ToonTalk

[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…

[Episode 23] Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

It’s time for another Christmas special: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer! The annual must-see watch has definite high point and many questions. We examine them all, especially the possible sinister backstory of Santa…

[Episode 22] Frosty the Snowman

Happy Birthday! It’s another holiday episode as the guys go beyond Saturday morning to watch Rankin & Bass’ Frosty the Snowman and ponder questions like “Why won’t Frosty talk to animals?” “Who really owned the magic hat?” and “Why don’t these kids wear pants in the winter?” 

[Episode 21] The Flintstones Christmas Special

Nothing gives the warm Christmas feels like a celebration of Jesus set 8,500 years before he was born. Join the guys for a Christmas special featuring Hanna-Barbera’s biggest characters full of heart, snow, and a severe lack of footwear. And John’s theory of Bedrock set on a prison planet may just be accurate…