What’s up, Goobs. As the Wilderness Years draw towards an end, film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers go back to the future with 2007’s time-travelling oddity Meet The Robinsons. And they’re joined by special guest Al Horner, who has his very own peculiar history with what might be *the* defining Wilderness movie. Together, they discuss the oddest Robinsons, discover the joy of ‘crogs’, and discuss Walt Disney’s vision of a ‘great big beautiful tomorrow’. Plus, Sam unpicks the insane lore of the spin-off game, there’s a spot of actual time travel, and Ben ponders the big question: who, exactly, is Pete Robinson? The future has arrived!
Next up: Bolt
Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.
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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.
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1:36:29
143.5 – The Wild (w/ Jon Hornbuckle)
When is a Disney movie not a Disney movie? When it’s this one! Film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers stop for an important detour on the Wilderness Years path to discuss 2006’s haunting reverie, The Wild – a film released by Disney, that counts in the UK’s numbered DVD ordering of Disney movies, and yet wasn’t animated by the studio itself. Joined by friend of the pod Jon Hornbuckle (who previously helped us dig into the mystery of The Wild’s status in Disney canon), we discuss how the film came to be part of Disney’s legacy, why its plot is so similar to Madagascar, and – most importantly – why the hell it looks like that. It’s a shorter episode than usual, but a film that simply had to be acknowledged as the final stretch of Wilderness beckons.
Next up: Meet The Robinsons
Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.
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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.
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1:03:08
BONUS: An Almost Christmas Story (2024)
Ho ho hello! It’s almost Christmas – so what better time to talk An Almost Christmas Story, Disney’s heart-swelling new animated short film, from acclaimed director David Lowery? Film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers venture to snowy NYC for a tale of a lost owl and a lost girl, who might just find the meaning of Christmas together in the big city – with a handful of folk songs along the way. We talk the film’s cardboard-styled animation, the real story of the Rockefeller tree owl, and get down to the ultimate question: what truly makes something a Christmas story? Watch the film on Disney+, enjoy the pod, and we’ll see you in the new year for the final stretch of the Wilderness Years era.
Next up: The Wild bonus episode
Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.
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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.
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50:19
143 – Chicken Little (w/ Tom Nicholson)
DON’T PANIC! No, the sky isn’t falling – it really is a brand new episode of Disniversity, as film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers step boldly into a whole new dimension in 2005’s Chicken Little. And they’re joined by steadfast podfriend Tom Nicholson to talk this most pivotal (and, spoiler, terrible) of Walt Disney Animation Studios movies. Together, the intrepid trio tackles all the big questions: What happens when Disney goes full-Shrek? Are burps ever funnier than farts? And what the hell is ‘Chicken Little’? Plus, Tom queries Turkey Lurkey’s rise to power; Ben declares war on Morkubine Porcupine; and Sam reveals why Chicken Little might just be the most important Disney film of all time.
Next up: The Wild bonus episode (and maybe a festive treat)
Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.
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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Moana 2. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.
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1:43:36
142 – Home On The Range
Cowboy hats on, people – the Wilderness Years is taking film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Sam Summers back to the Wild West, in 2004’s Home On The Range. And it marks a major milestone in Disney (and Disniversity) history: the end of 2D animation. Well… for a bit, anyway. As they rock up to the saloon, the duo talk the legacy of ‘Yeehaw Disney’, break down how genres are constructed, and discuss Michael Eisner’s dramatic exit from his Disney tenure. Plus, Sam reveals his mission to witness every cast member from Cats (2019) in the flesh; Ben becomes desperate for a film titled ‘Cowboy Ghosts’; and Sam signs up for OnlyCows. Hopefully this episode is an udder delight.
Next up: Chicken Little
Disniversity is brought to you by Ben Travis (@benstravis) and Sam Summers (@samsummers0), with art by Olly Gibbs and music by Nafets. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @disniversity. This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.
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Welcome to Disniversity, the podcast crash course through the history of Disney’s animated classics, with film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr. Sam Summers. Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Wish. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.
The podcast crash course through the history of Disney's animated classics, by film journalist Ben Travis and animation academic Dr Sam Summers.
Each week, we’ll be moving forward in time through the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios catalogue, watching every feature film in chronological order – from Snow White to Wish. Watch along with us, and listen as we explore each film’s historical context, advances in animation and lasting legacy, and talk about how they stand up today.
Note: This podcast is not affiliated with Disney.
UK