Cartoonin' In

This week we begin our Official Two-Part episode on the classic nostalgia fest...Disney's The Little Mermaid. IT'S FINALLY TIME! Episode 1 of 2 focuses on the source material and studio information. So, of course, Aly starts us off with information about the original source material - Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid. We hear a little bit about his life, and then a breakdown of the original tale (and how it is VERY DIFFERENT from the movie). She also gives us a breakdown on where the whole mermaid deal came from and when and how it became so popular. Sarrah steps in with some information regarding the massive changes at the Disney Studio moving into the renaissance, as well as some particulars about how this movie was made. Together we discuss where we are with mermaids today, what's popular? Where can we find mermaid stuff? Where can we find Little Mermaid stuff? We shall tell you! Please check out our blog and our full episode at Cartooninin.com/episodes/littlemermaid So let us dive down deep with our mermaid friends and hear the tale of Triton!

We're still on our journey towards The Little Mermaid, and this week we thought we'd discuss two men who really changed Disney forever. Alan Menken (composer) and Howard Ashman (lyricist) came together in NYC to write musicals for off-broadway. After Ashman was brought on to Disney for Oliver & Company, he brought Menken (as well as Jodie Benson) with him to work on The Little Mermaid and history was born. Listen to learn about their lives and what they did to change how movies were made at Disney Animation. But you might want some tissues handy, because we also cover the sad circumstance of Howard Ashman's death and how if affected his friends and family.

As we lead up to The Little Mermaid, we wanted to cover some of the artists who really helped create this cultural landmark. The Little Mermaid changed the game for animation and for Disney, and we want to credit a few people who really added to that change. Today Sarrah leads us through the life and art of Glen Keane, the character designer for Ariel as well as many other Disney favourites. So sit back, and learn about the gentleman who gave Ariel her legs, the Beast his soul, and Aladdin no nipples.

Are you ready for a journey? Because, wow, this week's episode is one! This week Aly & Sarrah sit down to discuss a movie they both liked as a kid - All Dogs Go To Heaven. Aly is first up with a bio of funny man and talented voice actor (and all around actor) Dom DeLuise. Sarrah steps up with her overview of the studio situation (not great) and other fun facts from the technical side of things. Together we discuss the voice cast, release and reviews and other such details. Finally, we start our walk through....which just continues to confuse us. Who was this made for? Did our parents ever actually watch this movie with us? Why are murderers allowed in heaven? WHAT IS GOING ON DON BLUTH??? So please, join us in our confusion as we sit down and discuss All Dogs Go to Heaven.

Ready for another Ghibli adventure? We know we are! This week we're watching and discussing Kiki's Delivery Service, from 1989. Aly of course fills us in on the series of children's books that the movie is adapted from, as well as their amazing author Eiko Kadono. As per usual, we'll learn more specific differences between the film and novels as we hit our walk-through. Aly also does a brief summary of witchcraft in Japanese culture and history. Sarrah chimes in with the path this movie took to become a movie, including how Miyzaki went from just producer to director and producer to get the final product he wanted. Together we discuss voice actors, reviews and release information, and where we can find all the good Kiki stuff today! So grab your familiar and your broom, and let us take off with Kiki's Delivery Service!

We're back with another nostalgia classic, at least for us. This week Aly & Sarrah are discussing Disney's 1988 movie Oliver & Company! Aly starts off with a biography of Charles Dickens and a quick recap/Coles' Notes rundown of Oliver Twist and how it relates to this movie. So if you need info for your highschool lit class.....don't source us. We're not reliable. Sarrah discusses how this movie concept came to be (a gong-show) and where it started (picture either Batman or a panda. No joke). Together we welcome Cheech Marin to the Disney Voice Cast family, and discuss the impact of releasing the same day as Land Before Time! So sit back and listen as we defend this personal favourite against the haters (Siskel) and rejoice in pointing out all it's good points! Why should we worry? This movie is pretty doggone good!

It is time to discuss The Land Before Time! Sullivan Bluth Studio's infamous 1988 children's classic that spawned five million sequels (well, 14). Aly has absolutely nothing to go on for source material for this sucker, so she decided to discuss everything that this movie got wrong about dinosaurs! (NOTE: They did do research, but what was known about dinosaurs when the movie was released vs. now is a whole different thing). Sarrah breaks down some fun facts about the creation of this movie, and why we have Spielberg to thank! Aly then goes through every single sequel that was made. You're welcome. This is also a very special episode because it marks the start of our newest segment: Aly reads Land Before Time fanfiction synopsis until Sarrah is super uncomfortable! Our walkthrough includes a lot of pondering how they didn't die, the realization that a character tries to desecrate a corpse, and a lot of mocking Cera. So let's get down to it and travel back to the one that started it all - whether we like it or not.

