Fine Tuning with Drew Taylor Episode 62: Discussing 'Onward', 'Frozen 2', and 'Rudolph'

Animation News and Commentary

• 🎙️ The hosts discuss the latest in animation news, including box office performance of recent films and upcoming releases.
• 📺 They cover the broadcast of "SpongeBob the Musical" on television and its unique production history.

Box Office Performance and Analysis

• ❄️ "Frozen 2" continues its strong performance, remaining number one at the box office for its third weekend, with projections to surpass $1 billion worldwide.
• 📉 "Playmobil: The Movie" is highlighted as a significant box office disappointment, with one of the worst opening weekends for a film released in over 2,000 theaters.
• 🎬 Upcoming major releases like "Jumanji: The Next Level" and "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" are discussed as potential contenders to dethrone "Frozen 2".

Animation and Film Releases

• 🌟 "Hair Love", a Kickstarter-funded short film, is praised for its quality and is considered a strong contender for an Academy Award.
• 🎭 The release of Mel Brooks's "Blazing Saddles" on Broadway is mentioned, alongside his continued sharp wit at 93.
• 🎁 Studio Ghibli films are now available for digital purchase, with both English dubs and Japanese formats offered.
• 🦌 The hosts delve into the history and changes made to the classic holiday special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", including the restoration of the "Peppermint Mine" scene and the original ending.
• 🐕 The emotional impact of the upcoming Disney Plus film "Togo" is discussed, with both hosts deeply moved by its true story.

Pixar's "Onward" and Related Projects

• 🚀 "Onward", a new Pixar film, is introduced, with its personal inspiration for director Dan Scanlon being the loss of his father and the desire to reconnect with him.
• 📚 Drew Taylor discusses his experience writing "The Art of Onward", a companion book to the film, available for pre-order.
• 📖 The book is described as a beautiful look into the making of the movie, featuring many ideas that didn't make it into the final film.
• 🗺️ The Brazilian title for "Onward" is revealed as "Dois Irmãos: Uma Jornada Fantástica" (Two Brothers: A Fantastic Journey).