Jurassic World Breaks Records, Elio Stalls, and Looking Back at 'The Mouse Factory' (Ep. 314)
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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Lilo & Stitch 2 Announced, Elio Holds, and Akira’s Live-Action Deal Expires (Ep. 313)
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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Annecy, Disneyland Paris, and the Animation News You Missed While Drew Was in France (Ep. 312)
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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Beauty and the Beast at 30, Elio Projections, and the Live-Action Dragon’s Box Office (Ep. 311)
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.
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Lilo & Stitch Still Soars, Dragon Whoppers Reviewed, and Fantasia’s Forgotten Soundtrack (Ep. 310)
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.
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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.
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Jim and Drew break down the animation world frame by frame, until you get the singular picture. If you love Disney animation, Pixar, and the classics that were hand sketched, or built out of 1's and 0's in a computer, this is the podcast that draws you in.
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