Scoob!, Onward, and Animation News with Jim Hill & Drew Taylor

Pixar's Onward: Critical Acclaim vs. Box Office

• 💡 While Pixar's "Onward" received an 86% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it falls in the bottom third of Pixar films, highlighting that critical reviews don't always translate to financial success.
• 📊 Historically, the "Cars" franchise, despite lower ratings, has generated significant merchandise revenue, suggesting theme park attractions like "Onward Land" could still be a possibility.
• 📚 The "Art of Onward" book faced distribution issues, with no copies available in New England bookstores due to a combination of coronavirus concerns and trade war factors.

Animation and Streaming Updates

• 🎬 "Trolls World Tour" moved up its release date to April 10th due to the postponement of "No Time to Die," aiming to capture the family-friendly weekend.
• 📺 "DuctTales" season 3 is set to premiere on April 4th on Disney XD and Disney Now, moving away from the main Disney Channel.
• 🌟 A "Beauty and the Beast" prequel series starring Josh Gad and Luke Evans is in development for Disney Plus, with Alan Menken potentially writing new songs.
• 🗣️ Hank Azaria discussed his decision to step down from voicing Apu on "The Simpsons," acknowledging a need for education and a change in perspective.
• 🌍 Disney Junior's new series "Mira Royal Detective" will showcase India's heritage and is set for a global launch in 160 countries, with merchandise already released.
• 🍫 Taika Waititi is developing two animated event series for Netflix based on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and the Oompa Loompas.

Scooby-Doo's Legacy and the New Film

• 📺 The original "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?" debuted in 1969 as a non-violent alternative to shows like "Space Ghost," with only 25 episodes produced across two seasons.
• 🌟 "Scoob!" is positioned as an origin story, exploring partnerships between humans and dogs, featuring characters like Blue Falcon's son, Dynomutt, Dick Dastardly, and Muttley.
• 🎬 The film aims for a tone similar to "The Lego Movie" and "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse," blending nostalgia with a fresh direction, and includes a significant cameo.
• 🎨 The animation incorporates nods to Hanna-Barbera's history, including the original building's design and classic vehicles like the Mean Machine.
• 🎤 The voice cast includes Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo and Will Forte as Shaggy, continuing a legacy of animation talent.

Other Animation News and Podcast Updates

• 🌈 "Onward" features a gay character, leading to its ban in some Middle Eastern countries, a contrast to token representation in films like "Rise of Skywalker."
• 💬 "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" episode "The Phantom Menace" included a cut scene depicting a creature being turned into goo, deemed too graphic for younger audiences.
• 🎙️ Drew Taylor will be at Gallery Nucleus on March 14th for a book signing of "The Art of Onward" with animators from the film.
• 🎧 The "Light the Fuse" podcast has featured guests like costume designer Michael Kaplan and will continue to offer engaging content.