What A Cartoon!

In the mid-80s, when no acclaimed film director would deign to enter the world of broadcast television, Steven Spielberg used his immense clout to create Amazing Stories. This big-budget anthology show mostly underwhelmed viewers during its two seasons, but its one animated experiment remains the series' greatest achievement. The brainchild of Brad Bird, "Family Dog" brought theatrical-level animation to the small screen in a particularly dire era for the medium, and presaged creations like The Simpsons—which Bird would later work on. This month on What A Cartoon, join us as we examine this highly influential piece of late '80s animation and desperately try to forget the one-season disaster it spawned many years later.

Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2014's Big Hero 6! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

In 1987, Ralph Bakshi assembled a ragtag crew of animation visionaries for the sake of rebooting Mighty Mouse: a C-tier cartoon hero mostly absorbed by Baby Boomers through ever-present reruns. Though the pitch seems lackluster, the execution certainly wasn't. Bakshi's team of animation rebels turned what could have been a corny concept into pure brilliance, and then went on to inspire and create all of the animation we enjoyed throughout the 90s and beyond. On this episode of What A Cartoon, join us as we explore how this simple show built to relaunch a lackluster character ended up being one of the most important animated series of all time.

Support this podcast and get over 200 full-length bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow us at @TalkSimpsonsPod on Bluesky!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2016's Zootopia! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

The Talking Simpsons Network is taking a week off, so to fill the content gap, we've decided to post a Patreon-exclusive interview from our archives! If you like this and want to hear more, head over to Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up at the $5 level. Once you do, you'll have immediate access to all of our limited miniseries, covering animated shows like King of the Hill, Mission Hill, The Critic, and Batman: The Animated Series. That's over 200 bonus episodes to date! So visit Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up today!

Original podcast description:

Special podcast surprise, Patreon supporters! Bob and Henry have a brand new interview with Simpsons legend, David Silverman! He's directed some of the show's most memorable episodes, his art has influenced the series immeasurably, and David has been working with the Simpsons from day one of the shorts way back in 1987! We talk about all of that and so much more, like the transition to digital, a few in-jokes finally explained, some of the show's growing pains, even the episode David co-wrote from this last weekend! Listen and enjoy!!!

Note: This interview originally went live on April 26, 2018.

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2012's Wreck-It Ralph! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

In a move befitting The Joker himself, we're once again hijacking the What A Cartoon feed to bring you a brand-new episode of Blabbing 'Bout Batman: The Animated Series! This time, we're joined by Daniel Dockery, author of the upcoming book, I Am The Night: The Ultimate Unauthorized History of Batman: The Animated Series. And our focus on this installment is Bane: the fairly new (for the time) villain that played a role in one of Batman's most important arcs. So listen in as we discuss this fearsome foe and what he has to teach us about head tube safety.

Support this podcast and get over 200 full-length bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow us at @TalkSimpsonsPod on Bluesky!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2011's Winnie the Pooh! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

And if you want to check out our initial history of Winnie the Pooh, listen to this 2019 episode of What A Cartoon:

What A Cartoon - Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too

Hanna-Barbera built an impossibly huge stable of characters over the passing decades, but—until recently—ironic usage on Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law was the last time this kooky cast saw the light of day. Fast-forward 20 years, and thanks to creator C.H. Greenblatt, we have Jellystone: a more affectionate reference pile full of deep cuts, crazy plots, great drawings, and slightly edgy humor. This week on What A Cartoon, join us as we explore an episode that pays homage to classic cartoon figures who received a similar revival 30 years earlier.

Our guest: Storyboard artist Toby Jones

Support this podcast and get over 200 full-length bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow us at @TalkSimpsonsPod on Bluesky!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Years before The Simpsons made Fox a household institution, the network succeeded in its first era thanks to another cartoony family that just happened to be living, breathing human beings. In mid-1987, Fox kicked off its prime-time programming with Married... with Children, a bawdy domestic farce with characters far meaner and stories far cruder than your average sitcom. And over its healthy eleven seasons, this humble show grew from an inspired satire to a broad, gleefully silly series of adventures for its unwitting folk hero, Al Bundy. On this special live-action edition of What A Cartoon, join us as we take a look at this early Fox hit that paved the way for our bread and butter—but please, no obnoxious hooting and hollering.

