Animation Addicts Podcast - Animated Movie Reviews & Interviews For Disney, Dreamworks, Pixar & Everything In Between!

We kick off the new year by looking back at 2013 at the best moments from the Animation Addicts Podcast. Also, we announce the results of the 2013 Rotoscopers Awards! Sit back and get ready for some good laughs from this past year. Highlights ■ 1st Annual Rotoscopers' Awards results! ■ Our favorite moments from 2013! Including best intros, funny discussions and random fun you never heard! ■ Voicemails from Jessica, Daniela, Jemma, and Susanna.  ■ Emails from Joshua, Esther, Abraham, Jemma, Michael, Arianne, Anibal, David, Stephanie, MB, Jarlett, Thomas, Shelby, and Lindsay. Runtime: 2:10:00, 63.0 MB Links ■ Animated Music videos: What Makes You Beautiful, Girlfriend, non-Disney Villains. ■ "The Scarecrow". ■ Theory Animation. ■ Wicked as a Disney animated film concept art  & YouTube video. ■ Morgan's suggestions on the History of Animation books & resources: Of Mice and Magic, The World History of Animation & Traditional Animation. Where To Find The Rotoscopers Questions, comments, suggestions? Send us an ema

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Go along with Chelsea, Morgan and Mason as they dive into the Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer Christmas special by Rankin-Bass! Highlights ■ There's nothing like a good ol' Christmas Special! We discuss all our favorites including a He-Man tangent. ■ Main Discussion: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer ■ The history behind the longest-running Christmas special of all time! Nearly 50 years old! ■ The soundtrack: Composer, Jonnny Marks and "Burl Ives, man, what a snowman!" ■ Communists, mutations, conformists and beware of Mrs. Clause! ■ Changes made to the film over time, Christmas tree forests, characters and lots of cynicism! ■ We rate it! ■  Mailbag! ■ Two requests for Cats Don't Dance!,  Andreas Deja's blog, Saving Mr. Banks predictions, Incredibles error, Melissa K.always has our back! The Muppets, New interview podcast, Clay Katis is directing Angry Birds & more! ■ We respond to Chad! ■ Get ready for the BEST OF 2013 episode! Send us a voicemail! ■ Bloopers! Morgan snap

As Frozember comes to a close, join Morgan, Chelsea, and Mason on this EXTENDED review of Disney's Frozen! Highlights ■ White carpet wrap up: Our thoughts and recap of the Frozen world premiere! ■ White carpet YouTube links ■ 30-minute interview with Michael Giaimo, art director of Frozen (part 1, part 2, part 3). ■ Interview with filmmakers of Get a Horse! ■ Directors and producer of Frozen interview the Rotoscopers! ■ Before Dec 31, 2013, we will have a NEW PODCAST! ■ Main Discussion: Frozen ■ It's a musical and everyone liked it! ■ Mason, Morgan, and Chelsea discuss the movie scene by scene, following by discussing the song list. ■ Buy the 2-disc deluxe edition on Amazon. ■ Are you #TeamElsa or #TeamAnna? ■ Rupunzel and Flynn Ryder are looking to do trade. ■ The BIG REVEAL! The BIGGEST SHOCKER OF THEM ALL! ■ Muttonchop Minons. ■ Rules to writing a musical. ■ The Eternal Disney Principle. ■ We have a hit on our hands! ■ We rate it! ■ Voicemails: Jemma, Susanna, Breanna, Ben, and Tim! ■ Frozen-related emails

Morgan and Mason are joined by Rotoscopers writer Blake Taylor, as they discuss Blake's favorite film Mary Poppins, as well as the upcoming Saving Mr. Banks. Highlights: ■ Breaking tradition and doing our first live-action film! ■ Announcements: Podcast Awards results will be announced in January; 1st Annual Rotoscopers Awards. Voting starts December 1. ■ Main Discussion: Mary Poppins ■ A very LONG movie for kids…it never ends! ■ Story of acquiring the rights and P.L. Traver’s negative reaction to the film. ■ Is May Poppins a witch or fairy? Do Mary Poppins and Nanny McFee belong to the same nanny organization? ■ Mary Poppins: Julie Andrews casting story, Oscar acceptance speech, very serious yet likable, ■ Prequel possibilities: musical or no musical?, Mary and Bert’s backstory, will we see her on Once a Upon A Time? ■ Bert: both narrator and characters, D*** Van Dyke, jack of all trades, his poor accent. ■ Was there a romance between Mary and Bert? ■ The Kids: little monsters, list of conditional love for t

