This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill break down Hollywood Studios’ unannounced Villaintines Day event, Disney’s history of lost resort projects, and Universal’s wild new food lineup for Epic Universe. Villaintines Day at Hollywood Studios – How Disney surprised guests with an unannounced villains-themed event, complete with rare character greetings an…

In this February 2025 episode of Looking at Lucasfilm, Jim Hill and Brian Gaughan cover the latest developments in the Star Wars universe and beyond: Is Ryan Gosling joining the galaxy far, far away? A deep dive into Shawn Levy’s upcoming Star Wars movie and what it means for the franchise. The surprising transformation of Star Wars: Galactic Starc…

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey dive into the fascinating history of The Muppets and their surprising connection to Universal Studios. Plus, they cover the latest Universal news and updates. Highlights include: The Muppets & Universal: How The Great Muppet Caper and The Dark Crystal were distributed by Univer…

In this Valentine’s Day episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into all things Disney love, from dream weddings to magical merch and one of the strangest Disney proposals ever. New Cinderella 75th Anniversary Merch – Cakeworthy’s latest collection celebrates the Disney classic with stunning apparel and accessories. Disney Weddi…

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down one of the biggest nights in animation as The Wild Robot dominates the Annie Awards, winning eight major categories. They also dive into the frustrating fate of Coyote vs. Acme, the Warner Bros. live-action/animated film that was shelved despite glowing reviews. Plus, they discuss…

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill dive into the history of Fort Wilderness and River Country, including the expansion that almost happened and how Disney’s first water park became a fan favorite before shutting down. Plus, Jim continues the story of Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge and why it never made it off the ground. River Country’s Rise a…

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey take a deep dive into the history of How to Train Your Dragon and how it became one of DreamWorks’ most beloved franchises. Plus, they break down all the latest Universal news! First-Time Viewing Experience: Eric shares his reaction to watching How to Train Your Dragon for the …

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill, Lauren Hersey, and special guest Eric Hersey dive into the surprising crossover between Disney and the biggest sporting event of the year—the Super Bowl. The origins of the legendary "I'm Going to Disneyland" phrase and how it all started with Jane Eisner’s brilliant idea. Michael Eisner’s deep love of …

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: Dog Man’s impressive $36M opening weekend and what it means for DreamWorks Animation. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and the fascinating history behind Splash Mountain’s reimagining. Will Ferrell’s viral Buddy the Elf moment at an LA Kings game and his surprising reason for rejecting Elf 2…

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill explore the surprising history of annual passes—how Disneyland accidentally created a theme park membership program and what Disney might have in store next. Plus, Jim continues the saga of Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge, the resort that made it to the concept art phase but never to reality. The Origins of An…

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore Universal’s updates and dive into the rich history of The Munsters. Highlights include: The Munsters’ Origins: How a pitch for an animated series turned into one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms. Wicked’s Box Office Success: Its award potential and the announcement of the n…

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into Disney anniversaries, exciting new merch, and the bittersweet farewell to a fan-favorite attraction. Cinderella’s 75th Anniversary: The surprising history of how Bank of America played a role in bringing this Disney classic to life. Muppet Vision 3D’s Closure: What we know abo…

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: Warner Bros. Animation’s ambitious adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! and its 2028 release plans. The marketing genius behind DreamWorks’ Dog Man, including a new The Bad Guys short premiering with the film. Animated Academy Award nominees, from The Wild Robot to Flo…

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill are joined by Christina Harrison to explore the best (and worst) of Epcot’s Festival of the Arts while diving into the intriguing history of Disney’s shelved resort project, Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge. Festival of the Arts Food Tour: Christina breaks down the must-try dishes, including the return of Japan’s Taiy…

In this episode of Looking at Lucasfilm, Jim Hill and Brian Gaughan dive into a mix of Lucasfilm updates, thought-provoking stories, and industry reflections: A retrospective on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, exploring its strengths, challenges, and future prospects. Insights into James Mangold’s ambitious Dawn of the Jedi project, a sweeping tale explo…

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey tackle a variety of Universal Studios updates and dive into the history of The Munsters. Highlights include: Wildfires and Universal Hollywood’s Closure: How recent California wildfires forced a rare closure of Universal Studios Hollywood, plus ways to support relief efforts. R…

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey explore the magical intersection of Disney history and merchandise with some fascinating stories and updates: High School Musical: Celebrating the anniversary of this unexpected hit, we uncover behind-the-scenes stories and its massive impact on Disney’s tween empire. Star Wars Merch: F…

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: A behind-the-scenes look at Disney’s Hercules, from the creation of Hades to Jeffrey Katzenberg’s surprising influence on the character. The passing of legendary filmmakers David Lynch and Robert Verrall, celebrating their lasting impact on cinema and animation. Box office highlight…

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill share how to conquer Animal Kingdom faster than you can finish a Mickey waffle and dig into the curious case of Disney’s Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge. Animal Kingdom Touring Plan: Len’s step-by-step guide to finishing all major rides in under two hours—because who has time to wait in line? Reflections: A Lakeside …

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey howl into the legacy of The Wolfman and explore Universal’s iconic monster history. Plus, they cover a variety of Universal Studios updates and nostalgic gems. Highlights include: The Wolfman’s Legacy: From Lon Chaney Jr.’s classic transformation to Blumhouse’s new reimagining,…

In this episode of I Want That Too, Jim Hill and Lauren Hersey dive into the latest Disney news and fascinating history, including: A look at Epcot’s 2025 Festival of the Arts, featuring Figment-inspired merch, incredible Broadway performances, and more. The surprising story of A Bug’s Life, its connection to Animal Kingdom, and its legacy in Disne…

In this episode of Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor discuss: The devastating wildfires in Southern California and their impact on the animation industry. Updates on box office hits like Moana 2, Mufasa: The Lion King, and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. The intriguing backstory of Olaf’s creation in Frozen and Josh Gad’s journey to voicing the beloved …

This week, Len Testa and Jim Hill reveal how to take on Hollywood Studios during peak crowds without relying on Lightning Lane, plus a look at Disney’s music legend George Wilkins and other park updates: Hollywood Studios Touring Plan: Len’s step-by-step guide to beating a 9/10 crowd level in six hours flat—without Lightning Lane. George Wilkins Tr…

In this episode of The Epic Universal Podcast, Jim Hill and Eric Hersey explore the fascinating and hilarious story behind Your Studio and You, a parody film created by Matt Stone and Trey Parker before South Park. Highlights include: The Making of Your Studio and You: How Matt and Trey enlisted A-list celebrities like Steven Spielberg, Angela Lans…