Support this podcast and get over 200 full-length bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow us at @TalkSimpsonsPod on Bluesky!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1996's James and the Giant Peach! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Adult Swim is typically known for cynical, vulgar, and gross shows about irredeemable sociopaths—shows that we absolutely love, mind you. But late last year, the programming block unveiled a wonderful new creation that's completely antithetical to their general philosophy. A sendup of TGIF sitcoms from the '90s, Haha, You Clowns centers around three large sons and their also large dad, and each episode focuses on a very small problem that usually gets blown way out of proportion. The pitch may sound very simple on paper, but the execution, with its incredibly observational humor and cast of lovable goofs, makes this little series both heartwarming and hilarious. So sit back and keep a close eye on your favorite garment as we jump into the weird but welcoming world of these three yoked-up brothers.

Support this podcast and get over 200 full-length bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow us at @TalkSimpsonsPod on Bluesky!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2004's Shrek 2! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

In the mid-80s, the people who brought us cartoons like G.I. Joe and Transformers asked themselves an important question: Why don't we try selling toys to girls? And sell they did via the magic of Jem: a truly outrageous animated series about a glam-rocking girl group at odds with their bitter rivals, The Misfits. While the series burned fast and bright—and failed to make waves with a revival 30 years later—Jem lives on in our hearts as one of the most delightfully '80s creations ever made (that also happens to be anime). This month, bust out the mascara and fright wigs and get ready to take a trip to the totally radical Reagan era as we look at one of this series' most twisted episodes.

Our guest: Dan McCoy from The Flop House podcast

Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1959's Sleeping Beauty! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

The Talking Simpsons Network is taking a week off for the holiday season, so to fill the content gap, we've decided to post an episode of our Patreon-exclusive Talking Futurama podcast miniseries! If you like this episode and want to hear the rest (with more to come every month), head over to Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up at the $5 level. Once you do, you'll have immediate access to all of our limited miniseries, covering animated shows like King of the Hill, Mission Hill, The Critic, and Batman: The Animated Series. (That's over 200 bonus episodes to date!) So visit Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and sign up today!

This episode was originally posted on December 8, 2024.

Happy New Year! In case you didn't know, every month we release the premium podcast, What A Cartoon Movie. And, as we take a week off to rest and recharge, we're giving all of our listeners a chance to hear a free sample of this Patreon-exclusive series. So please, enjoy our ultra-long look at Toy Story! And if you'd like to hear 85 more episodes of What A Cartoon Movie—with a new one to come every month—simply head on over to the Talking Simpsons Network and sign up at the $10 level. If you enjoy hearing us talk about cartoons, you'll be glad you did!

This episode was originally posted on November 30, 2019.

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1988's My Neighbor Totoro! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1988's Christmas at Pee-Wee's Playhouse! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Rats off to ya, What A Cartoon listeners! This month, we're returning to picturesque Jefferton to discuss an Adult Swim holiday classic that's filled our cups with yuletide brine for more than two decades. It's been over six years since we last checked in on Tom Goes to the Mayor, and this Christmas season is the perfect opportunity to look into yet another misguided entrepreneurial effort from the one and only Tom Peters. So put on your decorative wristlets and blast your favorite ZaZu album as we explore this yuletide tale of capitalism run amok.

Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

In 1990, Fox aired a pilot that then went unseen for over 26 years. Its name? Hollywood Dog. And while it isn't very good, this live-action/animation hybrid—developed at the same time as The Simpsons—features some truly ambitious special effects for a network that had barely gotten off of the ground. We could only rely on fuzzy memories for the nearly three decades Hollywood Dog remained unavailable, but thankfully, some kind maniac discovered a clean copy, and it's currently available for all to see on Youtube. Now, three entirely different maniacs can discuss it on this very podcast!

This week on What A Cartoon, join us and special guest Drew Mackie (of Gayest Episode Ever) as we gaze in terror at Hollywood Dog: the Poochie-fied character who threatened to kick off the '90s, but instead kicked the bucket and faded into obscurity.

Support this podcast and get over 200 full-length bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow us at @TalkSimpsonsPod on Bluesky!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2009's Fantastic Mr. Fox! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

The Halloween season is upon us once again, and this time around, we've stumbled into a big pile of doo—Scooby-Doo, that is! Five years after we first explored the Doo-niverse, we're back to cover the smart, self-aware late '80s reboot that fully exploited—and poked fun at—the accumulated tropes from 20 years of those meddling, mystery-solving kids and their somewhat helpful dog. So sit back, ignore any Red Herrings, and listen in as we explore this vital piece of the TV animation renaissance puzzle!

