Remembering Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida with Drew Taylor & Jim Hill

Ranking the Toy Story Franchise

• 💡 Drew Taylor controversially ranked "Toy Story 4" as the best in the Pixar franchise, placing "Toy Story 2" at seventh.
• 🎯 Jim Hill offered a differing opinion, calling "Toy Story 4" Pixar's "Meet the Robinsons" but acknowledging its strong ending.
• 📌 Both hosts agreed that while the story of the original "Toy Story" holds up, the animation looks dated by today's standards.

New Animation Projects and Studio News

• 🚀 The discussion touched upon "Over the Moon," a Netflix animated film directed by Glen Keane, highlighting its cultural tribute and production challenges.
• 🎬 Dean DeBlois expressed his disinterest in live-action remakes, calling them "lazy" and emphasizing the unique voice of the original "Lilo & Stitch."
• 🌟 "Encanto," a new Disney animated film set in Brazil, was discussed, with speculation about its potential connection to a new Epcot pavilion.
• 💻 Studio Ghibli's new film, "Earwig and the Witch," was noted for its entirely computer-generated look, a departure from their traditional style.
• 🎬 The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on film releases like "Mulan" and the reopening of movie theaters was a significant topic.
• 💥 Sony Pictures Animation's "Connected" was praised for its groundbreaking visual style, described as a potential successor to "Spider-Verse."

The Rise and Fall of Disney's Florida Animation Studio

• 🏰 Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida was established in late 1988, with plans to showcase animation to theme park guests.
• 🐇 The studio's first major project was the short film "Roller Coaster Rabbit," which played before "Dick Tracy."
• ⚠️ A significant challenge arose when the Florida studio was tasked with animating the "Kill the Beast" sequence for "Beauty and the Beast" using outdated model sheets, leading to animation inconsistencies.
• 👑 Despite early struggles, the Florida studio found success with "Just Can't Wait to Be King" from "The Lion King," leading to the greenlighting of "Mulan" for the studio.
• 🇨🇳 The development of "Mulan" was influenced by Disney's plans for a theme park in China, requiring a strong Chinese female lead.
• 💡 The "Magic of Disney Animation" attraction famously screened an unfinished version of "Beauty and the Beast" from England, which led to production shutdowns and a shift to the Florida studio.

Animation Industry Reflections and Losses

• 🌟 The passing of actor Ian Holm was mourned, with his voice work in "Ratatouille" as Skinner being a notable performance.
• 📺 The podcast also covered news about "Beastars" on HBO Max, "Close Enough" from J.G. Quintel, and the "Daria" spin-off "Jodie."
• 🤖 "Solar Opposites" was renewed for a third season, offering good news for "Rick and Morty" fans.
• 🎬 "The Mandalorian" behind-the-scenes "Disney Gallery" series was highly praised, particularly Jon Favreau's insights into the show's creation and its stop-motion influences.
• 🎙️ Drew Taylor promoted his "Light the Fuse" podcast, featuring upcoming interviews with animation legends like Roger Guyette and Gary Rydstrom.