The Last-Minute Fixes That Turned The Lion King into a Classic (Ep. 343)

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 million for the weekend
• Why Mercy managed to knock Avatar: Fire & Ash out of the top spot with a historically soft number one opening
• Zootopia 2 crosses $400 million domestically and gets a confirmed digital and physical release timeline
• Oscar nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Animated Short, including why KPop Demon Hunters looks like the current front-runner
• A first look teaser for The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Movie introduces Yoshi ahead of its April release

FEATURE
• A deep dive into the legacy of Roger Allers and how The Lion King was reshaped in the final weeks before release
• Behind-the-scenes stories from Disney Animation’s most turbulent eras, including last-minute fixes that would never fly today
• Remembering restoration legend Ron Stark of S/R Laboratories and his quiet but essential impact on animation history

For this episode’s full show notes, click here.

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Unlocked Magic helps you save on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets, sometimes up to 12 percent off. Plan your 2026 Central Florida trip with confidence at UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to tell them Drew and Jim sent you.

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