Animation Podcasts | Skwigly

The fifteenth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.com Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Chris Landreth - Oscar-winning director of the NFB shorts Ryan, The Spine and his latest surefire hit Subconscious Password. Chris Shepherd - director of Dad's Dead, Who I Am And What I Want, Anatole's Island and The Ringer among others.

The fourteenth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.com 
Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Eric Goldberg and Lauren MacMullan (Disney's "Get A Horse!") Teri Hatcher (Disney's "Planes", Laika's "Coraline") Saschka Unseld (Pixar's "The Blue Umbrella") Special guest contributor: Aidan McAteer Guest interviewers: Thomas Anthony Coleman & Laura-Beth Cowley

The thirteenth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk 
Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: 
Brian Cosgrove, co-founder of legendary studio Cosgrove Hall whose shows include "Dangermouse", "Count Duckula" and "Wind In The Willows" 
Marc James Roels - co-director of the stop-motion festival hit "Oh Willy…" Podcast breakdown: 
0:00:00 - Hi everybody. Lots of pre-Annecy planning so this one's gonna be a little shorter than usual. 
0:02:43 - Ben and Steve contemplate the sociological ramifications of idealism in branding and merchandise. In other words, two grown-ass men talking about dolls.
0:14:04 - IBM's breakthrough film "A Boy & His Atom" is discussed. Those science guys really should've cracked open the Survival Kit. 
0:16:58 - Steve talks to Brian Cosgrove about his work including the classic Roald Dahl adaptation "The BFG" and the future of Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick. 
0:52:53 - Steve, Ben and the Skwigly audience remember Ray Harryhausen, recently-deceased luminary of stop-motion and visual effects. 
1:04:14 - Skwigly contributor Laura-Beth Cowley interviews Marc James Roels, co-director (with Emma de Swaef) of the multi-award-winning short "Oh Willy…". 
1:23:21 - Gotta go, there's packing' to do and travel insurance to buy

The twelfth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Brian Cosgrove, co-founder of legendary studio Cosgrove Hall whose shows include "Dangermouse", "Count Duckula" and "Wind In The Willows" Kevin Shreck, director of the Richard Williams documentary "Persistence of Vision" Thad Komorowski, author of "Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorised Ren & Stimpy Story" Plus an update from last episode's guest Daniel Greaves on the success of his recent Kickstarter campaign for "Mr. Plastimime" Podcast breakdown: 
0:00:00 - Back again, folks. Contain yourselves. 
0:02:40 - Strange developments - Ben and Steve ponder creativity, the state of 2D features, the cancellations of "The Cleveland Show" and "Futurama" and fondly recall them bygone tentacle-days of LucasArts.
0:31:56 - Steve interviews Brian Cosgrove of Cosgrove Hall, the studio responsible for such UK animation hits as "Danger Mouse", "Count Duckula" and "The Wind in the Willows". Part one of two. 
1:11:28 - Steve talks to Kevin Shreck, director of "The Persistence of Vision", a documentary exploring Richard Williams and his hugely-discussed passion project "The Thief and The Cobbler". 
1:41:25 - New Skwigly competition! Head on over to facebook.com/SkwiglyMagazine for a chance to win "The Art of Short Films 1" 1:43:40 - Ben interviews Thad Komorowski, animation archivist and author of "Sick Little Monkeys: The Unauthorised Ren & Stimpy Story" 2:04:51 - Steve catches up with Daniel Greaves of Tandem Films for an update on his Kickstarter success for "Mr. Plastimime" 2:12:42 - Done for the month.

