The Squash and Stretch Animation Podcast

The Squash: In this episode, Randy Young and Kevin discuss the Netflix animated film 'The Sea Beast,' exploring its plot, character dynamics, animation style, and cinematography. They delve into the themes of power and propaganda, critique the character of Maisie for her unrealistic portrayal, and analyze the film's visual elements. The conversation highlights the film's strengths...

Kevin and Randy debate the value of Brad Bird's The Iron Giant. #foryou #fyp #explore #podcast #new #animation

Randy and Kevin discuss the animated flop The Adventures of Tintin, directed by Steven Spielberg.

💚 THE SQUASH Randy and Kevin team up to dive deep into Flow, Gints Zilbalodis' visually hypnotic and emotionally powerful animated masterpiece. In this episode, they break down the film’s breathtaking cinematography, grounded storytelling, and raw emotional punch - all conveyed without a single word of dialogue. The story follows a lone cat navigating a world shattered by disaster, weaving togeth...

💚 THE SQUASH Randy and Kevin team up with animation expert and production person Marlene Sharp to explore The Book of Life, Jorge Gutierrez's visually stunning, culturally rich masterpiece. The episode digs deep into how the film’s bold storytelling, vibrant art, and layered themes tackling masculinity, friendship, and representation in ways that are as heartfelt as they are groundbreaking. . 💚...

💜  THE SQUASH: That time Randy and Kevin dived headfirst into the underworld (literally) with Henry Selick’s  Wendell and Wild.  They discuss whether the film’s dazzling world-building and dark humor outweigh its convoluted storyline—or if it’s just the kind of ambitious chaos the animation world needs. . 💜  THE STRETCH: In this episode of  Squash 'n' Stretch,  Randy and Kevin explore the twiste...

💚 THE SQUASH - That time animation legend Tom Sito helps us squish into the cultural and political vibes that fueled animated classics like  Fantastic Planet and  Allegro Non Troppo . We're talking French sci-fi freakiness, adult-themed storylines, and satire that served as a love-hate letter to Disney's  Fantasia . The 70s were wild—a time when animated storytelling wasn't just about selling mer...

💚 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin tried to explain how Anastasia gave Disney a run for their crown…on half the budget, against all odds. . 💜 THE STRETCH - Randy and Kevin dig into the creative whirlwind behind the making of Anastasia, where Kevin, then Fox’s VP of Production, shares the excitement of bringing the story to life outside Disney’s shadow. They break down the casting process a...

💚 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin talked about Pixar’s Turning Red and whether the animation powerhouse is focused more on story or technology. They dive into the film's Toronto roots, its coming-of-age themes, and how Pixar is pushing boundaries with character designs and Asian culture representation. . 💜 THE STRETCH - In this episode of Squash 'n' Stretch, Randy and Kevin dive deep into...

💜 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin self-traumatized by time warping back to the Covid lockdowns, essentially volunteering for emotional flashbacks caused by the parallel plot of The Mitchells vs. the Machines and 2020 in North America. . 💜 THE STRETCH - In this episode, Randy and Kevin dive into  The Mitchells vs. The Machines  and unpack how this animated joyride reflects our pandemic liv...

💚 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin unravelled the wild production and cult-classic rise of The Emperor's New Groove, celebrating its unique animation, iconic characters, and Eartha Kitt’s legendary performance. . 💜 THE STRETCH - In this episode, Randy and Kevin dive into the importance of self-care in high-pressure industries, sharing their personal routines and strategies. Then, they take...

💚 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin explored  Who Framed Roger Rabbit , diving into its groundbreaking mix of live-action and animation, and themes of identity and attraction. They praise Bob Hoskins as Eddie Valiant, discuss Jessica Rabbit's allure, and reveal the technical brilliance behind this timeless pop culture phenomenon, from Zemeckis' vision to hidden Easter eggs. . 💚 THE STRETCH...

💚 THE SQUASH - That time Randy and Kevin ferociously agreed (for once!) on the highs and lows of Turner Feature Animation's  Cat's Don't Dance . But don’t let that fool you—they're still standing on opposite ends of the cinematic hills they've chosen to die on. Tune in as they break down what works, what flops, and why this animated gem has them both nodding and shaking their heads at the same ti...