Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor

Jim Hill goes solo this week while Drew Taylor is off moderating panels at a film festival, delivering a packed episode that jumps from animation industry headlines to box office chatter and even a bit of theme park savings strategy. Along the way, Jim reflects on past California travels, breaks down major animation announcements, and then dives deep into why Hollywood continues to struggle with blending animation and live-action. From legacy hits to modern misfires, it’s a thoughtful look at what works, what doesn’t, and why.

NEWS
• “Ne Zha 2” heads to HBO after becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time
• Bong Joon Ho’s animated feature “Ally” announced for 2027 release
• Illumination’s “Minions & Monsters” to open Annecy 2026 ahead of its July theatrical debut
• Disney and Pixar preview new projects including “Hexed,” “Gatto,” and a Cars preschool series
• “Coyote vs. Acme” back on track with a confirmed 2026 theatrical release

FEATURE
• A look back at “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and why it remains the gold standard for hybrid films
• How “Space Jam” and its successors highlight the difficulty of scaling cartoon concepts to feature length
• Behind-the-scenes challenges that have plagued projects like “Coyote vs. Acme”
• Why blending animation and live-action continues to be one of Hollywood’s toughest creative balancing acts

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia

FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR
• UnlockedMagic.com - The go-to place for great deals on Disney and Universal theme park tickets. If a 2026 trip is on your radar, their team helps you lock in savings and plan smarter.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Dan Graney unpack Marvel’s latest wave of announcements, from Avengers: Endgame returning to theaters with new footage to the growing sense that Doomsday is directly rewriting what came before. Along the way, they explore CinemaCon reveals, Infinity Vision, and what Disney’s internal shifts could mean for the future of the MCU. It’s a conversation about spectacle, strategy, and whether Marvel is quietly reshaping its own legacy in real time.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Avengers: Endgame returns to theaters with newly added footage that directly connects to Avengers: Doomsday
• CinemaCon reactions point to a massive, Endgame-scale story with Doctor Doom positioned as an even greater threat than Thanos
• Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom is driven by performance, not just star power
• Infinity Vision debuts as a premium theatrical format designed to create a must-see, big-screen experience
• Marvel may be repositioning Doomsday as a direct sequel to Endgame, potentially reshaping the Multiverse Saga
• Rumors suggest Spider-Man’s Ned could take a surprising new path after MIT, tied to his magical abilities
• Deadpool may shift into a supporting role as Marvel builds toward a more ensemble-driven future
• X-Men are emerging as a central pillar of Marvel’s long-term storytelling plans
• Disney layoffs impact Marvel’s visual development team, raising questions about the studio’s signature visual style
• AI and freelance workflows could become a bigger part of Marvel’s production pipeline moving forward
• “FOMO-vision” highlights Marvel’s strategy to turn theatrical releases into can’t-miss events
• Comparisons to classic theatrical gimmicks show how Hollywood continues to sell spectacle as experience

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: ⁠⁠@JimHillMedia⁠⁠ | X: ⁠⁠@JimHillMedia⁠⁠ | Website: ⁠⁠JimHillMedia.com⁠⁠
• Dan Graney - YouTube: ⁠⁠@TheHubbubbery⁠⁠ | Facebook: ⁠⁠/thehubbubbery⁠⁠ | Website: ⁠⁠thehubbubbery.com⁠⁠

FOLLOW
• Facebook: ⁠⁠JimHillMediaNews⁠⁠
• Instagram: ⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠
• TikTok: ⁠⁠JimHillMedia⁠⁠

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at ⁠⁠Patreon.com/JimHillMedia⁠⁠.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - ⁠⁠Strong Minded Agency⁠⁠