First off, we'd like to warn our listeners that this movie is rated R in North America, and so some of our discussions are going to have to do with some violent or dark stuff. You have been warned. 1988's Akira is noted as one of the biggest anime movies of all time, so we decided we couldn't skip it. Aly starts us off by telling us all about Katsuhiro Otomo. the author of the Akira screenplay as well as the manga that the movie is based on. He is an amazing Japanese artist who has brought so much talent to the fields of manga and anime. Sarrah didn't find all that much on the animation, but she did find a ton of info on the release and reception of this film. So buckle in for some details on that! We also discuss some more modern pop-culture that has taken influence from Akira, including a Kanye West video and the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things. So let's hop on that motorcycle and outrun the explosion of Akira!

This week we follow up on our detailed breakdown of the behind the scenes on Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. While we covered all of the technical aspects of the film last week, this week we're breaking it down into our other categories! Aly starts us off with Music and Casting (with some interesting alternative casting notes!), and Sarrah follows up with the litany of awards and reviews this film received. Aly lets us all know where Roger and his crew stand in the modern world before we head straight into our (pretty long and in depth) walkthrough! So head into that speakeasy secret room, don't let the rabbit hear shave and a hair-cut, and let's get down to it!

We're back with another Two-Part episode! This week and next we'll be tackling the monster that is Disney's 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' Aly starts off with an introduction the novel the film is based on and its author Gary K. Wolf. She then gives a breakdown on film noir, a very big influence on the Roger movie (check out our episode blog for some photos of the movies we reference!). Sarrah discusses how the film went from Wolf to Disney and how our favourite Spielberg got involved. The two of us then get into the nitty gritty behind the scenes details on how this film was made. We talk about the on-set techniques used as well as what went into the animation process after principle filming was done. There's a lot of information here, but if you love learning how movies are made this episode was made for you! We'll be back next week with our usual Voice Cast Corner, Release, Reviews, and Walkthrough!

This week we are headed back to Japan with a much loved classic 1988 children's movie: My Neighbor Totoro by Studio Ghibli. Aly starts us off with a discussion of shinto, what exactly Totoro may or may not be, and some spooky conspiracy theories that surround the subtext of the film. Sarrah takes this opportunity to tell us more about the life of Isao Takahata, who we lost earlier this year in 2018. Together we discuss the massive impact Totoro has had on culture! Our walkthrough has us fangirling all over this film, loving the beautiful backgrounds and animation, as well as being a wee bit wary of the Catbus. So plant your acorns, grab your umbrella, and let's fly off to meet our Neighbor Totoro!

After a haitus, Aly & Sarrah have returned! This week they are discussing a child-hood, nostalgia inducing, classic: Disney's (now) The Brave Little Toaster, from 1987! Aly as usual, starts us off with a biography on the author of the original novella - Thomas M. Disch. We learn that once again, writers sometimes have awful lives. She also breaks down some differences in the plot points of the book and the film. Sarrah talks studio and how this WAS a Disney movie, LEFT Disney, then came BACK to Disney. It's a saga. We then break down all of the very talented voice actors who took part in this film, talk video release and reviews, and wrap up with a bit of a discussion on sequels and nightmare toasters. Our walk-through has us discussing the problem with plugs, questioning whether there were dirt jokes involved, and generally wondering who plays with appliances as a child. So let's go on a journey together to find our own bravery and talk about the Brave Little Toaster! Podcast Music by: bradleyparsons (via Fiverr)

We will be back to a regular schedule starting next week (Thursday, September 6th).  And we have a few changes to let you know about! 1) We are changing our release schedule. With the exception of the first two months (due to a two-parter and Halloween) which will be 4 on, 1 off, we will be uploading 3 weeks in a row, then taking a week off. This is so we can have a nice thing called work/life balance. We're looking forward to it :) 2) We will be having some new people on the show! So you'll be hearing from people who aren't just us, but artists working in different fields (like....composing!) who will have a different viewpoint and experience to lend to us! 3) There will be a YouTube channel in the near future! We will be launching it with a special (very late) series, and then will be uploading companion episodes with new trivia, new segments, and making sure we give our star-rating to the films we watched before we implemented it. More information on the upload schedule for that will be coming soon! That's it! We're getting to the GOOOOOD stuff, guys! So sit back, relax, and enjoy this little preview of what is to come! Music by Bensound & BradleyParsons

Hello Listeners! You're probably wondering "where did last Thursday's episode go?". Well, there wasn't one. We're taking a short hiatus here at Cartoonin' In. All is well and we should be back soon. In the meantime, have another episode of us being morons! These are almost all of our mistakes and weird tangents that we've been saving since December. We hope you enjoy!

