At the dawn of the new millennium, no figure stood higher for nerds than Kevin Smith. Fresh off of his last major motion picture and right before his first attempt at closing the book on the View Askew-niverse, Smith fraternized with mass-market television with an animated interpretation of his silver screen debut. Like many of the shows from the early '00s prime-time cartoon boom, Clerks crashed hard, but the few episodes it produced remain dear in the hearts of anyone who grew up cutting their...
Jul 22, 2019•2 hr 22 min
During the first big anime boom of the early '00s, weebs around the world were infatuated with Excel Saga: a hyper, silly, pervy, and scatalogical show that seemed to stand for everything anime could do that American animation couldn't. And while it's mostly forgotten today, this spiritual predecessor to similarly absurdist series like Pop Team Epic still exists as a wholly unique expression of a very enigmatic director. This week, thanks to the generous patronage of Phil Jacobi, What A Cartoon!...
Jul 15, 2019•1 hr 32 min
Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Royce, this week's subject is straight from the new millennium era from Disney's One Saturday Morning. Dubbed a "Pokemon Killer" by ABC, The Weekenders was briefly a big hit and then fell back into obscurity, now it's almost impossible to watch via legal means. But that won't stop us from exploring the history of the show and its creator! Listen now, and later days! Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons ...
Jul 08, 2019•1 hr 59 min
We're returning to a series we've already done for the very first time on What A Cartoon!, but for a very good reason. Chris Reccardi, one of the most talented and influential forces in modern television animation, passed away in May of 2019. And while he never got a series of his own, we can look at one where he really got to shine: The Ren & Stimpy Show. Its Games Animation era might be maligned—mostly due to the now-thoroughly disgraced creator's own narrative—but thanks to artists like C...
Jul 01, 2019•1 hr 45 min
This week we're deep in the 1990s and syndicated cartoons about monkeys that few remember! Chosen by premium patron Devin, Bob and Henry are entering the sci-fi/comedy world of Captain Simian, a toy-centric action show that's too clever for its own good at sending up Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, Stanley Kubrick, and more! We cover the show's murky past and quiet future, Simian's connection to Tiny Toons, and detail just what the Bohbot Kids Network was! Listen now and peel out! Support this po...
Jun 24, 2019•1 hr 34 min
Are you still on the fence about joining the Talking Simpsons Network ? I'd reconsider if I were you, as you're missing out on our monthly What A Cartoon Movie! podcast that's ONLY available to our $10+ Patreon subscribers! This month we're starting summer 2019 right with a trip back to Tiny Toons Adventures and their direct-to-video film that opened the floodgates for original VHS toons from major franchises! Bob and Henry chat for over 200 minutes about how Acme Acres came to be, the overseas ...
Jun 21, 2019•24 min
Winnie the Pooh has been such an overly-merchandised phenomenon for the past 80 years, it's easy to forget the character's Disney roots started with some excellent animated shorts. And, thanks to patron Alex Irish, on this week's What A Cartoon! we'll be taking an in-depth look at Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, Disney's third exploration of the Hundred Acre Wood. There's a lot to dig into with a cast of characters nearing their collective hundredth birthday, so of course we dive deep for a thor...
Jun 17, 2019•1 hr 53 min
We're joined again by premium Patreon supporter Mick, as he helps us dissect a campy classic of the very early '80s: Ruby-Spears goofy post-apocalyptic action series, Thundarr! We discuss the show's Hanna-Barbera roots, the many films it ripped off, AND Thundarr's connections to comic book legends like Steve Gerber, Alex Toth, and Jack THE KING Kirby! Listen soon before the wizards catch us! Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becomin...
Jun 10, 2019•1 hr 47 min
We tackle our oldest subject matter yet as we jump back to 1946 and 1953 to take an in-depth look at some legendary Warner Bros. shorts! And thanks to a request from our generous patron Nick, we're shining a spotlight on Daffy Duck just a few months after the character's 82nd birthday. On this week's episode, Sick Little Monkeys author and classic cartoon expert Thad Komorowski joins us to discuss two very different interpretations of Daffy Duck from two very different Warner Bros. directors. Li...
Jun 03, 2019•2 hr 19 min
Another month has passed at the Talking Simpsons Network , and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear us talk about the 1992 Disney classic Aladdin for FOUR HOURS! Listen now to this free preview of our Aladdin podcast, and then subscribe at the $10 level to hear the whole thing and all the previous What A Cartoon Movie! podcasts! Make all your audio-based wishes come true and sign up today !...
