Animation Addicts Podcast - Animated Movie Reviews & Interviews For Disney, Dreamworks, Pixar & Everything In Between!

We just love kung fu! Last episode we reviewed Kung Fu Panda and we just couldn't get enough. This episode, we review the 2011 sequel Kung Fu Panda 2! Highlights Main Discussion: Kung Fu Panda 2 General info, box office results, and first thoughts and recollections. Morgan thought the intro was going to be a lot more epic. The score by Hans Zimmer and John Powell really does a great job of drawing you in. It's very lyrical and dictates what is happening on screen. Big plot problem: Po's "Who am I? Where did I come from?" dilemma comes out of no where. Needed more build up. Lord Shen is an amazing villain. This is one of the most emotional DreamWorks films. Did Shen survive? In frame by frame, you see him crushed by his canon. So that's where all the pandas went! Voicemail: Katie, Sarah Listen Twitter question: What is your favorite scene or quote from Kung Fu Panda 3? Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts91 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:20:18, 39.9 MB Learn mo

It's back-to-back DreamWorks films for the Rotoscopers! This episode we tackle the 2008 CGI film Kung Fu Panda. Highlights Main Discussion: Kung Fu Panda Drama at the Annie Awards. Panda sweeps! First thoughts and recollections about the movie. Is it easier to do martial arts in animation? The 2D opening sequence is by the amazing James Baxter. The Furious 5 meet Po. Tai Lung and his epic escape out of the prison. Morgan has issues with how long it took Po to be a master. What we think about the message "there is no secret ingredient." Major theme of the movie: You need to be ok with you. Another theme: turning your weaknesses into strengths. We rate it! Voicemail: Mark Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts89 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:08:57, 67.6 MB Links Watch Kung Fu Panda: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Buy Kung Fu Panda soundtrack: CD | Digital | iTunes Buy the Rotoscopers Shirt! Find The Rotoscopers Send us a voicemail at rotoscopers.com/voi

 Mason is flying solo as he interviews Christopher Knights, the voice of Private from Penguins of Madagascar. Highlights Chris talks about his job at DreamWorks Animation as an editor and how he got into voice acting. Mason asks about other DreamWorks films like Shrek, Trolls, Me and My Shadow, and Mumbai Musical.  Chris also answers a question we had on a previous episode, We're Back! A Dinosaurs Story. Tell us what you thought of the interview! Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts89 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:17:46, 37.3 MB Links Watch Penguins of Madagascar: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Find The Rotoscopers Send us a voicemail at rotoscopers.com/voicemail or call (406) 646-6575. Find us on the web: Rotoscopers.com, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram Visit our sponsors: Audible, Amazon. Rotoscopers Store Find The Hosts Mason Smith: Twitter, Portfolio Morgan Stradling: Twitter, Instagram Chelsea Robson: Twitter, Facebook Learn more a

The Rotoscopers review DreamWorks' second CGI animated film, the amazing, hilarious, irreverent Shrek. Highlights Main Discussion:  Shrek (2001) Morgan and Chelsea saw this movie in theatres together and bonded over the fairy tale and Disney parodies. Mason goes in depth about the lighting, rigging, animation and character designs. Animation technology really shows its age. So quotable! John Powell did the score. He's like a Rotoscoper for music--Disney, DreamWorks, and everything in between. New DREAMWORKS theory: all DreamWorks films are biblical. Which Eddie Murphy character is better? Donkey or Mushu? This movie works because it points out the ridiculousness of fairy tales. Duloc is a ripoff of Disneyland. But it's hilarious. Donkey is so dense, but it's what makes him so endearing. The theme of layers really is critical to the whole film. The blatant transformation ripoff of the Beast's transformation. The toes! Voicemail: Angela Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts88 when talki

All good things must come to a close--it's the final film in the Rotoscopers' Mice & Rats podcast series, Don Bluth's debut film The Secret of NIMH. Highlights Nerdy Couch Discussion: Main Discussion: The Secret of NIMH (1982) Shout out to to the fan-made trailer by ELO1138. The staples of a Don Bluth film: dazzle, Dom Deluise, and knobbly hands. The opening: one of the best writing in any of Bluth's film. Why do we love Mrs. Brisby? Classic movie trope: fear of flying. The drama with Mrs. Frisby and Frisbee. The owl and Nicodemus have elements of the same character. Jenner: is he a good villain? The amulet and its powers aren't quite explained. The scientific elements make sense; the mystical, not so much. We rate it! Voicemail: Sarah, Eric. Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts87 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 01:16:55 Size 38.2 MB Links Watch The Secret of NIMH: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Buy The Secret of NIMH soundtrack: CD | Digital | iTunes Bu