This week we are finally discussing anime! And who better to usher us in but Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli? We're discussing their 1986 film, Castle in the Sky. This week Aly and Sarrah trade off a bit, as a lot of their information was shared. Aly talks about Miyazaki's TV show 'Future Boy Conan', which many believe had a direct influence on Castle in the Sky. Together, Aly and Sarrah discuss Retrofuturism and Steampunk, and how those styles influence this film. Our Voice Cast Corner discusses both the original cast from the Japanese release and the Disney 2003 dub. Sarrah tells us about the release and reviews, and together we discuss a Twitter world record and other places we see Castle in the Sky being referenced in the world. So sit back, strap on your goggles, and let's watch Castle in the Sky! Podcast music by: Bensound.com

Welcome to Part 2 of our episodes discussing Disney's 1986 film, The Great Mouse Detective. This week Aly introduces us to Eve Titus' book series 'The Basil of Baker Street Mysteries', the children's novels that this film is based upon. Sarrah gives us a feeling for the studio at the time of this film and talks us through the journey that Basil took to be made into a feature film. She gives us some fun facts, and we even find out who animated each character! Our walkthrough has us wanting to give Dawson a big ol' hug, questioning the relationship between Mouse-World and Human-World, and getting increasingly angry at party decorators. So let's keep our wits about us to attempt to defeat the Napoleon of Crime, and watch The Great Mouse Detective! Podcast Music By: www.bensound.com

