The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation

Philip and Jodi discuss the 2022 film from Jordan Peele and Universal Pictures, 'Nope', an alien-abduction tale with a few genre twists. OJ and Emerald Haywood are a brother-and-sister duo who experience strange phenomena on their horse ranch and attempt to capture images of what they believe to be a real UFO. They enlist the help of Angel, a security camera technician and Antlers, a cinematographer, to capture the ultimate "Oprah shot" of the elusive craft. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Elliott discuss some recent animated offerings from the Star Wars universe, 'The Bad Batch' and 'Tales of the Empire'. Both series depict the transition from the era of the Jedi and the Republic into the tyrannical Empire secretly controlled by the evil Sith. The Bad Batch follows a select group of clones with desirable mutations who have formed their own mercenary team following the events of Order 66 and the Clone Wars. 'Tales' follows former Nightsister Morgan Elsbeth in her embrace of imperialism after witnessing her people massacred by separatists. The series then switches perspectives midway to former Jedi Barriss Offee on her path to joining the ranks of the ominous Imperial Inquistors. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/ellimundo, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip, Bridget, and Jodi chat about musicals, film franchises, motherhood and other entertainment hopes and hangups in the ever-evolving 2024 media landscape. Will new throwback franchise installments like 'Twisters' inject some much needed life into the box office? Or will new properties like 'The Fall Guy' and 'IF' provide a sense of originality that audiences are craving? Plus some thoughts about the upcoming 'Wicked' adaptation and 'Wish' on Disney Plus. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

After the chickens escape the Tweedys' farm in 2000's 'Chicken Run,' they settle on a secluded island and enjoy their newfound freedom. In this stop-motion sequel, again from the claymation experts at the UK's Aardman animation studio, the heroic duo Ginger and Rocky have hatched a daughter named Molly. Molly grows to be as adventurous and freedom-loving as her parents and thus resolves to explore the world outside their chicken oasis. However, the human threat to chickens has only grown to encompass a much greater, new peril: fast food. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

The first feature animated film from Aardman, the animators of the famous 'Wallace and Gromit' stop-motion "claymation" short films, 'Chicken Run' was one of DreamWorks' first great successes as an up-and-coming rival to Disney and Pixar. The film is an homage to World War II prisoner-of-war stories like 'The Great Escape' and 'Stalag 17', depicting its cast of toothy, anthropomorphic chickens in their attempts to escape captivity from a rural English egg farm. One hen in particular, Ginger, is determined to lead the coop to freedom, and a chance encounter with a flying rooster named Rocky gives her renewed hope that she and her fellow hens will escape by making one slight alteration to their strategy: by flying over the fence. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Bridget and Philip discuss ‘A Whiker Away,’ a 2020 anime film from Studio Colorido, Toho Animation and Twin Engine and distributed on Netflix. The film follows Miyo, a fanciful eighth grader in Japan who finds herself embroiled in a Faustian bargain with a feline seller of magical Noh masks. Her newfound power to transform into a cat provides a welcome escape from the stresses of her unhappy life, but she runs the risk of losing sight of the many people who love and are concerned for her. Can the love of family and friends stop Miyo from falling fully for under a cat spell forever? Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

