The Squash:

In this episode, Randy Young and Kevin discuss the Netflix animated film 'The Sea Beast,' exploring its plot, character dynamics, animation style, and cinematography. They delve into the themes of power and propaganda, critique the character of Maisie for her unrealistic portrayal, and analyze the film's visual elements. The conversation highlights the film's strengths and weaknesses, ultimately concluding that while it is visually stunning, it lacks emotional depth and authenticity in storytelling.

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Topics Covered:

00:00 - Introduction and Context

02:16 - Overview of 'The Sea Beast'

03:57 - Themes of Power and Propaganda

07:29 - Character Development and Authenticity

11:06 - Visual Design and Animation Quality

16:30 - Emotional Engagement of Story with Audience

21:38 - Character Depth and Emotional Complexity

34:16 - Character Development and Realism in Animation

46:22 - The Intersection of Animation and Live Action

50:14 - Storytelling in Animation vs. Live Action

54:13 - The Role of Directors in Animation

57:40 - AI and the Future of Animation

01:00:05 - Cinematography and Visual Storytelling

01:04:08 - Squash It or Stretch It: Industry Debates

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Credit:

The images used in this video are the property of The Walt Disney Company and Netflix. They are presented here under fair use for purposes of commentary, criticism, and education.

A brief clip from The Sea Beast (2022) is used in this video under fair use for the purposes of commentary, critique, and discussion. All rights to The Sea Beast belong to Netflix and the respective creators. This use is transformative and does not compete with the original work.

Kevin and Randy debate the value of Brad Bird's The Iron Giant. #foryou #fyp #explore #podcast #new #animation

Randy and Kevin discuss the animated flop The Adventures of Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg.

💚 THE SQUASH

Randy and Kevin team up to dive deep into Flow, Gints Zilbalodis' visually hypnotic and emotionally powerful animated masterpiece. In this episode, they break down the film’s breathtaking cinematography, grounded storytelling, and raw emotional punch - all conveyed without a single word of dialogue. The story follows a lone cat navigating a world shattered by disaster, weaving together survival drama with poignant reflections on fear, trust, and resilience.

💚 THE STRETCH

In this episode of Squash ‘n’ Stretch, hosts Randy Young and Kevin Bannerman invite listeners on a remarkable journey through Flow, an indie film already making waves across the awards circuit. With Zilbalodis’ unorthodox approach--storyboarding nothing and crafting the world entirely in Blender - the conversation covers everything from the elegance of wordless storytelling to the heart-pounding innovation of an animal’s-eye view.

The episode celebrates the film's core themes of courage and vulnerability, spotlighting Zilbalodis' ability to capture quiet yet universal moments—like the heart-wrenching portrayal of loss through a wounded bird—that make the story feel personal and deeply human.

Randy and Kevin also delve into the production’s brilliance: a French-Belgian-Latvian co-production that ditched traditional studio playbooks in favor of indie grit and delivered some of the most authentic character animation in years. The film’s exploration of survival and unity hits especially hard, with Randy drawing a thoughtful parallel to real-life crises that test our humanity.

This episode isn’t just about animation - it’s a tribute to bold, independent storytelling. Flow isn’t just a movie; it’s an emotional and philosophical experience that invites reflection long after the credits roll.

💚 THE SQUASH

Randy and Kevin team up with animation expert and production person Marlene Sharp to explore The Book of Life, Jorge Gutierrez's visually stunning, culturally rich masterpiece. The episode digs deep into how the film’s bold storytelling, vibrant art, and layered themes tackling masculinity, friendship, and representation in ways that are as heartfelt as they are groundbreaking.

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💚 THE STRETCH

In this episode of Squash 'n' Stretch, hosts Randy Young and Kevin Bannerman are joined by the joyful and endlessly insightful Marlene Sharp to unpack the cultural and cinematic brilliance of The Book of Life. The trio explores how the film balances tradition with innovation, weaving Mexican art and folklore into a universal tale of love, friendship, and self-discovery.Together, they discuss Jorge Gutierrez's personal journey - including his adult autism diagnosis - dissect key elements like the multi-dimensional portrayal of masculinity, the groundbreaking representation of autism and neurodiversity, and the film’s empowering female characters. From the challenges of script development and character design and art direction, to the art of character design and pacing, the conversation peels back the layers of what makes animated films resonate across borders and generations.The discussion also sheds light on the evolving landscape of animation—covering globalization’s impact on storytelling, the vital role of voice acting, and how indie films like The Book of Life navigate marketing and distribution to stand out in a competitive market.