Aly and Sarrah begin their two-week adventure with Basil and Dawson of Disney's 1986 film: The Great Mouse Detective. This week it's all about the sources of the sources. Aly discusses Sherlock Holmes and its author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. We learn about Doyle's life, the publishing history of Sherlock Holmes, as well as a quick breakdown of its main characters. She also tells us about the crazily academic Sherlock fan club and it's mysterious "game". Sarrah shines a spotlight on one-time Disney CEO Ron Miller and his wife Diane Disney Miller. We learn about Ron's history with the company as well as Diane's efforts to preserve her father's work. Aly comes back in the last third to go over some of the iterations that Holmes has seen over the years. Yes, she misses many. There is just too much! But she hits the highlights, and if there are any that you feel it is a crime she missed, be sure to let us know! Now that we're all prepped and ready, next week we will be tackling Disney's The Great Mouse Detective and all the information specific to the animated feature. But this week, slip on your smoking jacket and slippers, grab your pipe and violin, and let's get deducting with the world-famous consulting detective! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week we get deeper into Bluth territory. We thought that American Tail was a well-loved classic, but we've realized in our research that maybe we're not the only ones who preferred the sequel. Since there's no official source material, Aly gives us some historical background to set the scene on what Feivel and his family were walking into. She touches on American Immigration Acts, and Factory conditions at the turn of the century, as well as some more personal details that helped the filmmakers shape the final story. Sarrah gives us a deeper look into what was happening at Don Bluth's studio at the time, and some of the issues that arose when combining the experience of animators and live-action filmmakers. We also get a good overview of story-boards vs beat-boards. Our walk-through takes a look at some potentially problematic pacing problems *wink*, some fantastic parenting skills, and we ponder if Don Bluth ever had a traumatic incident with a cat. So sit back and let's look somewhere out there to see if there truly are cats in America! Let's take a look at 'An American Tail'. Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week Aly & Sarrah watch Disney's 1985 forgotten film - The Black Cauldron. What's that? GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE? No, Black Cauldron. Aly starts us off with a biography of Lloyd Alexander - the author of the Chronicles of Prydain, the 5 book series that The Black Cauldron is adapted from. She runs down some of the many changes between book and movie and also gives a BRIEF overview of some of the Welsh Mythology Alexander used as inspiration. So many names are butchered. And that's WITH looking up pronunciations. Sarrah discusses what studio life at Disney was looking like at the time (it was still a mess), as well as the invention of APT (a new technology to help refine the animation process). Together we discuss how this movie flopped big time, and what little it left its mark on it the world (but it surprisingly did make a parks appearance or two). Our walk-through has us exclaiming over cute little piggies, appreciating some fun characters, and getting a wee bit off topic sometimes. So gather your friends and companions, and let's face the cauldron born on our quest for The Black Cauldron! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week, Aly & Sarrah are watching Nelvana's 1985 film: The Care Bears Movie.Aly gets the fun job of telling us all about the Care Bears franchise - how they came from greeting card characters to a toy line, to the media masters they are today!Sarrah fills us in on the Canadian (yay!) Nelvana Studios, and how they made this film for basically no budget and in practically no time.Together we ponder the design choices for a Care Bear horse (it's not great), and go through the list of all the Care Bear properties that have existed.Our walk-through includes a long and personal look at how kids without parents are portrayed in the 80s and 90s animated movies, as well as the realization that the animation in this is pretty darn good! We also fully appreciate a twist that neither of us saw coming.So put on your story hats, and join us in Care-a-lot! Let's fill up the Care-o-meter while we watch The Care Bears Movie!Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week Sarrah & Aly are finally discussing one of the big names of the 80s and 90s: Don Bluth. That's right, we're watching "The Secret of NIMH". Aly discusses the original book and it's author - Robert C. O'Brien, who used a pen name for his entire life to avoid contract disputes. She also breaks down the differences from novel to film and teaches us a little bit about the rat research experiments that inspired O'Brien to write NIMH. Sarrah tells us all about the early days at Don Bluth Productions, including how they first started working out of Bluth's garage, and couldn't even pay their animators up front. Lucky for them it all worked out! Our walk-through primarily consists of us having trouble understanding the magical element of the film, as well as appreciating the fully developed characters, and of course - Don Bluth sparkles! So gather up your most intelligent friends, and please remove any jewelry (it distracts Jeremy), and let's discover the Secret of NIMH! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Welcome to another nostalgia filled episode! This week, Sarrah & Aly take on Rankin & Bass's 1982 cult classic - The Last Unicorn. Once again, we have a movie based on a novel, and Aly gives us the scoop on the author: Peter S. Beagle. He has a pretty interesting connection to one of our previous movies! She also gives us a very brief summary of the history of unicorns. Sarrah takes us on a bit of a journey. We go from Rankin & Bass Rudolph Christmas specials, to Studio Ghibli. You'll want to listen to hear how we got there! Our walkthrough has us feeling very sorry for certain characters, questioning the meaning of immortality and fate, discussing Shakespearean inevitabilities, and really hating the music. So join us on this epic adventure, to find the unicorns! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Get your tissues ready! It's time to see if this movie is really as sad as we all think it is! This week Sarrah brings her husband Curtis to watch Disney's 1981 movie The Fox and the Hound with us - because he's never seen it! Aly does a biography on the author of the novel The Fox and the Hound, Daniel P. Mannix, who might just be the most interesting man in the world. We also learn that this movie is very loosely based on the book, as there is a lot more death in the novel. Perhaps not surprising in a novel about hunting, but it messed with Aly's head a bit. Sarrah gives us the lowdown on how this film marked a major turning point in studio history. A lot of the old guard animators left (goodbye Wolfgang Reitherman!), to be replaced with some new blood that you will recognize to be a big part of the upcoming Disney Renaissance. Our walkthrough has one of us admitting to shedding a few tears, discussion over the most useless subplot known to history, wondering if Widow Tweed really did Tod any favors, and finding our loyalties lie in surprising places. So grab those tissues and your best friend forever, and let's get ready for some education (to avoid elimination!). Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

What's the sitch, listeners? After recording our Valentine's Day episode, Aly and Sarrah decided they wanted to talk more about Disney Channel Animated Shows. So we start with Gummi Bears in the 1980s and move forward, discussing our opinions, memories, and of course the voice actors and animation, for our favorite Disney TV Shows. Warning: Theme songs might be sung. So sit back and get listeners. Let's.Get.Dangerous.

Happy Valentine's Day Listeners! Well, actually, Happy Half Price Candy Day! Today we're celebrating another holiday by watching another holiday special! Aly starts us off by talking about famed voice actor Paul Winchell. This was his last film doing the voice of Tigger, so it felt fitting to give him his own spotlight on this episode. Sarrah discusses what the smaller, international, Disney studios were up to. That leads us to a long discussion about Disney's Animated TV Shows, which was so fun for us we made an In-Betweener on it. Our walk through has us noticing that Rabbit seems to have gone to therapy, wondering why Gopher is now such a big part of the gang, and squealing over Piglet's hat. So stuff your face with that cheap chocolate, and let's listen to this LOVE-ly episode.