May 30, 2019•21 min
This week's podcast has a taste of modern Middle Eastern animation, as chosen by our premium Patron Aziz ! (And just in time for the month of Ramadan too!) We watch online original Emara , the first superhero from Dubai! Learn how the culture shaped it, its anime roots, and how it came to be with a special guest appearance from Emara's creator, Fatma Almheiri ! Listen now! Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! This po...
May 27, 2019•1 hr 26 min
Chosen by our premium subscriber ShyRanger, Bob and Henry head back to the '00s for Nickelodeon's own attempt at a Cartoon Network-style action-comedy! Created by Dexter/Powerpuff veteran Rob Renzetti, My Life As A Teenage Robot is a cult hit with a very intriguing art style and sense of humor. Listen along to learn about its history and the pair of season one shorts, Sibling Tsunami and Tradeshow Showdown! Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimp...
May 20, 2019•1 hr 47 min
We're the Planeteers, and you can be one too on this week's eco-friendly podcast! Henry and Bob go back to 1991 when global warning was a less imminent threat, and we deconstruct the super heroics of Captain Planet. We talk about how Ted Turner's pet project grew into a movement of more environmentally conscious kids, as well as how the show was both incredibly corny and correct about so many things that still threaten our future! So let your powers combine and listen now! Support this podcast a...
May 13, 2019•2 hr 2 min
Thanks to the generous contributions of patron David Whittington, we're heading back to anime country with the newest series we've ever featured on What A Cartoon! Back when it initially started running in the weekly Japanese comic anthology Shonen Jump in 2016, The Promised Neverland quickly became one of the publication's most popular series, so it was only time until it received an anime adaptation. And, lucky for us, this well-animated interpretation of the source material adapts the manga v...
May 06, 2019•1 hr 41 min
DuckTales has come up SO often during our discussion of animation history, it's about time we podcasted about it! Disney's televised treatment of one of their B-list characters ended up being an A-list series, and one that forever raised the bar for children's entertainment. On this installment, we (alongside duck expert Matthew Jay from [the deep end] podcast ) dig into the history of Uncle Scrooge and his creator, Carl Barks, the character's rich life in decades upon decades of comics, and, of...
Apr 29, 2019•2 hr 7 min
Every month at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons , we release a new, premium podcast for our $10+ subscribers! If you still haven't heard, Bob and Henry do a different podcast each month for a different animated feature film, and April's has radioactive blood! Yes, we swing from a thread for over THREE HOURS to chat about the recent Oscar Winner, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Check out this preview of how the film came to be, and then become a $10+ Patreon supporter to hear the full thing! Folks ...
Apr 27, 2019•21 min
The wall-crawler makes his return to our podcast, as does Matt McMuscles (check out his YouTube channel and his new Patreon !), this time for an early '80s installment!! Yes, we check out Spider-Man's campiest Saturday morning series, we discuss the interesting corporate culture that birthed it, explore how the series gave birth to Firestar, and how Spidey even got a pet named Ms. Lion! All that, plus a trip through the early years of video games as the trio battles Electro and living game boss ...
Apr 22, 2019•1 hr 49 min
Narf! Out of all the characters spawned by 1993's Animaniacs, one rodent duo rose far above the rest—even higher in stature than the Warner brothers and their sister, Dot. That would be Pinky and the Brain, a pair of diminutive lab mice with spliced genes and big ambitions. So only makes sense that the two would eventually get their own series for 66 glorious episodes on The WB, another misguided creation that couldn't quite conquer the world, either. This week, we prove our mousey worth by look...
Apr 15, 2019•2 hr 11 min
April Fools! We interrupt this week's regularly scheduled animation for a special podcast that breaks the format with some live action!! To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Strangers With Candy, Bob and Henry gab about one of their all-time favorite satires! Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert, and Paul Dinello created one hilarious masterpiece parodying the after-school specials of the 1970s, and we dive deep into the second season premiere, Yes You Can't! So stop working at the artificial flower pla...
Apr 08, 2019•2 hr 32 min
Another month has passed at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons , and that means we've got another awesome podcast about an animated feature film! This month our $10+ Patreon subscribers get to hear Bob and Henry talk about Don Bluth's directorial debut for THREE HOURS! Listen now to this free preview of our Secret of NIMH podcast, and then subscribe at the $10 level to hear the whole thing and all the previous What A Cartoon Movie! podcasts!! Sign up NOW!!...