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💚 CHAPTERS

00:00 - Welcome to Squash 'n' Stretch: Introducing Marlene Sharp

06:05 - Marlene Sharp’s Animation Journey: Career Insights and Lessons Learned

11:58 - Jorge Gutierrez’s Vision: The Cultural Tapestry of The Book of Life

20:25 - Themes of Masculinity and Friendship: Depth Beyond the Surface

27:10- Storytelling in Animation: Techniques That Captivate Audiences

31:45 - Localization & Cultural Adaptation: Bridging Borders Through Story

35:15 - Challenges of Indie Animation: Marketing and Distribution

40:30 - Pacing and Visual Style: Keeping Viewers Hooked

💜 THE SQUASH:
That time Randy and Kevin dived headfirst into the underworld (literally) with Henry Selick’s Wendell and Wild. They discuss whether the film’s dazzling world-building and dark humor outweigh its convoluted storyline—or if it’s just the kind of ambitious chaos the animation world needs.

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💜 THE STRETCH:
In this episode of Squash 'n' Stretch, Randy and Kevin explore the twisted brilliance of Wendell and Wild, a stop-motion delight from director Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and producer Jordan Peele (Get Out). They dig into the film’s stunning character design, innovative world-building, and themes of trauma, identity, and resilience.

The conversation doesn’t shy away from the film’s ambitious complexity, tackling its subversive narrative, underworld amusement parks (yes, really), and the chemistry of its mischievous demon duo. Randy and Kevin also highlight the importance of diversity and representation, celebrating Wendell and Wild as a bold, visually arresting step forward in animation.

From breaking cycles of trauma to creating worlds that feel alive, this episode celebrates how Selick’s unique vision challenges traditional animation norms—and how ambitious storytelling can resonate with audiences young and old.

Join the hosts as they examine whether Wendell and Wild is a Halloween classic in the making or a misunderstood masterpiece waiting for its moment.

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💜 CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction to Squash and Stretch Podcast

01:58 - Exploring 'Wendell and Wild' and Henry Selick's Vision

06:23 - Plot Overview and Character Dynamics

08:06 - World Building and Visual Design

12:31 - Character Design and Artistic Choices

17:22 - Target Audience and Thematic Depth

22:00 - Diversity and Production Insights

25:00 - Improv and Chemistry in Animation

27:00 - Underworld Amusement Parks: A Recurring Theme

30:00 - Convoluted Storylines and Faction Dynamics

31:00 - Exploring Trauma and Memory in Storytelling

33:00 - Themes of Breaking the Cycle and Rehabilitation

36:00 - Subversive Elements in Animated Storytelling

38:30 - Diversity and Representation in Animation

40:00 - Visual Design and Character Representation

41:00 - Final Thoughts on Ambition and Audience Engagement

💚 THE SQUASH - That time animation legend Tom Sito helps us squish into the cultural and political vibes that fueled animated classics like Fantastic Planetand Allegro Non Troppo. We're talking French sci-fi freakiness, adult-themed storylines, and satire that served as a love-hate letter to Disney's Fantasia. The 70s were wild—a time when animated storytelling wasn't just about selling merch but about breaking molds and challenging minds.

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💜 THE STRETCH - Tom and our hosts, stretch the conversation across time to explore how the ripple effects of this funky, fearless decade set the foundation for the '90s animation renaissance. The ups, the downs, and the downright bizarre—they’re all here, including the impact of underground comics, the looming shadow of television, and the fight for artistic freedom in a world obsessed with commercial viability.

Tune in for the perfect blend of highbrow insight and rebellious fun as Randy, Kevin, and Tom help you make sense of a time when animation was caught between art house expression and Saturday morning entertainment. Because without the risks of the 70s, we’d never have the animated goldmine of the 90s. Trust us—it’s a trip you don’t want to miss.

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction to Squash and Stretch Podcast

04:47 - Animation History: The 1970s Shift

11:54 - Adult Themes in Animation

20:03 - Political Context of Fantastic Planet

24:50 - Art House Releases and Audience Reception

30:09 - The Evolution of Animated Features

36:10 - Art vs. Commerce in Animation

40:00 - Reflections on Animation's Past and Future

💚 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin tried to explain how Anastasia gave Disney a run for their crown…on half the budget, against all odds.

