Looking for the Ocean: A Pixar Journey

18: Cats, the THX Experience: For the Birds

Finally, we’re alone again! Danny takes the opportunity to talk about his New York trip and compares Mark to Jonathan Larson. They discuss Raul Julia and bird representation. The games find a surprising connection in the Wasteland, and then it’s time to talk about their first short in quite some time, For the Birds. It all comes back to, once again, Nicole Kidman and the Riders in the Sky. We should’ve flown in July.

17: Heartbreak Feels Good in a Place Like This: Toy Story 2 w/ Julius Jefferson

On this wonderful @#?/&! of an episode, the lads are joined by film editor and director Julius Jefferson to talk about what will probably be the best sequel they watch, Toy Story 2. Mark wins an Emmy for his work on Succession. Danny talks about the scene that always makes him cry (it’s not where you think!). Julius takes the opportunity to talk about movies we won’t watch for three years! Listen to us while you drive all the way to work, on a Saturday, ALL THE WAY TO WORK.

16. DETOUR! Woody Harrelson as Carnage in Mamma Mia 3: The Iron Giant w/ Tanner Garren

Brad Bird’s first feature asks if a gun can have a soul. However, the gang is more interested in discussing the casting decision that has everyone talking - Christopher McDonald as Kent Mansley! They’re joined by special guest, actor and director Tanner Garren, who has ALSO teethed using the Bug’s Life Spider Happy Meal Toy. They dissect the idea of “the perfect film” while also catching up on the last four years of never seeing each other :( But now YOU, the listener, get to hear them catch up! In the words of Vin Diesel and Willem Dafoe “We are who we choose to be. Now, choose!”
You can reach Tanner at tannergarrn@gmail.com

15. DETOUR! Life, Uh, Finds a Way: The Prince of Egypt w/ Michael Sigillito

The boys are LIVE FROM NEW YORK! With Special Guest: actor, singer, juggler, and Sara Bareilles fan Michael Sigillto, skyping in from NEW JERSEY!! Enjoy the attempt to include everyone in the conversation. Mark talks about where to park in St. Louis, Danny does a good deed, and Michael plays the Letterboxd game with surprising results. Oh, and then they talk about The Prince of Egypt, the acclaimed animated musical of the late 1990s. An all-star cast gets an all-star podcast lineup. Michael and Mark talk about an important part of their childhood, and Danny watches this modern classic for the first time.

14. Much Ado About Mark’s Wi-Fi: A Bug’s Life w/ Tori Estes

It's another difficult episode (and not just because of the audio quality), so the team has help! Theatre historian, world traveler, and highly acclaimed podcast appearer Tori Estes joins Mark and Danny to talk about the year 2016, the best Pixar villains, Akira Kurosawa's Shakespeare adaptations, and the end of one of Danny’s other podcasts.

13. Bumpers (Not the Cars Episode): Toy Story Treats

Mark and Danny talk about the old 52! Toy Story interstitials which were played on ABC in the 90s. They also discuss Bullet Train, movie musicals, and the all time shortest Oscar winners. In the end, they both try to write Toy Story 5.

12. Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington: Geri’s Game

Geri’s game! Appropriately, Danny and Mark spend most of this episode playing games. Danny goes through his top 100 movies of all time, Mark drops his high school best-of list and tries to pick a fight with George Miller to get Danny interested in juggling notation. They also discuss the Oscars, famous snubs, Pixar sweeps, and cool sociology teachers.

11. DETOUR! The Fourth Beatle: James and the Giant Peach/The Nightmare Before Christmas

This week Danny and Mark dive into the non-Pixar work of Joe Ranft, the often-forgotten fourth member of the original Pixar Brain Trust. Ranft worked as a storyboard supervisor on both of acclaimed stop-motion director Henry Selick’s films in the 1990s. The boys also talk about the history of aspect ratios, missing childhood memories of these films, and Mark’s adventures on Broadway. Also, more secrets of Danny’s history with the church REVEALED!