Apr 01, 2019•24 min
We dive into Aaron McGruder's smash hit for Adult Swim, and we're joined by Struggle Session host Leslie Lee III to discuss the show's debut episode! Chosen by premium patron Royce, your hosts dive into how McGruder got his start, how he transformed a newspaper comic strip into an anime-infused political satire, and how the series feels 14 years later! Listen now and remember: Ronald Reagan is The Devil. Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpson...
Apr 01, 2019•1 hr 48 min
Back in 2004, comedy legend Bob Odenkirk teamed up with newcomers Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim to create Tom Goes to the Mayor: a surreal and polarizing satire of strip-mall America that launched the now-famous comedy duo's prolific careers. In this 30-episode series, a wimpy entrepreneur with more persistence than intelligence teams up with an unhinged mayor to execute his impractical plans, which often (if not always) end up ruining his life. And thanks to the generous contributions of patr...
Mar 25, 2019•2 hr 3 min
It's our biggest What A Cartoon! podcast ever, which is only fitting! We're showcasing OK K.O.! one of our favorite cartoons ever, and we're chatting with the show's Creator/Executive Producer Ian Jones-Quartey and Co-Executive Producer Toby Jones ! They tell us how the show came to be, how Ian and Toby's loves of animation, comedy, and video games are expressed in the show, and how the biggest crossover in Cartoon Network history happen! Listen now to learn it all, so let's start the show! Supp...
Mar 18, 2019•2 hr 58 min
We've covered two of the original three Nicktoons in our first year of What A Cartoon!, but what of Doug, the gentle, be-vested boy who has problems much like our own? Though his 52 episodes didn't cause the same stir on Nickelodeon as Rugrats or The Ren & Stimpy Show, Jim Jinkins' laid-back cartoon stands as an early pioneer in the slice-of-life genre of children's entertainment. This week, Greg of the amazing YouTube channel Pop Arena joins us to explore the animated adventures of a not-so...
Mar 11, 2019•2 hr 5 min
Chosen by premium Patreon subscriber Devin, this week's podcast travels back the innocent days of the early '00s, when Flash animation ruled the internet, chief among them the website Homestar Runner! We go back to two of Strong Bad and the gang's best toons from the era, and see just how they've aged in the sober light of modern times (spoiler: they hold up pretty well). Listen along for fun songs, silly emails, and a bunch of amusing idiots in this week's What A Cartoon! Support this podcast a...
Mar 04, 2019•1 hr 43 min
Garsh, can you believe that Bob and Henry talked about A Goofy Movie for three and a half hours? It's true, and you can only hear the full thing if you're a $10 a month subscriber at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons -- but if you'd like a short preview, listen to this free sample! Hear Bob and Henry chat about the film's history and why it really strikes a chord with millennial fans in this preview!
Feb 28, 2019•24 min
Thanks to Talking Simpsons Network patron Alex Irish, this week we're bringing you an exploration of a secretly amazing cartoon you might have ignored thanks to its ultra cute and colorful appearance: The Amazing World of Gumball. Now in its sixth season, this Cartoon Network Studios Europe creation has quietly been one of the most inventive cartoons on television for most of this decade, both in visuals and writing. And our look at one of Alex's favorite cartoons from the series--which takes th...
Feb 25, 2019•1 hr 41 min
Our artist friend Maddie is back, and this time she's taking us on a journey to the late '90s with Hey Arnold! This classic Nicktoon was more emotional and empathetic than most kids shows, and it has a surprisingly long history (with several interesting connections to The Simpsons). Learn all about it, as well as our personal histories with spelling bees and city pigeons in this week's podcast! Support this podcast and get dozens of bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and beco...
Feb 18, 2019•1 hr 54 min
Chosen by premium Patreon supporter Nick, we're doing the 1979 classic Gundam series, and we're again joined by Gundam expert/ USG Editor-In-Chief/our good friend Kat Bailey ! We dig deep into Mobile Suit Gundam, series mastermind Yoshiyuki Tomino, the show's shaky launch to merchandisable success, and so much more. Plus we chat about one of the greatest anime betrayals of all-time and cover a pivotal episode of the first Gundam series! Listen now, Newtypes! Support this podcast and get dozens o...
Feb 11, 2019•1 hr 50 min
Thanks to the generous contributions of Patron David Whittington, we're finally taking a look at Archer, FX's surprising spy hit that's quickly coming up on its tenth birthday. The folks who brought you Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo basically took everything that made those shows great and turned them up to 11, while adding more sex, drugs, violence, and H. Jon Benjamin. And for this podcast, we'll be looking at the season one episode "Skytanic," featuring a fake bomb threat, a real bomb threat, ...
Feb 04, 2019•1 hr 40 min
