Matthew Sweet's weekly look at music for the screen
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Aardman Animation Podcasts
Two-time Academy Award® nominee Peter Lord and actor Hugh Grant discuss their new film, The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists at the Apple Store Regent Street in London. Lord is co-founder of Aardman and the director and a producer of the studio’s new stop-frame animated feature, featuring Hugh Grant in his first animated role. Moderated by Chris Hewitt.
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Jim and Drew break down the animation world frame by frame, until you get the singular picture. If you love Disney animation, Pixar, and the classics that were hand sketched, or built out of 1's and 0's in a computer, this is the podcast that draws you in.
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Kids Media Club Podcast is a podcast hosted by Jo Redfern, Andy Williams, and Emily Horgan. In each episode they chat with a different guest about the world of Kids Media. The podcast covers everything from trends in animation to the rise of Edtech.
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High Notes is a podcast featuring conversations on the art and business of voice, hosted by voice actor and BRAVA CEO, Melissa Thom. From Mongolian throat singing to vocal health, accents, gaming, and more, HIGH NOTES uncovers the craft behind the business. Brought to you by https://www.brava.uk.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Inside Netflix’s Biggest Animated Hit and What’s Next for Aardman & Pixar (Ep. 322)
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47:17Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off September with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering the biggest stories in the world of animation: The record-shattering success of KPop Demon Hunters on Netflix and what’s next for the franchise Updates on Big Mouth, its Emmy legacy, and the upcoming series Mating Season Aardman’s latest projects, including …
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Kids Media Club: Exploring the Intersection of Animation and Roblox:
48:31
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48:31In this episode, we dive deep into Roblox as a game-changing platform for brand engagement and immersive content creation. Our guest, Nate Spell, CEO of Barrier4, reveals how his team evolved from producing trailers to building interactive experiences for top brands like Netflix and Nickelodeon—all within the Roblox ecosystem. We explore how brands…
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Demon Slayer Shatters Records, Toy Story 5 Sneak Peek, and Skydance Eyes Warner Bros (Ep. 324)
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54:36Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back with another packed episode of Fine Tooning. From anime shattering records at the box office to Pixar showing off the future of Toy Story, the duo break down the biggest stories shaping animation this week. Demon Slayer’s record-breaking $70 million North American debut and what set this release apart Toy Story’s 3…
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As the media industry transforms at lightning speed, how do iconic events like MIPCOM and MIPJunior stay ahead of the curve? In this episode, we sit down with Lucy Smith (Entertainment Division Director, RX France; Director of MIPCOM) and Carole Ollardissen (Content & Conference Manager, MIPCOM & MIPJunior) for an insider look at how the world’s le…
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From Venice to Toronto: Festival Favorites and Fall Film Buzz (Ep. 323)
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48:01
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48:01Awards season is heating up, and Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are here to break it all down. From the Venice Film Festival and TIFF premieres to box office shocks and studio shakeups, this episode dives into the films and animated projects making headlines around the globe. Highlights include: Venice Film Festival winners and early buzz from TIFF “The …
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Kids Media Club: deep dive into K-Pop Demon Hunters
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31:35In this week's Kids Media Club Podcast, Andy is away so Jo and Emily are indulging their inner-geek and doing a deep dive into THE kids phenomenon K-Pop Demon Hunters. They unpick the strategies behind the birth of a new mega kids franchise, check out the fan created content on Roblox and Youtube, and learn about the science and craft behind the ch…
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Kids Media Club: Host's Hang Out - K Pop Demon Hunters may be killing it, but is kids media dying?