Support this podcast and get over 200 full-length bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow us at @TalkSimpsonsPod! on Bluesky!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10 Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2014's The Lego Movie! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1964's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Hey folks,

This info will be included in November's episode of Talk to the Audience?!?, but we've decided to give it to you one week early so both patrons and non-patrons are all on the same page. Anyhow, here's a breakdown of everything we talk about in this brief audio update:

The main points:

Here's the 2022 posting schedule for $5 and up patrons:

Here's the 2022 posting schedule for non-patrons:

That's all there is to it! Listen to the embedded podcast for more details, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Thanks as always for your support!

- Henry and Bob

Brak emerged from the depths of a crummy action cartoon of the 60s, became one of the Cartoon Network's biggest stars 30 years later, and had less than a decade under his belt before fading back into obscurity. And the tail-end of Brak's brush with fame brought The Brak Show, a send-up of lousy sitcoms meant to be the shining star of Cartoon Network's new late-night lineup. This week, join us as we look at this Adult Swim classic, as well as the phenomenon behind the whimsical cat-boy known as Brak. It'll be more fun than a bag of wigs!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

First, we covered Garfield's Halloween toon in 2018, then we did A Garfield Christmas in 2020, and now it's time to finish the trilogy! Yes, we're doing Garfield's Thanksgiving! Somehow turkey day ends up being spent on a vet-enforced diet for Garfield, all while Jon gets worried about his big date with Liz, and somehow the day is saved by the return of the rockin' Grandma Arbuckle. All that plus Odie blowing a whistle a lot in this week's thankful podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Hey folks, we've got a new exclusive miniseries for all of our $5 and up subscribers at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons! Every Friday through the end of 2021, we'll be launching a brand-new episode of Blabbin 'Bout Batman: The Animated series—which will cover our ten favorite episodes of this legendary cartoon. And if you're curious as to what this Patreon-exclusive miniseries is like, we're giving you a free sample of our first Blabbin 'Bout B:TAS podcast, all about the classic episode, "Joker's Favor." Interested in hearing more? Sign up today at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons to the rest of our "Joker's Favor" discussion, a new episode every Friday, and the 100+ other exclusive podcast episodes we've produced so far!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2000's Batman Beyond: Return of The Joker! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today! (And if you like this Batman chat, be sure to sign up for our full Patreon-exclusive BTAS podcast out NOW!)

It's that time of the year again, which means that a new exclusive miniseries is hitting the Talking Simpsons Patreon. That's right, if you sign up at the $5 level or higher at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons, you'll get to hear ten episodes of Blabbin 'Bout Batman: The Animated Series as they launch every Friday through the end of 2021! We're selecting our ten favorite episodes of this legendary cartoon take on the Caped Crusader, and discussing them with the same in-depth research and clips you've come to expect from our podcast network. So sign up today at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons to hear it and the 100+ other exclusive podcast episodes we've produced so far!

Thanks to premium patron Duckmeat, this week we're looking at a recent Disney Channel hit that's equal parts heartwarming and hilarious. Based on the real-life story of its creators, The Houghton Brothers, Big City Greens tells the tale of a family of transplants pulled out of the country and plopped down in the big city—specifically, the Big City. And for our podcast discussion, we're highlighting one of the funniest episodes to date, in which a Billy the Big Mouth Bass clone drives most of the Green family into a state of murderous insanity! So sit back and listen in as we talk about a different bug-eyed, yellow-skinned family that's worth watching.

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Professor Gascan, it's our first-ever podcast on the controversial Butch Hartman and his sophomore series, Danny Phantom! How did this action series make it onto Nick in 2004? What is its online legacy with fans? And what about mocking vegetarians? All of that in one big podcast, so go ghost and listen now!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2000's The Road to El Dorado! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

The day long promised by our guest (and one of our top Patreon supporters), Devin, has finally arrived! We cover one of the silliest and most banal animated shows of all time, Hanna-Barbera's adaptation of the Gary Marshall classic, Laverne & Shirley. We chart how the success of the Happy Days universe of shows in the 1970s led to this Saturday morning cartoon in 1981, plus some interesting facts about how this odd show came to be. So get ready to enlist alongside a pig in this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Royce, we're covering perhaps the worst cartoon we've ever seen, with special guest expert, the fantastic Matt McMuscles! How did this super crappy first Mortal Kombat cartoon arrive alongside the 1995 movie? How was this marketed to kids? How well did early digital animation and motion capture age? The answers won't surprise you, so test your might with this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