Well, the time has come. We were dreading it. But it honestly wasn't THAT bad! We promise! It's ok, you can hold our hand. Aly starts us off with an author biography on Richard Adams. Sarrah tells us all about the original director of Watership Down, John Hubley, who unfortunately passed away early in the process. Together we discuss the controversy over this movie being shown on Easter Sunday on TV, the new Netflix series announced, and how this film was not really pushed in North America. Our walkthrough has us really figuring out which parts were going to scar us for life, why that damn bird is so annoying, and ultimately liking this movie way more than anticipated. So take a deep breath, trust us, and let's find our way to Watership Down.

And we're back with more Lord of the Rings! Spoiler Alert: we did NOT like this movie and were NOT shy about saying it. If this movie is your jam, that's totally cool! Do your thing! But we weren't fans. Just a little warning. Sarrah starts us off this week talking about the release and reviews of Lord of the Rings, as well as some of the difficulties they had getting it done (it involves Spain and helicopters). She also tells us about Bakshi's passionate love for rotoscoping. Oh, how he loves it. Aly chimes in with another Voice Cast Corner featuring some pretty amazing actors, as well as a Star Wars alumni! He's also amazing, but you know. Our walkthrough has us banging our heads against the table and drowning in bad rotoscoping, noting that no matter what adaptation we're in apparently Sam and Frodo need chemistry, and questioning the length of Aragorn's skirt. Join the Fellowship as we head through a journey in the dark to mount doom! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week we start out new In-Betweeners! These (sometimes) mini-episodes will periodically pop up when we have something fun or extra to discuss. We wanted to use them to talk to people outside of ourselves and hear their opinions, memories, and knowledge of these films! Some episodes will be all about animation, some will be about the source material, and some will be a mix of both. This week, Sarrah temporarily vacates her seat at the podcast table for Aly's friend Em, a major Lord of the Rings fan who first read the Hobbit when she was 6 years old. Aly asks Em about her LOTR opinions and memories, and what makes these books so important to her. They also play a few rounds of Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit, discuss Boromir, Peter Jackson's casting, and some good ol' early 2000s fan fiction! So join us on this very windy road that takes as many twists and turns as the path from the Shire to Mount Doom! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Welcome to this Long Expected Party...er....episode! Aly & Sarrah both love the Lord of the Rings, and Aly will not pass up an opportunity to talk about Ian McKellen soooo... WELCOME TO ANOTHER TWO-PARTER! There was way too much research and information to fit into one episode, so as we did before, this episode will talk about the source material and animation studio stuff, and next week will get into the specifics for this movie. So let's begin this week's journey (no shortcuts to mushrooms please!) Aly takes us on a lovely biography of author J.R.R. Tolkien (heard of him?), which includes a beautiful love story that we couldn't make up if we tried. She also dives into the history and details of the Lord of the Rings and its complete legendarium. We discuss a bit about the languages, reviews, scholarly thoughts, and even talk about those damn eagles. Sarrah gives us an in-depth look at the very controversial, and very innovative Ralph Bakshi (who directed this movie). His work tends to err on R or X rated, so be wary if you look into it. We're not quite sure how we feel about some of his stuff, but he was certainly a trailblazer who was looking to broaden the world of animation, and we love him for that! We also hit up what Lord of the Rings has inspired and influenced. This, of course, means we get a little sidetracked by the fantastic Peter Jackson movies, so prepare to learn a little bit about them (and New Zealand tourism). And after that, YOU SHALL NOT PASS! Until next week, when you come on back for all the details on the Bakshi animated movie. Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week Aly gives us a fairly uncomplicated and happy author biography. This movie was actually based on a series of books by Margery Sharp! Sarrah takes us on a journey this week. We learn about how one of the animators based a character on his (ex) wife, that this was the last movie for a few of our 9 old men, we see some new animation faces join the team, we learn about a potential movie that was being discussed that may or may not have been about Nazi Monkeys, and we (of course) talk about the naked lady picture. Our recap mentions our love of Rufus, why we think Madame Medusa is pretty iconic, a debate on alligators, and why eyelashes now make Aly cringe. Join us Rescuers! Let's go on an adventure! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