Morgan and Chelsea are joined by the biggest Peanuts fan around for a special double feature of It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Highlights ■ Guest host: Alissa Roy! Getting to know her and "Catch & Fire!" ■ Vote for the show in the Podcast Awards. ■ News: 500 new Peanuts shorts, Paul Feig to direct the new CGI Peanuts film. ■ Nerdy Couch Discussion: Alissa teaches us about the history of the Peanuts. Origins, story lines that made it into the movies, obscure characters, Snoopy's family, iconic characters. ■ Main Discussion #1: It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown ■ It isn't a Peanuts film without the kicking of the football. ■ 60s thing to be a sheet ghost, embarrassing to have the same costume as your friends. ■ It's never a good thing when the cool kids suddenly invite you to the party (see: Monsters University). ■ What's with the Red Baron storyline? ■ Who really is the Great Pumpkin? Is it real? The world will never know. ■ Main Discussion #2: A Charlie Brown Christma

Introducing a new--currently untitled--interview segment with Whitney Grace from Animated Views! In this episode, she went to Dragon Con in Atlanta, GA and got to interview Vic Mignogna, one of the most famous anime voice actors in America. Highlights: ■ Identity and name crisis with Vic Mignogna. ■ Why he loves anime and what he does. ■ His start voice acting in Texas. ■ Vic talks about his music career and how it has blended into his voice acting career. ■ Experience voicing Broly from Dragon Ball Z. ■ What is his favorite American cartoon? Runtime: 18:57; 13.5 MB Where To Find The Rotoscopers Questions, comments, suggestions? Send us an email at therotoscopers@gmail.com. Send us a voicemail at rotoscopers.com/voicemail or call (406) 646-6575. Find us on the web: rotoscopers.com, twitter, facebook, YouTube, tumblr, instagram, hypable & Animated Views. Visit our sponsors: Audible, Amazon. Where To Find The Hosts Mason Smith: This Animated Life Blog; Twitter Morgan Stradling: Twitter, Instagram Chelsea Robson

The fans voted and for this year's annual Rotoscopers spook-tacular, they dive into the macabre world of Tim Burton's Corpse Bride. Highlights: ■ News: Demi Lovato version of "Let It Go" from Frozen; ■ Visit our friends over at TraditionalAnimation.com. Their facebook page is a great resource and has exploded over the past month. ■ Catch and Fire with Morgan! ■ Main discussion: Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005) ■ This is LAIKA? Really? ■ Film shot entirely on the Canon Mark II DSLR camera. Wow. ■ Explores the British social strata through the concept of Upstairs vs. Downstairs. ■ Unique character designs; what's with LAIKA and their busty, top-heavy women? Studio Jiggling, perhaps? ■ Marriage to the corpse bride; do you ever care or root for Emily? ■ What's with Burton and his dead/skeleton dogs? ■ Charming piano duet scene. Creates more of a bond between Emily and Victor. ■ The dead come upstairs; chaos sort of ensues. ■ Abrupt ending; significance of butterflies. ■ We rate it! ■ Voicemails: The Big 4, Meet t

It's the big 5-0 for the Rotoscopers and to celebrate, they're reviewing the animated film that started it all, Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Highlights ■ Reminiscing over the past 50 episodes: no band break ups, fights or scandals! ■ Submit your voicemails, emails and voicemails for the 2013 best-of show. ■ Vote for the Animation Addicts Podcast in the Podcast Awards! ■ Nerdy Couch Discussion Lecture: The History of Snow White, based on the two art/history books by J .B. Kaufman Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and The Fairest One of All. ■ Main Discussion: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ■ Animation using live-action reference, first time with realistic convincing humans; character animation; backgrounds; camera work; ■ Introduction of the storybook opening, minimal characters, simplified story, exquisite taste in throwns, kickstarter to get Chelsea a thrown, ■ Prequel possibilities: slave in the mirror's backstory. ■ Enter the prince and his horse, Astor (from the Enchanted Stables books), Princ