'Suzume' is the 2022 animated feature from CoMix Wave Films and the seventh film from writer/director Makoto Shinkai, who most recently saw global crossover success with 'Your Name' (2016) and 'Weathering with You' (2019). 'Suzume' is a supernatural adventure wherein the eponymous heroine accompanies the mysterious Souta across Japan on a quest to track down Daijin, a mischievous cat-god who places a curse on Souta. Along the way they must close several gates that are unleashing restless spirits upon humanity. Failure to do will spell certain disaster for a populace whose ignorance has only inflamed the earthquake-yielding wrath of the spirits. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Jodi review 'Wish', the 62nd animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios. 'Wish' continues a legacy that is currently being celebrated in the Walt Disney Company's 100-year anniversary as the foundation upon which the rest of the company is built. The Disney Empire has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1923 as a company set up by Walt and Roy Disney to produce short cartoons. The role of animation as the core of the company has fluctuated significantly, from nearly seeing the animation division shut down in the mid-eighties to the highs of the nineties Renaissance. Despite a post-Covid, post-Disney+ cooling at the box office, Disney Animation continues its output of blockbuster-level films with a story inspired by the Wishing Star referenced in the company logo and theme song, "When You Wish Upon a Star." In 'Wish' we follow Asha, a new heroine who aspires to apprentice under the benevolent sorcerer-king Magnifico, who has power over wishes. The purity of one of Asha's wishes outshines Magnifico's power and makes him envious, sending an idyllic kingdom into a precarious state of discontent as it suffers under increasingly evil and despotic rule. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Lara joins Philip to reminisce about ten years of Disney's 'Frozen'. They discuss the film's influence and how the film and animation industries have changed since 2013. They also explore the fandom of 'Frozen' and Disney more generally and consider the future for the franchise in the context of Disney's status as a film studio in 2023. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. Find us at instagram.com/laraakal, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Elliott discuss the latest live-action Star Wars series from Lucasfilm and Disney Plus, 'Ahsoka,' spotlighting the popular Jedi who first appeared in 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars.' Ahsoka Tano is portrayed by Rosario Dawson in this eight-episode exploration of the roving former Jedi. Ahsoka is searching for clues to the location of Grand Admiral Thrawn, who disappeared years prior along with Rebel hero Ezra Bridger. Rumors abound of Thawn's possible return, and his leadership could prove devastating to the frail New Republic. A small band of heroes must work together to thwart the actions of a secretive group of agents who are working to unlock the secret route to a faraway planet--a world that plays host to mysteries pivotal to the future of the galaxy. This may prove too tempting a Pandora's box to simply allow it to remain unopened, as it may be the key to rescuing Ezra. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/ellimundo, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Jodi, Bridget and Philip discuss the 1992 Francis Ford Coppola Film 'Bram Stoker's Dracula.' This film follows the 1897 'Dracula' novel and lends a signature artistic flourish courtesy of Coppola's visionary direction and diverse practical visual effects, vibrant costumes, ornate period sets and atmospheric score. Originally conceived as a minimalist adaptation of the original source material, Coppola along with his son Roman, who has worked on numerous music videos and Wes Anderson films, decided to expand what would have been an eccentric costume drama into a scrappy Gothic epic employing many unconventional techniques and creative choices more a film from classic Hollywood, and what results is a truly unique cinematic classic that feels simultaneously grand and intimate, with a stellar cast lending a timeless theatricality to the project. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Bridget and Philip discuss the new animated film from Paramount and Nickelodeon Studios, 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.' Directed by 'Mitchell's vs the Machines' alumni Jeff Rowe and Kyler Spears, 'Mutant Mayhem' incorporates numerous hand-drawn elements to enhance the cel-shaded 3D animated world of the Ninja Turtles. This new take on the franchise introduces the supervillain "Superfly," who shares a common origin with the Turtles. Initially tempted to join Superfly and his gang, and feeling stifled in their situation under their surrogate father and master, the boys Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, and Raphael decide to seek favor in the eyes of humanity with the help of the PR-savvy journalist April O'Neil. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Jodi discuss 2010's 'TRON: Legacy,' the long-awaited sequel to 1982's 'TRON' starring Jeff Bridges as a plucky computer programmer who gets sucked into the computer world. This seminal "legacy sequel" from Joseph Kosinski, who would go on to direct the 2022 mega-hit 'Top Gun: Maverick,' also stars Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn and centers around Kevin's son Sam, who lost contact with his father who has been missing since 1989. Bruce Boxleitner returns as Alan Bradley/Tron and Olivia Wilde costars as the enigmatic Quorra. Sam and Alan receive their first sign of contact from Kevin in two decades, and Sam's investigation leads him to the mythical "digital frontier" from his father's bedtime stories. Though a third TRON film has long been rumored, the series has seen some recent rejuvenation with Walt Disney World attraction 'TRON: Lightcycle Run,' which opened in Magic Kingdom in April 2023. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Wes Anderson's genre-bending, fourth wall-breaking new film 'Asteroid City' features a colorful cast collected in a remote desert setting. The government research hub of Asteroid City has few permanent residents but plays host to a science convention honoring the achievements of brilliant young minds. Suddenly, a quarantine befalls Asteroid City, and whether or not this eclectic congregation is allowed to leave their impromptu purgatory unscathed, it's clear that some characters carry their cage with them. Perhaps this is the diversion they need to escape their own personal prison. Philip and Jodi discuss the film's fantastical whimsy, compelling characters and wry observations on creativity and human nature. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Jodi discuss the latest film from Christopher Nolan and Universal Pictures, 'Oppenheimer,' documenting the Manhattan Project and the life of its co-leader and chief researcher, J. Robert Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer would earn the nickname "Father of the Atomic Bomb" and later "American Prometheus" as the person most responsible for the creation and testing of nuclear weapons, of which only two have ever been used in combat. Despite this, the implications of this technology are haunting, and Oppenheimer retains one of the most complicated legacies of any key figure of the twentieth century. This film details the political manipulation he endured as a morally flawed, tortured genius whose work would inevitably be used in ways he abhorred, but for which he is ultimately responsible--a fitting avatar for mankind itself. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Bridget, Lara, and Philip discuss 'Barbie' from Warner Bros. and Mattel. This motion picture phenomenon is directed by Greta Gerwig and stars Margot Robbie as Barbie, or "Stereotypical Barbie" as distinguished from all the other Barbies in Barbieland. Ryan Gosling plays her Ken, who exists to impress Barbie but often goes underappreciated. We follow Stereotypical Barbie as she starts feeling sensations of dissatisfaction with her idyllic yet highly artificial existence. With the guidance of "Weird Barbie," Barbie learns she must go to the real world and find the doll owner who is sending out these negative thoughts. Can Barbie's mission resolve her existential crisis or could this risk jeopardizing the entirety of Barbieland should these feelings of existential crisis continue to spread? Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. Find us at instagram.com/laraakal, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