37:22
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37:22This week’s hosts’ hangout at the Kids Media Club HQ is all about discussing K-Pop Demon Hunters’ record-breaking success (yay!). They also talk about the ongoing challenges facing kids’ media (boo!) and, in particular, try to tackle the thorny issue of COPPA regulations. Could they be amended to help the industry monetise kids’ content on YouTube …
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Box Office Surprises, “KPop Demon Hunters” Rise, and Muppets on Broadway (Ep. 321)
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38:59Jim Hill is solo this week and breaks down the end of the 2025 summer movie season and why traditional blockbusters are struggling at the box office. From shocking second-weekend drop-offs to Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters” taking the No. 1 spot in theaters, Jim covers the hits and misses of the season. How films like Fantastic Four: First Steps and…
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Kids Media Club Podcast: Our Response to the Government Survey on Kids Media
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50:22In this episode, we respond to the UK government’s industry survey on children’s content, programming, and social media. We talk about the aims of the survey, share our honest thoughts on what’s working, what’s not, and what the future of kids' media could look like. From funding challenges to the impact of social platforms, we unpack it all. 🎧 Tun…
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The Voice of Your Childhood: Jim Cummings Joins Fine Tooning (Ep. 320)
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46:26Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed episode of Fine Tooning, highlighted by an interview with legendary voice actor Jim Cummings. From Pooh and Tigger to Darkwing Duck, Jim shares behind-the-scenes stories from a career that shaped generations of animation fans. The shifting release date of Shrek 5 and what it means for DreamWorks Why Dis…
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From Charlie and Lola to YouTube : Mellie Buse joins the Kids Media Club Podcast
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48:33In this episode of the Kids Media Club podcast, we sit down with renowned children's TV writer and producer Mellie Buse. Known for her work as head writer on Charlie and Lola, co-creating Grandpa in My Pocket, and writing/producing The Hoobs for The Jim Henson Company, Mellie shares her journey through the world of kids’ television. We dive into th…
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To mark the latest release in the Jurassic Park franchise, Jurassic World Rebirth, Matthew Sweet looks at music for films set in prehistoric times, or that feature dinosaurs in a modern setting.By BBC Radio 3
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Matthew Sweet talks to film editor, sound designer and director Walter Murch about working on Apocalypse Now, the Godfather films, The Conversation, Barton Fink and Return to OzBy BBC Radio 3
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From Dog Stars to “Fixed” and What’s Next for The Bad Guys (Ep. 319)
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44:41Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with another jam-packed episode of Fine Tooning, covering everything from Sirius the Dog Star to the latest in animated film and TV news. This week’s stories span box office winners, Netflix premieres, and the challenges of recasting beloved characters. • The history of the “Dog Days of Summer” and why Sirius is more…
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Kids Media Club x Brands In Play - Italian Brain Rot, Italian Brain What?!
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46:55
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46:55Kids Media Club is thrilled to team up with Brands in Play for an exciting new episode! We chatted with Nic Hill and Albane Prioux, hosts of the Brands In Play podcast, to explore the wild and deeply weird world of Italian Brain Rot. This chaotic blend of ironic meme culture and generative AI is making waves as the latest UGC trend. Is it just the …
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How “The Simpsons” Took Over America (with Author Alan Siegel) (Ep. 318)
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59:13
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59:13Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down with Alan Siegel from The Ringer to discuss his new book Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television and America Forever. Together, they revisit how Matt Groening’s crude interstitials on The Tracey Ullman Show evolved into a cultural juggernaut, what nearly derailed the series b…
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Bob Bergen - The voice behind Star Wars, Spirited Away, and Looney Tunes.