The RotoSUPERS assemble to discuss the classic Pixar movie The Incredibles directed by Brad Bird. Sit down with Morgan, Mason, Chelsea and special Rotoscopers writer and guest host, Pablo Ruiz! Highlights Get to know Pablo--recording from Bogata, Columbia! Catch 'n Fire with Pablo! Game: What's my super hero name?; "3 Thunder Tubes and you're out!" Main discussion: The Incredibles. Tights! Where director, Brad Bird, got the idea (just a heads up... we are very pro Brad Bird). Challenging effects, hair, time period, Western story form, and the Fantastic 4 vs. a whole family of Supers! Favorite scenes, teaser trailer, and Brad Bird really loves Pablo. Where do the Supers come from?; Where did the bad guys go?; the characters. Uncle Rico, iPads, 30 Rock, hippies, The Terminator, and Jurassic Park! Syndrome: this guy's got a lot of issues; Brad Bird look-a-like. Edna E Mode: Golden. Brad Bird's voice and THE CAPES! Quotes, fight scenes, and the low point. Almost 2 hours long! Who do they think they are? The Rotos

Steve Hickner is the writer of the new book Animating Your Career, which is a guide to help creative people learn how to stay and progress in the animation industry. Hickner has a rich, 30-year career in animation working at a variety of studios such as Disney, Amblination, and DreamWorks. He's known as the "pro's pro" and has done nearly every job in animation. He is most notably known for co-directing The Prince of Egypt and Bee Movie. This interview discusses his new book, his advice for creative professionals, as well as telling different anecdotes and lessons learned from his career. Highlights: Steve discusses the two parts of his book: working in the animation industry and managing a team of creative people. He wouldn't be anywhere today without the support of other people. Catch and Fire; the 3 fan letters he's written to other studios. "The truest test of talent is longevity." "A great leader never misses an opportunity to build others up." Attitude, attitude, attitude! "You'll know the guys who are

Schools back in session and summer's over, so Morgan and Chelsea thought it was fitting to talk about one of the greatest looniest animated movies of all time: Tiny Toons Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (TTA:HISMV). Highlights D23 Expo News with Morgan. Lines a mile long... it's 3 days for a reason! Disney Live Action: Thor 2, Maleficent, Cinderella, Saving Mr. Banks, Tomorrowland formally known as '1953,' scorpion hunting in AZ. Disney Consumer Products, the line for 'Teen Beach Movie,' Disney App Panel!, Richard Sherman and Alan Menken concert. Pixar: MU Short: Party Central, The Good Dinosaur, The Pixar Theory, Inside Out, Toy Story of Terror, Finding Dory. WDAS: Frozen, (#FrozenFriday Chelsea sings) Get a Horse, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Giants, Moana. When is the next Princess Film? Chelsea's theory. DisneyToon Studios: Fairies and Planes. People in the industry: Winds of Change Miyazaki is retiring, Bob Peterson was no longer directing Pixar's 'The Good Dinosaur,' 'Paperman' director John Kahrs just lef

Mason and Chelsea join the Rotoscopers new writer, Alex Parker, as they discuss Disney's CGI animated film Meet the Robinsons. Highlights: Chelsea tweets Robert Lopez and Mason meets Don Bluth. CATCH AND FIRE WITH GRR ALEX! Nerdy Couch Discussion: “You can do anything you want” theme in animated films. (*Note some spoilers to other movies). Main Discussion: Meet the Robinsons. The stats, Disney's 47th animated feature, John Lasseter's influence. What is "Real D" vs 3D? More stats, commentary on the visuals, and music. Where did the term "Easter Eggs" come from? Based on a book called "A Day with Wilber Robinson" by William Joyce. Insta-buildings, bubble tavel, and segways. Things Mason doesn't get, Chelsea gets cynical, Tom Selleck. “You lied to me?!” Most overused line in kids’ movies. Lewis chills under a ginormous teapot shaped shrub. Bowler Hat Guy’s ending and the “Disney point”. Keep Moving Forward!, what we've learned in our own lives, Chelsea should be a motivational speaker. Twitter questions, cameo

Join Mason as he interviews Kevin Schreck, the director of Persistence of Vision, a documentary of the story behind the animated film by Richard Williams, The Thief and the Cobbler. Highlights: Kevin's interest in stop motion. Catch and Fire: Jafar and Iago were college roommates. Where did you get the name? What was the process of making this documentary? Who was the most fascinating to interview? The Fan Letter. Shout out to Canadian animators. Animation archeology. Sean Connery...why? The timeline of the documentary. What is the more important story: The Thief or Richard Williams? What were Richard's best qualities as a producer? How did his studio affect the world of animation? "A very special place." Life lessons learned. "The Supper Secret Project!" -Will show soldiers in a field. How Kevin got an internship at DreamWorks. "Unpaid" plug. Final thoughts Fan letters of today: The power of appreciation Next episode: Disney's "Meet the Robinsons!" Send us a voicemail! Persistence of Vision:  Official Traile

A conference call with Disney songwriters and legends Alan Menken and Richard Sherman, where they talk about their upcoming concert where the sing from "The Disney Songbook." "It's like Comic Con with Better Security!" -Robert Downy Jr. This is a great interview with many of the writers from major Disney fan outlets. The first 15 minuets are questions just for Alan Menken. What are your favorite songs in the Disney Song Book? (outside of your own) What songs are you most excited to share? What is it about the Disney Song book that touches people? What is it like for you to perform for Disney Fans? How do you go about writing your songs? "You want to poke fun but you don't want to poke fun in a way that is hurtful." "The story doesn't get written without us." "We are very involved in the writing process." Do you have a say in who sings the songs? Will there be any 'Fan Boy' nervousness when you perform with Richard Sherman? Which of your more obscure Disney songs are you most proud of? After which, we were joi

Love it or hate it, the Rotoscopers discuss the history, making and drama behind the movie The Thief and the Cobbler. Highlights: ■ Mason want’s to go back to school and Chelsea’s moved to Nashville! ■ What is a masterpiece? ■ Is it possible to be an artist and have money? Commercial successes and a tale about the woes of mismanagement. ■ Academy Award winner for the animation of Who Framed Roger Rabbit ■ Storytelling and storyboards. ‘Pose to Pose’ animation vs ‘Straight Ahead’ animation. ■ Art Babbit and Ken Harris: legendary animation masters. ■ Ah, the “animator’s wife.” This post is from a lady who calls herself an “EA widow.” ■ Signed a deal in 1988 with Warner Bros for $25 Million for production and $25 million for promotions. ■ Was Disney’s Aladdin a copy of The Thief and the Cobbler? ■ Where’s the merchandise? ■ Beware ‘The Completion Bond Company!’ ■ Richard Williams is said to be working on a super secret project. Want to be his assistant? ■ What can we learn from this? ■ Main Discussion: The Thief

Morgan, Mason and special guest host Gary Wright talk all things Pokémon! Be prepared for a nerdy, tangent-filled episode because this one takes us straight back into Generation 1. Highlights: ■ Special guest host: Water trainer Gary Wright ■ News: Despicable Me 2 review & box office performance; Frozen media blizzard - Japanese trailer, official character images, new Disney Animation release dates. ■ Catch & Fire with Gary ■ Nerdy Couch Discussion: All things Pokémon! Favorite games, genwunners, the anime & controversial episodes. ■ Random Pokemon generator game! ■ Main discussion: Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strike's Back. ■ Soundtrack with random artists, opening in Cinnabar Island, Giovanni is best Pokémon character, movie tie-ins. ■ Untold Story of Mewtwo, is Mewtwo still considered the most powerful Pokémon?, stupid scientists just working for a paycheck, Mewtwo's appearance in the anime in Giovanni's gym, ■ Opening scene with Ash & gang; random trainer with a Donphan; never-before-seen Gen 2 Pok

The Rotoscopers head back to school to review Pixar's 14th animated film Monsters University! Highlights: ■ New host: Brock Pearson. ■ Experiences from the MU showings: kids, Pixar super fans, cool MU gear. ■ Trailers before MU: Despicable Me 2, Frozen, Cloudy 2, Planes, Turbo, ■ News: Lego Movie trailer & Frozen trailer. ■ Animation Lesson by Mason: Character appeal/design in Monsters University. ■ Every monsters is different; real person names. ■ Mini discussion: The Blue Umbrella ■ Main discussion: Monsters University ■ Little Mike, opening credits, Mike’s roommate, first day of class, architecture, scare games introduction, clubs. ■ First day of class: Scaring 101, Hardscrabble’s entrance, MU is Mike’s story, stealing the pig similar to The Simpsons. ■ Final exam: poor Mike, sulking Sulley, canister engineering, realistic lighting using raytracing. ■ Members of Oozma Kappa: Don Carlton, Squishy Squibbles, Terry and Terri Perry, Art, Squishy’s mom. ■ Scare games: entertainment & show us time’s progression

The Rotoscopers gang is back in action in this extra long, 2-hour episode, where they talk about one of their all-around favorite Disney animated classics: Robin Hood! Highlights: ■ Chelsea tells about how she got to hang out with rock legend Alice Cooper. ■ Mini reviews of Epic and Monsters University. ■ Mason's previews Despicable Me 2 and shares his how he has the plot of Turbo all figured out. ■ Interview with Rotoscopers' writer Mayra Amaya! ■ Main Discussion: Robin Hood--the holy grail of funny Disney films. ■ Voice acting filled with Disney veterans (read Blake's opinion piece about Robin Hood's voice actors); Accents = proper English and backwood rednecks. ■ A little history of Disney's Xerox era. ■ Disney's Robin Hood origins: Reynard the Fox. ■ Introduction uses reused animation, "Whistle Stop" = hamster dance, intro to Robin Hood and Little John, justification,  ■ Sir Hiss is a well designed character; Prince John is a weak, pathetic, hilarious villain; "Beautiful, lovely TEXAS!" ■ Morgan's "solid

Mason, Morgan, and Chelsea are taking on a new DreamWorks film with Rise of the Guardians! This episode hits the history of the film, all the highs and lows of the movie, characters and a million tangents! Highlights: ■ What are we watching? Mini The Great Gatsby Review and My Little Ponies: Friendship Is Magic discussion. What are your opinions? Send us a voicemail! ■ The news! 8 Disney and Pixar animated films to be released from 2016 to 2018; WWE producing new animated Flinstones--Hilarity ensues. ■ Interview with our site writer: Meet Blake Taylor. Check out his website: blakeonline.com ■ Main Discussion: Rise of the Guardians. ■ Pokemon tangents! Can't get rid of 'em. ■ Box office: What happened?! Character analysis. ■ Twitter question and responses. ■ "Santa Claus…with swords." E. Aster Bunnymund: the cursing bunny. ■ Tooth Fairy fangirls out, slapstick comedy moment, Sandy (the Sandman)! ■ Manny aka the man in the moon, Religious references or Paganistic? ■ Pitch Black: some fan art is just not part of

Morgan, Chelsea, and Mason are flying high as they discuss DreamWorks’ How to Train your Dragon! Highlights: ■ What's going on in everyone's life? Awesome podcast plug: Talkin’ Toons with Rob Paulsen! We're fans. ■ Bring on the news! Big Hero 6, Disney Withdraws Trademark Application for 'Dia de los Muertos', DreamWorks plans sequel for 'The Croods'. ■ Main Discussion: How to Train your Dragon. ■ Pokemon Tangents! Were did the accents come from? ■ Box office and character analysis, Hog Hunters, and the parallels to life. ■ Would Stoick the Vast get along with Gaston? More Pokemon tangents! ■ Holy Dragon! Stoick's got problems. ■ "Kids Rule!" The motto of the 90s. ■ Other iconic dragons in Movies. ■ This movie is now a video game! ■ Fighting the big dragon is like fighting the Death Star. ■ Loosing a limb in an animated film is a big deal! ■ The Live-action Spectacular! ■ Hiccup pulls a Neville Longbottom! ■ Final thoughts, our ratings and voicemails! ■ Mail bag with Morgan and Chelsea! ■ Check out Animated Vi