Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor

Jim and Drew dig into a packed week of animation news, from the surprising cancellation of a promising Pixar project to Netflix’s growing global animation footprint. Along the way, they explore box office winners, long-gestating passion projects finally coming to life, and the evolving relationship between streaming, theatrical releases, and viral animation hits. It’s a wide-ranging conversation that highlights just how quickly the animation industry continues to shift.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Pixar’s canceled “Be Fri” project revealed - a female-led film that was deep into development before being shelved amid studio shifts and Disney+ strategy changes
• “Super Mario Galaxy” tops the box office while global competition heats up from international hits like China’s “Pegasus 3”
• Netflix expands its animation empire with a new Vancouver studio hub, joining Disney and Sony in a growing production hotspot
• Fathom Events brings viral hit “The Amazing Digital Circus” to theaters, highlighting the pipeline from YouTube to the big screen
• Brad Bird’s long-awaited “Ray Gunn” finally unveils first images after decades in development
• Warner Bros. and Netflix continue investing in YA and reimagined fairy tale animation, including “Steps” and new book adaptations
• One Piece grows into a full franchise push with new seasons, specials, and theme park experiences

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Planning a Disney or Universal trip in 2026? Save money and skip the stress with expert help from UnlockMagic.com, your go-to source for theme park tickets and deals.

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Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off this week’s Fine Tooning with a real-life animation-adjacent story involving Bob’s Burgers’ Eugene Mirman, before diving into a huge Easter weekend box office led by Nintendo’s latest animated hit. From Disney+ shorts and Netflix trailers to Broadway updates and AI controversy, this episode covers a wide swath of animation and industry news. Plus, the guys explore a lingering mystery involving Disney’s experimental drone shows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Eugene Mirman, the voice of Gene Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, is involved in a serious electric vehicle accident in New Hampshire and shares a humorous recovery update
• The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Movie opens to a massive $372 million worldwide, outperforming expectations despite mixed reviews
• Pixar’s Hoppers continues its theatrical run with $332 million globally, while Project Hail Mary climbs to $420 million worldwide
• Disney+ debuts “Versa,” a visually ambitious animated short exploring grief and loss, alongside two new Short Circuit entries
• Netflix releases the trailer for Swapped, a new animated feature from Tangled co-director Nathan Greno
• Disney’s Hercules stage musical sets a closing date in London as speculation continues about a possible U.S. transfer
• WildBrain faces backlash for AI-upscaled episodes of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! airing on MeTV Toons
• A closer look at Disney’s evolving Short Circuit program and the final Disney work of legendary animator Mark Henn
• Updates on Disney theatrical projects including the live-action Tangled and the evolving Hercules film concept
• The growing use of AI in animation restoration and the debate over preserving original artistic integrity

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. If a Disney or Universal trip is on your radar for 2026, get expert help securing the best ticket deals with no stress. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to start planning your next theme park adventure.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack a packed week in animation, from Universal’s massive push behind Super Mario Bros. Galaxy to the continued global surge of KPop Demon Hunters. They also break down the latest box office winners, Pixar’s underappreciated Hoppers, and what’s really going on with Disney’s evolving Villains Land plans. Plus, a look at DreamWorks’ ambitious Forgotten Island and how live-action remakes keep reshaping animation’s future.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Super Mario Bros. Galaxy gears up for a massive $150–$165 million opening, with Universal deploying aggressive cross-promotion across NBC and its theme parks
• Project Hail Mary holds strong at No. 1 with $300 million worldwide, blending practical puppetry and VFX for its standout character Rocky
• Pixar’s Hoppers nears $300 million globally, continuing the studio’s tradition of dual-form character storytelling
• KPop Demon Hunters expands into a full franchise with a sequel planned for 2029, a global live tour in development, and continued music dominance
• Streaming windows tighten as films like Goat, Zootopia 2, and Search for SquarePants quickly transition to digital platforms
• Disney’s Villains Land plans shift toward a more playful, interactive tone, with concepts like an Ursula spinner and a Villains Funhouse coaster resurging
• DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island aims for bold, personal storytelling from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish filmmakers Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado
• Live-action remake strategy evolves with returning voice actors like Gerard Butler and Cate Blanchett, while Moana continues to expand across film and parks