35:54
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35:54In this episode of High Notes, we’re joined by iconic voice actor Bob Bergen, famous for voicing beloved characters like Porky Pig, Tweety, Marvin the Martian, and No Face from Spirited Away. Bob discusses his journey from mimicking cartoons as a child to becoming a full-time voice actor. He offers invaluable advice for aspiring performers, emphasi…
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Kids Media Club: Claynosaurz and the age of fan-powered brands
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53:37In this week's episode of the Kids Media Club Podcast, we sat down with Nic Cabana and Andrew Pelekis, the folks behind Claynosaurz. We talk about how they leveraged fan-power to build their a monster sized IP. We dive into how they flipped the animated brand playbook on its head by starting with collectables and building to series and discuss thei…
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Chris Sanders Returns for Lilo & Stitch 2 After Billion-Dollar Success (Ep. 317)
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43:03In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor wrap up July with box office milestones, Comic-Con exclusives, and some major animation developments: Chris Sanders returns to write Lilo & Stitch 2 – After the billion-dollar success of the live-action film, Disney is moving forward with a sequel, with Sanders bringing fresh ideas from the …
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Directing Performance for Epic Games - with Tom Keegan
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40:26In this episode of High Notes, we sit down with Tom Keegan, an acclaimed performance director behind major AAA titles such as Jedi: Fallen Order, Wolfenstein, Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and more. Based in LA, Tom reflects on his creatively rich upbringing and his path to becoming a leading figure in video game performance direction. The conver…
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Kids Media Club: Hosts Hang Out - Rachel Zegler, YouTube, Pokémon + Aardman, Bluey
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36:57Hosts Hang Outs are a bit like buses, there aren't any for months and then two come along one week after another! Yes, that's right, we enjoyed our hosts' natter so much we decided to do another one straight away. Here's what we chat about in this episode of the Kids Media Club: Emily has just seen Rachel Zegler as Evita in the West End - we get he…
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Get ready for a very animated San Diego Comic-Con (Ep. 316)
55:24
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55:24Drew Taylor & Jim Hill start this week’s episode by discussing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” that new show at Disneyland Park in Anaheim. examineThey then look at how Paramount Pictures’ new “Smurfs” film performed at the domestic box office. For this episode, listeners will learn about: Who did Chris Buck & Kevin Lima originally want to voice Ta…
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Casting for Mocap, Games & Animation with Jessica Jefferies. **A Women in Games Special**
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34:01Casting for Mocap, Games & Animation with Jessica Jefferies In this episode of High Notes, host, Melissa Thom, sits down with Jessica Jefferies, a casting director who specialises in motion and performance capture for video games. Jessica opens up about her transition from actor to casting director, the challenges she faced in the industry, and how…
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Kids Media Club: Hosts Hang Out - Kpop Demon Hunters, Ms Rachel, CMC and Sky Kids
44:52
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44:52Back to one of our favourite formats - the Hosts Hang Out! Yes, we do love the sound of our own voices! :-) In this episode, we cut loose and dive into what's happening in children's media. No guests, just the hosts putting the world to rights. And there's a lot to put right! We chew over the sensational success of the 'K-pop Demon Hunters' animate…
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SpongeBob Returns with Flying Dutchman and a Star-Studded Teaser (Ep. 315)
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43:22In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a wide-ranging conversation about box office trends, Comic-Con reveals, and the growing debate around casting A-list celebrities in animated films. Highlights include: Paramount debuts the first teaser for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants – Mark Hamill joins as the Flying…
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Inside Aardman: Bringing Clay to Life - Characters, Voice & Performance with Merlin Crossingham
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41:29Inside Aardman: Bringing Clay to Life - Characters, Voice & Performance with Merlin Crossingham In this episode of High Notes, Melissa talks to Merlin Crossingham, Creative Director for Wallace and Gromit at Aardman Animations. Merlin shares some surprising stories from his childhood that led him onto a very specific career path in animation, as we…
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Kids Media Club: The Wiggles Rerun episode
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43:47We're out of the office this week, either on holiday or at Children's Media Conference in Sheffield, so we thought we'd take this opportunity to dive into the archive and revisit this conversation with the OG nursery rhyme preschool band - The Wiggles. Normal service will be resumed next week, in the meantime enjoy this episode - it's a cracker!…