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, ⁠⁠reach out today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the biggest animation and industry stories coming out of CinemaCon 2026, including Drew’s early look at DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island. They also dig into a surprisingly strong box office weekend, Studio Ghibli’s return to theaters, and some truly unexpected developments in the world of Willy Wonka. Along the way, the two share insights on theatrical windows, upcoming animated projects, and what’s really happening behind the scenes in Hollywood animation.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Super Mario Brothers Galaxy nears $750M worldwide as the franchise crosses $2B total
• Pixar’s Hoppers continues a solid run, with digital and physical release plans coming soon
• Paramount commits to a 45-day theatrical window while Steven Spielberg pushes for longer exclusivity
• Studio Ghibli Fest 2026 lineup revealed, including Ponyo, Spirited Away, and anniversary screenings
• Warner Bros. Animation developing anime-inspired Scooby-Doo series Go-Go Mystery Magic
• Drew shares his spoiler-free reactions to DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island after CinemaCon screening
• Netflix’s Charlie vs. the Chocolate Factory sets up a darker, heist-style Wonka story
• Updates on Disney Animation’s Hexed, including casting and creative changes

HOSTS
• Jim Hill (@JimHillMedia)
• Drew Taylor (@DrewTailored)

FOLLOW
• Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
• YouTube: @jimhillmedia
• TikTok: @jimhillmedia
• Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - https://strongmindedagency.com

SPONSOR
This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com - your go-to source for discounted Disney and Universal theme park tickets. Plan smarter, save money, and make your next trip more magical.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. https://www.jimhillmedia.com/sponsor/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and Drew dig into a packed week of animation news, from the surprising cancellation of a promising Pixar project to Netflix’s growing global animation footprint. Along the way, they explore box office winners, long-gestating passion projects finally coming to life, and the evolving relationship between streaming, theatrical releases, and viral animation hits. It’s a wide-ranging conversation that highlights just how quickly the animation industry continues to shift.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Pixar’s canceled “Be Fri” project revealed - a female-led film that was deep into development before being shelved amid studio shifts and Disney+ strategy changes
• “Super Mario Galaxy” tops the box office while global competition heats up from international hits like China’s “Pegasus 3”
• Netflix expands its animation empire with a new Vancouver studio hub, joining Disney and Sony in a growing production hotspot
• Fathom Events brings viral hit “The Amazing Digital Circus” to theaters, highlighting the pipeline from YouTube to the big screen
• Brad Bird’s long-awaited “Ray Gunn” finally unveils first images after decades in development
• Warner Bros. and Netflix continue investing in YA and reimagined fairy tale animation, including “Steps” and new book adaptations
• One Piece grows into a full franchise push with new seasons, specials, and theme park experiences

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
Planning a Disney or Universal trip in 2026? Save money and skip the stress with expert help from UnlockMagic.com, your go-to source for theme park tickets and deals.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off this week’s Fine Tooning with a real-life animation-adjacent story involving Bob’s Burgers’ Eugene Mirman, before diving into a huge Easter weekend box office led by Nintendo’s latest animated hit. From Disney+ shorts and Netflix trailers to Broadway updates and AI controversy, this episode covers a wide swath of animation and industry news. Plus, the guys explore a lingering mystery involving Disney’s experimental drone shows.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Eugene Mirman, the voice of Gene Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, is involved in a serious electric vehicle accident in New Hampshire and shares a humorous recovery update
• The Super Mario Brothers Galaxy Movie opens to a massive $372 million worldwide, outperforming expectations despite mixed reviews
• Pixar’s Hoppers continues its theatrical run with $332 million globally, while Project Hail Mary climbs to $420 million worldwide
• Disney+ debuts “Versa,” a visually ambitious animated short exploring grief and loss, alongside two new Short Circuit entries
• Netflix releases the trailer for Swapped, a new animated feature from Tangled co-director Nathan Greno
• Disney’s Hercules stage musical sets a closing date in London as speculation continues about a possible U.S. transfer
• WildBrain faces backlash for AI-upscaled episodes of The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! airing on MeTV Toons
• A closer look at Disney’s evolving Short Circuit program and the final Disney work of legendary animator Mark Henn
• Updates on Disney theatrical projects including the live-action Tangled and the evolving Hercules film concept
• The growing use of AI in animation restoration and the debate over preserving original artistic integrity

HOSTS
• Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com
• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

FOLLOW
• Facebook: JimHillMediaNews
• Instagram: JimHillMedia
• TikTok: JimHillMedia

SUPPORT
Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia.

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency

SPONSOR
This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic. If a Disney or Universal trip is on your radar for 2026, get expert help securing the best ticket deals with no stress. Visit UnlockedMagic.com to start planning your next theme park adventure.

If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices