Gumby Turns 70, DreamWorks Eyes Cocomelon, and Peppa Pig Teams Up with Walmart (Ep. 307)
In this solo episode ofFine Tooning, Jim Hill dives into a packed week of animation news while Drew Taylor covers the opening of Epic Universe in Florida. Topics include:
The 70th anniversary ofGumby– A look back at Art Clokey’s clay-animated classic and upcoming updates likeGumby Kids.
Faith-based animation on the rise– Following the box office success ofThe King of Kings,Fairly OddParentscreator Butch Hartman launches a new animation studio focused on spiritual storytelling.
DreamWorks embraces early childhood IP– From the upcomingCocomelonfeature toGabby’s Dollhouse: The MovieandBad Guys 2.
Paramount’s shifting release schedule– New dates forTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2,The Legend of Aang, andPaw Patrol: The Dino Movie.
Peppa Pig’s gender reveal episode debuts… onWalmart.com– A bold retail-media crossover with exclusive merchandise tied to streaming content.
Smurfs movie sparks fan backlash– Rihanna’s new song “Friend of Mine” fails to impress her Navy, despite her upcoming role as Smurfette.
AI in animation– With $42 million raised by AI animation startups like Cartwheel and Hedra, concerns about job displacement echo the shift from hand-drawn to CG in the ’90s.
NewShaun the Sheepmovie announced– Aardman’sThe Beast of Mossy Bottomarrives in 2026 with a Halloween theme.
A thoughtful and wide-ranging episode covering preschool hits, legacy IP, streaming trends, theatrical strategy, and the evolving role of AI in the animation industry.
Be Our Guest Vacations
Planning your next Disney vacation? Be Our Guest Vacations is a Platinum-level Earmarked travel agency with concierge-level service to make every trip magical. Their team of expert agents plans vacations across the globe, from Disney and Universal to cruises and adventures, ensuring you have the best possible experience without the stress.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visitmegaphone.fm/adchoices
If you like what you hear, and would like to support all of the Jim Hill Media Network Podcasts, please consider subscribing - for just $4 / month - to hear more episodes exclusive to subscribers
Go to disneydish.bandcampcom/subscribe (where you'll find an awesome pic of Jim and Len) to subscribe, then listen for your name to be announced by THE Len Testa on a future Disney Dish.
Thanks for listening!