The Talking Simpsons Network ends its summer of Disney Renaissance films in stirring fashion with the biggest film of that era, The Lion King. In this extended preview, we dig into how this film came to be over a veeeerry complicated development, how it is entwined with the career of Jeffrey Katzenberg, and much more. Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Adam Reed and Matt Thompson have been living large thanks to 11 seasons of Archer, but it all started nearly a decade before that with their inaugural Adult Swim show, Sealab 2021. With its absurdist, Gen X remix of a "classic" Hanna-Barbera series, Sealab fit perfectly into the original lineup of Adult Swim, entertaining both stoned and non-stoned college students alike for 52 episodes. On this installment of What A Cartoon, we examine one of the most popular and self-indulgent episodes of Sealab ever made. So sit back and enjoy this week's BIZARRO podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Phil, we're breaking format to talk about a show that we love that may as well have been animated, The Muppet Show! We reflect on a childhood love of Muppets, the career of Jim Henson that led to the creation of the biggest show in the world (for the time), and then look at the now-eerie Star Wars tie-in episode with special guest star, Mr. Mark Hamill, yaaaay!!!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1996's The Hunchback of Notre Dame! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Thanks to the generous patronage of James Eldred, we're taking a look at the cartoon that defined stop-motion animation on TV: Gumby! Art Clokey's animated chunk of clay delighted Baby Boomers during the earliest decades of TV, and returned in the late '80s to delight their children before completely dropping off the face of the earth. This week, listen in as we explore the truly interesting life of Gumby's creator, and dig into one of his earliest, trippiest shorts. Why should you care? He's Gumby, dammit!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week we've got two huge guests: Returning favorite (and creator of OK K.O.) Ian Jones-Quartey along with new guest (and creator of Steven Universe) Rebecca Sugar! And they're joining us to talk about one of their all-time favorite cartoons, Future Boy Conan! How did Hayao Miyazaki get to direct his first series? How many artists did it influence globally for the last four decades? Why is it so hard to see in the US? We discuss all that plus the second episode "The Journey" all on this week's seafaring podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

We're starting our summer of Disney Renaissance films with 1997's Hercules! And this is your sample of June's premium podcast for the Talking Simpsons Network! Meanwhile, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to go the distance and hear the full thing! After you hear this free extended preview of the tale of Zeus' famous son, consider subscribing at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Alex, we're returning to the one named Sailor Moon, only this time we're focusing on the North American English dub of the '90s. We're digging deep into the Canadian accents of Serena, Amy, Raye, Lita, Mina and the rest. Then we discuss the fun and silly episode Mirror Mirror On The Wall. Fight evil by moonlight and listen now!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Professor Gascan, this week we're covering one of the infamous prime time toons that came out in the wake of Bartmania, Capitol Critters! How did Hanna-Barbera combine with the Hill Street Blues creators to try and fail to make a politics-meets-talking-animals toon? How quickly was it canceled? We'll cover all of that and more with this forgotten piece of pop culture!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Loki, we're approaching a very historically important but controversial cartoon starring Donald Duck (and if you're not in the mood to hear about nazi atrocities, we understand). First, we explore Donald's 1934 debut, how he was at the height of his popularity just as global war was breaking out. Then we talk about Disney's WWII propaganda, this Oscar-winning attack on history's greatest monster, the long legacy since its release in 1943, and more!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1992's Cool World! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Duckmeat, we're chatting about one of Disney's best recent cartoons, The Owl House! We first cover the career of series creator Dana Terrace and the show's many interesting inspirations. Then we cover the fourth episode of the series which is full of excitement and lore. So give a hoot and listen!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