The fans voted and the Rotoscopers delivered! Chelsea, Morgan, and Mason continue the Rats and Mice series with Once Upon a Forest!    Highlights Main Discussion: Once Upon a Forest It's ok. Not bad. But just ok. Classic James Horner. There's alway a wind instrument solo. Mason soapbox moment: Why are there animals that are selectively clothed and selectively naked? It's the 90s! Look at all the orphans and single parent households. Everyone rants about the environmentalist message. Message of the movie: stop driving cars and kill all the owls. The owls in this film remind of the movie. How many people are actually trying to climb up there to get the flower? Humans are evil, but not really! We rate it! Voicemail: Help Kimber with her senior project! Email her at [email protected]. Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts86 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:05:46, 32.3MB Links Watch Once Upon a Forest: DVD | Digital | Rent Buy Once Upon a Forest 

We're continuing with our Mice & Rats podcast series with rag-to-riches story, Disney's 1950 classic Cinderella! Highlights Nerdy Couch Discussion: Why are Cinderella, Snow White and Aurora seen as "weak" characters? Main Discussion: Cinderella (1950) Great example of human character animation. Epic Morgan rant on the horrible HD restoration. Cinderella was never poor. Poor is a state of mind. Introducing the mice, who really sidetrack the movie. Lucifer and Clean Flicks. The King and the Grand Duke are amazing. Wish we had more time. Wait, the King wants the ball to happen...TONIGHT?! You know your dress is bad if the mic thing it looks old. The Mary Blair influence really starts coming to life during the ball. Gotta love the King and Duke's interactions. Love Cinderella because she's never bitter, angry or entitled, just grateful. Voicemail: Cody Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts85 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:40.23, 96.3MB Links Watch Cinderella: Blu-r

Welcome to the Animation Addicts Best of 2014 show! This episode is our celebration of the best that 2014 had to offer in animation and the Animation Addicts podcast.  Highlights Looking back at 2014. What were some of our favorite moments and movies? Time to announce the winners of the 2014 Rotoscopers Awards! Best Animated Film: Big Hero 6 (24%) Best Animated Short: Feast (55%) Best Animated TV Show/TV Special: Toy Story That Time Forgot (26%) Best Voice Acting (Male): Chris Pratt (30%) Best Voice Acting (Female): Cate Blanchett (36%) Best Animated Character: Baymax (70%) Best Animated Sidekick Character: Hiro (45%) Breakout Character: Baymax (55%) Best Villain: The LEGO Movie (41%) Best Song: "Everything is Awesome!!!" (43%) Best Score: How to Train Your Dragon 2 - John Powell (48%) Best Quote/Line: "Bla-la-la-la." - Baymax (44%) Best Marketing Campaign: Big Hero 6 (32%) Best Screenplay: Big Hero 6 (29%) Best Animated Movie Trailer: Big Hero 6 (42%) Most Anticipated Animated Movie of 2015: Inside Out (63%)

For the annual Christmas episode of the Animation Addicts Podcast, the Rotoscopers review the 1983 short Mickey's Christmas Carol. Highlights Main Discussion: Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) One of many adaptations of Dicken's Christmas Carol. Lots and lots of cameos. All these characters are actors. Pre-Bill Farmer Goofy is so out of character. Ghost of Christmas Past: Jiminy Cricket. Morgan has a lot of love for Daisy Duck. Mail bag: Mark, Dustin, Rachel, S, Eric, Alice, Rob, Mike. Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts83 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:13:27, 18.0 MB Links Watch Mickey's Christmas Carol: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Buy the Rotoscopers Shirt! Only $12! Find The Rotoscopers Questions, comments, suggestions? Send us an email at [email protected]. Send us a voicemail at rotoscopers.com/voicemail or call (406) 646-6575. Find us on the web: Rotoscopers.com, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Instagram, Hypable & Animated Views. Vi

Disney Legend, Glen Keane, takes a moment out of his very busy schedule to talk to Mason and Chelsea about his new short, Duet! Check it out! You won't be disappointed! Highlights Intro of Glen Keane and his short interactive film "Duet"  What?! Glen listens to The Rotoscopers? CATCH N’ FIRE! Glen talks about Duet and its inspirations. Why graphite? Listener questions: Thomas Van Acker: What do you think is the most important aspect of animation that should be taught by teachers? Or what did you miss in your animation classes? Bridget Monica: What story (that hasn't been done!) would you love to see transformed into a full length animated film? Jessica Wersky: What role does faith play in your creative life? Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts82 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Blooper! Can we get Glen back? Glen was so kind and went on to the Facebook fan page and replied to many of the the questions personally. Check it out here! Runtime: 0:53:12 Links Watch more Glen K

The Rotoscopers continue with their Mice & Rats podcast series by reviewing one of Pixar's most critically acclaimed films: Ratatouille. Highlights Main Discussion: Ratatouille (2007) First thoughts and recollections of the film. Chelsea can't get over the fact that the main character's a rat. Morgan and Mason love it. Morgan's experience searching for ratatouille, then being terribly disappointed with its taste. Our love for Anton Ego: the antagonist who has a change of heart at the end. The pre-Monsters University lighting/rendering really shows. Animation tropes: "This is me" narration opening and firearms not running out of ammo until you need it. Anton Ego's transformation and final monologue. Crappy knock off time! Ratatoing! Mail bag: Logan, Joshua K., Tom, Drew Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts81 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:29:43, 20.84 MB Links Watch Ratatouille: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Buy Ratatouille soundtrack: CD | Digital Ra

We review Disney's newest animated feature, the superhero film that everyone loves:  Big Hero 6. Highlights Main Discussion: Big Hero 6 (2014) Impressions from our screenings and Morgan's experience from the Big Hero 6 premiere. Thoughts about the backgrounds and city of San Fransokyo. Technical mumbo with Mason! Disney's Hyperion image engine. First weekend box office numbers! Thoughts about Tadashi and act 1. Problems with telling and not showing. Who we thought the villain was at the beginning. Let's talk about the Big Hero 6 gang. We need more of them! Baymax was adorable. Much more lovable than Olaf. Great sidekick character who morphed into a main character. Where were Hiro's powers? How to we feel about the villain? The final battle was very "final battle"! We rate it! Listener Twitter Question: What was your favorite moment from Big Hero 6? Voicemail: August, Sirose, Bri, Dylan Mail bag: Daniel, S, Eric, Alice, Rob, Mike Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts80 when talking abo

For the next film in our 'Mice & Rats' series, we cover Don Bluth's 1986 mouse film An American Tail. Highlights More stories from Chelsea! Main Discussion: An American Tail (1986) A little history of the film and how Fievel got his name. Who's who in a Don Bluth production. Talk of the figurative and literal meaning of "cats". How we feel of Fievel as a main character. Classic Don Bluth scariness in the ocean. Welcome to NYC! Fievel wandering and meeting a lot of different people. Lots of accents happening here (plus a speech impediment). The cats going to Hong Kong is depicting how cats really ended up in that city. When will we get the Rotoscopers band together? The Don Bluth dazzle is strong with this one. Mail bag: Joshua K, Sarah, Dan, Henrieke, Drew Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts79 when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:25:26, 20.6 MB Links Watch An American Tail: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent Buy An American Tail soundtrack: CD | Digital | iTunes Buy th

The Roto-SPOOKERS make an appearance for their annual Halloween episode. This time, they tackle the last of Disney's package films, The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad.  Highlights A little insight about Disney's package film era. Main Discussion: The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad (1949) Initial thoughts. Differences between the two films. Mr. Toad is a frustrating character. Why do his friends try to help him? Both of these films have pretty good gags. Cyril Proudbottom is not a good friend. Also, Winky is creepy. Onto the one we all want to get to...The Legend of Sleepy Hollow! Ichabod is a really flawed character. And why do all the women like him? Actually, everyone here is flawed. The old frolic! The music makes this film. Bing Crosby is gold! We rate it! Mail bag: Joshua, Mark, Jemma, Catherine, Simba's Guard, Adrienne Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts when talking about this episode on Twitter! Runtime: 1:26:12, 21.8 MB Links WatchThe Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad:

The Rotoscopers discuss the first film in their 'Mice & Rats' podcast series, Disney's 1986 The Great Mouse Detective. Highlights Nerdy Couch Discussion: Mice in animation Main Discussion:  The Great Mouse Detective (1986) First thoughts and memories. 1992 VHS release. The whole film takes place in one night. Perhaps a time vortex is at work? Why doesn't that flower ballerina toy exist in real life? There's way too much pink in Rattigan's hideout. Is the sexy singing bar mouse really ok? The first ever semi-use of CGI in a Disney animated film. The clock's cogs are in CGI, then traced onto paper. Rattigan reveals his real form. We rate it! Voicemail: Dustin, Dylan, JK and Michael. Mail bag: Joshua, Hannah, Krissy, Kate, Catherine, Catherine, MoonDisneyPower. Don't forget to use the hashtags #AnimAddicts and #AnimAddicts77 on Twitter! Runtime: 1:33:59, 23.6 MB Links Watch The Great Mouse Detective: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Buy The Great Mouse Detective soundtrack: CD | iTunes The Great Mouse D

It's Chelsea's birthday episode! The Rotoscopers finally review one of the Disney films that they've had on their bucket list since they started the show: Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Highlights Catch and fire with Chelsea! Nerdy Couch Discussion: Origins of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale from the Sleeping Beauty art book. Main Discussion: Sleeping Beauty (1959) The making-of documentary from the end of the VHS tape. Discussion about the unique art style, backgrounds, and Eyvind Earle. The fairies are like midlevel Powerpuff Girls. The king's choir is always ready to serenade. Big discussion on Maleficent, her design, her backstory and the 2014 film Maleficent. The goons are based on classical art. Why Prince Phillip is the best Disney prince ever (the girls agree!). The eternal debate: pink or blue? New Disney Theory: Is this film a predecessor to The Sword in the Stone? We rate it! Voicemails: Erik, CJ, Adriana, Maegan, & Animated Madness. Emails: Joshua K, Sarah, Tris, Rob. Don't forget to buy the Rotosc

The Rotoscopers head back to medieval times to discover King Arthur, the Knights of the Round Table and a really bizarre movie, Quest for Camelot. Highlights Main Discussion: Quest for Camelot (1998) Morgan has faint memories of seeing this with Chelsea, but...remembers nothing of the film. The movie poster turned Morgan off. This is an example of what happens when oblivious executives meddle in a film. The music suffers. What is it trying to be? Serious? Comical? A musical? Gandondorf aka Ruber: "Now all of Hyrule knows you are here." Garett: He has a bird companion who is not evil! The conjoined twin dragons are the worst part of this film. Why the goofy, obnoxious song? Why do animated films feel the need to dumb it down? What we (and our Twitter followers)would have done to make this movie better. Voicemail & emails: Jaclyn, Vishal, Joshua, Dan, Holly, Phoebe, Kristopher, Karifa. Don't forget to buy the Rotoscopers T-shirt! Runtime: 1:27:49, 22.0 MB Links Watch Quest for Camelot: DVD | Digital | Rent | iT

Highlights Nerdy Couch Discussion: Two new Disney theories! Wreck-It Ralph theory that the Disneyverse is one giant computer. Disneyverse has its own Disney within the Disneyverse. Main Discussion: We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993) The early '90s were the era of the dinosaur. Vorb tops the list for annoying side character. Is this movie just a giant commercial for the cereal companies? Check out that '90s penthouse! Screweyes does know his audience. What a creepy villain death. That definitely stands out as one of the best villain deaths ever We rate it! Voicemails & emails: Mark, Joshua, Miguel, MJ, Tony, and Mike Runtime: 1:25:15 82.8MB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's an animated film of mammoth-size proportions: Blue Sky's first film, Ice Age. Highlights   Main Discussion: Ice Age History of Blue Sky Studios. It started out as a VFX and commercial studio. Interesting to see that a lot of studios start out as a commercial-making studio and then slowly grow to making features. Mother Gothel: "Enough with the migrations." Surprising voice talent. What the Jack Black? The dodo sequence! The big moment that pays off: the cave painting sequence. It helps you really understand Diego...finally. Sequelitis: we rant about sequels. "And this is how we end up with Ice Age 5." The random but pivotal moment of the sudden lava. Voicemails: Eddie Mail bag: Joshua, Frank, John, Matthew, Miriam Runtime: 1:13:44 71.9 MB   Links Watch Ice Age: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Buy Ice Age soundtrack: Amazon | iTunes Buy the Rotoscopers T-shirt   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, the Rotoscopers have a riveting discussing about one of Disney's most forgotten about animated films Dinosaur. Highlights Main Discussion: Dinosaur Only the hardest of hard core fans remember this film. It is not recognized as a Disney classic in the UK? Wait what? Lots of hype, but a lot of disappointment after seeing it. Lack of character development. Unappealing characters make you not care about them. Theme of abundance vs. scarcity. Why does it seem that almost every dinosaur animated film has to be about a migration? This is one reason why we're looking forward to Pixar's The Good Dinosaur. We rate it! Voicemails: Jess, Thomas. Emails: Joshua, Mary Kate, Chris C., Patrick, Jess. Runtime: 1:08:59, 36.3 MB Links Watch Dinosaur: Blu-ray | DVD | Digital | Rent | iTunes Buy Dinosaur soundtrack: Amazon | Digital | iTunes Dinosaur quotes | DisneyQuotes.com Winnie the Pooh cussing Rotoscopers Store Where To Find The Rotoscopers Questions, comments, suggestions? Send us an email at contact@rotos