Nation of Animation

Hop on top of the bear stack, listener! This week, we’re tuning in for a heaping helping of Cartoon Network’s under-appreciated gem, We Bare Bears ! We talk about what it means to be “all-ages,” the comedy of character design, and what kind of bears we might be! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @thebrookesmith and @ryanwithc...

Trick-Or-Treat, dear listener! It’s Halloween, and this year we’re giving you not one, but TWO bite-sized halloween specials from yesteryear. First, a spooktacular animal adventure in ABC Weekend Special’s “Bunnicula, The Vampire Rabbit”! Then, there’s a sour-sweet blowing in Whoville, and that can only mean one thing: Halloween is Grinch Night! And we’re gonna talk about it!   This one has it all...

The long awaited episode is here! Strap in and turn your throwback machine on cause we’re gonna talk about the 1993 film ”The Thief and the Cobbler” (aka The Princess and the Cobbler aka Arabian Knight). We talk the legacy, longevity, and loss of the creation and releases of this film. If you don’t like what we have to say, there’s the door! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram...

School is back in session and we still got a lot to learn! We have an interview with animator and current Head of the School for Animation & VFX at Vancouver Film School Colin Giles! We talk inspirations, unsung heroes, and of course cartoons! Not afraid to say this one is a banger! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @theb...

Every 4 years we gather around our screens to watch the best athletes in the world compete to bring home the gold, now we’re bringing the world of animated sports to you! This week we’re diving into the Anime-lympics! All your favorite sports are readily available year round with tropes, storylines, and our recommendations! Light the torches! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram...

This week, Ryan and Brooke are booming with joy to talk about Netflix’ Exploding Kittens, and learn about the world of soundtrack composition and scoring from composers Jina An and Shirley Song! Jina and Shirley share their process, how they adapted a fast and frenzied party game into an animated series, dream projects and more!   And, a surprising new temptation might threaten to capture Brooke’s...

This week we’re talking about just a regular movie. Correction, after further investigation we’re talking about the 1995 cult classic, A Goofy Movie! We talk about who’s side we’re on, the muse that this film is, and an EXTREMELY goofy sequel! Also we got ya news here! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @thebrookesmith and @ry...

We’ve returned from our sojourn into space, listener, and we have seen things you wouldn’t believe! This week, we talk recent sci-fi masterpiece Scavengers Reign! What streaming service owns it? What makes its alien planet feel truly alien? How do we ascribe meaning in a world that doesn’t know we’re there? What is Ryan suddenly allergic to? Find out the answers to all these questions and more! Fo...

This week on NATION of Animation we bring you some behind the scenes story time of the making of The Murder of Steamboat Willie. 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 a sneak peek at what to expect next episode! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation...

Nation of Animation Presents: Steamboat Willie, the iconic cartoon that launched Disney’s empire, has entered the public domain. He’s also been MURDERED! Ryan and Brooke, lifelong cartoon fans with unfulfilling day jobs, take it upon themselves to solve this unsolvable case of mouseslaughter – and their investigation will take them into a sordid, strange world of two-dimensional two-timing, cartoo...

Ah-ah-nimation, Nation of Animation! We are back this week and we hope you brought your lantern and pet dragons because we return to the dark ages as we revisit Dave the Barbarian! Does anyone remember this show, did they focus too much on the barbarian angle, why was this show so funny? Also, listen till the end for a little secret sneak peek of what we’ve been working on! If you like the show, d...

Hallelujah, we’re back! This week we talk about something that has the animation world and Disney fans celebrating: the leaked storybibles! We talk about origins, our favorites, and ask the big questions, like, what’s a story bible again?  If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and fol...

This week we’re getting rad, twisted and extreme as we shred the waves of nostalgia with the power of Rocket Power! We talk about rad outfits, feminism, and conspiracy theories! Paramount plus, hit us up or fix your U.I. If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @theb...

Badabababa, we’re watching it! This week we delve into the lost promotional media “The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald”! We’re talking about how wacky these adventures are, what the point of these promo episodes could possibly be, and Grimace’s culture! Also we’re creating worlds! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our I...

And now for something completely different! This week on Nation of Animation we are talking about the totally indie animated feature; Barber Westchester! This feature is such a treat we don't want to spoil anything because you can experience it yourself, cause it’s on YouTube! Check out the link below and you know we got that news! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe....

They’re baaaack! This week we’re talking about the recently revived Clone High, but we’re talking about the original 2002 run! Did it age well? Do we still enjoy it? Will anything bad ever happen to the Kennedy’s? Only one way to find out! Also Animation News! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @car...

Happy Birthday Ryan! How better to honor ½ our iconic hosts with possibly one of the most iconic animated series of all time; Batman: The Animated Series! We’re joined by two incredibly special guests; Kyle & Trevor! Only respect for the Late Great Kevin Conroy. We are vengeance! We are the night! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofan...

Welcome to the podcast, where you can be yourself! This week on Nation of Animation we’re talking about the new Netflix show; Pokémon Concierge! We talk PokéHistory, PokéPlots, and PokéOscar Nominations! Pika-Pika! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @thebrookes...

Happy 2024! And Happy 3rd anniversary of Nation of Animation! It’s the new year and we’re talking about a (relatively) new show Carol & the End of the World! We talk about our place in the pre-apocalyptic world, the comfort in routine, and Applebees! The end is nigh! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and T...

We’re fully into the holiday season so we’re talking about a Nation of Animation holiday classic, Annabelle’s Wish! Does anyone else remember this movie? We also talk about some classic Christmas commercials, the power of speech, and a few of our favorite things! Ho Ho Ho! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and...

Feels good to be back to the regular format! And this week we are talking about the Netflix Series Hilda! We talk about trolls, magic, and the magical world of Europe! Also Animation News! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @thebrookesmith and @ryanwithcheese o...

We are back and coming in hot! It’s the Thanksgiving season here in the U.S. which means it’s time to be thankful and this week (and every week) we are thankful for the Shrek Franchise! Has it always looked like this? Are the sequels better to the original? Is it all ogre now? Let us know what franchise we should do next year! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Foll...

Solidarity Forever! The workers of SAG-AFTRA have emerged victorious from their historic strike, and we’re breaking the emergency glass to talk to you about the news! We talk everything you missed, changes in the animation world, and so much more, maybe even in song! Probably not, but maybe a little bit! Where to see all of our strike coverage guests: David Kepner: Short films: Whip Lord and Georg...

The SAG-AFTRA strike continues so we are hitting you with the freshest beats with NOW That's What I Call Animated Music Videos VOL 2! And this time we have Makela Yepez as our special guest! We get deep on this one, we’re talking punk music, blending mind and soul, and hope that the end of the strike is near! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @na...

The SAG-AFTRA strike continues and so do we, with special guest Amber Li! What an interesting episode this week as we dive into meme culture and we discuss Skibidi Toilet! If you like the show, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, and follow our hosts @thebrookesmith and @ryanwithcheese on Twitter & b...