On one hand, it’s hard not to applaud the Walt Disney Company for its recent and seemingly tireless efforts to release as many of its older films that aren’t considered categorically huge successes onto Blu-ray. (Later this year, we’ll see everything from the Santa Clause trilogy to Babes in Toyland get a high-definition release from …
Wolf Children Written by Mamoru Hosoda and Satoko Okudera Directed by Mamoru Hosoda Japan, 2012 Breakthrough success for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars outside of Japan has seen director Mamoru Hosoda labelled “the next Miyazaki” in certain circles, in regards to being an anime filmmaker of increasing international reach and appeal. …
101 Dalmatians Directed by Clyde Geronimi, Hamilton Luske, Wolfgang Reitherman Written by Bill Peet Starring Betty Lou Gerson, Rod Taylor, Ben Wright One of the great ironies of xerography is that, while it was created to help cut costs for the animation arm of the Walt Disney Company, it was first used in a way …
Cinderella is, perhaps, Disney’s most enduring animated feature. Though Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs predates it in terms of princess movies, Cinderella has had an even more lasting effect on children around the world. So, this 1950 film finally being released on Blu-ray is cause for celebration simply because of its event-like status. By …
Finding Nemo 3D Directed by Andrew Stanton Co-directed by Lee Unkrich Written by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, and David Reynolds USA, 2003 and 2012 Pixar is in the middle of its growing pains as a studio. The public still loves them, but a good chunk of the media wants them to return to their glory …
Who’s your favorite member of the A-Team? Don’t look so shocked! You may well be surprised how the answer to that question connects to this week’s discussion of the 1970 Disney animated feature The Aristocats. Josh, Gabe, and Mike dig deep into the film, analyzing its music, its story, and its characters, including the raffish …
The Aristocats Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman Written by Ken Anderson, Larry Clemmons, Eric Cleworth, Vance Garry, Tom McGowan, Tom Rowe, Julius Svendsen, Frank Thomas, and Ralph Wright Starring Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Scatman Crothers Complacency is always a dangerous tone to strike in filmmaking. Combined with cheapness, it can be a killer. Those two concepts …
Princess Mononoke Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Written by Hayao Miyazaki Starring Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Billy Bob Thornton, Jada Pinkett Smith We all have pop-culture blind spots, and one of mine has been, for a long time, the films of Studio Ghibli. For some of you, the very notion that I haven’t seen every Studio …
It’s a moment of truth on Mousterpiece Cinema this week, as Josh and Mike are joined by special guest Simon Howell from The Televerse and Sound on Sight’s flagship podcast. The trio team up to tackle the 1997 Studio Ghibli release Princess Mononoke. Along with Spirited Away, it’s one of writer-director Hayao Miyazaki’s most beloved …
The Three Caballeros Directed by Norman Ferguson Written by Homer Brightmen, Ernest Terrazas, Ted Sears, Bil Peet, Ralph Wright, Elmer Plummer, Roy Williams, William Cottrell, Del Connell, and James Bodrero Is objectivity possible in analyzing art? Is there a way to define what is and isn’t successful, what is and isn’t good, in a work …
Ole! This week, we’re in a celebratory mood at Mousterpiece Cinema HQ as Josh, Gabe, and Mike talk all about The Three Caballeros, the 1944 package film from Walt Disney Pictures that brought together Donald Duck, Jose Carioca, and Panchito Pistoles for the first time. Your three hosts are joined by perhaps the movie’s biggest …
The Fox and the Hound 2 Directed by Jim Kammerud Written by Roger S.H. Schulman and Rich Burns Starring Reba McEntire, Patrick Swayze, Jeff Foxworthy There are a few sure ways to get me uninvolved in a story, and prequels are at the top of the list. Considering how prevalent prequels are in our culture …
Once more into the fray, dear friends. Yes, this week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe return to the regular schedule by ripping off another painful bandage known as the 2006 direct-to-DVD midquel The Fox and the Hound 2. But it features the voices of Reba McEntire and Patrick Swayze! What could go wrong? Well, …
The Jungle Book Directed by Wolfgang Reitherman Written by Larry Clemmons, Ralph Wright, Ken Anderson, and Vance Gerry Starring Phil Harris, Sebastian Cabot, George Sanders, Louis Prima, Sterling Holloway Why are so many Disney movies incapable of creating indelible lead characters? I wonder if that question is tantamount to heresy for many Disney buffs, but …
Baloo the bear always told his friend Mowgli the man-cub to look for the bare necessities in life. Does that principle apply to movies, too? This week on Mousterpiece Cinema, Josh and Gabe are joined by the editor-in-chief of Sound on Sight, Ricky D, to take an in-depth look at the 1967 Disney classic The …
Do you have what it takes to change your fate? Can you possibly know the costs of damaging the bond among familial allies? This week, Josh, Gabe, and Michael go head-to-head with Disney-Pixar’s newest movie, Brave, set in the Scottish Highlands and featuring the voices of Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, and more. There’s …
Victory Through Air Power Directed by Perce Pearce, James Algar, Clyde Geronimi, Jack Kinney, H.C. Potter Written by Perce Pearce, T. Hee, Erdman Penner, William Cottrell, James Brodero, George Stallings, Jose Rodriguez Starring Alexander P. de Seversky, Art Baker Watching Victory Through Air Power in 2012 is akin to being given a glimpse into a …
With Independence Day right around the corner, the new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema celebrates a part of the Walt Disney Company’s history all about protecting America. Though you may not be as familiar with the period when Walt Disney and his animators worked on wartime propaganda, there was a time when Disney focused more on …
Bambi Directed by David Hand Written by Perce Pearce, Larry Morey, Vernon Stallings, Melvin Shaw, Carl Fallberg, Chuck Couch, Ralph Wright Starring Bobby Stewart, Donny Dunagan, Paula Winslowe, Sterling Holloway Bambi is a film that touches greatness often, but only just. So much of the 1942 film is justifiably memorable, rightfully iconic, but it slips …
Almost everyone can remember the moment when their childhood innocence was shattered: it’s when Bambi’s mom got shot by a hunter, right? (I assume you’re all nodding in agreement.) This week, Josh, Gabe, and Mike honor the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures’ fifth full-length animated film, Bambi, by discussing its animation style, its overall …
The beauty of art is that you can have a nearly out-of-body experience while watching it, listening to it, reading it, and so on. The mediums of art don’t always achieve this, but whether it’s a painting, song, book, poem, television show, or film, we can be both fully transported into another world while also …
Through the magic of the Internet, we’re managing to bring you a brand-new episode of Mousterpiece Cinema despite Josh currently being on vacation in the happiest place on Earth. And what better way to celebrate than by discussing one of the most magical and entertaining romantic comedies of the past decade? Yes, this week, Josh …
Though it took sixty years for Disney to make a follow-up to the 1940 classic Fantasia, it’s only taken Josh, Gabe, and Michael a month to discuss it on the podcast. This week, your three intrepid hosts join forces for the first time without guests to take a look at Fantasia 2000. What are their …