Disniversity Podcast

What’s this, what’s this? There’s podcasts everywhere. Film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers returned to the London Podcast Festival for a comeback live episode – getting spooky (or festive, delete as applicable) with Henry Selick’s Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Together, Ben and Sam explore the frightful delights of Halloweentown, revel in the pure-hearted joys of Christmastown, celebrate the greatest oddballs from Jack’s neighbours, and ask the ultimate question. No, not ‘is this a Halloween movie or a Christmas movie?’ (though that is covered). The ultimate question, actually is: do skeletons eat other skeletons? Can bugs eat bugs? And what’s behind those other holiday doors? We hope you enjoy – and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Huge thanks to everyone who came to see us in person – and to Kings Place for hosting us.

Next up: Winnie-The-Pooh

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

Stop the press! Before the Comeback Era continues, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers present a bonus episode – discussing the big news, revelations, and early footage from D23, the Disney Expo in Anaheim, California. Not only was the 2026 show packed with looks ahead at Disney Animation (and Pixar, and the theme parks and more) but Ben was there IRL, and has returned with tales to tell of every exciting thing he saw. Get ready for discussions of Frozen III’s first footage, the return of Oswald The Lucky Rabbit, the next Disney animated feature Hexed, an unlikely Heinz collab, and much, much more.

Next up: Winnie The Pooh (2011)

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

See those lanterns in the sky? That means one thing: film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers are back, and ready to let down their (metaphorical) hair with 2010’s Tangled. And they’re joined by a guest who may rank among the Four Favourites: Letterboxd’s Ella Kemp! Together, they discuss the film that set the template for Disney’s 3D princess movies, debating the film’s musical strengths, its top-tier animal sidekicks, its status as an adventure movie, and the mind-games of Mother Gothel. Plus: the Top Trumps deck speaks on the film’s MVP, Ella comes with major Letterboxd stats, Sam goes deep on the extended lore of the spin-off series, and Ben poses a big question: is this Disney’s Taylor Swift era? When will this pod begin? As soon as you press play.

Next up: Winnie The Pooh (2011)

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

Pucker up, people! The Comeback Era truly begins as film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers venture to the Bayou in 2009’s The Princess And The Frog. And they’re not alone, joined by special guest Kelechi Ehenulo to talk Disney’s brief return to 2D animation, its intentional evocation (and interrogation) of classic fairytale movie tropes, and the impact of the studio’s first Black princess. Plus, they dig into the absolutely stacked jazz-influenced soundtrack, the 1920s-influenced animation style of Almost There, the delicious legacy of Tiana’s beignets, the history of frog-kissing in folk stories, and why it’s a bit like Widows and Sinners.

Next up: Tangled

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

Don’t call it a comeback! Or, do – because film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers are back with a new batch of episodes, following Disney into The Comeback Era. And before things kick off properly with The Princess And The Frog, here’s a little warm-up episode teeing up where we left off, where this next batch of films takes us, and covering some very important business: we have a new live show coming up, so get your tickets now! Ben is going to D23 soon! And is Minions & Monsters better than Toy Story 5? See you very soon for our next proper episode…

Next up: The Princess And The Frog

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

Bonjour! In a very special (and very long-awaited) episode of Disniversity, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers take a closer look at one of the cornerstones of Disney’s businesses and creative experiments: the theme parks. And what better way to do that than go to Disneyland Paris? Back in August 2023, a field trip expedition took us into the heart of ‘EuroDisney’ (as it was once known). Follow us as we wander around the parks, chatting away about the iconic rides, how Disney translates its features into physical form, all the delicious snacks, our childhood Disneyland memories, and an increasing obsession with Lightning McQueen. Lightning! Lightning! Lightning! Enjoy, and we’ll see you soon for the Comeback Era.

Next up: The Princess And The Frog

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

Strap in, everyone: Aunt Gertie has arrived for Christmas! Yes, as the big day rolls around, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers are here for a rare catch-up with the core Disney gang, unpacking three festive tales in 1999 video hit Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas. Along the way, they explore Huey, Dewey And Louie’s existential nightmare; Goofy and Max’s existential nightmare; and Mickey and Minnie’s existential nightmare. Merry Christmas everyone! Oh, and brace yourself: Sam unveils his maniacal plan to stop Christmas once and for all. Well, for a few years at least.

Next up: Disneyland Paris special

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

The hallowed halls of Disniversity aren’t quite ready to re-open for the Comeback Era – so for now, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers are taking a first trip into the post room to answer your listener questions. You sent in tons of Qs – on Disney, animation, academia and beyond – so here are the long-awaited As. Will Disney ever go 2D again? Who should appear in an Avengers-style line-up of Disney characters? And what is Sam’s job, really? All that, plus Ben yearns for a new Flubber, there’s repeated use of the word ‘chicanery’, and prepare for the ultimate showdown: Mr. Bug Goes To Town vs. Uncle Stiltskin.

Next episode: Another special episode. Coming soon: The Princess And The Frog!

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Zootropolis 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

STUDY GROUP: Goodbye To Disney’s Weirdest Era

What the hell was that all about? As we leave The Wilderness Years (aka the Oddbod Era, aka the Freak Era) behind, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers reflect on the long and winding road of movies that encompass the Walt Disney Animation Studio’s biggest identity crisis. In this Study Group episode, we try and summarise what the Wilderness Years actually was, and why it’s one of the studio’s most fascinating eras (despite giant fluctuations in quality) – plus, we rank every film from this era, update our overall Disniversity rankings, and decide what the next era of the show will be. We have a title, and a list of films – listen to the episode to find out what’s coming next. Plus, we return to the Dinosaur Song Factory one last time, and Sam delivers a bonus nugget of personal lore related to Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Buckle up for incoming bangers: the future has arrived!

Next episode: Mystery project, and possible mailbag episode. Then – The Princess And The Frog!

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.

This is it: the end of the Wilderness Years road. Film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers close out an era in Disney history with 2008’s action-packed pup adventure Bolt. Together, they discuss the ways in which the studio finally figured out their approach to making 3D CGI movies, unpick the unconventional production of the fictional ‘Bolt’ show, ponder whether it all amounts to animal cruelty, explore how the film borrows from Toy Story and The Matrix, and talk the casting of John Travolta. Plus, Sam gets into some deeply meta Nemo lore, and Ben becomes obsessed with the character the film always needed: Gidget.

Next up: Study Group! (then, The Princess And The Frog)

Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.

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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.