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic. If a Disney or Universal trip is on your radar for 2026, Unlocked Magic helps you secure great ticket deals with expert guidance from people who truly know the parks. Start planning your next adventure at UnlockedMagic.com.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill returns from Los Angeles with stories from animation bookstores, gallery visits, and Pixar’s latest hit, while Drew Taylor dives into a packed week of industry news. From “Zootopia 2” nearing another major milestone to surprise revivals like “Firefly,” this episode covers the evolving animation landscape across film, TV, and streaming. Plus, the Oscars shake things up and new theatrical experiments blur the line between TV and cinema.

HIGHLIGHTS
• “Zootopia 2” continues its global box office dominance, closing in on another billion-dollar milestone as rumors swirl about a possible themed land at Disney California Adventure
• Pixar’s “Hoppers” shows strong legs in its third weekend, crossing $240 million worldwide and earning praise as one of the studio’s funniest recent releases
• The 98th Academy Awards make history as “KPop Demon Hunters” becomes the first non-Disney or Pixar animated film to win two Oscars
• An animated “Firefly” revival is officially in development, potentially arriving in 2027 - over 25 years after the original series debuted
• Netflix experiments with theatrical releases for TV animation as “Stranger Things: Tales from ’85” gets limited screenings ahead of its streaming launch
• Jim shares highlights from his LA trip, including visits to Stuart Ng Books and Gallery Nucleus, plus rare animation art finds and industry collectibles
• A closer look at Kickstarter success stories like “Clara & the Below” and what they signal about the future of independent animation funding
• New Disney+ series “Maul: Shadow Lord” expands the Star Wars animated universe, raising questions about connections to earlier film versions
• Drew discusses moderating a LAIKA-focused panel and reveals details about the upcoming “Art of Wildwood” book

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic - your go-to source for great deals on Disney and Universal theme park tickets. If a 2026 trip is on your radar, their team can help you save money and plan smarter. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to learn more.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Animation writer-director Shannon Tindle joins Drew Taylor for a wide-ranging conversation about breaking into animation, developing new projects, and navigating Hollywood’s ever-changing animation landscape. Shannon reflects on his career from CalArts to DreamWorks and beyond, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from Ultraman Rising, Kubo and the Two Strings, and projects that never made it to the screen. He also discusses his upcoming animated John Wick prequel and how animation opens creative possibilities that live action can’t.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Shannon Tindle discusses how artists today can break into animation from anywhere in the world thanks to digital portfolios, social media, and global collaboration.

• The evolution from analog portfolios and paper storyboards to Cintiq tablets and fully digital pipelines - and how that shift changed how animation talent gets discovered.

• Shannon shares details about his unproduced Disney animated series inspired by The Haunted Mansion, which would have followed a young girl tracking down escaped ghosts from the attraction’s famous “999 happy haunts.”

• A second Disney concept explored a modern take on the Lost Boys from Peter Pan, imagining a diverse group of kids in today’s world and a girl challenging the group’s “no girls allowed” rule.

• Behind-the-scenes insights into developing Ultraman Rising, including how the project began as an original concept before becoming an official Ultraman film and how Japanese fans reacted to the finished movie.

• Shannon explains how his upcoming animated John Wick project will expand the franchise with stylized action sequences impossible in live action while also exploring the emotional origin story of John and Helen.

• The creative challenge of balancing large-scale action with quiet character moments - something Shannon sees as essential to preserving the tone that makes the John Wick films work.

• Stories from Shannon’s time at DreamWorks working alongside artists like Nico Marlet, Carlos Grangel, and Tony Siruno, and how collaborative studio environments sharpen artists’ skills.

HOSTS

• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

GUEST

• Shannon Tindle - IG: @shannon_tindle

FOLLOW

• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT

Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices