Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back with another packed episode of Fine Tooning. From anime shattering records at the box office to Pixar showing off the future of Toy Story, the duo break down the biggest stories shaping animation this week.

Demon Slayer’s record-breaking $70 million North American debut and what set this release apart

Toy Story’s 30th anniversary celebration and the first five minutes of Toy Story 5 revealed at Destination D

Disney updates on Frozen 3, Incredibles 3, and Coco 2

Streaming and theatrical news for Elio, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc, Cat’s Eye, and ParaNorman

Skydance’s reported bid for Warner Bros. Discovery and its potential impact on animation

From record-breaking anime to billion-dollar mergers, Jim and Drew guide listeners through an especially eventful week in the world of animation.

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This week, Jim Hill and Len Testa dig into the wild backstory of Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land and the strange “what ifs” that could’ve changed Radiator Springs forever. From Marty's Malt Shop to a road trip attraction fueled by beef jerky and Diet Mountain Dew, the alternate ideas were as quirky as they were ambitious.

Whether you’re here for the theme park news, HHN survival tips, or Jim’s deep dive into Disney Imagineering history, this episode has something for every fan. Buckle up - Radiator Springs wasn’t always the only road Disney could’ve taken.

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In the 22nd installment of this educational series, Shelly & Noe Valladolid continue their look at C.V. Wood (the original president of Disneyland).

In particular, what happened when Wood decided to enter direct competition with Disney and subsequently established his own theme park design company? 

Over the course of this episode, listeners will learn about:

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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey are back with a packed episode of the Epic Universal Podcast. From award-winning attractions to behind-the-scenes stories that almost made it to the big screen, this week covers a lot of ground:

The new Jaws: Memories of Martha’s Vineyard book and the Academy Museum’s Jaws exhibition

Remembering production designer Stuart Craig and his lasting impact on the Wizarding World

Fresh rumors about a Harry Potter land in Universal’s upcoming UK park

Epic Universe’s big wins at the Golden Ticket Awards, including Monsters Unchained and Dark Universe

Universal’s new interactive Backlot Club membership and trivia game

The history of Islands of Adventure’s early plans, from Jurassic Park concepts to Dudley Do-Right’s rushed debut

Plus, Jim shares the long-lost Jurassic Park “baby Triceratops” and “T-Rex river chase” scenes that never made the original film, and how they eventually resurfaced decades later.

Follow Eric on X and Instagram @EricHersey

Follow Jim on X and Instagram @JimHillMedia

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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey return with a jam-packed episode of I Want That Too, covering the latest Disney merch, clever marketing strategies, and holiday surprises.

The rise of popcorn buckets in parks and movie theaters – from talking Mickey to mummy Stitch to a Tron lightcycle

How Disney uses psychology to nudge us into spending more, from limited releases to sneaky menu tricks

Nightmare Before Christmas merch expansions, books, and light trails around the globe

Early Christmas décor spotted at Disneyland Paris – and why Disney (and retailers) get a head start on the holidays

The surprising history of Winnie the Pooh at Disney, including cereal crossovers and rare collectibles

From ghost Mickey buckets to glow-in-the-dark villain sneakers, Jim and Lauren unpack the ways Disney keeps fans coming back for “just one more thing.”

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Awards season is heating up, and Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are here to break it all down. From the Venice Film Festival and TIFF premieres to box office shocks and studio shakeups, this episode dives into the films and animated projects making headlines around the globe.

Highlights include:

Whether you’re tracking festival favorites, the latest box office trends, or Disney’s evolving animation slate, this episode offers insights, context, and commentary you won’t want to miss.

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Len Testa and Jim Hill return with a Disney Dish full of hard-hitting questions like: is a popcorn bucket a collectible, a food container, or proof of life’s absurdity? Along the way, they tackle Disney’s latest surveys, new overlays, and a franchise that almost stalled out before becoming a billion-dollar juggernaut.

Disney sets the closing date for Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom and spruces up Carousel of Progress with a new Walt Disney animatronic

Tron Lightcycle Run trades neon blue for Nine Inch Nails red in a Tron: Ares overlay

Disneyland Paris ticket pricing hints at when World of Frozen may open in 2026

Universal ponders the true meaning of souvenir popcorn buckets, from Aristotle to social media influencers

Jim explains how Pixar’s Cars almost didn’t get made — and how Radiator Springs ended up saving Disney California Adventure

From castle cake flashbacks to Schrödinger’s popcorn, this episode mixes history, news, and a little bit of existential dread — all with the usual Testa-Hill banter.

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Jim Hill and Eric Hersey return with a loaded episode of the Epic Universal Podcast, blending Halloween Horror Nights buzz with theme park history and rumors.

Opening weekend reactions to HHN 2024, including Terrifier, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and the controversial “deathly afraid” lanyards

RIP Ride Rockit demolition updates and Ghostbusters speculation for Universal’s front gate

Could Back to the Future replace Fast & Furious? The latest whispers from insiders

The Tooniversal deal that almost brought Looney Tunes and DC to Universal — and how its failure led to the Lost Continent

Who really stole what? Disney borrowing from Knott’s, Universal borrowing from Disney, and the chain of “borrowed” ideas that shaped Dueling Dragons

From HHN news to the “battle of borrowed rides,” Jim and Eric serve up insider scoops, history, and plenty of banter.

Follow Eric on X and Instagram @EricHersey

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Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey return with a new episode of I Want That Too, diving into Disney Princess Week, new merchandise drops, and the latest Disney history feature. From LEGO sidekicks to Bath & Body Works villains, they’ve got the stories (and opinions) Disney fans will want to hear.

Highlights from Disney Princess Week, including merchandise, sidekick collections, and special events

The “Meant to Be” adult rom-com book series reimagining Disney Princesses in modern settings

Early fan reactions to Bath & Body Works’ Disney Villains collaboration

EPCOT Food & Wine Festival merch, featuring Muppet Labs, Figment, and Chef Mickey collections

Jim and Lauren revisit the story of Kay Kamen and continue their Disney cereal history deep dive

From modern merch drops to classic collectibles, this episode blends Disney history, fan culture, and insider stories from Jim and Lauren.

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Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off September with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering the biggest stories in the world of animation:

The record-shattering success of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix and what’s next for the franchise

Updates on Big Mouth, its Emmy legacy, and the upcoming series Mating Season

Aardman’s latest projects, including Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom

Pixar’s Elio and how its international release stood out in unexpected ways

30 years of Toy Story returning to theaters, plus collectibles and nostalgia

Bill Plympton and “Weird Al” Yankovic team up for a one-of-a-kind animation retrospective

Jim and Drew also revisit classic shorts once shown at Disney-MGM Studios, share news from Studio Ghibli Fest, and look ahead at Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie and more.

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