'Nimona' is an animated film released by Netflix on June 30, 2023. It was produced by Annapurna Pictures and the animation team formerly of Blue Sky, the studio behind 'Ice Age' (2002) and 'Spies and Disguise' (2019) and a casualty of the Disney/21st Century Fox acquisition. Nimona is set in a world of futuristic technology combined with medieval chivalry and opens on the televised knighting ceremony of Ballister Boldheart. Immediately upon being knighted, Sir Ballister is framed for assassination and forced on the run. Wounded and desperate, he encounters a mysterious young girl who seems impervious to danger. Nimona is a shapeshifter who volunteers to assist Ballister in his efforts to evade capture and clear his name. This uneasy alliance could upend everything Ballister has come to value as a knight, exposing a darkness that has always existed within the order he has sworn to protect. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

'Elemental' is the new film from Pixar Animation and Walt Disney Studios, directed by Peter Sohn. Philip and Bridget discuss the new film all about two characters who are of two opposite extremes. Ember is a being made of fire who comes from an immigrant family and Wade comes from the city's long-established water community. Their conflict blossoms into a potential romance as they discover the ways they complement each other through their differences. Discover how such hyperbolic characters manage to navigate each one's professional-, home-, and love-life through such precarious circumstances as would be experienced by persons entirely composed of water, earth, fire, or air. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/bridget5246, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Jodi are joined by 'The Little Mermaid'-superfan Lara Akal to review the 2023 'The Little Mermaid' from Disney. This film reimagines the 1989 Disney animated original in live action with a fresh cast and additional songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Alan Menken returns to score and Howard Ashman's legendary lyrics have been revived once again for an ambitious encore. This latest adaptation of a Disney classic is sure to be one of the most celebrated, despite having its share of criticism and controversy. The mermaid Ariel is a princess of peerless song and beauty and seeks to build a bridge with the world above her--the brave, seafaring Prince Eric being the perfect partner with whom to do so. The magic of the underwater realm can afford her the ability to exist on land, but her hastily-chosen spellcaster has ulterior motives that could spell doom for Ariel and her father's kingdom. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. Find us at instagram.com/laraakal, instagram.com/jodipolasky, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com

Philip and Elliott discuss the latest release from Marvel Studios, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' written and directed by James Gunn. The Guardians must race to save the life of one of their members after a surprise encounter with an agent of the High Evolutionary, a maniacal scientist and warlord with aims to create a perfect utopia under his control. Follow The ThawedCast: Conversations About Animation: twitter.com/thawedcast and instagram.com/thawedcast. instagram.com/ellimundo, instagram.com/philipehlke. Visit thawedcast.com