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Latest Episodes:

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.

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How Jack Sparrow Made It Into the Ride (and Why the Curse Wasn’t His) (Ep. 539) Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill tackle a packed show, from new Eat to the Beat concert acts and Test Track Lightning Lane changes to a survey that hints at Disney bundling sports vacations with ESPN and Adventures by Disney. Then in the main segment, Jim unpacks the wild story behind the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise—including how one clever Imagineer added a cursed treasure twist to the ride years before it hit the big screen, and why Michael Eisner insisted on a subtitle that technically made no sense.

New Eat to the Beat lineup adds Bowling for Soup, Jordin Sparks, and The Beach Boys
Disney files plans for the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster building—yes, it’s a real land
ESPN and ABD surveys tease premium sports-based vacation packages
What really happened to Pixar’s Elio, and how politics may have changed the movie
Behind the scenes of Curse of the Black Pearl: casting, rewrites, and a fake curse

Plus, Len pitches a villains-themed restaurant where customer service is intentionally bad, and Jim explains why Tower of Terror on TV paved the way for Jack Sparrow in theaters.

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Why Apollo 13 Still Lands After 30 Years (Ep. 58) Jul 04, 2025

Show notes

In this explosive Fourth of July episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey ride the rails of ghostly New England folklore and land in the middle of this year’s Halloween Horror Nights house reveals. From Norwegian monsters and homicidal dolls to the surprise announcement of Universal Horror Unleashed in Chicago, this episode is packed tighter than a holiday fireworks box.

Then, Jim takes us on a moonshot-level deep dive into Apollo 13—the real mission, the Ron Howard film, and how a $25 model rocket and a bottle of Avian became movie magic. Along the way, they cover:

The “Ghost Train” of New Boston, New Hampshire
Universal’s new horror experience heading to Chicago
All the newly announced HHN houses (creepy dolls, cursed villages, and more)
Pizza Moon’s controversial to-go box policy
Jim’s breakdown of Apollo 13, its real-life mission, and the making of the film

Whether you’re into horror houses or lunar modules, this episode has something for every theme park nerd, history buff, and movie geek.

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Toy Meets Tech: What Toy Story 5 Says About Disney’s Future (Ep. 54) Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey unpack what Disney’s upcoming Toy Story 5 might really be about - and why it hits closer to home than you think. From Woody’s absence to Jessie’s promotion, and a new iPad-inspired character named Lilypad, this fifth entry isn’t just a sequel - it might be Disney’s most self-aware film yet.

Jim and Lauren discuss how streaming, AI, and even shoppable shows are reshaping how Disney tells stories - and sells them. They also reflect on the history of Toy Story merch, John Lasseter’s mint-in-box rule, and a deeply personal Jessie doll story that brings it all full circle.

Toy Story 5’s new challenge: an iPad named Lilypad
How Jessie becomes the new Woody in Bonnie’s room
The real reason Toy Story 4’s ending felt like closure
Disney’s experiments with QR codes, GoPuff, and “Shop the Stream”
The merchandising legacy of the Mickey Mouse Club
Jim’s personal story of meeting John Lasseter with his daughter’s Jessie doll

Whether you’re team Woody, team Jessie, or team “Do we need another sequel?”—this episode will give you plenty to think about.

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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.

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Rebuilding the Future: How Innoventions Replaced CommuniCore (Ep. 538) Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

Len Testa and Jim Hill cover the latest Disney news, including a major update to the dining reservation system, a rerouted parade to improve park flow, and the latest tweaks at Epic Universe. Then, Jim dives into the real story of how Epcot’s CommuniCore was shut down and transformed into Innoventions—Disney’s answer to a park in crisis. With budgets tight and tech aging fast, Michael Eisner turned to Las Vegas for inspiration, resulting in a CES-style exhibit hall packed with rotating sponsors, interactive demos, and a built-in refresh cycle.

Disney’s new patent could make Haunted Mansion feel spookier
A smarter parade route helps clear Main Street faster
Why Tron still isn’t available during Early Entry
Epic Universe’s early admission strategy evolves again
The creation, success, and legacy of Innoventions

It’s a look at how Disney reimagined the future—and managed to sell it to sponsors one booth at a time.

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Manufacturing the Magic: Further Advancement in Animatronics Jun 28, 2025

Show notes

In the seventeenth installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continue their look back at the history of themed entertainment. This time around, they're joined by veteran Imagineer Joe Lanzisero, who looks back at how AA figures were developed for the Disney Parks.

Throughout today's episode, listeners will learn about:

How Electro the Robot wowed folks at the 1939 New York World's Fair
How "Project Little Man" influenced the creation of "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln"
Where Disneyland's animatronic graveyard is located
How animatronics wizard Garner Holt got his start with Chuck E. Cheese
Plus Joe's terrific new kids book, " Lemonade, the Yellow Bear"

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Mike Aiello on Jaws, Halloween Horror Nights, and 30 Years at Universal (Ep. 57) Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Jim Hill and Eric Hersey welcome Universal Creative’s Mike Aiello for a special episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jaws and his own 30-year journey with the parks. From working as a teenage skipper on the iconic attraction to helping shape Halloween Horror Nights and Epic Universe, Mike shares stories of theme park transformation, Spielberg fandom, and why he always tries to sneak Bruce the Shark into his projects. Plus, Jim and Eric cover the latest on Halloween Horror Nights 34 and the mysterious Vegas haunt getting ready to open.

• Mike Aiello’s origin story—from hard hats at Mel’s Diner to Universal Creative
• What it was like to skipper Jaws the Ride 88 times a day
• How a scareactor role led to decades of Halloween Horror Nights magic
• Halloween Horror Nights’ gothic theme and original house reveals
• The new “cool zone” inside the old Sinbad Theater
• Why Jaws still scares—and what Spielberg got right by leaving it alone

From creative tributes to personal milestones, it’s a heartfelt and fang-filled conversation with one of Universal’s biggest fans turned insider.

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The Poster Wars: How Aladdin, Fantasia, and Drew Struzan Shaped Disney History (Ep. 53) Jun 26, 2025

Show notes

In this art-filled episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive deep into the colorful world of Disney posters—on screens, in parks, and behind the scenes. From the hand-painted brilliance of legendary artist Drew Struzan to the merchandising missteps that infuriated Robin Williams, this show explores how Disney uses poster art to sell stories and spark emotion.

Jim explains how Fantasia’s box office flop turned into a midnight movie cult hit, while Lauren shares her family’s New Year’s tradition of painting attraction posters. You’ll hear:

Why Robin Williams was furious about Disney’s Aladdin poster
The unlikely call that brought Harrison Ford’s face back to Disney marketing
A touching update on Drew Struzan’s health and legacy
The poster re-release that finally pushed Fantasia into the black
Which attraction poster Lauren’s family paints every year
Why Disney cast services keeps an evolving gallery of ride posters

This episode is packed with nostalgia, history, and a heartfelt look at how much meaning can be packed into a single piece of art.

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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.

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