As Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down just hours before Zootopia 2 preview screenings begin, they dig into the film’s early reactions, the surprising box-office shape of the holiday season, and the escalating economics behind today’s animated franchises.

Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com

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As the long Thanksgiving weekend approaches, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a flurry of newly dropped animation trailers, surprising box office projections, and the industry shifts shaping Spring and Summer 2026. Recorded just as holiday season ramps up, this week’s Fine Tooning mixes news, nostalgia, and some unexpected industry history.

HIGHLIGHTS

Hosts

Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
Drew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

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Edited by Dave Grey

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Jim Hill and Drew Taylor salute Veterans Day and talk about Xavier “X” Atencio, the new Disney Editions book celebrating the Imagineer behind the Haunted Mansion’s “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” Then, Drew and Jim dive into the weekend box office — from Predator: Badlands breaking franchise records to the upcoming Zootopia 2 — before Jim goes solo to finish his deep-dive on the 20th anniversary of Chicken Little: Disney’s first CG feature and the film that changed everything at the studio.

HIGHLIGHTS

Disney Legend spotlight: The new Xavier X. Atencio biography reveals rare sketches, wartime cartoons, and Haunted Mansion concept art — including the one-eyed cat that almost was.

Box office breakdown: Predator: Badlands lifts Disney past $4 billion for 2025, while Zootopia 2’s early projections could redeem TRON: Ares’ underperformance.

Streaming watch: Netflix’s In Your Dreams wins praise from Collider and The Hollywood Reporter; Star Wars: Visions Vol. 3 drops on Disney+.

The forgotten fowl: Why Chicken Little struggled in 2005 — from corporate pressure and story changes to a release window crushed by Goblet of Fire.

Animation turning point: How Pixar’s arrival, John Lasseter’s leadership, and Ratatouille’s success permanently shifted Disney away from hand-drawn animation.

Hosts

Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com

Drew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

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This week on Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor mark the 20th anniversary of Chicken Little — Disney’s first fully computer-animated feature — and trace how the film’s rocky launch reshaped the studio’s animation strategy in the mid-2000s. Recorded the morning after Daylight Savings Time kicked in, this episode mixes history, humor, and behind-the-scenes insight as the guys unpack what really happened inside Disney Animation during one of its most volatile eras.

HIGHLIGHTS

Drew and Jim revisit the creative chaos that followed The Emperor’s New Groove and how Mark Dindal & Randy Fullmer’s next project evolved into Chicken Little.

Why Bob Iger’s early plans to buy Pixar cast a shadow over the film’s release.

How Chicken Little became both a casualty and catalyst in Disney’s CGI transformation.

Updates on the new Zootopia Zoobetter Together 4-D show at Animal Kingdom and why fans may want to wait for the Merrie Menagerie’s return.

Studio Ghibli Fest’s finale screenings of The Boy and the Heron, plus news on Laika’s upcoming Wildwood and ESPN’s animated Monsters Funday Football event.

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Jim Hill and Drew Taylor celebrate Halloween week by taking a deep dive into Disney’s darkest fairy tale — and the long, strange legacy of “Pinocchio.” From canceled attractions and creepy Hong Kong mazes to Julie Taymor’s unrealized Broadway musical, this little wooden boy has haunted Disney history for over 80 years.

Why Walt Disney once scrapped six months of work on “Pinocchio”

The forgotten Disneyland expansion that almost gave us “Pinocchio Square”

How Hong Kong Disneyland turned the film into a full-blown haunted maze

Julie Taymor’s eerie, abandoned “Pinocchio” stage musical

The odd connections between “Pinocchio,” “Wicked,” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”

Plus Drew talks about four new animated shorts that he recently saw at Disney Studios which are up for Oscar consideration next year

A spooky, story-filled episode perfect for animation fans and Halloween listeners alike.

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This week on Fine Tooning, Drew Taylor and Jim Hill explore how Disney’s most beloved songwriting duo—the Sherman Brothers—found new creative life after leaving the Mouse House in 1968. From the heartfelt melodies of Snoopy Come Home to the timeless charm of Charlotte’s Web, Jim revisits how their music carried Disney’s spirit into other studios’ animated worlds.

Drew shares highlights from the Animation Is Life event, including Q&As for ChaO and Arco

Why TRON: Ares’s box office dip has Disney nervous

The rise of Gabby’s Dollhouse as a Universal park franchise

A live-action Jetsons film that’s finally moving forward—again

The legacy of Marsupilami and Nickelodeon’s attempt to revive it

Jim wraps things up by celebrating the Sherman Brothers’ post-Disney era—two films that remind us that great songs can make any animation studio feel like home.

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Jim Hill and Drew Taylor welcome special guest Matt Kaszanek, Program Director for the Animation Is Film Festival, to talk about what fans can expect at this year’s event at the TCL Chinese Theatre. From exclusive screenings and panels to the state of the animation industry, this episode dives deep into the heart of Hollywood’s celebration of animated storytelling. Jim and Drew also cover the latest box-office chatter, streaming updates, and big animation headlines.

• Why Tron: Ares may still have a chance to rebound despite a soft opening
• The premiere lineup and behind-the-scenes planning of the Animation Is Film Festival
• Drew’s firsthand look at Sony’s new Animation campus and Infinity Festival highlights
• Updates on Primal Season 3, Bat-Fam, and The Bad Guys: Breaking In
• Guillermo del Toro’s new stop-motion school and what it means for future filmmakers

Whether you’re a longtime animation fan or just curious about what’s next on the big screen, this episode of Fine Tooning packs plenty of insight, stories, and laughter from Hollywood’s animation insiders.

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This week on Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Jim Hill and Drew dive into Disney’s animation future, beginning with Drew’s firsthand report from the “Zootopia 2” press day. From the creative direction behind the sequel to updates on everything from “The Simpsons Movie 2” to Quentin Tarantino’s surprise animated project, this episode covers the wild world of animation news and commentary with Jim and Drew’s trademark insight.

What Drew learned at Disney’s “Zootopia 2” press day

Why “The Simpsons Movie 2” finally got the green light

Quentin Tarantino’s new animated sequence for “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair”

The legacy of Disney animator Rick Hoppe

How Elon Musk’s latest controversy pulled “Dead End: Paranormal Park” back into the spotlight

From sequel scoop to animation history, this week’s Fine Tooning is packed with stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Tune in for the latest news and a heartfelt tribute to one of Disney’s greats.

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Jim Hill and Drew Taylor wrap up September with a packed episode of Fine Tooning. From this year’s sold-out Halloween Horror Nights in Hollywood to the long, winding saga of Richard Williams’ unfinished opus The Cobbler and the Thief, the guys cover the latest in animation news, box office battles, and even a courtroom clash over Steamboat Willie.

With October on the horizon, Jim and Drew bring insights, history, and some big questions about the future of animation.

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This week on Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor rewind to the mid-1950s to uncover how a forgotten studio sale and one scrappy rodent changed television forever. Along the way, they’ll cover everything from box office updates to Paw Patrol holiday specials, plus the latest shake-ups inside Disney corporate.

From network rivalries of the 1950s to today’s streaming-first landscape, Jim and Drew connect the dots on how animation keeps reshaping the industry.

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