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Jurassic World Breaks Records, Elio Stalls, and Looking Back at 'The Mouse Factory' (Ep. 314)
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51:07In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a packed slate of animation and entertainment news—including box office wins, deep animation history, and Broadway updates: Universal celebrates a huge opening for Jurassic World Rebirth with $318M globally, while How to Train Your Dragon crosses the half-billion mark. Disney’s Lilo…
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Vocal Shapeshifting: Acting for Video Games with Andrew Whieldon Dennis
37:15
37:15
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37:15In this episode of High Notes, Andrew Whieldon Dennis reflects on his expansive career as a voice actor in the videogame industry, from indie projects to AAA blockbusters. He talks about his early inspirations, the cultural influences that shaped him, and his evolution into a true 'vocal shapeshifter'. Andrew offers a behind-the-scenes look at his …
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Kids Media Club: Gregory Dray co-founder of Animaj - YT series
54:49
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54:49In this latest Precise TV sponsored episode of the Kids Media Club Podcast, we spoke with Gregory Dray, co-founder of Animaj, about his mission to create the next big digital-first children's media brand. We discuss: Greg's background at YouTube How Animaj are using AI to manage production in a way that empowers creatives rather than replaces them …
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Lilo & Stitch 2 Announced, Elio Holds, and Akira’s Live-Action Deal Expires (Ep. 313)
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35:24In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite (despite a case of post-Annecy crud) to cover a wide range of animation and industry news, including: Disney officially announces Lilo & Stitch 2 after the live-action original crosses $945M globally. Elio holds better than expected with a solid second weekend as it climbs past $42M …
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The Magic of Pixar: Voice Casting with Kate Hansen-Birnbaum
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26:57The Magic of PIxar: Voice Casting with Kate Hansen-Birnbaum In this episode of High Notes, Melissa chats to Kate Hansen Birnbaum, Casting Director at Pixar, whose credits include beloved animated films like Inside Out 2, Soul, Elemental, and Luca. Kate shares her unconventional path into casting, which began at a San Francisco talent agency under t…
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Kids Media Club: Rewind interview with Kevin Parry, YouTube and animation whizkid
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29:25For this episode, we have opened the archives and returned to a great discussion we had with Kevin Parry, stop-motion animation, visual magician, and FX wizard. Kevin has built a huge following on all the major social media platforms from LinkedIn to Youtube. He regularly gets viewing numbers networks would envy! In this episode, Kevin chats about …
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Matthew Sweet is on the hunt for mythical creatures on the big screen. Tune in to escape reality, as we explore film music that transports you to fantastical worlds; from Middle-earth with Howard Shore’s beloved music for The Hobbit, to ancient Greece with Leonard Rosenthal's epic score for Clash of the Titans. Our final destination is the Isle of …
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Matthew Sweet looks at unusual instruments used in film scores such as the Cristal Baschet which is a favourite of Cliff Martinez in scores such as Drive. He considers the use of unusual technology such as the Blaster Beam used by Jerry Goldsmith in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. He traces the development of electronics in film music, from 'electro…
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Matthew Sweet dials in, with a playlist of film music inspired by a phone call. Hold the line for classics including Scream, The Conversation and Dial M for Murder. Also featuring Bear McCreary’s score for our featured new release, Drop. To listen on most smart speakers, just say: "Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Cinema.”…
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Annecy, Disneyland Paris, and the Animation News You Missed While Drew Was in France (Ep. 312)
41:56
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41:56On this week’s jet-lagged edition of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor keep things quick but packed with insight. Drew is back from his travels—and despite the sleep deprivation, he’s ready to recap his time at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and his first-ever visit to Disneyland Paris. How Annecy 2025 addressed AI concerns a…
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Kids Media Club: Crafting Shows & Supporting Parents at Cbeebies
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41:05Join us for an exclusive dive into the world of CBeebies, featuring special guests Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning, and Joe McCulloch, Executive Producer. We’ll explore how CBeebies commissions its shows, discuss its YouTube strategy, and delve into its approach to building communities. Kate and Joe also introduce CBeebies’ new Parenting …
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Beauty and the Beast at 30, Elio Projections, and the Live-Action Dragon’s Box Office (Ep. 311)
51:57