CHOCOLATE! And by that we mean, we're returning to SpongeBob this week at the request of our guest (and one of our top Patreon supporters), Devin! First, we delve into the careers of a few unsung artists in the world of Bikini Bottom. Then we cover two of the best episodes ever from the end of the third season, so grab your candy bar bags and get ready for some fancy living!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Hokey smokes! Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Phil, it's time to cover one of the most important (and best) TV cartoons ever made, Rocky And Bullwinkle! We delve deep into Cold War history to chart how this show blazed a trail for smart writing in kids TV, its crossover appeal to adults, its enduring legacy, and so much more. Then we discuss the finale of the season 2 classic "Rue Britannia" (freely available on YouTube), so listen and enjoy our friends Moose and Squirrel!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Royce, we're returning to Marvel's merry mutants and their Kids' WB incarnation! Yes, it's time for the often overlooked X-Men: Evolution, a show with ups and downs but far better than most people expected. Learn how the series came to be, the surprisingly strong animation it had by TV standards, and a good deal about Captain America and WWII in this week's early '00s appreciation podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Hey now, it's a preview, of a podcast, 'bout Shrek! Yes, this month's premium podcast for the Talking Simpsons Network is about the 20th anniversary of one of the most influential (and memed) films of the millennium! This month our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2001's Shrek! Listen now to this free extended preview of the adventures of an ogre, a donkey, and a princess. Then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber James, we're exploring both the edgy comics of the '90s and the USA Network in the forgotten Savage Dragon adaptation! The series resurfaced unexpectedly on Peacock's streaming service, so we dive into its strange creation, the early '90s comic boom, as well as some tangents about the weirdest stuff that's happened in Savage Dragon comics. Listen now for a ride on the Cartoon Express!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Hey everyone, the podcast embedded in this post provides an audio version of this update, but if you want a text-based version that's easier to reference, we're more than happy to provide it below.

Starting in July of 2021, we're changing the What A Cartoon schedule a bit—and don't worry, the PTA has not disbanded. As we did at the start of 2020, we're scaling back What A Cartoon a bit to better suit our production pipeline, and because of that we'll soon be producing two episodes of What A Cartoon every month. (And the What A Cartoon Movie schedule will remain unchanged.)

There's a much more detailed explanation of our decision in the podcast, but to make a long story short, our What A Cartoon episodes take a lot of work—often three to four times as much as an episode of Talking Simpsons or an episode of one of our miniseries. And for the sake of transparency, What A Cartoon isn't the most popular podcast we produce, so while we would never want to end it, we've decided it would be a better idea to shift some of our limited resources to content that's more in-demand (and give ourselves more time to produce each WAC episode).

So how will this change our podcast output? Not much, actually. So we don't have too many gaps in content, the first and third Monday of every month will feature a new episode of What A Cartoon, while the second Monday of every month will be the new home of Talking Futurama. And we'll still be posting What A Cartoon Movie on the final Monday of every month.

Of course, a handful of months out of the year feature five Mondays, and in that case, the fourth Monday will just be an off week. (This schedule, of course, is for our Patreon listeners on the $5 and up level, so if you're listening to this as a non-Patron, shift our new schedule forward one week and remove Talking Futurama from the equation.)

Because this new schedule means there will be fewer episodes of What A Cartoon per year, we're also winding down the $50 episode request tier and currently working with those patrons to get their final selections in. But this doesn't mean your input on What A Cartoon is over, and in the future we may have some ways for our listeners to choose the subject matter of certain episodes.

So, to wrap things up:

Thanks for understanding, and once again, we couldn't do any of this without our great listeners. Scaling back on What A Cartoon will allow us to be more productive and also give us the opportunity to spend more time on every WAC episode without taking too many resources away from our other podcast series.

This week, we're covering a crossover anime hit sponsored by premium patron Loki! On the surface, the premise for Death Note sounds absurd: a magical notebook that kills someone if you write their name in it. Despite the outlandish premise, this hit manga series captured the attention of readers worldwide with its cat-and-mouse psychological thriller antics—all built on the foundation of very sound internal logic. And thankfully, the anime version adapts this compelling story as faithfully as possible. So listen in as we discuss the very first episode of Death Note, and try not to get hooked!

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Happy April Fools 2021 as we continue our podcast tradition of covering a live-action cartoon, and we've got a real cult classic for you! Created by Chris Elliott, Adam Resnick, and David Mirkin, Get A Life was a weird and transgressive Fox sitcom from 1990, and it has grown as a cult icon in the years since AND had immense influence on some of the best years of Simpsons. Listen now to learn how to stand in the place where you live!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1990's DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts. Sign up today!

Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Alex, we explore some defining works of Golden Age animation from UPA. We cover the complex history of UPA and its two best directors, and then explore two of their most beloved cartoons, the original Gerald McBoing Boing and the jazzy Rooty Toot Toot! Listen now before HUAC makes us name names!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

We're heading back to the DCAU for one of the most successful creations ever born out of a stupid executive's idea! Yes, it's the teen Caped Crusader of the future show, or Batman-meets-Spider-Man-meets-Akira, all in one shiny package. We revisit this retro-future, dig into its history, and discuss the third episode, Black Out! Listen now, it's totally schway!