And we're back with another package film from Disney, this time it's 1977's The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. This time, we couldn't even tell by watching that it was a package film! Those sneaky Disney people. Aly once again gives us the biography of the creator and author of the Winnie-the-Pooh books (A.A.Milne) and his illustrator (E. Shepherd). We also learn the different things that inspired the Pooh books, and that Christopher Milne was not exactly thrilled with being the boy behind Christopher Robin. Sarrah talks about some of the animation issues that went into making the characters look more toy-like, especially when it came to their eyes. She also lets us know that the popularity of Winnie the Pooh and his friends is not just a recent thing, these movies did well at the box-office. Our walk-through has us debating how we feel about Rabbit (mainly decided he needs some help), and being reminded of certain other nightmare-inducing elephant daydreams from previous movies. So before we say TTFN, let's bounce on up with our honeypots, and make way for an episode all about Pooh!

Thank you for being such an amazing group of listeners, as a Christmas gift of sorts, we thought we'd make up a reel of some of the most random things we've said during recording. Have a safe and Happy Holidays!

Hello to all the Whos down in Whoville! And to anyone who feels their shoes are too tight! This week we have our Holiday Special (we're time traveling a bit here) and are discussing Chuck Jones' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! from 1966. Aly starts us off with a lengthy biography of Dr. Seuss himself. We learn his real name, what he was doing during WWII, and how he lived out his later years. Sarrah has another artist spotlight with Ken Harris! He is an animator who worked with Chuck Jones for 30 years, one of the longest partnerships between a director and an animator in the industry! Together we go over all the different Grinchy and Seuss-y things that have been made over the years, with a serious sidebar for the 2000 movie starring Jim Carrey. Our walkthrough has Aly very confused about how exactly Whoville works, Sarrah making some lovely comments on the colour and character design, and us relating just a little to our green friend. So microwave up a plate of roast beast, and let's all come together and grow our hearts three sizes today!

Aly & Sarrah are back with more Robin Hood! This week Sarrah takes us through the details of the movie's release and reception. Spoiler: people weren't really huge fans until AFTER it hit home video. Shocker. Aly lists of the wonderful voice actors that bring these characters to life (you may recognize a fair few of them), and tries to name everything Robin Hood has inspired or influenced. Turns out, while the legend has a boundless influence on our society and pop culture, Disney kind of likes to forget they made a movie about Robin Hood. Oops. Our walkthrough has us addressing the phenomenon of being attracted to a cartoon fox, discussing if Phil Harris ever stayed on script, and simultaneously laughing at strange story choices while applauding wonderful character details and great fight scene animation. Oo-De-Lally! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

It finally happened. We reached Disney's 1973 movie: Robin Hood. Predictably, Aly loses her shit. She talked so much we had to make this our very first TWO PART EPISODE. In Part One Aly tackles the source material. She includes not only the literary history (from ballads to broadsheets) of Robin Hood, but also covers the historical period the legends took place in. We learn about Crusades, King Richard, Prince John, yeomen, warfare and weaponry, and a whole lot more. Sarrah takes us through the studio history and animation style this week. Once again we see our friend Wolfgang, and our favorite style of xerography! That's where we end this week, check back next week to hear all about the release of the Disney movie, and our thoughts during our walk through! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

