As Disney 100 week begins, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers pause regular class to present a miniseries exploring Disney’s centenary. First up: what actually is Disney 100, what does it mean, and what exactly are we marking 100 years of? We look into the history to talk contracts, self-mythology, and a century of cultural impact – and discuss the various ways that Disney is celebrating its own legacy this year. Then, we look back on the short that started it all – presenting a miniaturised version of our regular show format to discuss 1923’s Laugh-o-gram short Alice’s Wonderland (available on YouTube), and explore how it sowed the seeds of everything Disney would become. Roll out the Reception Committee!

Next up: Disney 100 Part 2: Once Upon A Studio

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 Strange World. 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 years keep coming, and they don’t stop coming. Film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers return to the London Podcast Festival for a sold-out show that leaves Disney’s Magic Kingdom behind for the swirling swamp of 2001’s Shrek. For our 50th episode, it’s finally time to tackle the big green guy in the room – a figure who not only changed the trajectory of Walt Disney Animation Studios movies for years to come, but has played a major part in Sam’s academic pursuits. Together, Ben and Sam talk fart jokes, Farquaad, Farkle and more as they break down the film’s overt Disney parodies, its repositioning of what an animated fairytale can be, and question how subversive it really is. Plus, prepare to meet the laser-eyed non-ogre of the original story book, gear up for a Shrek In The Swamp Karaoke Dance Party, and take a trip to the most magical place of all: Shrek’s Adventure.

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

Next up: Disney 100 specials (then, Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

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 Strange World. 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.

Leaving Dinosaur (Plus Lemurs) in the past where it belongs, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers head further into the Disney wilderness on a trip to Peru, with 2000’s The Emperor’s New Groove. It’s not only a film with an important role in Disniversity history (to be explained), but marked a new groove for the studio itself – plunging Disney further into irreverence, absurdity, and cartoon antics. Expect discussions of the film’s tumultuous making-of, the nightmarish experience Sting had on music duties, the film’s major Looney Tunes influence, and the legendary performances from Eartha Kite and Patrick Warburton. Plus, Ben recalls a Years 8 school memory and campaigns for Kronk to join the next season of The Bear, and Sam gets his Yzma on. We hope this one gets a big thumbs-up from Papi.

Next up: Shrek live show (then, Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

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 Strange World. 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.

As the sun rises on a new era of Disney – the Wilderness Years – film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers go back millions of years (while the studio looks to the future) in 2000’s Dinosaur. Strap in for Disney animation’s first CGI-centric film – with Ben and Sam exploring how the filmmakers blended prehistoric creatures into footage of live-action environments, with mixed results. Plus, there’s the very different version that could have been, courtesy of Phil Tippett and Paul Verhoeven; the bizarre DinoLand USA theme park area closely tied to the lore of the film; a whole ton of freaky lemurs; and the discovery of a long lost fossil: the Dinosaur Song Factory album. Oh, and Sam takes a deep – and we mean DEEP – dive into the Walt Disney Animation Studios numbering system, and why it all goes a bit haywire from Dinosaur onwards. This one goes out to all the little eggs out there.

Next up: The Emperor’s New Groove

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 Strange World. 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.

It’s not time for class to return quite yet – but for now, here’s a bonus talk! Join film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers live at the BFI in London, where they were invited on stage as part of Once Upon A Time: A Disney Day, during the Making Magic: 100 Years Of Disney season. In ‘From Magic Mirrors To Madrigals: A History Of Magic In Disney Animation’, they discuss one of the most important parts of Disney’s legacy, and ask the big questions. Why is the entire Disney brand so tied to the idea of magic? How far back does that go? Who gets to use magic in Disney’s animated films, and how much has that changed over time? All that and more is discussed in a conversation recorded in front of a live (and lovely) audience on Saturday 22 July. Enjoy, do check out the rest of the BFI’s Making Magic season – and get more live Disniversity goodness with our Shrek live show at the London Podcast Festival 2023, on Saturday 9 September. ‘Swamp Chic’ clothing encouraged.

