ToonCast Beyond

A discussion on the short holiday episode of Dexter's Laboratory, where Dexter attempts to use science to prove Santa Claus is actually his father. The conversation covers the episode's animation style, the influence of Popeye on Genndy Tartakovsky's character designs, and whether this specific cartoon earns a place on a holiday watch list.

A look back at the 1970 Rankin-Bass stop-motion holiday special, exploring how the film establishes the origin story of Santa Claus. The discussion covers the voice performances by Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, and Paul Frees, while examining the film's pacing and darker tone. The hosts share memories of watching these specials as a family tradition and debate the artistic merits of the villainous Burgermeister Meisterburger.

The panel continues the project of ranking the top 100 animated characters, moving into the top 50. The hosts discuss recent listener feedback and the challenges of selecting characters across diverse franchises, including Disney, Looney Tunes, and Hanna-Barbera. This segment features the reveal of Shrek, Huckleberry Hound, Megatron, and Stewie Griffin, accompanied by analysis of their cultural impact and the reasoning behind their specific placements.

We take a look at the 1974 Rankin-Bass stop-motion holiday classic about a weary Santa Claus who decides to take a vacation. We discuss the memorable vocal performances from Mickey Rooney and Shirley Booth, the iconic Miser Brothers, and the whimsical antics of the elves Jingle and Jangle. We also compare our experiences with the film, balancing lifelong nostalgia with the perspective of a first-time viewer.

An announcement for the inaugural 25 Days of Tooncast Beyond Christmas event. The series will cover 50 holiday-themed cartoon episodes across two years, featuring discussions on specials like The Year Without a Santa Claus, Ren and Stimpy, Transformers Animated, and Justice League. Additional coverage includes The Real Ghostbusters, Looney Tunes, and Kim Possible. These short-form episodes explore a variety of animation classics as well as action-oriented holiday stories.

The panel continues the journey through the top 100 animated characters of all time, revealing positions 75 through 51. The discussion features debates on the merits of silent characters like Gromit, the iconic status of Tweety Bird, and the divide over whether to rank characters like the Powerpuff Girls or Wallace and Gromit as individuals or duos. The group also dissects the placement of Disney staples including Minnie Mouse, Elsa, and Jiminy Cricket, reflecting on character depth, historical impact, and personal nostalgia.

The countdown begins for the top 100 animated characters of all time, starting with entries 100 through 98. The hosts and guests discuss the rules for the list, including the exclusion of Marvel, DC, and Star Wars characters to ensure variety and focus. Throughout this segment, the panel examines the selections of She-Ra, Elmo, and Joy from Inside Out, debating the criteria for inclusion, the impact of nostalgia, and the challenges of ranking modern characters against established icons.

We take a deep dive into the short-lived Spike TV adult animated series Stripperella. We discuss the show's campy premise, the evolution of its animation style between studios, and the strengths of the voice cast, including Maurice LaMarche and the memorable guest appearance of Mark Hamill. We also break down our favorite episodes like 'Small Fry' and 'The Wrath of Klinko,' and share the story behind the series' name and why it didn't continue past its first season.

Mike and Eduardo dive into the 1994 Spider-Man: The Animated Series season one, covering all 13 episodes. They discuss the show's writing, voice cast (including Christopher Daniel Barnes, Jennifer Hale, and Roscoe Lee Browne), animation techniques mixing 2D and 3D, and standout episodes like the three-part alien costume arc. The hosts explore how this series introduced them to comics and how it compares to other Spider-Man cartoons across different eras.

TFG1Mike and Eduardo M. Freyre dive into the 1992 X-Men animated series debut season, exploring the 13-episode run that aired on Fox Kids. They discuss the show's adaptation of comic storylines, analyze the voice cast (including guest star John Colicos as Apocalypse), examine the animation style, and break down standout episodes like "Days of Future Past" and the Apocalypse two-parter. The hosts also dig into the show's treatment of prejudice as allegory, its surprisingly sexualized female character designs and animation, and how the series influenced the live-action X-Men films. They rate the season and discuss where to watch it legally on Hulu Plus and iTunes.