We are feeling terrific about this episode! This week we discuss Hanna-Barbera's most un-Hanna-Barbera-like movie: Charlotte's Web from 1973. Aly talks about the lives of both the author and illustrator of Charlotte's Web: E.B. White and Garth Williams. We manage to get through both of their lives without anything too tragic happening - progress! Sarrah talks about the road to adapting this movie from the beloved children's book, and how White wasn't super keen on it. He even turned down Disney from doing this picture! This sparks a discussion on adaptation and how to give up your work to other people's ideas. Our walk-through touches on farm life and people's complicated relationship with meat (please don't send us e-mails, we know), Debbie Reynold's being perfection, and how some friendships just aren't very equal. So come on down to the farm and check out Zukerman's Famous Pig and his much nicer, more talented, more selfless friend named Charlotte! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week Aly and Sarrah go into detail about another French cat movie! Disney's The Aristocats! Aly describes the events leading to the creation of this original story (it involves two lawsuits!) and how The Sherman Brothers' helped to shape some of their songs. Sarrah talks more about xerography as well as the consequences of Walt's absence (due to his recent death). Both Aly and Sarrah contemplate how his absence may have caused some lack of direction or specificity in some of the choices made for this film. Our walkthrough has Aly freaking out over her two favorite characters, Sarrah enraptured by Disney kittens, and us once again wondering why a Phil Harris character is so bent on taking on the responsibility of children? Sharpen your claws, dig out your trumpets, and let's get crazy kittens! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week we go on a traditional adventure into the imagination with the Chuck Jones classic from the year 1970 - The Phantom Tollbooth! Aly discusses the biographies of our source materials author and illustrator: Norman Juster and Jules Feiffer. Sarrah goes a bit more in-depth to the history and career of Chuck Jones (who you may remember from our Gay Purr-ee episode) and some of his more famous cohorts. Together we wonder how exactly a ten-year-old kid can be so dead inside, what the purpose of these songs are, and avoid learning math. So buckle on in to your child-size toy car, pay the toll and drive on through the tollbooth (only once, please) to a land of imagination and learning! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week Aly and Sarrah are discussing another European favorite (so prepare for some butchering of the French language) with Tintin and the Temple of the Sun. Aly tells us all about yet another tragic creator. This time it's Tintin's creator: Georges Remi (better known as Herge). Sarrah discusses the three studios that produced this film, and tells us about Clear Line art, also known as the style of art that Herge made famous. Our walk-through has us realizing how condensing a full book into fifteen minutes leads to some confusion, how it can be frustrating when things come just a bit too easily, Aly's fantastic (apparently) Tintin impersonation, and how attached we get to Snowy. It's really all about Snowy. So buckle in, keep your eyes open, and maybe leave that whiskey at home (we're looking at you Haddock!), as we travel with Tintin to Peru! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

It's time to gather all the lonely people and go live in a Yellow Submarine! This episode is all about the Beatles animated movie from 1968. Aly, having no real source material, goes over the history of The Beatles (at least up until this movie was released, this podcast tries to stay under 2 hours). Sarrah goes over some of the artistic choices of the film, which include our old friend rotoscoping. And people, she's got opinions. Our recap has us talking about music (how could we not?), realizing that subtitles are sometimes a neccessary evil, and enjoying the fact that Aly loves a freaking good pun. So, All Together Now, let's join Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, and remember that All (we) Need is Love! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

Hope everybody is having a safe and spooky Halloween! This Halloween, Aly and Sarrah are filling your treat bags with an In-Betweener. This episode discusses the Silly Symphony short: The Skeleton Dance. Aly goes a little bit sideways and takes this opportunity to talk about Edvard Grieg, the man who composed the classic movement: The March of the Dwarves - which Carl Salling incorporated into the short. Sarrah gives us the highlights on the life of Ub Iwerks, the other man who started the Disney Studio. Mr. Iwerks is generally a little overshadowed by Walt, and we wanted to make sure that our listeners got the scoop on this very talented man who was on the ground floor when Disney started. Together we discuss the impact of the Silly Symphonies and how they helped Disney Animation become what it is today. So rattle those bones, get the bets out of the belfry, and get ready for a spooky good time! And everybody have a safe and spooky Halloween!