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After interviewing co-creator Bill Kopp last year, it was only a matter of time before we covered the overlooked Fox Kids classic, Eek! The Cat!! We cover the history of Kopp and creative partner Savage Steve Holland as they brought the unlucky purple cat to life. Then we cover the first season favorite of ours that is slathered in Elvis references. So listen along, because it never hurts to help!

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More than two years after we last covered it, we're returning to Freakazoid! The second season of the cult classic was full of subversive and indulgent moments, and that's certainly true for the season premiere. A regular date turns into a shot-for-shot parody of Hello, Dolly in this beloved episode of the series, so listen along, it's a textbook case for Sigmund Freud!

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Once more it's time for the Talking Simpsons Network to cover a Studio Ghibli film, and this time it's one of their best but also most underrated! This month our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1995's Whisper of the Heart! Listen now to this free extended preview of Yoshifumi Kondo's film, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

This week, we're covering the cartoon that kicked off The Disney Afternoon programming block! Before Disney's TV efforts switched over to adapting feature films in the mid-90s, TaleSpin stood as one of their most interesting animated series to date, with its odd mix of Cheers, Casablanca, and Indiana Jones... and starring characters from The Jungle Book? Despite how odd it sounds on paper, TaleSpin adds up to a great adventure series, and one that kicked off a beloved block of Disney bliss for kids of the '90s. Listen in as we rediscover what makes this classic cartoon soar!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Thanks to the generous contributions of patron David Whittington, we're once again talking about one of our all-time favorites, The Venture Bros! After the show's tragic cancellation in 2020, we return to the fifth season and discuss that premiere and the show's second half, full of references that arrive at least three levels deep. So grab some student green and enjoy this week's extra-large podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week we're joined by one of our top Patreon supporters, Devin, to discuss the short film that spawned two decades of Digimon media! Not only do we dig into the creation of digital pets, but we also cover the career of Mamoru Hosoda and how Digimon was a launching pad for his career. Then we chat about the surprisingly deep and violent first cartoon of the Digimon universe (with a couple of asides about the US localization of it) so listen along to this week's podcast from the digital world!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1999's Dexter's Laboratory: Ego Trip! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

As chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Duckmeat, we cover the new Disney TV series, Amphibia! We discuss how the series was created out of a love for stories of people transported to magical worlds mixed with the creator's Thai background, and we cover how he got that on the big screen. Then we discuss the slimy, bug-filled second episode of the series, all on one froggy podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week, as chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Phil, we're covering a bedrock of TV animation: The Flintstones! The series is now a bit of a forgotten institution, so we explore how the show came to define the 1960s. And after cover the creation of it, we also cover the show's first downfall, as defined by a little green alien that only Fred and Barney can see. Listen along as we have a gay old time!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week, we're exploring the DuckTales reboot made especially for us, as chosen by our premium Patreon subscriber Royce! We explore how this relaunch of the Disney Afternoon universe came to be, plus how it's expertly aimed at Millenials and their kids. Then we cover the early season 2 episode (don't worry, no big spoilers) where Donald meets some old friends south of the border. Listen now while wearing a snappy serape!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

We've reached the end of 2020 on the Talking Simpsons Network, meaning it's time for us to discuss one of the most controversial films in Japanese animation! This time around, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1997's The End of Evagelion! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

We're finally goin' on down to South Park for a look at the series that put Trey Parker and Matt Stone on the map, and has remained a Comedy Central mainstay for nearly 25 years! And since the series started its life as a Christmas-related short, it's only fair that we tackle a Christmas episode of South Park that celebrates the origins of the series well before the creators knew they'd be making episodes for 20 more years.

Listen in and learn about the surprisingly prolific careers of Parker and Stone before their hit series took off, how something as unusual and vulgar as South Park ever snuck onto TV, and just where the series has gone in the passing decades. Happy Holidays from all of us to all of you—even if you don't eat fiber on Christmas Eve.

