Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor

Latest Episodes:

Lilo & Stitch Controversy, Frozen 3’s Castle Reveal, and Fox Doubles Down on Adult Animation (Ep. 306) May 13, 2025

Show notes

In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers a wide range of animation news and commentary while Drew Taylor is away covering the global premiere of Mission: Impossible 8. Topics include:

Controversy around Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch – Director Dean Fleischer Camp shares concept art of Pleakley in a dress after Disney reportedly vetoed the idea.
A first look at Elsa’s new castle from Frozen 3 – How Disney Abu Dhabi’s concept art may hint at major design elements from the upcoming 2027 sequel.
Box office updates – Thunderbolts maintains momentum in its second weekend, and The King of Kings becomes a success story for South Korea’s Mofac Studios.
Fox renews Grimsburg, Krapopolis, and Universal Basic Guys – More early multi-season orders continue the trend of long-term investments in adult animation.
Seth MacFarlane returns for Ted: The Animated Series – A new sequel series is in the works at Peacock, picking up after Ted 2.
Remembering Marc and Alice Davis – A new website offers replicas of artwork by Marc Davis that once adorned the couple’s home.

It’s a packed episode full of industry insight, animation history, and a few heartfelt tributes along the way.

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Simpsons Renewed Through Season 40, Thunderbolts Tops the Box Office, and Disney’s Broadway Plans (Ep. 305) May 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor explore a wide range of animation and entertainment industry news, including:

The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, and American Dad each get renewed for four more seasons—an unprecedented move ensuring job security and a pipeline of adult animation through the end of the decade.
Marvel’s Thunderbolts debuts at #1 at the domestic box office with $76 million, signaling a possible rebound for the MCU.
Korean animated feature The King of Kings becomes the highest-grossing Korean film in U.S. history, surpassing Parasite.
Big City Greens celebrates its 100th episode with a special titled “One Hundred,” now streaming on Disney+.
Boop! The Musical and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary Tour – A look at how cartoon-based Broadway shows are faring in 2025 and what’s next for Disney Theatrical.
A heartfelt look at aging voice talent, with reflections on cast longevity for The Simpsons and how Disney once replaced Paul Winchell as Tigger.

Tune in for box office updates, Broadway insights, and thoughtful takes on how long-running franchises are managing the realities of time and talent.

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FanFest at Universal Hollywood, King of the Hill Returns, and Animation Highlights from Annécy (Ep. 304) Apr 29, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor cover a busy week in animation and theme park news, including:

Drew’s full report from FanFest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, including Back to the Future Hill Valley experiences, new anime tie-ins, and what could be coming to the East Coast.
King of the Hill revival update – A new panel announced for the ATX TV Festival, with co-creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels and voice actors returning.
The Simpsons streaming hiccups – Yellow Planet, the Earth Day episode, struggles to launch properly on Disney+.
Annécy 2025 preview – Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm prepare for a massive presence, including previews for Zootopia 2, Toy Story 5, Elio, and Eyes of Wakanda.
Warner Bros. Animation’s Cartoon Network 25th Anniversary Panel featuring Genndy Tartakovsky, Craig McCracken, Pendleton Ward, and Rebecca Sugar.
Netflix rescues Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed after Warner Bros. dropped it—world premiere planned for Annécy.
New announcements – Disney Television Animation’s Dragon Striker series, updates on Combat Carl in Toy Story 5, and more.

Join Jim and Drew for the latest animation industry news, major event coverage, and a look at what’s ahead!

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Not Just a Goof: Celebrating A Goofy Movie with the Filmmakers Behind the Disney+ Documentary (Ep. 303) Apr 22, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down with filmmakers Eric Kimelton, Christopher Ninness, and Scott Seibold to talk about the making of Not Just a Goof, the heartfelt new Disney+ documentary celebrating the 30th anniversary of A Goofy Movie. They discuss lost footage, creative challenges, pop culture legacy, and their unexpected journey from fans to contributors in Goofy’s story.

Also in this episode:

Star Wars animation news out of Tokyo – Updates on Tales of the Underworld, Visions: Volume 3, The Ninth Jedi, Maul: Shadow Lord, and Young Jedi Adventures.
Tim Allen teases Toy Story 5 – Including the return of multiple Buzz Lightyears and emotional story beats.
Hailee Steinfeld talks Beyond the Spider-Verse – How she’s embracing the long development process.
DreamWorks announces Forgotten Island – A new original comedy rooted in Philippine mythology, coming September 2026.
Big City Greens celebrates its 100th episode, Bill Plympton’s Guard Dog goes free on YouTube, and Studio Ghibli Fest 2025 begins with Kiki’s Delivery Service.

It’s a jam-packed episode full of nostalgia, animation history, and exclusive insights.

