From Mr. Magoo to Speedy Gonzales - How Animation History Keeps Repeating Itself (Ep. 342)

Right in the thick of awards season, Drew Taylor and Jim Hill cover a wide swath of animation history and current events - from box office heavyweights and streaming announcements to the complicated legacies of mid-century cartoon characters. Along the way, they connect the dots between past controversies, present-day reappraisals, and how modern creators are recontextualizing classic animated icons. NEWS • Why Avatar: Fire & Ash remains unstoppable at the box office, holding the top spot for a fifth straight week • Zootopia 2 climbs into the global Top 10 all-time, surpassing Inside Out 2 and Disney’s The Lion King remake • A new Phineas & Ferb movie is officially in the works for Disney+, with a time-bending premise • What’s next for Pixar’s Hoppers, following Drew’s recent trip to Emeryville • Updates on How to Train Your Dragon 2, including Cate Blanchett’s return as Valka FEATURE • A deep dive into the rise and fall of UPA, from Mr. Magoo’s Oscar wins to the studio’s eventual collapse • How changing cultural standards sidelined characters like Magoo, Cholly, and UPA’s Dick Tracy supporting cast • The newly revealed documentary Animation Mavericks: The Forgotten Story of UPA and why it matters now • Why Jorge Gutierrez developing a Speedy Gonzales movie could signal a long-overdue shift in how legacy characters are handled HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com • Drew Taylor - IG: @DrewTailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews • Instagram: JimHillMedia • TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR This episode is sponsored by Unlocked Magic, where you can save up to 12 percent on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets. Learn more at UnlockedMagic.com and be sure to let them know Drew and Jim sent you. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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From Mr. Magoo to Speedy Gonzales - How Animation History Keeps Repeating Itself (Ep. 342) is an episode from Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor by Jim Hill Media Podcast Network.

This episode is 55:05 long.

This episode was published on Jan 20, 2026.

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