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

It's time for the first of two holiday cartoons for the end of 2020! After covering Garfield's Halloween toon in 2018, we return again to the Monday-hater's second holiday special. Garfield hates heading to the farm for Christmas, until he sees that he can eat a bunch of stuff and hang out with a rockin' Grandma Arbuckle. All that plus a mix of sad stories and confusing Odie side plots in this week's seasonal podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Nothing from the '90s can truly stay dead, so it was only a matter of time before we saw a revival of Warner Bros.' Silver Age of animation with the return of Animaniacs. And while it could have been a cheap, cynical cash-in, the presence of Steven Spielberg assured that someone spent a whole lot of money on this series—which rarely happens in the world of streaming. Sure, the actors sound a bit older, and the new animation takes a bit of time to get used to, but this reboot stays incredibly faithful to the original spirit of the show. So fill your slacks with your favorite stacks of cold cuts and get ready for our deep dive into the return of the Warners!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 2005's Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

This week we're headed back to 2032 anime as chosen by premium parton James, meaning more Bubblegum Crisis! After covering the sixth episode last August, we return to the pioneering OVA series to discuss the debut of Priss, Sylvia, and the rest in this cyberpunk adventure! So get ready to feel the hurricane in this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week we're doing our most British podcast ever, as requested by premium Patreon subscriber, Alex! We're covering the ultimate adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, as this 1984 stop-motion series did so well by Kenneth Grahame's text, with many cute animals hanging out and having adventures. We cover Cosgrove-Hall's history with the series, as well as the eerie episode "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" on this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week we're staying in turn of the century Cartoon Network as chosen by premium Patreon subscriber L! With a pilot nominated for an Oscar, Courage The Cowardly Dog was one of CN's most promising original productions. How did the terrified dog series come together and what is its legacy? (And how is it connected to Speed Racer?) Listen and learn on this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week we're heading into Cartoon Network history as chosen by premium patron Isaac, with the Ed boys! This series had a lot of firsts for CN, and the show's creator was a big name in '90s indie animation, which we delve deep into. Not only that, but we discuss a pair of fun and edgy season three episodes, so grab your jawbreakers and listen along to this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

It's time for Halloween on the Talking Simpsons Network, meaning it's time for us to discuss a scary animated feature film chosen by our supporters! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1998's Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

This week we're doing Halloween right by finally covering perhaps the most famous cartoon dog of all time, Scooby-Doo! Were' joined by professional artist and Scooby fan Kris Dobbins (check out their work here) to discuss the creation of the series and the life of Scooby creator, Iwao Takamoto! Then we dig into one of the best eps of the original series, featuring the gang being chased by The Creeper! So grab a giant sandwich and enjoy this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week, we're returning to one of our favorite Adult Swim series that always mixed horror and comedy so well: Aqua Teen Hunger Force! And for our second look at the series, we're discussing a classic Halloween episode all about Blood Feast Island Man, his missing mail, love of juice, and failed Freddy-Kruger-style zingers. Plus, you'll get to hear the guest of this episode berate one of our hosts! So sit back, listen in, and beware of unknown attic roommates!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

When the Back to the Future Trilogy wrapped up in 1990, the time-traveling antics of Marty McFly and Doc Brown seemed destined for an episodic TV series. And it would eventually see one the following year, though this animated show wasn't a shameless cash-in. Overseen by BTTF scribe Bob Gale, and featuring live-action segments with Christopher Lloyd himself, this cartoon offered a level of quality far greater than what could have been—even if the focus on Doc's sons hold it back. On this episode, BTTF superfan Dave Rudden joins us as we discuss the debut episode, "Brothers."

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1994's The Return of Jafar! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

This week we're joined by one of our top Patreon supporters, Devin, to discuss the 1983 cartoon adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons! How did the controversial and groundbreaking role-playing game become a Saturday morning favorite? Which anime company produced it? And how do the first adventures hold up to modern scrutiny? Grab your D20 and listen along to this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

This week is a big one as we welcome back creator of OK K.O. Ian Jones-Quartey to talk about a character close to his heart: Sonic The Hedgehog! How did the fastest thing alive really move to two different animated series in 1993? How did Jaleel White define Sega's mascot? How did Ian craft a tribute to this series in his own animation? And why are there so many wizards in this more serious story of Sonic and his friends Sally, Tails, Rotor, Bunny, and Antoine? Learn it all as we juice and jam through Sonic The Hedgehog in this week's podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Thanks to the generous contributions of patron David Whittington, we're heading back to anime country with a show that's off the beaten path. Inuyashiki Last Hero spins a superhero tale in modern Japan, but casts the roles of the hero and the villain in a completely unexpected way by making the protagonist a kindly old man and the antagonist a sullen teen. It's a surprisingly dark and surprisingly touching take on the idea of super powers, and after listening to our analysis you'll be inspired to cruise through Inuyashiki Last Hero on Amazon Prime Video!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

