The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast

The Rise of Glen Keane!  In this episode, the Brothers Bancroft discuss one of their favorite topics: the legendary animator Glen Keane!  But, they don't discuss the part of his career that is what eveeryone know him from - the The Little Mermaid to the present day- BUT they do a deep dive (okay, more shallow and not researched) in THE EARLY DAYS OF GLEN KEANE!  We talk about the first 4-5 films t...

"Running a worldwide drawing challenge" with Whitney Pollett and Lauren Barger.  We are wrapping up May, but not without talking to Tom's partners in "MerMay", the amazing Whitney Pollett and Lauren Barger!  Tony and Tom dig into how MerMay became the second largest drawing challenge on the internet and a worldwide phenomenon, what are the changes happening with the event, and how Whitney and Laur...

In this Flashback Friday- we go back to episode 20- the Eric Goldberg interview!  In this classic, the Disney Legend speaks about his love for 2d Animation,  his masterpiece work on the Genie in Aladdin, and what's missing in CG animation today.  

Flashback Friday with Victoria Ying

The twins are crazy busy this week so we dive back to the archives for a Flashback Friday episode with Disney Legend Floyd Norman!  Hear him recount stories of meeting Walt Disney himself and being one of the first black Disney artists back in the 60s!  Enjoy!

The long awaited "AI discussion" episode is here!  The Bancroft's talk all things artificial intelligence and animation with special effects guru and YouTuber Niko Pueringer of the Corridor Crew channel!  They discuss the ins and outs of the issues behind the technology that is potentially changing the animation industry. Is there a way to use it as a tool, is there a hopeful future living in the...

Today we go back in time to rediscover Mitchels VS the Machines. the brothers interview Mike Rianda (director), Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Producers). If you missed it the first time around, you won't want to miss this. 

Many of our listeners are experiencing hard times or will be sometime soon. We brought in former Pixar intern Meridian Gray Culpepper, storyboard artist and YouTuber.  Meridian had created a popular video about "Surviving a Layoff in the Animation Industry".  Let's get into it! 

Tony and Tom recorded LIVE from Dublin, Ireland on the state of the Irish animation industry!  You've heard of @cartoonsaloon and the amazing feature films being made at that studio, but the Brothers dig deeper, into the wealth of production studios in Dublin, Kelkinney and further out that are making many of your favorite TV series and films!  We spotlight three Irish animation industry pros: Cla...

Tom and Tony get together to answer YOUR questions about the animation industry in this fun, casual episode!  There's a lot of stress and layoffs in the industry right now and we want to talk it through with our listeners!  Also, the Bancroft Bros are going to Ireland next week so they put out a call to do a meet up in Dublin!  Come one, come all!  

In a heartfelt episode, Tom and Tony talk to their Disney animation mentor, Mark Henn, who has retired from Disney Feature Animation after 43 years of service!  Hear Disney stories from the legendary creator of classic characters like Jasmine, Young Simba, Mulan, Tatiana and more!  

In this episode, the Bancrofts speak with Olan Rogers, indy series creator of "Final Space" as well as the new short, "Godspeed"!  Olan has a lot to say about the pitfalls and joys of making your dream TV project in the studio system of Hollywood.  From being one of the OG Youtubers, to a showrunner/creator, having a clothing line, to owning an ice cream shop- Olan has done it all- simultaneously!...

Tom and Tony have a great discussion about the innovative new animated series, "Wingfeather Saga" with Keith Lango (Head of CG Animation) and Garrett Taylor (Art Director).  AND WE MEAN INNOVATIVE: The whole project is crowd funded to the tune of $5M, they are using Unreal Engine for instantaneous rendering, it has 2D sets and CG characters with painterly textures, it's based on a popular book ser...

Welcome to Disney's Mulan 25th anniversary podcast! This was recorded LIVE  at Lightbox Expo 2023 and includes Armand Serrano (layout artist), Chris Sanders (Head of Story), Tony Bancroft (co-director), and  Tom Bancroft (supervising Animator of Mushu)! At the last minute, Disney legend Floyd Norman (Mulan story artist) showed up and joined us as a surprise guest!  Here some great BTS stories from...

The Bancroft Bros Save the Studio System!  What is going on with Hollywood? Layoffs, union strikes, prices are rising, and work is being outsourced!  What happened?  The Bancroft twins sit with their good friend, Director/Producer/ Entertainment expert John Schafer to figure out what's wrong with the studio system and even suggest- a solution?  Yep, we're fixing the big studios in this episode!  L...

Through  a mini miracle, Disney gave us quick access to interview "Once Upon A Studio" directors Trent Correy and Dan Abraham!  We had a ball talking BTS stories of making this short that celebrates 100 years of Disney animation! 

Engage Your Career - The Bancroft Brothers look at the current events in the industry and discuss some of the hot topics. They apply that to how their listeners need to view their careers during hard times. 

Welcome to an interview with Yashar Kassai, production designer of the new TMNT: Mutant Mayhem film!  Additionally, he was a  production designer on both Spiderverse films and The Murphy's Vs the Machines! Hear Yashar's wisdom of the ages about style, the difference between a production designer and an art director, and how AI can be used in the production process- all while Tony and Tom make juve...

This is a special podcast for the Bancroft Brothers- they talk with old CalArts roommate and former Pixar storyboard artist Jim Capobianco on the eve of the release of his new indy animated feature film release called "The Inventor"!  We dig into all the behind the scenes stories about how it started years ago as a 2D animated short and evolved into a stop motion feature film with celebrity actors...

The Bancroft's interview long- sought after superstar #animation #characterdesigner and The New Yorker cover artist, Peter de Séve !  He influenced all your fav films- from Hunchback to Finding Nemo to Mulan to creating Scrat in Ice Age!  

Who would have thought a trip to France would end with the Bancroft Bros interviewing  Dan Povenmire and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, the creators of " Phineas and Ferb "?  Yep, when you go to the Annecy Animation film festival, you never know who you'll bump into!  Dan and Swampy were there with Disney TV to promote their new season of Phineas and Ferb and we grabbed them for a juicy interview full of be...

How to make a career in Anime! - In the most unexpected podcast ever- the Bancroft brothers talk anime!  We got together with anime pro, Jarrett Martin, and American who has started an anime animation studio in Japan!  Jarrett has some amazing information on how YOU could break into the anime animation business right now!  Enjoy!

Tom and Tony are still yawning from jet lag as they discuss their FIRST time going to the Annecy Animation Film Festival in France!  They talk about all the things they did and the people they saw, and even some mini-reviews of some of the sneak peeks that were screened there!  Lastly, they debate the topic: "What are the PROS and CONS of the Annecy Film Festival?  Should you go? "  Find out in th...

On the fortnight before the release, Tom and Tony discuss the rollercoaster ride that was the making of the new Netflix animated film, " Nimona ".  The Bancrofts interview the film's directors, Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, about their film that rose from the ashes of the demise of Blue Sky and became a fiery phoenix on Netflix!  We also talk about the Annecy film Festival, drop names, and discuss Ni...