barring Disney’s photo-realistic “Lion King” of 2019). They also take a look back at “The Rescuers” Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about; Which character was Phil Harris originally supposed to voice in “The Rescuers” How many art students did Disney initially invite to take part in the Studio’s inaugural animation boot camp? What adv...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the “Jurassic World: Chaos Theory” panel Drew will be hosting at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. They then talk about which animated film franchise is currently the top earner Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: How many people have been to every single Comic-Con since the first event was held in San Diego back in 1970 When did Disney Legend Ken Anderson retire from the Company Why was Disney forced to make “The S...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking up the two books that Josh Gad will be bringing to the marketplace in the next six months. They then take a look at how “Inside Out 2” & “Despicable Me 4” have been doing at the box office Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: How many episodes for “Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs: The Animated Series” were produced When does Season 12 of “Futurama” get underway on Hulu Who did Tim Burton share an office with when he wor...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by discussing the animated feature that just blew past a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. They also take a look at how Universal Pictures’ promoted “Despicable Me 4” in Las Vegas Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about; How tall is the High Roller Ferris wheel (which towers above the Las Vegas Strip) How many “SpongeBob” movies have been released theatrically to date What was one of the last scenes to be anima...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by talking about “Inside Out 2” ‘s continuing dominance at the worldwide box office. They then discuss some of the television-related news that came out of this year’s Annecy International Film Festival and Market For this episode, listeners will learn about: What’s the subtitle of the next holiday special in Disney’s “Prep & Landing” series supposed to be called Who did Steven Spielberg want to hire to handle all of the animation in “Who Framed ...

Drew Taylor is fresh back from France. And he tells Jim Hill all about the animated films that he got to see at this year’s international animation film festival and market For this episode, listeners will learn about: What did Nick Park have to say when he learned of Steven Spielberg’s love of the runaway train scene in “The Wrong Trousers” Which recently retired Disney Legend received this year’s Annecy Walk of Fame Award Where do Porky, Daffy & Petunia Pig work in “The Day The Earth Blew ...

Dfrew and Jim share fond memories of Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman

Jim Hill first talks about how “The Garfield Movie” did domestically over the long Memorial Day Week. He then discusses that new YouTube documentary, “Beyond the Glass: The WDW Animation Building” Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about: Which fairy tale classic was supposed to have served as the basis of Disney’s first-ever live-action musical for television How much of the staff up in Emeryville was reportedly let go as part of the recent round of lay-offs at Pixar Animation St...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s show by discussing the first full trailer for Netflix’s “Ultraman: Rising.” They then talk about “Flow,” the dialogue-free post-apocalyptic animated feature which will be debuting at Cannes next week In this episode, listeners will learn about: Who will be voicing Garfield’s Dad in the new animated feature that Sony will be sending out to North American theaters on May 24th Which George Lucas-produced film was Marvel Productions trying to turn into an ...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up “Exploding Kittens.” They then take a look at Mark Dindal’s career as the director of full-length animated features Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: What was the one-and-only film to be produced by Turner Feature Animation Why is the Henson family reportedly not all that fond of Pixar’s “Monsters Inc” How many “Garfield” TV specials were produced for CBS back in the late 1988 / early 1990s Where can ...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking about the series finale for that Lucasfilm Animation production, “Star Wars: The Bad Batch.” They then talk about how pleased Paramount+ is with the debut of its “Knuckles” mini-series Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: Where did the “Bluey’s Big Play” traveling stage show make its North American debut When will “The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish” be debuting on Nickelodeon Who was supposed to voice the ti...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up Pixar Fest (which starts this weekend at Disneyland Park). They then look ahead to which studios will be doing presentations at this year’s Annecy International Animation Film Festival & Market For this episode, listeners will learn about: How many Disney-related items are coming up for bid at Van Eaton Galleries’ next big event, “The Joel Magee Auction: Part Two” Which Pixar veteran is directing “Transformers One” for Paramount...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by talking up "Ultraman: Rising.” They then discuss which animation studio is soon to be honored with a Palme D’Odr at this year’s Cannes Film Festival For this episode, listeners will learn about: Which character in Pixar’s “Up” did Peter Docter’s daughter Elizabeth voice What does the future potentially hold for the “Bluey” animated series Which Pixar film was “B.O.O,” DreamWorks Animation’s cancelled supernatural comedy, supposed to go hea...

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s episode by looking back at how Walt Disney Studios did effects back in the 1960s. They also talk about the version of “Toy Story 3” that Circle 7 Studios had in development Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about: When will “Kung Fu Panda 4” be available for viewing on digital platforms like Amazon Video & iTunes How far back did the release date of Disney’s live-action version of “Moana” get pushed back When did Happy Meals to...