Next episode: Dinosaur

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 Strange World. 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 end of term is here – and before we go on a brief summer break, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers are here to deliver one final statement on the Renaissance Era. In our latest Study Group episode, we look back over what makes this seismic decade for the studio such a creatively fertile time, and explore how the era changed Disney for good. Expect discussions of the greatest songs, characters, and sequences from across the Renaissance, a ranking of every Renaissance film (with unexpected results), and the latest versions of Sam and Ben’s official Disniversity rankings so far. Plus, we finally decide the name of the next era live on air, tease some exciting live show plans, and we’re joined by the BFI’s Justin Johnson to talk their upcoming Making Magic: 100 Years Of Disney season. See you out in the wilds!

Next episode: Dinosaur (or, possible bonus episodes, tbd)

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 Strange World. 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.

As the Renaissance Era draws to a close, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers head back to the orchestra pit for another blast of absolute music in Fantasia 2000. Not always considered part of the Renaissance, we discuss why it belongs firmly at the end of this era – and discuss its celebrity guest hosts, the studio’s first fully-3D short, and how the film differs thematically from the original Fantasia. Plus, we rhapsodise about the Rhapsody In Blue sequence, explore the legacy of space whales and Payakan the mighty Tulkun, admit the first ever live-action Disniversity Legend, take a fateful trip to the LEGO shop, briefly reunite the Nine Old Men, and uncover more emo folk-tales by Hans Christian Andersen. Oh, and Sam gets arrested by the Pete Police. Sound the sirens!

Next up: Study Group episode (then, Dinosaur)

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 Strange World. 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.

Leaving China behind them, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers head back to the African jungle for a vine-swinging adventure in 1999’s Tarzan. And they’re joined by Tarzan-stan (Tar-stan?) journalist Emily Murray, bringing her deep love of Phil Collins dad-rock bangers. There’s much discussion of that drum-heavy soft-rock soundtrack, explorations of the Deep Canvas technology that brought the jungle to life, the deeply problematic original Tarzan mythology, and the film’s eye-popping action sequences. Plus, Ben reminisces on the Tarzan game for Game Boy Color, Emily unveils her deep love of Lady & The Tramp, Sam digs into the reports that Brian Blessed provided the iconic Tarzan ‘yell’ – and there’s an extra special guest in Holmes The Cat. Strap in for the penultimate episode in the Renaissance Era!

Next up: Fantasia 2000

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 Strange World. 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.

With their friendship mercifully intact, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers get down to business with 1998’s Mulan – bringing with them all the force of a great typhoon, the strength of a ranging fire, and very special guest Rhianna Dhillon! Get ready for deconstructions of masculinity, much praise for nearly-axed hero Cri-Kee, discussions of the original Chinese folksong, explorations of Mulan’s true identity, and praise for the film’s impressive, spectacle-filled action sequences. Plus, Rhianna is taken back to her youthful adoration of Li Shang, Sam recalls the greatest nights of his teenage life, Ben learns a great Star Wars fact – and a bombshell is dropped: could ‘I’ll Make A Man Out Of You’ really be the best Disney song of all time? Press play, and let the legend unfold…

Next up: Tarzan

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 Strange World. 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.

After ascending the heights of Notre Dame, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers are blasting back to Ancient Greece for an anachronism-heavy superhero-deity mash-up: 1997’s Hercules. And – ding ding ding! – it’s the first film in Disniversity history that finds our duo with wildly differing opinions… Strap in for a spicy trip to Mount Olympus and back, exploring the way Disney conflates Hercules with the Superman myth, its then-contemporary explorations of fame and sporting celebrity, its distinctive visual identity, the push-and-pull of idealism vs cynicism, and the film’s Americanisation of the unhinged original Greek stories. Plus, delve into Sam’s deep love of extraneous lore, Ben’s formative pantomime-based memory – and pray a decade-plus friendship isn’t broken along the way. Warning: contains wild tales of milk, murder, and melting potions.

Next up: Mulan

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 Strange World. 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.