Does everybody really want to be a cat? Kaela and David ask returning guest Ben Spiegel this and many other questions as they push through the cat door of this 1970 feline flick set in turn-of-the-century Paris. Topics include crazy cat ladies, cartoon chase sequences, anachronistic jazz, why Thomas O’Malley is a saint, and how to make Creme de la Creme ala Edgar.
19 - The Jungle Book (with Nothing New: A Remake Podcast)
This month’s episode is a slow boat ride through the exotic jungles of this 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s most well-known work. Kaela and David are joined by Andrew Linde and Justin Quizon of Nothing New: A Remake Podcast to discuss Walt’s final years, out-of-place species, which Beatle is their favorite and, oddly enough, the importance of Jungle Cubs to continuity.
18 - The Sword in the Stone
Things get a little weird - and you’l hear that word thrown around more than once by Kaela and David on this episode, as they take in this 1963 feature and discuss Wart’s ever-changing voice, reused animation, consent in squirrel courtship and one of the best wizard duels ever animated.
17 - 101 Dalmatians
Recorded while on vacation at Walt Disney World, Kaela and David take some time out of their theme park adventures to discuss this 1961 feature that may have saved the studio from bankruptcy, further proving that Disney had a good track record for dog movies.
16 - Sleeping Beauty
Kaela and David discuss the troubled production of this 1959 feature that would go on to become a Disney classic for many, as well as introducing one of Disney’s most well-loved villains.
15 - Lady and the Tramp (with Gracey)
It's a beautiful night, or it is somewhere in the world, as Kaela and David (and Gracey) talk about this 1955 dog-centric feature, with topics such as backgrounds as paintings, spaghetti dinners, and what Kaela considers the ideal cinematic depiction of a good date.
14 - Peter Pan (with Alex Hatzberger & Heather Donnelly)
With faith, trust, and a little pixie dust, Kaela and David head to Never Land in this 1953 take on a literal fairy tale. Along the way, they're joined by friends Alex Hatzberger and Heather Donnelly to discuss women being cruel to each other, perfect pirate couples, crocodiles acting like dogs and very racist caricatures.
13 - Alice in Wonderland
Kaela and David discuss a shared favorite in this madcap 1951 feature, with subjects including stories-within-stories, trickster entities, Ed Wynn impressions and stacked decks.
12 - Cinderella
With the package films now behind them, David and Kaela are eager to talk about this 1950 classic that brought a return to the classic fairy tale, as well as made bank for the studio in record-breaking ways.
11 - The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (with Nick Barbera)
Kaela and David are merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily on their way out of the package films, and this time Nick Barbera (The Haunted Mansion Show) is along for this wild ride.
10 - Melody Time
Kaela and David observe this 1948 collection of musically-themed animated shorts, and can't help but look back on the previous four package films to see how this one holds up in comparison.
09 - Fun and Fancy Free
Kaela and David hope the title of this 1947 package film is not misleading as they talk about the return of Jiminy Cricket, bear courtship, ventriloquism and the further adventures of Mickey, Donald and Goofy.
08 - Make Mine Music
Three down, three to go. Kaela and David are halfway through the Package Films with this 1946 musical romp, not unlike Fantasia with its emphasis on pieces motivated by song, but with varied styles and genres.
07 - The Three Caballeros (with Jesse Reyes)
They're brave and they say so. They're bright as a peso. Who says so? They say so: Kaela, David and special guest Seid (The Witching Hour, Darkly Lit) who take a look at this upbeat 1944 package film featuring Donald's birthday, an annoying bird, the return of José and the introduction of Panchito Pistoles, bringing the namesake trio together.
06 - Saludos Amigos
This month, Kaela and David view and discuss the first of several "package films" produced in the 1940s, containing several animated shorts, footage from a trip to South America, and the introduction of José Carioca
05 - Bambi (with Ben Spiegel)
Kaela, David and special guest Ben Spiegel (writer, director, and progeny of Imagineer Steve Spiegel) discuss woodland hierarchy, tonal whiplash and how Man is the truest evil in this pastoral coming-of-age story from 1942.
04 - Dumbo
This month, Kaela and David talk about the conspiracy of the missing Mr. Jumbo, Timothy J. Mouse's origins, and pink elephants on parade in this high-flying film that soared into the hearts of millions on Halloween, 1941.
03 - Fantasia (with Abysmii)
Kaela and David sit down with guest Abysmii (Raygun Readers) for a discussion of the ambitious combination of animation and classical music in Walt Disney's 1940 "concert feature."
02 - Pinocchio (with Andrew Linde)
Kaela, David and special guest Andrew Linde (Nothing New: A Remake Podcast) get together to talk puppets, comedic animal duos, butt jokes and Jiminy Cricket's roving eye for the ladies in Disney's 2nd animated feature, released in 1940.
01 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Kaela and David begin their journey through the Disney canon with the world's first feature-length animated film, which debuted in 1937.