Writers Get Animated

It's a new year and a new season! We're unpacking the themes and ideas in Pixar's latest film, Soul! What makes life so special? What is the "spark?" How does Pixar (and Pete Docter) continue create rich, tangible worlds based on ideas?

• Watch Pixar's Soul on Disney+

There's a new Star Wars Holiday Special, and it's LEGO! Does the new LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special pass as authentic Star Wars and as a true holiday specials? What Star Wars expectations do we have? What holiday special tropes pay off in this adventure?

• 152 - Klaus: A Very Early, Very Special Christmas Special Christmas Special

• Watch the LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special on Disney+

The Warner Brothers and the Warner Sister are back! Is this a reboot, a sequel, or a continuation? We investigate audience expectations, including our own, to see how much difference 22 years can make when a show returns!

• 045 - Bologna in Our Slacks: Animaniacs!

• Watch Animaniacs on Hulu

Who knew that one of the best movies to compliment 2020 would be a Laika film from 2012? This week we discuss the strangely timely message of ParaNorman! How can the passage time help a story's message?

• Watch ParaNorman on Netflix

Have you ever experienced a crushing rejection? It's rough. But, as we learn from "DuckTales" and "Steven Universe," there are healthy ways to deal with rejection. We unpack representations of relationships, love interests, and rejections. Chris even expresses his hatred of the term "friend zone."

Once a year, we binge for you! It's the best new animated shows of 2020! 2020 has given us so many new shows, we can barely keep up! We cover new shows for young audiences, shows for the whole family, and shows for "adults." Will you find a new favorite?

• 169 - Happy Birthday, Bugs Bunny!

We’re breaking tradition and are discussing a Disney live action remake that is actually live action: Mulan! How does this version of Mulan compare to the original animated film? What is improved? Who is the audience for this new version?

• 027 - Is The Jungle Book (2016) an Animated Movie?

It's the Emmys! We look at what we can learn from each of this year's nominees. It's an eclectic bunch! Big Mouth, Bob’s Burgers, BoJack Horseman, Rick And Morty, The Simpsons, Forky Asks A Question, Robot Chicken, and Steven Universe Future!

• 148 - 2019 Best Short Form Animated Program Emmy Nominees!

Today we’re breaking down one of the best scenes in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: the reveal of Olivia... You know... How does this great film set, reset, and subvert our expectations? How do you switch tone as necessary? How do character details and specificity influence a scene?

• 129 - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

• ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’: Making Doc Ock Olivia the Subversive Secret Weapon

In this episode, we look at what makes a satisfying ending! By looking at three different series finales (Wizards, Doc McStuffins, and Steven Universe:Future), we try to see how endings function and how you can stick the landing of your story.

• 165 - Ended, The Clone Wars Have

• ‘Steven Universe’ creator Rebecca Sugar explains the series finale, ‘Future’—and her future