ToonTalk

[Episode 31] Wacky Races

It’s time for the most daredevil group of daffy drivers to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races! Join the guys as they dig into Hanna Barbara’s attempt at creating a show that more could be spun from. From the antics of Dick Dastardly to the ancestors of Captain Caveman, relive the crazy capers of one of HB’s more unique efforts from the 1960s.

[Episode 30] Spider Woman

It’s time for Spider Woman - Marvel’s first female character to get her own cartoon series. The guys look at this rather unique series which leaned heavily into interesting supernatural elements (to its benefit) but ignored basic character development (not so much). At least it gave us multiple Star Wars rip-offs and Magini, the David Bowie-esqe villain unconcerned with failure.

[Episode 29] A Charlie Brown Christmas

Christmas time is here! And so is a staple of the holiday - A Charlie Brown Christmas. Join the guys as they look at the backstory of this animated classic that launched decades of Peanuts specials.

[Episode 28] A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Breakout the pretzels and jellybeans - it’s Thanksgiving! In this Beyond Saturday Morning episode, we dig into A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and discuss important matters like: What kid turn up their nose at popcorn for dinner? Is Linus a force for good or a chaos agent? And is there a dark undercurrent to Woodstock to which we have been blind?

[Episode 27] Casper the Friendly Ghost

Casper is the friendliest ghost you know. In the Halloween special, we watched the original theatrical shorts of the little spook to find out his appeal. Turns out, it’s a pleasant series of shorts…as long you don’t think too much about the character origins. 

[Episode 26] Looney Tunes Halloween

What’s up, Doc? How about some spooky Looney Tunes cartoons to set a Halloween mood? In this episode, we dig into 9 shorts that lean into both sinister yet silly plots as only Looney Tunes can. Take a listen and see how many of these classics you remember!

[Episode 25] Rubik the Amazing Cube

An inanimate cube with no backstory or narrative arc that speaks with a grating voice and inconsistent powers…sounds like animation gold! Or not. Join the guys as they ponder the existence of the cash grab that was Rubik the Amazing Cube and discuss if it is better for a cartoon to be bad or boring. 

[Episode 24] The Jetsons

Get a peek at your future (or, in some cases, present) as we journey to Orbit City in this discussion of The Jetsons original series. From a tough time slot to a Saturday morning staple, the futuristic toon challenged our perception of what makes a classic cartoon. Is there an unspoken timeline connection to the Flintstones?  Then, there is the problem with Jane…