Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor

Latest Episodes:

Get ready for a very animated San Diego Comic-Con (Ep. 316) Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by discussing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” that new show at Disneyland Park in Anaheim.

examineThey then look at how Paramount Pictures’ new “Smurfs” film performed at the domestic box office.

For this episode, listeners will learn about:

Who did Chris Buck & Kevin Lima originally want to voice Tantor the elephant in Disney’s animated version of “Tarzan”
Which role will Josh Gad be playing in the live concert version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” (which will be presented at the Hollywood Bowl August 1 – 3rd)
How many songs from the soundtrack of “KPop Demon Hunters” (i.e., Netflix’s latest hit animated film) wound up in Billboard’s Hot 100
Why did Sony Pictures Animation opt to push back the release date of “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse”
When will San Diego Comic-Con be celebrating Fox’s Animation Domination programming block

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SpongeBob Returns with Flying Dutchman and a Star-Studded Teaser (Ep. 315) Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a wide-ranging conversation about box office trends, Comic-Con reveals, and the growing debate around casting A-list celebrities in animated films. Highlights include:

Paramount debuts the first teaser for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Mark Hamill joins as the Flying Dutchman, and Jim reflects on the franchise’s enduring magic.
Godzilla’s 70th anniversary celebration hits San Diego Comic-Con – Drew previews his panel, and Jim geeks out over Super7’s pop-up recreating the “Godzilla Minus One” train scene.
Chris Pratt returns for Garfield 2 – But should Hollywood rely less on celebrities and more on trained voice actors? Jim revisits old rants and Billy West’s take on the trend.
Michelle Yeoh joins the English dub of Ne Zha 2 – Now the highest-grossing animated film globally, the dubbed version hits U.S. theaters in August.
Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires – Warner Bros. Animation unveils a visually stunning reimagining of the Dark Knight at Comic-Con.

Plus: tributes to Pokémon voice legend James Carter Cathcart, Bugs Bunny’s 85th birthday at the Hollywood Bowl, and a sneak peek at Bluey at the Cinema: Let’s Play Chef coming soon to Europe.

It’s an episode packed with nostalgia, news, and insights from both coasts as Jim and Drew tackle everything from kaiju cosplay to cartoon casting.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jurassic World Breaks Records, Elio Stalls, and Looking Back at 'The Mouse Factory' (Ep. 314) Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a packed slate of animation and entertainment news—including box office wins, deep animation history, and Broadway updates:

Universal celebrates a huge opening for Jurassic World Rebirth with $318M globally, while How to Train Your Dragon crosses the half-billion mark.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar club, expected to cross the threshold by the time Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters later this month.
Pixar’s Elio struggles at the box office, with $96M worldwide after three weekends and its Disney+ debut now supposedly slated for September.
“Boop the Musical” to close on Broadway, while Disney’s Frozen the Musical West End run hits Disney+ with a professionally filmed version.
Ward Kimball’s The Mouse Factory – Jim revisits Disney’s forgotten answer to The Muppet Show, cancelled after just two seasons to protect the studio’s Sunday night ratings.

Plus: Updates on Camp Cretaceous: Chaos Theory, the retirement of animation legend Tom Sito, changes at Cartoon Brew, and the long-awaited arrival of The Cat in the Hat—now with Things 1 through 18.

A jam-packed episode filled with history, industry insight, and a look ahead at what’s next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lilo & Stitch 2 Announced, Elio Holds, and Akira’s Live-Action Deal Expires (Ep. 313) Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite (despite a case of post-Annecy crud) to cover a wide range of animation and industry news, including:

Disney officially announces Lilo & Stitch 2 after the live-action original crosses $945M globally.
Elio holds better than expected with a solid second weekend as it climbs past $42M domestically.
Live-action Tangled delayed to 2029, reportedly to make room for the Lilo & Stitch sequel.
Warner Bros. loses the rights to Akira after years of development—setting the stage for a new studio to reimagine the cyberpunk classic.
Laika’s ParaNorman returns to theaters for Halloween 2025 as part of the studio’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Also in this episode: KPOP Demon Hunters debuts at #2 globally on Netflix, Broadway updates on Beauty and the Beast and Hercules, and what’s really in those Dragon Flame-Grilled Whoppers at Burger King.

It’s a shorter episode while Drew recovers—but packed with news, box office insight, and some wild theme park popcorn bucket trivia.

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Annecy, Disneyland Paris, and the Animation News You Missed While Drew Was in France (Ep. 312) Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

On this week’s jet-lagged edition of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor keep things quick but packed with insight. Drew is back from his travels—and despite the sleep deprivation, he’s ready to recap his time at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and his first-ever visit to Disneyland Paris.

How Annecy 2025 addressed AI concerns and global animation trends
Jared Bush’s surprising hint at the return of hand-drawn animation at Disney
Highlights from Annecy’s screenings, filmmaker encounters, and festival buzz
Drew’s impressions of Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park
The popcorn bucket taking over Walt Disney World (yes, another one)
Box office updates for How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, and Lilo & Stitch

Plus, news on upcoming releases (F1 – The Movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, Smurfs, Fantastic Four) and a reminder that yes, Evita is saving Rachel Zegler’s career.

