LCJ Q&A Podcast

On the new DC animated series "Creature Commandos", it's a unique task force — incarcerated monsters — on wild missions and adventures. Emmy nominated executive producer and showrunner Dean Lorey ("Arrested Development", "Big Shot") joins me to talk about the comedy and action-packed "CC" (premiering Thursday Dec. 5 on Max).

David Lowery is the director of the new animated holiday short film "An Almost Christmas Story", which premieres this Friday Nov. 15 on Disney+. It's about an owl named Moon who forms a unique friendship with a girl named Luna in The Big Apple. Lowery shares what the holidays and holiday movies mean to him, along with stories about collaborating with John C. Reilly and Alfonso Cuaron, making "Pete's Dragon" and "A Ghost Story" and more.

The new PBS Kids animated series "Carl the Collector" (premiering Thursday November 14th) is about a kid raccoon who has autism. He loves collecting things and sharing his enthusiasm for collections and activities with his friends and family. "CTC" is created by Zachariah OHora (of the Fuzzytown book universe). Lisa Whittick is the show's director.

Long-awaited, fully animated The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie will receive an awards-qualifying run before the end of 2024, ahead of its official theatrical release on February 28th, 2025. I’ve screened the film and spoke with director Peter Browngardt about this sci-fi action comedy starring beloved characters who are true to themselves and presented in ways you’ve never seen before.

Adam Elliot won the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award 20 years ago for "Harvie Krumpet". He followed that up with acclaimed stop-motion feature "Mary & Max". His latest claymation movie is "Memoir of a Snail", which opens in theaters on Oct. 25.

David Feiss and Cinzia Angelini are the directors of the new animated action comedy "HITPIG!", starring Jason Sudeikis and Lilly Singh, which opens in theaters nationwide on November 1st.

Nickelodeon's new animated comedy Max & the Midknights (premiering Wednesday October 30th at 7pm) is adapted from Big Nate author Lincoln Peirce's popular book about a girl in medieval times who yearns to become a knight. Co-Executive Producers Sharon Flynn and David Skelly discuss the show's unique tone, visual perspectives and inspirations.

A new hand-drawn animated feature film adaptation of the classic novel "Kensuke's Kingdom" opens in theaters on Oct. 18. Directors Neil Boyle and Kirk Hendry take me on an adventure, describing what went into the story, music, visual design and much more. Plus, find out what Oscar winner Cillian Murphy did to enhance his vocal performance.

DreamWorks "Mighty Monsterwheelies" morphs classic movie monsters and monster trucks, creating a fun group of characters and episodes for families as we approach Halloween. It premieres Monday October 14th on Netflix. Kyel White developed the series and serves as story editor. Stephanie Simpson is the four-time Emmy-winning executive producer and showrunner.

Lara Croft has been played by Oscar winners Angelina Jolie and Alicia Vikander in movies. She's also an iconic video game heroine. Now she's the focus of a new hand-drawn animated series, with the voice of Hayley Atwell, in "Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft". It premieres this Thursday October 10th on Netflix. Showrunner, writer and EP Tasha Huo joins me on this episode of The LCJ Q&A Podcast.