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💜 THE STRETCH - Randy and Kevin dig into the creative whirlwind behind the making of Anastasia, where Kevin, then Fox’s VP of Production, shares the excitement of bringing the story to life outside Disney’s shadow. They break down the casting process and star-studded lineup, featuring Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer and Angela Lansbury, and discuss the rare approach of recording voice overs with actors together, live in the booth, adding chemistry to the character performances. Budgetary woes take center stage, with Anastasia pushing limits at half of Disney’s typical spend while still standing strong against the coordinated releases of The Little Mermaid and Flubber.

The two dissect Anastasia’s unique animation style, focusing on the artistic challenges and financial prudence of rotoscoping to balance realism with flair and personal improvisation. They also explore the film’s cultural impact, particularly its role in the lives of young girls who grew up with Anastasia as a beloved heroine, and consider how content ratings for family films have evolved since.

The episode wraps up with a deep dive into the soundtrack development process, examining how songs were crafted to fit the story seamlessly. Randy and Kevin highlight the close collaboration between songwriters and scriptwriters, which ensured each song captured the right emotional beat and visual enchantment for audiences.

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro!

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💜Hosted by:Randy Young and Kevin Bannerman

💚Produced and engineered by: Randy Young

💜 Squash 'n' Stretch is aGreen Ghost Media Podcast

💚 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin talked about Pixar’s Turning Red and whether the animation powerhouse is focused more on story or technology. They dive into the film's Toronto roots, its coming-of-age themes, and how Pixar is pushing boundaries with character designs and Asian culture representation.

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💜 THE STRETCH - In this episode of Squash 'n' Stretch, Randy and Kevin dive deep into Pixar’s Turning Red, a heartwarming and funny coming-of-age story set in Toronto, Canada. The film tells the story of Mei Lin, a 13-year-old girl who transforms into a giant red panda as she navigates the challenges of growing up and the complexities of identity and self-acceptance. The hosts celebrate the film’s attention to detail, vibrant animation, and how it authentically captures Toronto's multiculturalism and the experiences of young girls going through adolescence.

The conversation moves toward the balance between storytelling and technology in Pixar films, questioning whether the studio sometimes prioritizes its technical brilliance over story, potentially affecting audience perception. They also highlight the film's character designs and how those designs have sparked mixed reactions (in our hosts😭.) The hosts discuss the success of Turning Red in both streaming and box office performance, touching on how streaming impacts backend bonuses for filmmakers.

Randy and Kevin wrap up by congratulating Domi Shi, Pixar’s first female solo director, for breaking barriers and representing Asian culture in a way that resonates with global audiences.

Catch this insightful breakdown as the hosts explore whether Pixar’s focus on technology enhances or detracts from its storytelling, all while celebrating the success of Turning Red as a groundbreaking, culturally significant animation!

.CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Intro!

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💜Hosted by:Randy Young and Kevin Bannerman

💚Produced and engineered by: Randy Young

💜 Squash 'n' Stretch is aGreen Ghost Media Podcast

💜 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin self-traumatized by time warping back to the Covid lockdowns, essentially volunteering for emotional flashbacks caused by the parallel plot of The Mitchells vs. the Machines and 2020 in North America.

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💜 THE STRETCH - In this episode, Randy and Kevin dive into The Mitchells vs. The Machines and unpack how this animated joyride reflects our pandemic lives. They explore the film’s smart take on technology and social media, along with the complex dynamics within the Mitchell family, including its LGBTQ representation. The duo dissects how the movie balances entertaining kids while resonating with adults, while also highlighting the shift towards streaming platforms caused by the pandemic and its impact on the industry. From analyzing the main character’s instinctual choices to discussing themes of patriarchy, Randy and Kevin cover it all, even throwing in a recommendation for Mrs. Davis for fans of The Mitchells. Ultimately, they praise the film for its humor, charm, cutting-edge animation, and timely relevance.

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💜 CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Introduction and Setting the Topic

03:24 - Exploring the Themes of 'Mitchell vs. The Machines'

08:35 - The Significance of LGBTQ Representation in the Movie

13:35 - Analyzing the Title of the Movie

23:19 - The Impact of the Pandemic on Movie Releases and Streaming

23:48 - Exploring Character Development and Instinct

26:00 - The Representation of the Patriarchy

29:50 - Addressing the Impact of Technology and Social Media

32:00 - The Need for Regulation

34:36 - Praising the Humor, Charm, and Animation

35:14 - Relevance to Contemporary Issues

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💜HOSTED BY: Randy Young and Kevin Bannerman💚PRODUCED & ENGINEERED BY: Randy Young💜 SQUASH 'N' STRETCH is aGreen Ghost Media Podcast