The eleventh Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Richard Starzak (AKA Golly) of Aardman Animations, creator of "Ident" & "Rex The Runt" and creative director of the "Creature Comforts" series & "Shaun The Sheep". Daniel Greaves of Tandem Films, director of "Manipulation", "Flatworld" and the in-progress "Mister Plastimime". Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - It's our first anniversary! How adorable of us. 0:05:45 - Appreciation for the departed and very influential Bob Godfrey, Oscar results talk and Steve elaborates on the "Green Spring" VFX debate. 0:16:17 - Ben and Steve wax nostalgic on Aardman's history of silent and not-so-silent comedy genius. 0:33:04 - Ben interviews Richard "Golly" Starzak, creative director at Aardman whose projects include "Shaun The Sheep", the "Creature Comforts" TV series and the classic short "Ident". 0:51:38 - Our full-circle tax update indirectly leads into Ben's tale of a recent nightmare commission. If any of you out there have their own stories of freelancer woe make sure to get in touch at ben [@} skwigly.co.uk 1:15:27 - Discussing Daniel Greaves and the body of work himself and fellow Tandem Films directors have been responsible for. 1:22:51 - Steve chats to Daniel Greaves about his short film work, from the Oscar-winning "Manipulation" to his current in-progress shot "Grey Area" AKA "Mr. Plastimime". 1:46:47 - Everyone go out and play Music by Wesley Allard and Ben Mitchell Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell

The tenth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Bill Plympton, Oscar-nominated independent animator, director of the upcoming feature "Cheatin'" Jane Davies, Leah Heming (A For Animation), Matt Walker & George Sander-Jackson (Arthur Cox), some of the talents involved in the recently-released animated adaptation of Graham Chapman's "A Liar's Autobiography" Music by Wesley Allard and Ben Mitchell Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell

The ninth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Guest interviewer: Pete Gallagher Special guests: Will Becher, director of "Weatherman" & "Off-Beat", nominated for an Annie award for his animation work on the Aardman feature "The Pirates!" Bill Plympton, Oscar-nominated independent animator, director of the upcoming feature "Cheatin'" Signe Baumane, award-winning animator and director of the upcoming feature "Rocks In My Pockets" Music by Wesley Allard and Ben Mitchell Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell

The eighth Skwigly podcast, a holly'n'jolly seasonal special brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Eb-Ben-eezer Mitchell Special guests: Tim Searle of BabyCow Animation (The Cow Who Almost Missed Christmas, Uncle Wormsley's Christmas) Michael Rose of Magic Light Pictures (Room On The Broom, The Gruffalo's Child) Robin Shaw & Hilary Audus of Lupus Films (The Snowman and The Snowdog) Original Skwigly theme by Wesley Allard, christmas arrangement and additional music by Ben Mitchell Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - Humbug. That's right, I wrote a li'l play. 0:04:27 - Discussing BabyCow Animation, whose two specials "The Cow Who Almost Missed Christmas" and "Uncle Wormsley's Christmas" are being broadcast over the holiday season. Ben loves Julia Davis 0:12:06 - Steve interviews BabyCow Animation head Tim Searle. 0:33:40 - Magic Light's "Room on the Broom" discussion, followed by an interview with producer Michael Rose whose other credits include "Chico & Rita" and the "Gruffalo" films. 0:51:54 - Announcing the winners of our two book competitions. The Christmas Card competition winners have to wait a little longer. Give the advent calendar a gander in the meantime! 0:54:09 - The twitterverse band together to get Ben in the mood. Much reminiscing and merry memories. Ben reveals probably too much about the degree of his "Nightmare Before Christmas" musical appreciation. 1:20:14 - Ben interviews Hilary Audus and Robin Shaw, co-writer/director and Assistant director respectively of "The Snowman & The Snowdog", the much-anticipated follow-up to Raymond Briggs's animated channel 4 classic "The Snowman" which was first broadcast 30 years ago. 1:40:29 - Merry Christmas, movie house.

The seventh Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Guest interviewer: Tania Vincent Special guests: Peter Ramsey, Valerie Kausen & Ruth Fielding Music by Wesley Allard Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - Another shiny new podcast and Steve is fresh from the Bradford Animation Festival. Ben is not fresh. From anything. Festival antics and the everlasting genius of Chuck Jones is discussed. 0:16:55 - Ben struggles to keep "Full English" down. Musings on what really makes an adult animated sitcom successful, the Seth MacFarlane legacy and "The Simpsons"' soulful beginnings. 0:38:34 - Steve interviews Valerie Kausen, granddaughter of Chuck Jones and representative of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. 0:47:31 - "Random Acts" and the history of Channel 4's relationship with animation. Ben chats to Ruth Fielding, former C4 Animation & Arts Assistant Editor, co-founder of Lupus Films and "Random Acts" commissioner. 1:05:37 - Competition time! Check out skwigly.co.uk for further details 1:12:13 - Guest interviewer Tania Vincent interviews "Rise of the Guardians" director Peter Ramsey. Pixar/Dreamworks magnanimousness emerges. As well it should. 1:23:51 - Time to go. Bundle up, it's cold outside.

The sixth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Genndy Tartakovsky (Hotel Transylvania, Dexter's Lab, Samurai Jack) Peter Saunders of Mackinnon & Saunders (Frankenweenie, Corpse Bride) Chris Butler & Sam Fell (ParaNorman) Music arranged by Ben Mitchell, original theme by Wesley Allard Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell

The second Skwigly podcast special focusing on the 2012 Animated Encounters festival based in Bristol, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: David Sproxton, Paul Bush, Kieran Argo with Paul Hill and Jane Davies of A Productions. Music by Wesley Allard Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - Introducing the second podcast special. Ben didn't have to travel quite as far as Steve did when covering Annecy. Smugness. 0:02:07 - Ben gives some Encounters backstory. It was two festivals, then it was one, now it's two again, but in more of a united sense. Pretty sure they've finally made up their minds by now. 0:06:17 - Ben chats with Animation Programme Manager Kieran Argo for more info on the festival history and what the selection process entails. 0:16:42 - Paul Hill and Jane Davies of A Productions talk about putting together the animated visuals for the Encounters festival branding. 0:31:33 - Ben and Steve discuss some of the short film highlights from the international competition strands. Lots of brilliant talents both established and upcoming to look out for. 0:55:57 - Ben interviews Encounters chairperson and Aardman co-founder David Sproxton about his long-standing relationship with the festival. 1:20:27 - Further festival discussion on some of the associated events and highlights. 1:30:56 - Interview with avant-garde animator/filmmaker/lecturer Paul Bush (special guest of this year's edition of the festival) on his atypical animation career and abstract feature "Babylon". 1:52:33 - Wrapping up the festival discussion with further highlights, the associated online competition DepicT! and the nature of approaching festivals as an independent filmmaker. 2:05:20 - Ben and Steve pick apart the winning films of this year's edition. No controversial decisions seemed to have been made. 2:15:03 - The wrap-up. See you at Animated Encounters 2013!

The fifth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: John Kricfalusi, Neil Boyle and Richard Randolph Music by Wesley Allard Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - Podcast ahoy!. 0:02:01 - Part two of Ben's John Kricfalusi interview, with more insights from the Canadian-born animation legend's career including the politics of "Art Of" books, working on "The Simpsons" and inheriting Bob Clampett's genetic material. 0:28:16 - Ben and Steve muse on the effect of new technologies on the animation process and weigh up the pros and cons of Wacom's Cintiq range, with help from the Skwigly audience. 0:45:17 - Steve interviews Neil Boyle, director of "The Last Belle" and protégé of Richard Williams. 1:05:21 - Further Boyle/Williams discussion, plus debate of the cultural value of Steven Spielberg's early 90s WB shows "Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Animaniacs". Much love for Maurice LaMarche's Orson Welles. 1:21:21 - The big reveal of the winner of Skwigly's Nancy Beiman competition from long, long ago. 1:21:58 - Steve extolls the brilliance of MacKinnon & Saunders and interviews the producer of their new show "Toby's Traveling Circus", Richard Randolph. 1:47:58 - The show wraps up and Ben gets a little too comfortable with the ol' self-plugging.

The fourth Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Ant Blades, Robert Morgan, Jonti Picking and John Kricfalusi Music by Wesley Allard Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - Here we are again, folks! Schedules have been tight, so strap in for a lot of interviews and not so much in-studio chatter this time around. 0:01:07 - Steve interviews Ant Blades of Birdbox studios, director of the online hits "Sketchy Ice Creams", "Guard", "Chop-Chop" and "Dinner" 0:24:55 - Ben interviews Robert Morgan, creator of such stop-motion creepfests as "The Man In The Lower Left-Hand Corner of The Photograph", "The Cat With Hands" and most recently the BAFTA-nominated "Bobby YEAH". 0:55:15 - Roundup of what's been going on in the non-podcast world of Skwigly. Check it out and get in touch, we're very friendly. 0:56:02 - Steve interviews Jonti Picking, the man behind Weebl's Stuff, a fount of online animationey procrastination for ten years and counting. 1:18:27 - Post-Weebl discussion; Ben makes interns cry without meaning to. It's a hard life. 1:20:33 - Ben interviews legendary Canadian animation pioneer John Kricfalusi (creator of such iconic characters as Ren, Stimpy and the all-American hero George Liquor) about his first crowdfunding endeavour "Cans Without Labels". Part one of a two-part interview. 2:03:27 - A whole lot of gratitude and a whole lot of plugging. See you next time!

The first Skwigly podcast special focusing on the 2012 Annecy International Animated Film Festival and Market, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: John Kahrs, Kristina Reed and Matt O'Callaghan Music by Wesley Allard Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - Introducing the first podcast special. Steve went to Annecy. Ben did not. Bitterness. 0:02:28 - Steve gives the lowdown on the Annecy Festival's history and traditions as well as this year's more standout films. 0:31:59 - Interview with John Kahrs and Kristina Reed, director and producer respectively of Disney's highly-anticipated new short "Paperman". 0:50:46 - Discussing "Wreck-It Ralph" (the upcoming Disney feature to which "Paperman" is attached) and more festival highlights. 0:57:48 - Interview with Matt O'Callaghan, director of the contemporary "Looney Tunes" shorts including the Oscar-shortlisted ""I Tawt I Taw A Puddy Tat" and this year's "Daffy's Rhapsody". 1:24:54 - Overview of this year's "Annecy Plus" screening, the unofficial strand of the festival organised each year by Bill Plympton and Nancy Phelps showcasing the best rejected films from the main festival. 1:33:54 - C'est fini les amis!

The third Skwigly podcast, brought to you by skwigly.co.uk Presented by Steve Henderson and Ben Mitchell Special guests: Nancy Beiman and Billy West Music by Wesley Allard Edited and produced by Ben Mitchell Podcast breakdown: 0:00:00 - Greetings, friends! 0:01:03 - A new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series has been unveiled. Ben and Steve muse on the countless variations on the franchise including the distinctly nunchuckless 'Hero' Turtles. 0:18:01 - Steve interviews Nancy Beiman - teacher, author and animator on such Disney features as Hercules and Treasure Planet. 0:57:22 - The second Skwigly competition is announced and last month's winner is revealed. 0:58:33 - Tom & Jerry vs. Road Runner - Ben and Steve debate the virtues of each and bemoan how much better things were in their day. You damn kids with your CGI... 1:22:25 - Ben interviews Billy West, one of today's most prolific voice-over actors whose credits include Ren & Stimpy, Looney Tunes and presently Futurama (which returns this summer) 2:06:26 - Post-Billy West discussion with Ben and Steve - enthusiasm abound for new Futurama and Ben makes his case for the watchability and cultural significance of Ren & Stimpy both with and without John K . 2:23:59 - Plugs, acknowledgements, pat selves on back, run away.