Nation of Animation

Just in time for the show's end, Ryan and Brooke tune into adult swim's latest adult animation darling, the anarchistic and internet-laced Smiling Friends! We talk animation style, changing senses of humor, the 00's internet, and whether it's better to burn out or fade-away, all while staying mostly on topic. You picked the BEST time to listen! EPISODES DISCUSS: S1 E6 - “Enchanted Forest” S1 E 9 -...

It's Brooke's birthday, so she gets to pick the movie! She summons up a forgotten mainstay from the VHS players of a bygone era, Don Bluth's Thumbelina. We confront our dubious memories of this childhood favorite, investigate the fascinatin history of the man who would be the Anti-Disney, and consider if, by some strange twist of fate, this movie is actually "good." What does "good" mean in this c...

The minds behind Bojack Horseman and Tuca & Bertie are back on Netflix with their zaniest creation...an emotionally harrowing portrait of family across the years? And we're sure this is a comedy? Ok, if you say so! This week, we dive into  Long Story Short , talk religion, family, time travel, and when we were our most interesting! Episodes discussed: Ep 4 - “Shira Can’t Cook” Ep 6 - “Wolves”...

It's Oscar Season once again, and you know what that means -- a ton of movies, both long and short. What are our favs? What has the best odds to win? What was going on this year? Do animated movies still have that magic? FILMS WE WATCHED: FEATURES: Elio Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina Written by Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones KPop Demon Hunters Co-written and d...

We pull together the disparate parts that make a podcast and talk about Adult Swim’s alchemical new special, The Elephant! What is it? What makes it special? What kind of animation A-team put it together?   Then, we take a long look at what Disney might do to pull out of their creative slump, and how their past might indicate their future. The vengeful spirit of Walt still lingers! ChelseaChats’ T...

Get yourself a heaping plate of podcast! We talk about Delicious in Dungeon, the anime smash hit that has us going back for seconds. Will Brooke like this anime? What is the tastiest monster in the land? What video games do the best manga writers play? All these questions and more are on the menu in this week's Nation of Animation! EPISODES DISCUSSED: Ep 4 - “Stewed Cabbage/Orcs” Ep 8 - "Raspberri...

We’re in a New York state of mind! This week, we salute our favorite cartoon depictions of the great city of NYC, ranging from the mythic and the fantastical to the grounded and the grimy. What is the allure of this place, and what do people love to draw from it? What has it been like for us to live here? Take a big bite of this Big Apple and find out! Link to Women In Animation Portfolio Review R...

We've been adrift in a sea of holiday animation and washed up on a strange island...you'll find no stop-motion reindeer or magical snowmen here, no memorable singalongs or classic characters. You're on the Island of Misfit Toons!  We plumb the depths of strange and forgotten holiday animation specials, and come up with three intriguing animations from yesteryear. Join us as we float up to the Nort...

It's the holiday season, and we're still feasting on the bounty of KPop Demon Hunters, the film that keeps on giving, and we've brought in two Huntrix superfans: Meggie Gates and Laura Petro of the YA, We Read It podcast! After double-digits of re-watches, what else does the film have to offer? Can anything stop its awards season momentum? All this, plus Brooke taking on a heaping helping of anima...

AFTER TEN THOUSAND YEARS (or three months) AWAY, WE HAVE FINALLY RETURNED! Ryan and Brooke resume their destinies as podcasters and endeavor to cast a podcast-based spell of protection across the whole world, all while talking about the streaming sensation that’s sweeping all nations — KPOP DEMON HUNTERS! We talk about the music, the look, the fashion, and the undeniable fandom in our mighty retur...

This week, we cover the cartoon that Disney DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE! The unlisted, unstreamable, unmistakable hybrid workplace comedy/ clip show House of Mouse! We talk the legacy of the Disney Sensational Six, Clarabelle Cow, and that darn Mortimer Mouse!  Episodes discussed: Season 1 Episode 2, "Big Bad Wolf Daddy" Season 2 Episode 12, "Ladies Night" Season 3 Episode 19, "Clarabelle's Christmas...

Ryan, Brooke, and professional actor/writer/friend of the pod Lilly Heidari crack open the history books AND the comic books as they read Marjane Satrapi's adaptation of her autobiographical graphic novel,  Persepolis! We talk about history, the life of a person in the middle of historic events, the power of one's own culture, expatriation, and the bizarre fun of being assigned comic books in coll...