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How long was “Black Cauldron” actually in the works at Disney (Ep 302) Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start off this week’s show by offering birthday greetings to a modern animation master. They then welcome Neil O’Brien, author of “After Disney,” to discuss what it was like to work on the Burbank Lot back in the Late 1970s / Early 1980s

Throughout this episode, listeners will learn about:

When did “BOOP: The Musical” do its out-of-town try-out in Chicago
How long after Charles Dickens’ death was his short story, “Life of Our Lord,” published
When did Glen Keane first begin working at Walt Disney Animation Studio
Which song from DreamWorks Animation’s “The Prince of Egypt” wound up winning an Oscar
Who did Andreas Deja share a room at Disney Studios with during the development of The Black Cauldron”

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Minecraft Breaks Records, Disney Pauses Tangled, and Animation Takes Over CinemaCon (Ep. 301) Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the biggest stories shaking up the animation world, including:

The explosive box office debut of A Minecraft Movie – Surpassing expectations with $157 million, becoming the biggest opening ever for a video game adaptation.
Disney pauses its live-action Tangled remake – After Snow White’s underperformance, the studio rethinks its strategy for adapting more recent animated hits.
CinemaCon 2025 highlights – Major announcements from Paramount and Disney, including updates on Elio, Zootopia 2, How to Train Your Dragon, The Smurfs, and a John Wick animated prequel.
Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke plummets post-IMAX run, while The Day the Earth Blew Up vanishes from the charts.
TV animation shake-ups – New seasons for Phineas & Ferb and South Park, and multi-season renewals for The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Family Guy, and American Dad.
Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld – A new animated anthology from Lucasfilm launching May 4 on Disney+.

With so much news packed into one week, Jim and Drew cover everything from theatrical blockbusters to the streaming wars—and what it all means for the future of animation.

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Princess Mononoke Returns, The Critic Revival Buzz, and What’s Next for Looney Tunes (Ep. 300) Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

In this milestone 300th episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into the biggest animation stories of the week, including:

GKIDS’ 4K re-release of Princess Mononoke – How this Studio Ghibli classic led the box office in per-screen average nearly three decades after its debut.
Disney’s Snow White struggles at the box office – What the 66% second-week drop means for the future of live-action remakes.
Jon Lovitz and Al Jean hint at a revival of The Critic – Could Jay Sherman return for a new season in today’s influencer-driven media world?
Warner Bros. to demolish Building 131, once home to Looney Tunes legends like Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng.
Netflix orders a live-action Scooby-Doo origin series, reimagining the gang’s early days at summer camp.
A Goofy Movie turns 30 – A new Disney+ documentary is on the way, and Disneyland celebrates with a Max-as-Powerline popcorn bucket.

Join Jim and Drew as they celebrate 300 episodes of Fine Tooning with industry insight, animation history, and a look at what’s next.

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Snow White’s Box Office, Coco 2, and Pixar’s Elio Gets a Rewrite (Ep. 299) Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Jim Hill and Drew dive deep into the latest news and developments in the world of animation:

Snow White’s Slow Start – Disney’s live-action remake stumbles at the box office, and Drew shares his take after seeing the film.
Coco 2 Announced (and Unannounced) – A sequel to Pixar’s Coco is confirmed by Bob Iger... and then quietly walked back.
The Elio Overhaul – Pixar’s original story of a shy kid mistaken for Earth’s leader has been rewritten into a buddy comedy. Drew breaks down the changes in tone, direction, and voice cast.
The Long Journey of Toy Story 5 and Tron: Ares – Updates on test screenings and long-in-development sequels finally seeing the light of day.
Forgotten Disney Projects – From the scrapped Rose Red spinoff to the sci-fi Snowstar, Jim and Drew explore the alternate versions of Snow White that never made it to the screen.
Coyote vs. Acme & Looney Tunes Drama – Ketchup Entertainment offers Warner Bros. $50 million for the rights to release Coyote vs. Acme.

Plus, hear about Jim’s surprise birthday video from Josh Gad, Drew’s Art of Amphibia book launch, and how Disney almost brought The Seven Dwarfs back as a fantasy trilogy.

A packed episode filled with history, hot takes, and the latest headlines in animation.

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Snow White’s Box Office Concerns and the Future of Disney’s Live-Action Remakes (Ep. 298) Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dive into the latest animation and entertainment news, including:

Disney braces for a rough opening weekend for Snow White – How revised box office projections signal trouble for the live-action remake.
The Lilo & Stitch trailer breaks records – Why it’s Disney’s second-most viewed live-action trailer ever.
What’s next for Disney’s live-action Tangled – Could Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi return for cameo roles?
A disappointing start for The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie – What went wrong at the box office?
Warner Bros. quietly removes 255 classic Looney Tunes shorts from Max – What does this mean for the future of the franchise?
Anika Noni Rose speaks out on Tiana’s cancellation – Could a Disney+ special revive the character?

Tune in as Jim and Drew break down the latest industry shifts, box office surprises, and behind-the-scenes animation news.

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Disney Cancels Tiana Series and Favreau’s Oswald Project (Ep. 297) Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down a massive week in animation news, including:

Disney’s shocking decision to cancel the Tiana series for Disney+ and why the studio is stepping away from long-form streaming content.
Ne Zha 2’s unprecedented box office run – How the Chinese animated film crossed $2 billion and is climbing the list of the highest-grossing films ever.
Jon Favreau’s new Oswald the Lucky Rabbit series – What to expect from this live-action/animation hybrid for Disney+.
A Disney animator’s story of loss and gratitude – How the studio’s unexpected gesture helped one artist recover after the Eaton Canyon fire.
Big moments in animation history up for auction – Van Eaton Galleries’ Bob Clampett collection goes on sale.

Tune in for behind-the-scenes stories, expert insights, and the latest in animation!

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