LCJ Q&A Podcast

Bobby and Romy are tween friends who love looking for spooky creatures. What happens when they finally find them? It all unravels on the new Disney animated series "The Doomies", from co-creators Andrés Fernandez and Henry Gifford, premiering this Friday June 26th on Disney+.

Finn and Jake return in new one-off-style episodes on the series "Adventure Time: Side Quests", premiering Monday June 29th on Disney+ and Hulu. Joining me are the trio of Nate Cash ("Tiny Toons Looniversity"), Victor Courtright ("Aquaman: King of Atlantis") and Nick Cross ("Over the Garden Wall").

In 1999, Tim Haines created the iconic "Walking with Dinosaurs" TV series. Now the five-time Emmy winner is returning to nature storytelling on television as the executive producer of NBC's new summer event program "Surviving Earth", premiering this Thursday June 11th at 8pm.

The new animated show adaptation of the popular online game "Among Us" is now streaming on Paramount+. Series creator Owen Dennis ("Infinity Train") shares what he values in the characters, cast and art of comedy.

Key is a young man enamored with the soccer-like game of Gorotama. On the eve of the World Cup, Disney presents an action-packed new animated series "Dragon Striker", from co-creators Sylvain Dos Santos and Charles Lefebvre. It premieres Wednesday June 10th on Disney+ and Hulu.

NBC's new summer event series "Surviving Earth" chronicles the creatures and major changes of the planet over thousands of years — and the impact today. It premieres Thursday June 11th at 8pm (and begins streaming on Peacock the next day). Joining me to discuss the show are VFX supervisor He Sun ("The Lion King") and animation supervisor Joe Tarrant ("Ex Machina").

Reza Memari is the director of the new animated feature "The Last Whale Singer", in theaters nationwide on June 5th. It's about a Humpback Whale named Vincent who, a decade after losing his parents, must find his song in an effort to protect the oceans.

It's my preview of the most anticipated movies of Summer 2026 on WAMC-FM. For the text of this commentary, visit the Jackson Murphy page on WAMC.org. (Aired May 19, 2026)

"Sofia The First: Royal Magic" is the highly anticipated new sequel series to the popular Disney animated program. It premieres Monday May 25 on Disney Jr. and Tuesday May 26 on Disney+. Joining me to talk about this revival are creator and EP Craig Gerber and supervising director Kris Wimberly.

Fellow Critics Choice Association member and iHeart Radio film critic Jason Black ("Jason at the Movies") joins me to preview over 30 major theatrical and streaming releases of the Summer 2026 Movie Season. Find out what we're most looking forward to seeing and what we think will be the biggest box office hits.

Kyle Balda has had a great career in VFX and animation, including directing and co-directing four Illumination features — "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax", "Minions" (for which he was BAFTA nominated), "Despicable Me 3" and "Minions: The Rise of Gru". Now he's the director of the live-action / animated murder mystery family dramedy "The Sheep Detectives", in theaters nationwide this Friday May 8th.

Director Olivia Newman ("Where the Crawdads Sing") shares insights on making her latest film, "Remarkably Bright Creatures" (premiering May 8th on Netflix), including bringing to life the central CG character of Marcellus the Octopus.

Nathan Greno ("Tangled") is the director of the new Skydance Animation feature "Swapped", premiering this Friday May 1st on Netflix. Greno discusses the personal aspects of the story, the importance of the film's nature themes, and working with Oscar-winning star Michael B. Jordan.

 He's played some of the most iconic characters in cinema — Gollum, Caesar and King Kong. Now he's the director of the animated feature adaptation of George Orwell's iconic "Animal Farm", in theaters May 1st. Emmy and BAFTA winner Andy Serkis joins me on this LCJ Q&A Podcast episode.

"My Brother the Minotaur" is a new animated series premiering this Friday April 24th on AppleTV. Lorcan is a boy... who also happens to be a minotaur. His younger brother Charlie and their friends join him to learn more about his true self. Joining me are the creative team of Donal Morgan, Dog Ears' Fionnuala Deane & John McDaid, and Cartoon Saloon co-founder and Oscar nominee Nora Twomey.

Emmy-winner Eric Robles, of Nickelodeon's Fanboy & Chum Chum, is the executive producer and showrunner of Netflix's new animated series spinoff of one of the streamer's most beloved programs. Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is set in between seasons two and three — during the winter of that year — with the kids from Hawkins, Indiana on some of their most thrilling and emotional adventures ever...

Seth MacFarlane's "Ted" event series returns for Season 2 this Thursday March 5th on Peacock. The actors who play four Bennett family members join me to talk about the hilarious '90s-set hijinks, the impact of voice acting, and even some hopes for this year's Oscars. It's the delightful Giorgia Whigham (Blaire), Max Burkholder (John), Scott Grimes (Matty) and Alanna Ubach (Susan).

The Pout-Pout Fish is a new animated feature in theaters nationwide on March 20th. Director Ricard Cussó and writer Elise Allen share insights on adapting Deborah Diesen's books, working with star Nick Offerman, creating the undersea environment and more.

Aton Soumache is the producer of new family animated series "Mr. Crocodile", premiering Monday Feb. 23 at 10:30am on Nickelodeon. Soumache also discusses his producing work on animated features "A Magnificent Life" with Sylvain Chomet (Annie Awards nominated and in theaters Mar. 27), "The Little Prince" and "Little Nicholas: Happy As Can Be".

Genie Deez and Thy Than are the creators of the new PBS Kids series Phoebe & Jay, about twins who move-in to a new building with their dad and grandma. They learn so much, including from meaningful friendships with people of all ages. This animated family program premieres Monday February 2nd.

Super Bowl champion Martellus Bennett (New England Patriots tight end) and Emmy-winning "Phineas and Ferb" co-creator Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh have teamed-up for the new animated family series "Hey A.J.!", adapted from Bennett's books. It's about a sweet girl, her dad, best friend, and bunny companion on adventures that blend imagination and reality. "Hey A.J.!" premieres Tue Jan. 13 on Disney Junior a...

Shea Wageman, President and CEO of ICON Creative Studio, is also the director of new animated feature "Charlie the Wonderdog", which opens in theaters nationwide on Jan. 16. Wageman discusses the superhero comedy adventure, including working with star Owen Wilson, and even teases a "Charlie" sequel.

Angel Studios' "David" is an epic new animated feature in theaters Dec. 19 (with nationwide early access screenings on Dec. 14). Directors Brent Dawes and Phil Cunningham share how they adapted the text of The Bible to create a dramatic, musical adventure experience for the whole family.

Kent Seki, the cinematographer of 2023 animated feature "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" (and its 2027 sequel), has directed the new holiday short "Chrome Alone 2 — Lost in New Jersey". Seki dives into the making of the short, which is Oscar qualified and will screen in theaters nationwide with "The SpongeBob Movie: Search For SquarePants" starting December 19th.

A new DreamWorks Animation short focuses on a teen who visits his grandpa and discovers a passion that will strengthen their relationship. It is Oscar qualified and vying for Best Animated Short Film consideration. Co-Director Chris Copeland and producer Shabrayia Cleaver share what makes them so proud about "Wednesdays with Gramps".