Strap on that diapy and get that thumb out of your mouth! These babies have gotta do what a baby's gotta do, and in this case, these babies have got to talk about Rugrats! We break down the perspective of babyhood, the importance of life lessons, the drag of being all growed up, the majesty of Cynthia, and so much more! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbo...

This week on Nation of Animation we bring you some behind the scenes story time of the making of our Atlanta Fringe Audio special, 'The Indigo Twins.' If you haven’t had a chance to hear the last episode, it's the perfect week for a double feature! Plus animation news and your questions! Listen to 'The Indigo Twins' here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-indigo-twins-by-nation-of-animatio...

This week we talk about the classic 90s cartoon The Indigo Twins! It's all about the joy of being a twin, the simpler days of the early 90s, and the lovely power of fans and fandom. That's The Indigo Twins! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @thebrookesmith and  @ryanwithcheese on Twitter   http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ry...

A wise man once said, or rather screamed, "YOU! ARE! A TOY!" But here at Nation of Animation, we're not toys, we're podcasters! We're celebrating 3 decades of the legacy of Toy Story, and 3 decades of our very own Brooke-Erin Smith! Witness the film that put Pixar on the map, and how 30 years has shaped both our friends Buzz & Woody, and our dear darling Brooke. Cut yourself a slice of birthda...

Hear that school bell ringing? Drop those textbooks and pick up a tetherball, it's time for RECESS! We talk about the joyful highs and shocking lows of Disney's sociopolitcal school simulation, talk about the charismatic power of Spinelli, pin down the politics of the Ashleys, and give our best pitches for Recess's version of modern political events! What a show, and what a podcast! Follow our blu...

It's time for March Madness, so break out your brackets and get your parlay ready! Ryan has asssembled a list of 16 eligible fellas from across all of anime, and we're gonna pit them against each other for Brooke's affection! Who will win it all? The answer may surprise you - it sure surprised us! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our...

100 EPISODES! THE MILESTONE IS HERE! Ryan and Brooke celebrate their hundredth time on the mic by revealing their Top Ten animated seriess of all time! What do they have in common? What do they differ on? And what do some of our past guests have to say? Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @whoisbrooke and @ryanstevens on Bluesk...

Get your designer dresses and matching clutches ready for the red carpet! We’re talking about all of the Oscar nominated animated films and animated short films. We check this year’s trends, talk our favorites, and chart the proud rise of the beautiful republic of Latvia — all this and more on this week’s Nation of Animation! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @car...

Bust out the popcorn (and your most tear-stained handkerchiefs) for this one, folks! We talk about Hayao Miyazaki’s latest, final (?) film, the award winning The Boy And The Heron! Ryan also watched the documentary Hayao Miyazaki And The Heron, and offers some additional insights on how this film is the culmination of Miyazaki’s career, the filmography of Studio Ghibli, and a life spent in an ever...

Happy new year, listeners! We’re ringing in 2025 with some comfort food, namely Burgers — Bob’s Burgers! We look at our favorite episodes from the three most recent seasons, and see how far Bob and his family have come since they’re early days. It’s the perfect episodes for old fans and new ones, so get ready to chow down! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoo...

Marley was dead to begin with. Dead as a doornail. But Nation of Animation is alive and well this holiday season, and we're bringing you a happy haunting with three, count' em, THREE animated adaptations of Charles Dickens' timeless anti-capitalist classic, A Christmas Carol! We check in with our good friend Richard Williams, stop by the House of Mouse for Scrooge McDuck's opus, and then deal with...

Thanksgiving season means gorging on toons till we burst, and this year we’re piling our plate high with Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda series! What can this panda teach us about martial arts? About life? About…love? (Not much, on that last one.) We blitz through all four films, talk, and learn the mysterious ways of the Dao of Po!   If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Fo...

He lives in you, listener, and by “He,” we mean this podcast! Don’t think about it too hard. This week we talk about a beloved Disney classic…’s sequel: The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride! What is Romeo & Juliet like with lions? How does the music match up to the original? Why is the bad boy lion so hot? PLUS! We check in on the  Over The Garden Wall 10th anniversary stop-motion special, and old...