Be Our Guest Vacations

Learn More

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beauty and the Beast at 30, Elio Projections, and the Live-Action Dragon’s Box Office (Ep. 311) Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers the latest from the animation and box office world while Drew Taylor wraps up his trip to Annecy and Disneyland Paris. This week’s highlights include:

Live-action How to Train Your Dragon opens to $197M globally, including a $83M domestic debut that surpasses every previous entry in the franchise.
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch nears the billion-dollar mark, with over $858M earned just four weeks after release.
Pixar’s Elio faces a soft box office forecast, but Jim urges caution against writing it off before opening weekend.
Peter Sohn tapped to direct Incredibles 3, with a screenplay by Brad Bird and expectations riding high after Elemental's surprise turnaround.
Jim interviews Matt West, director of the 30th Anniversary Tour of Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical, and shares the story of how the animated film came together after a theme park pre-show opened doors for new talent.

From billion-dollar contenders to Broadway anniversaries and surprise animation industry milestones, it’s a jam-packed episode filled with insight, stories, and a little history.

Be Our Guest Vacations

Learn More

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lilo & Stitch Still Soars, Dragon Whoppers Reviewed, and Fantasia’s Forgotten Soundtrack (Ep. 310) Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers a whirlwind of animation news, box office milestones, and fast food tie-ins—while Drew Taylor checks in from Annecy. Topics include:

Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch nears $800M globally, but with How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, and Jurassic World approaching, can it hold on?
A live-action Tangled revival is gaining momentum, possibly hitting theaters in 2029.
Burger King’s How to Train Your Dragon menu gets taste-tested, including the Dragon Flame-Grilled Whopper and Viking’s Chocolate Sundae.
Universal’s Simpsons rights could end in 2028, putting attractions like Krusty Burger on the clock.
The forgotten Dolby stereo Fantasia soundtrack from 1982, featuring a 125-piece orchestra, Jimmy Macdonald’s new click track, and backlash from classical music fans.

Plus: LEGO’s $200 Krusty Burger, Seth Rogen’s porcine resume, and why blue drinks raise red flags. It’s a classic Jim-only episode packed with oddball insight and animation industry intel.

Be Our Guest Vacations

Learn More

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pixar’s Elio Revealed, Coco 2 Confirmed & Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Sparks Debate (Ep. 309) Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack the biggest stories in the animation world, including Drew’s visit to Pixar for an exclusive look at Elio. The upcoming original film continues to evolve creatively, now led by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, and features bold technical advances and emotional storytelling. The duo also confirms Coco 2 is officially on the way—with directors Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina returning—though its release date may be in flux.

They also dive into the mixed reactions to Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, including fan frustrations over missing characters and deeper critiques from Hawaiian viewers. Other topics include:

The legacy of Destino and its unlikely connection to a Coronado Springs hotel
The controversy surrounding the live-action Lilo & Stitch ending and themes of colonialism
Streaming stats for Bluey and the puzzling world of animation metrics
Updates on the King of the Hill reboot and Rick & Morty Season 8
Remembering Alf Clausen’s musical legacy on The Simpsons

Plus, Drew shares behind-the-scenes insights from Elio, including a surprise reference to The Shining, its Epcot-like opening scene, and the technical feat that is the Communiverse.

Be Our Guest Vacations

Learn More

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lilo & Stitch Surprises at the Box Office, Toy Story 5 Adds Conan, and Epic Universe Impressions (Ep. 308) May 27, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite to cover a packed Memorial Day weekend full of animation and theme park headlines, including:

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch stuns with a $183M opening, far surpassing projections and proving the power of theatrical releases.
Conan O’Brien joins Toy Story 5 as Smarty Pants, revealed during Disney’s Licensing Expo presentation.

First look at Zootopia 2 – A mysterious villain, new districts, and plenty of fan theories sparked by the teaser trailer.
Drew’s full report from Epic Universe – A deep dive into Isle of Berk, Ministry of Magic, Celestial Park, and the tech behind Monsters Unchained.

A can't-miss episode filled with theatrical wins, sneak peeks, and theme park reveals from one of the biggest weekends in entertainment.

Be Our Guest Vacations

Learn More

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gumby Turns 70, DreamWorks Eyes Cocomelon, and Peppa Pig Teams Up with Walmart (Ep. 307) May 20, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Fine 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 of Gumby – A look back at Art Clokey’s clay-animated classic and upcoming updates like Gumby Kids.
Faith-based animation on the rise – Following the box office success of The King of Kings, Fairly OddParents creator Butch Hartman launches a new animation studio focused on spiritual storytelling.
DreamWorks embraces early childhood IP – From the upcoming Cocomelon feature to Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie and Bad Guys 2.
Paramount’s shifting release schedule – New dates for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2, The Legend of Aang, and Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie.
Peppa Pig’s gender reveal episode debuts… on Walmart.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.
New Shaun the Sheep movie announced – Aardman’s The Beast of Mossy Bottom arrives 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

Learn More

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected