What A Cartoon!
279 episodes - English - Latest episode: 23 days ago - ★★★★ - 388 ratingsFrom the creators of Talking Simpsons comes What A Cartoon!, an audio exploration of every cartoon ever! Join hosts Henry Gilbert and Bob Mackey (as well as several guests) for an in-depth look at a different episode of a different cartoon every week!
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Episodes
What A Cartoon! - G.I. Joe "There's No Place Like Springfield Part 1 & 2"
September 17, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 103 MBStraight from Retronauts and Retronauts Video Works, Jeremy Parish is here to help us with his deep love and knowledge of G.I. Joe as we watch our first ever '80s cartoon. Sure, G.I. Joe was conceived as a toy commercial, but the folks creating the series could still write subversive episodes like this trippy two-parter and get it past the censors. We delve into Cobra lore here, so make sure you're not surrounded by synthoids and listen to this week's episode! Support this podcast and get ...
What A Cartoon! - Darkwing Duck "Life, the Negaverse and Everything"
September 10, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 124 MBLet's get dangerous! It's time to take a trip back to The Disney Afternoon by digging deep into one of its most important (and entertaining) shows, Darkwing Duck! Disney's duck superhero broke new ground for their TV animation department by choosing to go a more Warner Brothers-y route with plenty of slapstick, wild takes, and utter destruction of the fourth wall. The result is a fun little series that aged incredibly well and influenced Disney to be even more experimental in the '90s and be...
What A Cartoon! - Spider-Man The Animated Series "The Menace of Mysterio"
September 03, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 111 MBThis week we visit our friendly neighborhood web-swinger and we have our podcast buddy Gary Butterfield of Duckfeed to help us out! While Batman was getting all the accolades, Spider-Man got his own animated series in 1994, and while it may not have aged as well, Spidey still has great writing and voice acting when the animation budget is lacking. We check out the season one episode The Menace of Mysterio, as we explain a ton of Spider-History about this particular era in comic books. Hold o...
What A Cartoon! - Disenchantment "The Princess of Darkness"
August 27, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBIn one of our freshest podcasts ever, Bob and Henry dig into the third episode of Matt Groening's brand new Netflix series, Disenchantment! We go in-depth into the show's third episode, seeing how Lucy will save Bean, how Elfo properly makes daisy chains, how good Bean is at drunk driving, and we explore all three of the sciences, even smoke! Listen along and learn about how the series came to be and how much we're enjoying this new series from many of the folks who worked on Futurama and Th...
What A Cartoon! - One-Punch Man "The Lone Cyborg"
August 20, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 93 MBONE PUNCH! What A Cartoon! takes another trip to Animeland (thanks to the generous donations of Patron David Whittington) as we explore the crossover hit, One-Punch Man! This adaptation of a manga that's an adaptation of a webcomic tells the story of Saitama, a thoroughly average man who worked out enough to become the strongest human being on earth. (Unfortunately, this also caused total hair loss.) And, given the title, he can defeat any opponent with just one punch. Though this premise ma...
What A Cartoon! - The Tick "The Tick Vs The Tick"
August 13, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 98.5 MBMatthew Jay (of Cartoons101) joins us to talk about a superhero parody that was way ahead of its time: The Tick! We explore the 1994 Fox Kids original and one of its best episodes. Can Tick defeat Barry and protect his intellectual rights? Can ie Fledermaus find a new girlfriend? Will Arthur be stuck in the Sidekicks Lounge? And will The Midnight Bomber What Bombs At Midnight be able to bomb the superheroes at midnight? Listen and find out! Support this podcast at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpso...
What A Cartoon! - Disenchantment Review-cast
August 07, 2018 07:00 - 39 minutes - 55.4 MBMatt Groening's first new show in almost two decades is just around the corner, and thanks to our generous friends at Netflix, we're here to tell you our thoughts on the first five episodes! And with no major spoilers! (We promise!) Listen in as we talk about the generalities of Disenchantment, including the cast, the staff, the writing, the tone, the humor, and just where we think the series is headed in its back half. And be sure to stay tuned to the What A Cartoon! feed--and the Talking S...
What A Cartoon! - Daria "The Misery Chick"
August 06, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 136 MBWe're back to the land of MTV to revisit Daria, the sorta-spinoff of Beavis and Butt-Head that gave all of us smartass introverts a hero of the people. And with the recent announcement of a sequel series, our little podcast is jumping into one of the more pivotal moments of the series: season one's "The Misery Chick." Listen in as special guest Sam Leichtamer (of GameSpot) joins us to explore an episode that seriously studies Daria's character, and reveals her as much more flawed than the es...
What A Cartoon! - The Big O "A Legacy of Amadeus"
July 30, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 126 MBCowboy Bebop isn't the only Western-influenced anime series to make waves on Cartoon Network in the early '00s. Just a few years before Spike Spiegel blew the minds of American cable viewers, The Big O emerged as an ultra-stylish and enigmatic series that blended the look of Batman: The Animated series and Japanese giant robot shows from the '60s and '70s. And, thanks to its infamous cliffhanger ending, Sunrise's series kickstarted a trend of Western funding that continues to this day. This ...
What A Cartoon! - Xavier: Renegade Angel "The 6th Teat of Good Intentions"
July 23, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 86 MBMatthew Jay (Cartoons 101) joins us to jump into one of the most disturbing shows in Adult Swim history, PFFR's Xavier: Renegade Angel. From the creators of Wonder Showzen we dive into the lid-flipping mind-expander as we ramble along with Xavier as he helps people by making their lives much worse. We hear epic monologues and pan flute solos alike, so listen along and learn, younglings! Oh, frittata! Support this podcast at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and go to tiny.cc/tshulu to get a 30-d...
What A Cartoon! - Wallace & Gromit "The Wrong Trousers"
July 16, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 126 MBSteady on, listeners, because this week's episode is a deep dive into the iconic British adventures of Wallace & Gromit! Matthew Jay joins us to discuss the Oscar-winning short film, "The Wrong Trousers" as chosen by a premium Patreon supporter! We chat about Aardman Animations' history, the many contraptions of Wallace, Gromit's knack for silent comedy, obvious Hitchcock references, and so much more! We're just crackers about cheese in this podcast! Support us at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpso...
What A Cartoon! - Rocko's Modern Life "Wacky Delly"
July 09, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 135 MBWe're returning once again to the world of Nicktoons with the first creation to follow the original three series, Rocko's Modern Life! Two years after launching Doug, Rugrats, and The Ren & Stimpy Show, cable network Nickelodeon realized adults made up a sizable chunk of their audience, and Joe Murray's edgy-yet-silly creation took full advantage of this fact with its tales of 20-somethings making it in the wild world of the go-go 90s. This week, cartoon expert Matthew Jay joins us to discus...
What A Cartoon! - Family Guy "Brian Wallows and Peter's Swallows"
July 02, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 124 MBWe had threatened to do it, and now Matthew Jay joins your Simpsons-loving pals to discuss a season three episode of Family Guy! It's one of the more heartfelt episodes of the show with some solid jokes in there, and we're pretty fair to the fricken sweet series about Quahog! Listen along and we promise you'll hear at least two minutes of Seth MacFarlane singing! Support this podcast at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and watch Family Guy on Hulu with a 30-day free trial at tiny.cc/tshulu!!!
What A Cartoon! - FLCL (Fooly Cooly)
June 25, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 157 MBAfter producing one of the most influential anime series ever—Neon Genesis Evangelion—animation studio GAINAX went from adapting a comic about high school relationships to something even more unexpected: a coming-of-age story about robots that come out of a young boy's head. Thanks to its sheer weirdness, amazing animation, surprising emotionality, and atypical (but awesome) music choices, FLCL emerged as a cult hit in the early '00s—one that just received an unexpected sequel some 18 years ...
What A Cartoon! - Freakazoid "Next Time, Phone Ahead/Nerdator"
June 18, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 176 MBChosen by one of our premium Patreon supporters, we're doing one of the first season favorites of Kids WB's Freakazoid! Matthew Jay joins Bob and Henry to talk all about this episode as the pinnacle/end of an era for Steven Spielberg's TV toon empire! We cover the very insider episode, as well as explore how the concept of "nerd" has changed between 1996 and now! It's fun and a little sad, so listen in and freak out! Sign up at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons to support this podcast! And visit...
What A Cartoon! - Home Movies "The Party"
June 11, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 113 MBWe're headed back into Adult Swim territory as we check out the UPN reject that helped kick off Cartoon Network's successful programming block and ultimately didn't find a great home there. But for four glorious seasons, Home Movies adapted the limited animation and naturalistic conversations of Dr. Katz to something with a little more ambition that wasn't necessarily tied to stand-up comedy bits. On this episode, join Bob, Henry, and Talking Futurama/What A Cartoon! artist Maddie Copp as yo...
What A Cartoon! - Space Ghost Coast to Coast "$20.01"
June 04, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 108 MBThis week Bob and Henry are joined by Matthew Jay of Cartoons 101 to dig into Space Ghost and his oddball show that would pave the way for Adult Swim. After digging into how Alex Toth's fantastical superhero became the face of Cartoon Network's dadaist comedy, we dig into a double-length episode from 1996 where Penn & Teller and Joel Hodgson of Mystery Science Theater 3000 join the show for a Kubrick-tribute. There's all you can eat birthday cake and illegal Ultra Seven all in this week's po...
What A Cartoon! - Cowboy Bebop "Mushroom Samba"
May 28, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 87.7 MBTwo decades ago, Cowboy Bebop made its debut and the show feels just as cutting edge today as it did back then. Bob and Henry are joined by Nathan Ortega to discuss this special episode of Bebop as Ed gets her own adventure in "Mushroom Samba." Take a trip with us as Ed and Ein go searching for food and get ensnared in an action-packed tribute to blaxploitation. We explain history, the creators, and even compliment one of the best English dub in anime history. We'll see you space cowboys on ...
What A Cartoon! - Samurai Jack "The Princess And The Bounty Hunters"
May 21, 2018 05:00 - 1 hour - 78.3 MBOur premium patron David Whittington returns for his second pick, the Cartoon Network cult classic Samurai Jack! We dig into the Spaghetti Western-style episode that barely even features the title character. It's one of the most interesting episodes in the series history and we dig into all five of the bounty hunters all trying to find the best way to capture Jack. Learn all about Genndy Tartakovsky's high watermark in American animation with us in this brand new podcast! Support this podc...
What A Cartoon! - The Venture Bros. "Escape to the House of Mummies Part II"
May 14, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 126 MBWe've finally reached our first Adult Swim series on What A Cartoon, and it's their longest-running one to date: The Venture Bros.! Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer's creation launched as a Johnny Quest spoof in 2004, but over the years, it's grown into something much more ambitious that somehow survived despite near-cancellations and years-long delays between seasons. This week's episode comes via the request of our VERY generous patron David Whittington, who joins the show to steer us throug...
What A Cartoon! - Star Wars: The Clone Wars "Bounty"
May 07, 2018 06:59 - 1 hour - 87 MBStar Wars expert and cool person Kat Bailey joins us to dive deep into the CGI series that did the impossible: Making the Star Wars prequels good! We hop into the twentieth episode of season four (currently available on Netflix), and get some cool action as well as meeting some of Star Wars best bounty hunters. It's a deep dive into a show some grouchier Star Wars fans like Henry overlooked. Strap on your Mandalorian armor and listen now! Support this podcast at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons!
What A Cartoon! - Beavis and Butt-Head "Substitute/Pregnant Pause"
April 30, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 107 MBBuckle in, because it's gonna get stupid as we dive into Mike Judge's first TV series (and first massive success), Beavis and Butt-Head. While on the surface B&B might seem like a braindead, ugly cartoon, like any Judge project there's a whole lot more going on under the hood than you'd think, and we explore its many nuances as much as humanly possible! So grab some nachos and listen in as we discuss Beavis and Butt-Head tangling with a teacher who believes in them, and grappling with the mi...
What A Cartoon! - Bobby's World "Swim By Me"
April 23, 2018 03:00 - 1 hour - 73.4 MBThis week's What A Cartoon! takes us back to Fox's Kids and the early 1990s as guest Dave Rudden brings us into Bobby's World. The Howie Mandel passion project ran for a surprisingly long time, and we dig into the bits that are better than we remember and the stuff that's much more awkward than we recall. All while regaling y'all with stories of swimming, siblings, and almost drowning! Support us on Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons today!
What A Cartoon! - Dexter's Laboratory "Way Of The Dee Dee"
April 16, 2018 03:00 - 1 hour - 64 MBOne of our premium Patreon supporters, Aziz, stops by with his pick for this week's podcast: the Cartoon Network classic, Dexter's Laboratory! In this one, the iconic duo is at odds but it's Dexter who learns from his hyper sister Dee Dee instead of the other way around. It's a fun, philosophical episode with an unexpected ending. We go over the show's history with guest Matthew Jay as well is this experimental podcast! Support this show at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons today!
What A Cartoon! - Kill La Kill "Episode 1"
April 09, 2018 03:30 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBHere at WAC we've now arrived at our first ever anime series, thanks in part to a request from one of our top Patreon supporters. We go over the inaugural episode of Kill La Kill, the action-packed (and fan-servicey) debut series of Studio Trigger. Is it amazing to look at? Is it a bit weird and/or discomforting? Find out as Bob and Henry are joined by Cartoon 101's Matthew Jay! Support the show at Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and hear new episodes a week early and ad-free!
What A Cartoon! - The Ren & Stimpy Show - "Black Hole/Stimpy's Invention"
April 02, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 119 MBModern TV animation owes a lot (or perhaps everything) to The Ren and Stimpy Show, a humble little Nicktoon that came out of nowhere and rewrote the rules of what a kids' cartoon could get away with. Despite its troubled co-creator and nightmarish production problems, Ren and Stimpy thrived for five solid years as a shining example of what an artist-driven cartoon could be. And for our podcast exploration of the series, we chose the best possible episode, Stimpy's Invention, and the best pos...
What A Cartoon! - Steven Universe - "Gem Glow/Laser Light Cannon"
March 24, 2018 08:32 - 1 hour - 82.6 MBDo you know all the words to the Cookie Cat theme? Or are you still confused by the ideas of fusion and gems? Either way, this episode will be a real treat as Bob, Henry, and Matthew explore the first two episodes ever of the incredibly marvelous series Steven Universe! Grab your pork chops and hot dogs and listen along!
What A Cartoon! - King of the Hill - "Peggy's Headache"
March 19, 2018 04:00 - 1 hour - 134 MBOn our sophomore outing, we cover King of the Hill, the first truly successful Fox animated sitcom to follow The Simpsons (sorry, The Critic). While some still view Mike Judge's 13-season series as a mundane exploration of rednecks, episodes like the one in question prove King of the Hill is a subtle satire of Midwestern life that digs deep into its cast of unique characters. Listen in as Bob Mackey, Henry Gilbert, and Matthew Jay discuss the episode that defines Peggy Hill, and get ready to...
What A Cartoon! - Batman: The Animated Series - "Heart of Ice"
March 12, 2018 03:19 - 1 hour - 82 MBWelcome to our brand new podcast series! We're going through a different animated series every week in our deep dive fashion, and we begin with the greatest episode of the greatest Batman cartoon of all time! Hosts Bob Mackey and Henry Gilbert are joined by guest Matthew Jay (Cartoons 101) to discuss the Mr. Freeze starring episode Heart of Ice. Learn how they redefined the villain, how the series came together, how this episode led to Mark Hamill becoming the Joker, and so much more in our ...