For most of my life, the future of the entertainment industry has been framed around one core idea: scale. Bigger audiences, bigger budgets, bigger openings, and bigger platforms were treated as the ultimate markers of success. If something didn’t scale globally, it was often dismissed as niche or temporary—useful only as a stepping stone toward […]
Why MeTV Toons Comic-Con Has Me Genuinely Excited MeTV Toons Comic-Con is one of those announcements that immediately grabbed my attention. Not because it feels like a marketing stunt, but because it feels like respect—for animation, for its history, and for the people who helped shape it. From the moment I saw the lineup, I […]
In January 2024, one of the most recognizable characters in modern history crossed a legal milestone that few fictional icons ever reach. Mickey Mouse entered the public domain, immediately sparking speculation, confusion, and numerous sensational headlines.Some imagined a flood of unauthorized Mickey Mouse films. Others predicted striking reinterpretations designed solely to attract attention. While those […]
There are voices you recognize instantly. And then there are voices you’ve known your entire life—without ever realizing how much intention, intelligence, and writing lived behind them. June Foray was a legendary voice actor. But the conversations I remember most with her weren’t really about performance. They were about writing—and about what animated cartoons were […]
Why These Events Attract Millions—and Why They Make People So Happy The science behind Comic Cons explains something I’ve been watching unfold for decades: these gatherings don’t just entertain people—they meet deep psychological needs for belonging, identity, and shared joy. I’ve been going to San Diego Comic-Con since the 1980s, back when it was a […]
The phrase “Chuck Jones fired” is one of those that instantly changes how you see a film. What starts as a fun animation deep-cut can suddenly become a pivotal studio-era turning point. That’s exactly what happened for me while creating work for When Good Toons Go Bad: Villains of Animation at Van Eaton Galleries—a group […]
Some moments don’t feel historic when they happen. They feel like gatherings. Conversations. Just another night spent around people who love the same craft. It’s only years later—sometimes decades later—that you realize what you were actually part of. Back in July of 2003, I helped organize an event centered on someone who didn’t just work […]
For a long time, pilot season television defined how TV shows were developed, tested, and approved. The industry followed a predictable rhythm, with networks using pilots to balance creativity, business, and risk. At the center of that system was pilot season. Today, pilot season is often described as a relic from another era. But understanding […]
Rock & Rule is a cult animated film from 1983 that blended rock music, science fiction, and adult storytelling long before audiences were ready for it. In Los Angeles, film screenings are everywhere, but every so often, a truly special event comes along. Cinefamily’s “Animation Breakdown” series delivered exactly that by reuniting the creative minds […]
ParaNorman stop-motion stands out as a rare animated film that blends genuine emotion, dark humor, and handcrafted artistry at a time when much of mainstream animation feels increasingly digital and disposable. Released during a summer when several major tentpole films struggled to meet box-office expectations, this smaller genre entry arrived as an unexpected bright spot. […]