We've reached the end of summer on the Talking Simpsons Network, meaning it's time for us to discuss an animated feature film chosen by our supporters! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about Mamoru Oshii's Ghost in the Shell! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

This week, we're making our third visit to the land of Ren & Stimpy with a thorough examination of the season two finale that brought an end to the show's Spumco era. As usual, we're joined by Ren & Stimpy scholar (and all-around animation expert) Thad Komorowski, but this time around, we also have a guest who worked on this legendary animated series: Bob Jaques! Via his studio Carbunkle Cartoons, Bob served as the animation director on some of the best episodes of Ren & Stimpy, and on this installment of What A Cartoon!, we talk to him in length about his career, his relationship with The Ren & Stimpy Show, and his work on this episode in particular. So listen in and get ready for an episode that's more fulfilling than a dirt feast!

Also, be sure to listen to Bob and Thad's podcast, Cartoon Logic, and sign up for their Patreon!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

We return again to the world of Gargoyles, again joined by comics pro and Gargoyles lover Kory Bing! After filling in some of the history gaps we missed last time, we cover another important early season 2 episode! There's Halloween and werewolf talk, but really this podcast is about celebrating Xanatos as one of the best villains in cartoon history! So be sure to grab your Eye of Odin and listen now!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Chosen by premium Patron Brian Hortin, we watched the arguably the best pilot Adult Swim ever produced, Korgoth of Barbaria! We discuss the career of creator Aaron Springer, the production of the pilot itself, and the history of '70s strongman fantasy it parodies. So listen now as we steal the golden goblin together!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

We wanted to go back to the primal days of US anime VHSes, and with the help of anime expert Mike Toole, we go back to the landmark series Ranma 1/2! How was the series created by Rumiko Takahashi and what was its bumpy arrival on Japanese TV before its surprise popularity in North America? Plus, we discuss the first season's eighth episode, all in one anything-goes martial arts podcast!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network, and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month, our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about 1985's The Black Cauldron! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

Our premium patron Royce wanted us to talk about easily the best Avengers cartoon, Earth's Mightiest Heroes! Created just as Disney took over Marvel, we talk about the show's genesis, the team of comic and Batman veterans producing it, and the complicated cancellation of the series. Then we discuss the late season 2 episode "New Avengers" which has its own comic history to dig through. So assemble and listen now, true believers!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

After covering his most famous film, it's time to return to Lupin in his most successful TV series! How did the silly thief steal the world's heart with Lupin III Part 2? How were Lupin vets Yasuo Otsuka and Hayao Miyazaki instrumental in building TMS's world-class animation team at Telecom Studios? And how did a giant airplane full of nukes lead to one of the best looking TV toons ever made? Learn all about it just in time for the episode's 40th anniversary!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Requested by premium patron Phillip, we're finally covering the groundbreaking Cartoon Network series Adventure Time! How did a student project become a viral sensation and then turn into a hit show that was a launching pad for many important toon creators? And after the history, we discuss two of the show's most beloved episodes, so get algebraic and listen along!

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

We asked our patrons what Warner Animation film we should cover, and Space Jam won in a resounding, Jordan-esque victory. $10+ subscribers to the Talking Simpsons Network, can hear our looooong discussion of Space Jam now, but if you're not yet a subscriber, give a listen to this extended preview. Our good buddy and classic cartoon expert Thad Komorowski joins us to explore the complex Space Jam history! Listen now to this free extended preview, and then subscribe at the $10 level (or up your current pledge to $10) to hear the whole thing and all of our previous What A Cartoon Movie podcasts! Sign up today!

While Jim Henson tried and failed to break free of the Muppets throughout the '80s, his biggest commercial success that decade came from a series he had very little to do with. That show would be Muppet Babies, a vehicle for pint-size versions of the famous Muppet characters to sing, propagandize the powers of imagination, and obey the giant pair of legs that holds dominion over their kind. This week on the What A Cartoon podcast, high-level patron Alex Irish makes your dreams come true by requesting a deep dive into the legendary '80s cartoon that spawned too many imitators.

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow our official Twitter account, @TalkSimpsonsPod!

Our top-level patron David is back once more, and he asked us to check out DC Universe's breakout toon, Harley Quinn! This take on the animated character borrows from some of her best comics to craft a world of loser villains and white-faced fuckboys, all as Harley Quinn finds her independence. We cover the show's creation and how surprisingly funny the violent comedy is, so grab your favorite baseball bat and listen along...

Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the new official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod!