With Ub Iwerks gone, Bob Clampett was left to take over the cartooning unit, and his own sensibilities started to quickly become apparent, even if they weren't allowed completely free reign with Chuck Jones still there. In this short, we see some Clampett start to stretch his wings with evil cute characters while Jones has fun giving detailed anima…

(Spoiler Section Length - 6min 39sec) This podcast has made no secret of the fact that it's not exactly on board with the Disney remake trend, and perhaps no remake has been more dreaded by at least one of these co-hosts than The Lion King. Though it's often referred to as live action, this movie is basically entirely animated just like the origina…

Many Popeye cartoons return to the well of Popeye vs Bluto, and that well typically involves trying to best one another at something until it comes to fisticuffs. But what if the thing they were trying to best each other at was... getting injured??

(Spoiler Section Length - 6min 41sec) The reputation of Disney sequels is generally not great, but among them the Lion King sequel and... interquel(?) tend to be favored. They're pretty wildly different in tone, with Simba's Pride maintaining a similar tone to the first movie, going for a Romeo and Juliet thing rather than Macbeth. Lion King 1½, me…

Tex Avery was the Warner Bros director that really shook up what it meant to be a WB cartoon short, and one of the ways in which he did that was an increasing focus on subverting expectations and breaking the 4th wall. He also introduced several characters to the Looney Tunes lineup, such as Egghead and Elmer Fudd. These two characters in particula…

(Spoiler Section Length - 8min 58sec) Generally speaking, people consider the Disney Renaissance of the (mostly) 90s to be the height of the studio's output, thanks in no small part to critical and commercial titans like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. But there is one film above all others that gripped the cultural zeitgeist…

There are only a handful of shorts whose fame at least partially comes from their technical achievements. Steamboat Willie and its sychronized sound is one, while The Old Mill's claim to fame is the multiplane camera. While we take what it does for granted now in the digital age, back then it was a big step-up in cinematography for animated shorts.…

(Spoiler Section Length - 14min 41sec) From the creator of The Triplets of Bellville comes a film about an old magician living in a time where his talents are valued less and less by the day. While Triplets had sparse dialogue, this film goes even further than that while maintaining a less exaggerated style, both visually and in what few vocalizati…

While Warner Bros' output has been increasing in quality in the late 30s, largely thanks to new blood like Tex Avery and newly-impowered blood like Bob Clampett, one member of the old guard in particular is still around and has been a lot slower to change: Fritz Freleng. Much of his output has largely been echoing the stylings of the Harman-Ising e…

(Spoiler Section Length - 6min 20sec) It's time to go back to the past of Makoto Shinkai - the creator of Your Name - to see the man's directorial debut. Except... we're actually checking out two films, one a short film and the other a full-length one. What similarites lie between these two works, and how do they relate to his later films? And more…

Today's Betty Boop is the first Boop in color (and the last, at least by the Fleischers), and is also technically not a Betty Boop but the start of the Color Classics series. It sees Betty in a retelling of Cinderella, complete with musical numbers, pretty dresses, a prince, and a fairy godmother. This short is also another example of the sorts of …

Color Rhapsodies is a series that, at least up to this point, has mostly been a Silly Symphonies ripoff tonally, with overly cutesy aesthetics and little substance. There's been exceptions, but for the most part they've stayed away from more gag-focused fare or more dramatic storytelling. So today, we're going to look at two cartoons, one that's ve…

(Spoiler Section Length - 5min 22sec) When it comes to direct-to-video sequels of animated films, though Disney's efforts are often derided, due to their budgets they tend to be better than what other studios manage to do. We've seen various efforts already, such as with sequels to Don Bluth films, and they've run the gamut from 'okay' to 'very bad…

Mickey, Donald and Goofy are taking on a new job this time: cleaning a clock. And not just any clock, but a clock tower! But with a sleepy stork, a sassy coil and Goofy's poor level of awareness to contend with, they're going to have a heck of a time getting the job done. So many years later, does the short still hold up? Listen to find out! The Cu…

(Spoiler Section Length - 7min 45sec) There are a lot of movies and shows aimed toward children that have a goal, primary or not, of advocating for protecting the natural environment from pollution. But if you're a 90s kid, chances are there's one in particular that comes to mind when the subject is brought up - Ferngully. Many pro-environment, ant…

Betty Boop's back, and running a hotel! But when things go wrong, since it's late-era Betty Boop, there's only one man who can save the day: Grampy. Though he's no one's favorite character, Grampy being in a Betty Boop cartoon doesn't necessarily mean it will be terrible! So... is this one? Listen to find out! The Curtain Rises Kevin MacLeod (incom…

(Spoiler Section Length - 3min 14sec) This time we cover yet another direct-to-dvd Disney sequel, and this one ALSO has the misfortune of being one of those 'three episode of a cancelled series'-type affairs. The series in question would have been titled Team Atlantis, but since the movie didn't do as well as Disney wanted, well... we got this. But…