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51:57In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers the latest from the animation and box office world while Drew Taylor wraps up his trip to Annecy and Disneyland Paris. This week’s highlights include: Live-action How to Train Your Dragon opens to $197M globally, including a $83M domestic debut that surpasses every previous entry in the franchis…
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Welcome to Season 2 of High Notes — the podcast exploring the art and business of voice. Brought to you by BRAVA https://www.brava.uk.com/ Season 2 will focus on the world of Games and Animation. This season, host, Melissa Thom, speaks with leaders across the business from Pixar, Aardman, and the world of AAA gaming. Discover how voices are cast, d…
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Kids Media Club - YT series: Christian Hughes on Gecko's Garage rerun
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49:09As part of our current series diving into the world of YouTube content creation, we’re dusting off an old episode from the Kids Media Club Podcast archives! In this episode we chat with Christian Hughes, the creative mind behind Gecko's Garage, to uncover what it takes to build a successful kids’ YouTube show. This conversation explores Christian’s…
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Lilo & Stitch Still Soars, Dragon Whoppers Reviewed, and Fantasia’s Forgotten Soundtrack (Ep. 310)
41:21
41:21
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41:21In this solo episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill covers a whirlwind of animation news, box office milestones, and fast food tie-ins—while Drew Taylor checks in from Annecy. Topics include: Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch nears $800M globally, but with How to Train Your Dragon, Elio, and Jurassic World approaching, can it hold on? A live-action Tan…
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Kids Media Club x Precise TV YT Series: Unpacking Bluey’s Digital Success with Jasmine Dawson from BBC Studios
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42:57In this exciting episode, recorded live in partnership with Precise TV, we sit down with Jasmine Dawson from BBC Studios to dive into the digital phenomenon of the kids IP, Bluey. We explore the early days of fandom growth post-launch and how it snowballed into the massive wave of viewers for Season 3! Jasmine shares her team’s innovative approach …
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Pixar’s Elio Revealed, Coco 2 Confirmed & Live-Action Lilo & Stitch Sparks Debate (Ep. 309)
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52:17
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52:17Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack the biggest stories in the animation world, including Drew’s visit to Pixar for an exclusive look at Elio. The upcoming original film continues to evolve creatively, now led by Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi, and features bold technical advances and emotional storytelling. The duo also confirms Coco 2 is officially…
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Slumdog Millionaire composer - A.R. Rahman
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37:16Matthew Sweet is joined by multiple award-winning composer A.R. Rahman to explore his extraordinary career in film music, including his best-known score - Slumdog Millionaire. In an exclusive interview, we hear about his relationship with his father, R.K. Sekher who was also a film music composer. A.R. Rahman tells Matthew about his early success i…
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Matthew Sweet celebrates the life and work of Studio Ghibli composer, Joe Hisaishi. Tune in for some of his most beloved music, with classic soundtracks including Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle. Joe Hisaishi will make his BBC Proms debut this year, performing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hal…
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This special episode of Sound of Cinema features an exclusive interview with the legendary film composer and record producer, Hans Zimmer. Hosted by Matthew Sweet, this programme dives into the growth of live film music, exploring how scores are reworked for the concert platform. With a catalogue of iconic soundtracks including Pirates of the Carib…
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From rhymes to riches? Nursery rhymes have become one of the biggest genres on YouTube, captivating young children and their parents while spawning major entertainment franchises. In this episode, we sit down with Liz Gonzalez, an expert in children's digital content, to explore how nursery rhyme videos became such a massive phenomenon. We'll discu…
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Lilo & Stitch Surprises at the Box Office, Toy Story 5 Adds Conan, and Epic Universe Impressions (Ep. 308)
50:31
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50:31In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor reunite to cover a packed Memorial Day weekend full of animation and theme park headlines, including: Disney’s Lilo & Stitch stuns with a $183M opening, far surpassing projections and proving the power of theatrical releases. Conan O’Brien joins Toy Story 5 as Smarty Pants, revealed during D…
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Kids Media Club: the ethics of using AI in animation.
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35:07In this week’s episode of the Kids Media Club Podcast, Jo, Emily, and Andy are joined by Tom Box, Co-Founder of Blue Zoo animation studio. Tom discusses Blue Zoo’s AI policy, which aims to ethically integrate AI into their workflow. AI in animation is a contentious topic, sparking heated and polarising debate. The hosts even imagined hordes of angr…
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