On this week's episode, Aly and Sarrah celebrate Halloween a little bit early with our Season 2 Opener: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966). Aly talks about the life of Peanuts' sole creator, Charles M. Schulz, and gets a little obsessed with his life philosophy. You might get inspired. Sarrah walks us through the different stages of Peanuts' journey on television, starting with some commercials for Ford! She also points out differences between the comic strip, and the animated specials. Our recap has us wondering why Lucy is such a brat, why Linus is so amazing, how we understood what Snoopy was doing as kids, and pondering the popularity of Peanuts. So pull yourself on up to the most sincere pumpkin patch you can find, and join us while we wait for the Great Pumpkin to arrive! Podcast Music by: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week we are discussing Asterix the Gaul, the 1967 film from Dargaud. Aly brings us into the mix with an introduction to the source material, the very popular Asterix comics (or albums, as they are referred to in Europe). She tells us all about the authors: Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (their lives actually weren't horribly tragic!), and how Asterix came to be and the main characters/themes of the albums. She also takes us on a short history lesson of the Roman and Gaul conflict, which provides the major narrative for the stories and films. Sarrah tells us as much as she could find about the animation studio and the release of Asterix (it was done without the original story creators knowledge, and used a lot of limited animation). Sarrah also has a lot to say about the layout of this movie, as it basically personally offends her life decisions. Our recap has us honestly confused about camera movement choices, animation execution, where all the women are, and pretty much everything else. For better or for worse, take a sip of that magic potion and join us on our quest to complete Asterix the Gaul! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This episode we discuss Disney's 19th theatrical feature, and the final film finished before Walt's death in 1966. Aly takes us on a wild ride with the life of author Rudyard Kipling (No. He did not have a joyous life full of rainbows and sunshine. None of our source material authors do.) as well as a quick run down of what happens in his The Jungle Book (as well as the second one!) Sarrah tells us another tale of the adventure of Mr. Bill Peet. Specifically, why Jungle Book may have made him throw in the towel. She also talks about some of the changes that happened in the story room to take Jungle Book from the dark, realism of Kipling's tale to the happy, musical that was Disney's feature. Sarrah then ends her segment with some sad news; we've reached the point where we say goodbye to Walt, and so closes a chapter in the story of Disney. Together we reminisce about some of our favorite childhood television shows, discuss the recent live action release, and talk about what we can look forward to in our future that's based on Kipling's novel. Our recap has us once again relating to the grumpiest of characters, questioning some parenting decisions, having a very philosophical discussion about monkeys, and finally finding some songs that actually move in pace with the story! FINALLY! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week we are back to Hanna-Barbera and get to talk about one of our favorite childhood memories: The Flintstones. Particularly, The Man Called Flinstone, a 1966 movie from Hanna-Barbera. Aly tells us all about the Flintstones tv show and how it changed history, Sarrah tells us the biography of animator Iwao Takamoto in a new Animator Spotlight, together we discuss all the ways the Flintstones have come into our lives and of course, tackle those amazing live action movies! Our recap has us shaking our heads over more pointless songs, wondering how the heck these guys are still working as spies, and seriously loving the friendships these characters celebrate. So let's ride with the family down the street and have a yabba dabba doo time! Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week we move away from Disney once again and tap into those crazy television animators - Hanna-Barbera. But wait! We don't do TV, only feature films! You're correct, but Hey There, Yogi Bear was a feature film. Hanna-Barbera's first, in actuality. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the limited animation. Since this movie is based on an original story, Aly gives us a condensed biography on the animators/directors/producers that are William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Sarrah gives us a timeline on where the studio has gone since then, including the birth of Cartoon Network! Our recap touches on wily women, cartoon physics, adorable kittens, and once again questioning why the main character is kind of a jerk to his friends. Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This episode Aly & Sarrah discuss Disney's The Sword in the Stone. Aly follows the source material from medieval literature to T.H. White's classic novel. Sarrah talks about some drama happening between Bill Peet and the rest of the Disney animators. Our recap has us commenting on magic, aging, consent (grabby hands are back!), and a lot of book to movie comparisons. So grab on to your hats, let's say the magic words, and get to it! Higgitus Figgitus! Podcast Music by: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This week we leave our familiar Disney family behind and head out into the unknown...with UPA and Chuck Jones's Gay Purr-ee. A movie that most likely no one else has really heard of ...because we sure hadn't! Aly really didn't have much to do this week so she read a book of interviews with Chuck Jones and fills us in on his very strong opinions about things! She also talks up Robert Goulet (mmmm) and Paul Frees. Sarrah discusses the history of UPA and limited animation. Together, we embark on this journey of a recap and find out that we do not really like Mewsette, Aly has to relive her nightmares about rats, and we learn a little bit about art! Podcast music by: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This episode we dig into Disney's 101 Dalmatians! Aly once again leads us into a discussion about the original author: Dodie Smith and fills in some details about storyman Bill Peet with help from Sarrah. Sarrah explains the change to xerography and a whole new style (which Walt was less than pleased with). Together we recap this movie and talk about hoarding, rave about couple goals, and generally wonder at the absolute genius of these dogs. Seriously, they keep this up and it'll be the new planet of the apes. Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music

This episode we discuss Disney's Sleeping Beauty! Our third princess movie from the studio to date. This episode comes with a trigger warning as the source material for Sleeping Beauty does deal with the subject of rape. Aly talks source material, going from Arthurian Romance, Italian folklore, to our favorite Grimm Brothers. Sarrah explains how this feature went through three directors, and sorely missed the leadership of Walt Disney. She also gives us an in-depth discussion about the unique styling of this feature, and how it drove some of its animators to see their doctors! Our feedback leads us to ranting about consent and lack of basic planning skills, as well as a lot of F-bombs dropped by Sarrah. So make sure you stay awake for this! It'll be worth it, we promise. Podcast Music By: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music