In 1937 Looney Tunes continued to evolve more and more into what they're thought of today, and a big reason for that is the way the individual directors evolved, getting more and more leeway to find their own styles. In this episode we meet up with Frank Tashlin again and see how his style has changed and what aspects he's leaned into. Is either sh…

(Spoiler Section Length - 16min 5sec) After around a decade of creating musicals, Disney started to branch out in the early 2000's, creating several films that weren't as financially successful as the 'Renaissance Era' movies, but many of which ended up being cult favorites over time. Atlantis is one such film - eschewing the musical format for a s…

In 1937 Donald Duck broke out from the Mickey Mouse shorts into his own animated shorts series... but he wasn't the only one! Pluto also finally got his own series, though this would be the only entry in it for a few years. The character of Fifi and the concept of Pluto shepherding a group of rambunctious young animals returns in this first outing,…

(Spoiler Section Length - 11min 3sec) Rankin-Bass' Rudolph continues his adventures, and this time he's saving New Years! Along for the ride are a colorful cast of characters, in search of a baby with big ears. They hunt for the child across an archipelago with islands that represent years past. But the wicked giant bird Eon also searches for the k…

In this Popeye short, Swee'Pea gets into a dangerous factory and nearly dies many times! When people say things like 'you couldn't make this today' they usually seem to be referring to provocative content like Blazing Saddles, but the phrase could also be used for something like this: a cartoon where the central crux of most of the jokes is a baby …

(Spoiler Section Length - 9min 7sec) While Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer might have a tough time being labelled anyone's 'favorite' Christmas song, it certainly is one of the most well-known, and that's in part because of this iconic holiday special that virtually every generation since its creation is at least aware of, even if they haven't actua…

When people consider all-time classic Christmas stories, Dr. Seuss' tale of the Grinch tends to be one of the most fondly remembered. While the original book has had multiple adaptations over the years, the first one had the biggest influence, if for no other reason than it cemented the idea that the Grinch should be colored green. But all these ye…

This time we take a look at Gabby's final two (of three) appearances in the original Looney Tunes shorts, each one increasingly directed by Bob Clampett (with Chuck Jones as assistant director!). Does Gabby's character improve over his first appearance? Does Bob Clampett's direction win out against Ub Iwerks in quality? Are either of these cartoons…

(Spoiler Section Length - 12min 24sec) Making the sequel to your cult classic anthology film NOT an anthology is a strange choice out the gate, but not inherently a bad one, if the story and characters prove worth the time investment. Taking a few notes from the original film's Tarna segment, this sequel focuses on a butt-kicking woman taking on a …

Mickey's putting on a show - a magic show! Donald is also here, though unlike Orphan's Benefit he isn't part of the show - instead HE is the heckler! Though when Mickey easily puts him in his place, Donald is eager to charge onstage to fight about it. Throw in a little bit of Goofy, working behind the scenes, and you have an explosive mix with some…

(Spoiler Section Length - 18min 51sec) We've got another Mamoru Hosoda film on our hands, and just like all his other movies, we definitely never cried while watching or discussing it. This one touches on some very modern concerns, such as identity and perception in the digital age, while also using trappings from an older tale, Beauty and the Beas…

Ub Iwerks is a man who's come up multiple times already on this podcast, from his essential work on the earliest Mickey Mouse cartoons to his solo career after he left Disney. But he also had a very brief stint at Warner Bros, during a period of time where he was contracting out to various studios, including Columbia Pictures. So here we compare tw…

(Spoiler Section Length - 15min 38sec) This is one of the most well-known and beloved of all stop-motion animated films, all Halloween films, and it's even pretty high up on many people's favorite Christmas films. Also it has a lot of merchandise at Hot Topic! Add multiple video-game cameos via Kingdom Hearts (and even its own game or two), and som…

Donald Duck has finally been unshackled from Mickey's side, free to get into his own mouse-free shenanigans. Pluto's not even here! In fact, Donald's all on his own this time, at least when it comes to living creatures. There are a handful of robots, though! How does this early Donald solo outing hold up so many years later? Listen to find out! The…

(Spoiler Section Length - 10min 27sec) We finally arrive at the loose quadrilogy of Scooby-Doo movies that began with Zombie Island! With this film, Scooby-Doo enters the era of digital colorization, as well, making the film's aesthetic decidedly different from the previous three. Plot-wise, in this one the gang fights against a digital monster, bo…

As we've watched the two Warner Bros cartoon series (Merrie Melodies & Looney Tunes), we've gradually seen Porky Pig become the studio's main character, the closest thing they had to a Mickey Mouse. But by this point, Mickey Mouse was arguably not even the most popular character in Disney's cartoons anymore - Donald Duck was fast taking that positi…

Many animated films tried to compete with Disney during the 90s, and virtually all of them failed, at least financially. But how about critical reception, cult following, or even general quality? Well there weren't many contenders in those arenas, but one that can put up a fight in all three just so happens to be today's film. The iconography of th…

We end our 1936 cartoon short journey with a double-length, color, musical Popeye short! Our hero Popeye comes up against villain Sindbad and his island of incredible and dangerous beasts! But none are as dangerous as Sindbad himself! Throw in Olive Oyl and Wimpy and several instances of 3D hand-crafted backgrounds and you have all the ingredients …

Between Disney's much beloved Golden and Silver eras is the 'Wartime' era, which is significantly less beloved and talked about. Virtually all of the movies in this period were collections of animated shorts, be they many in number such as Melody Time or only two not-quite-feature-length shorts, like Ichabod and Mr. Toad. But Saludos Amigos and Thr…

In this classic Mickey Mouse cartoon, Donald Duck tries to fix some pipes while Pluto gets harassed by a magnet! Eventually the two collide and chaos ensues. Are you wondering why that description didn't involve the character of Mickey? Well that would be because he isn't in this cartoon! Made before Disney started breaking characters out into thei…

(Spoiler Section Length - 5min 40sec) Today we have another anthology film, this one based on the titular magazine. It's a film of sex, violence and rock 'n' roll, and it certainly won't be to everyone's tastes. It's also from the 80s, so the era of 'Heavy Metal'—both the magazine and music genre—that it harkens to is one long past at this point. A…

There are many Looney Tunes director that are well known and spoken of today, be they Chuck Jones, Tex Avery or even Bob Clampett. But there are also less-discussed directors whose work was no less interesting and important in pushing the series into the force it would become. Enter Frank Tashlin, a man whose appreciation of live-action cinematic t…

We've covered films by Studio Ghibli's second-most famous director twice before, though one of those times it we were discussing a pre-Ghibli work of his. But today we have Isao Takahata's swan song, the last movie he ever made, and one of the most eye-catching, to boot. It's a new take on an old tale, and it's quite unlike the more quirky and off-…

The series of Mickey, Donald and Goofy cartoons started out featuring Peg-Leg Pete as an antagonist, and in this cartoon that antagonism continues in color! ...Sort of! Pete is here, at least, but notably missing is his peg leg! From here on out Peg-Leg Pete just becomes Pete, at least as far as the classic era is concerned. The peg-leg aside... ho…

(Spoiler Section Length - 5min 59sec) It's time for more sequels to Don Bluth movies that have no involvement from Bluth himself or any of the other original creators for that matter! Except unlike most such sequels, this one ended up spawning a long-running franchise with well over 10 films and even a tv series under its belt as of 2024. The Land …

Oswald is a character originally created by Walt Disney, but who has long since been run by other directors, still creating shorts right alongside the much more popular Mickey Mouse series. Like Mickey, Oswald's design has changed with the times, but unlike Mickey that change at this point is so drastic that Oswald is hardly identifiable as the Mic…

(Spoiler Section Length - 6min 41sec) The second of the two Don Bluth and Steven Spielberg collaborations, The Land Before Time would also go on to become the premier children series about dinosaurs for the better part of two decades. While those later films (and tv series!) have a reputation all their own, this first one is the only film in the se…

Another Betty Boop cartoon, here in the era where her shorts are mostly not her own, but rather a vehicle for her dog, Grampy, or some other even less interesting character! This time Betty wants to take some kid to the carnival, but the weather isn't permitting. But good ol' Grampy cooks up an indoor carnival, with an impressive finale flourish! I…

(Spoiler Section Length - 5min 33sec) Disney films are often retroactively classified into various 'eras', with the period between Walt Disney's death and the start of the Renaissance often referred to as 'the Dark Ages'. Despite this ominous moniker, many fan-favorite films exist in this time period, including this very film! But this film is also…

Walt Disney famously hated sequels, though this wasn't an opinion he always held. At one point in time he was all for creating sequels to the hit cartoon Three Little Pigs, but when each short proved to be diminishing returns (at least financially), it contributed to his dislike of the concept of sequels. But looking back at this, the 2nd sequel in…

(Spoiler Section Length - 5min 42sec) Today we cover another movie from Cartoon Saloon, creators of The Secret of Kells and also a lot of other things, some of which - like a short for the Star Wars anthology series Visions - have come out since we covered their first film. Their studio only continues to put interesting and beautiful works out, onl…

Some pieces of media — be they cartoon shorts, feature length films, or even whole seasons of television — are worth watching a particular moment. That moment could be as short as a single seconds-long scene or as long as an entire episode, but something about it manages to massively exceed the quality level of the media it's a part of. Today, we h…

(Spoiler Section Length - 16min 35sec) Some movies are known for being massively successful, massively influential, and pillars of their respective genre... and yet also get watched less and less as the years go by, as though knowledge of their reputation is enough and watching the actual film is no longer needed. In many ways, it feels like Akira …