Criterion Crowns KPop, Zootopia 2 Climbs Higher & Smiling Friends Signs Off (Ep. 348)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 3 March 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off this week’s show a little early to accommodate Drew’s Palm Springs getaway, but that doesn’t slow down the animation news. From Netflix making a rare physical media play with KPop Demon Hunters to Zootopia 2 quietly becoming 2025’s biggest domestic hit, there’s a lot to unpack. They also look at Smiling Friends stepping away at its peak, new anime headed to theaters, and a wave of animation-themed events happening coast to coast. HIGHLIGHTS • KPop Demon Hunters lands a rare Criterion Collection physical media release after sweeping major awards, signaling a big win for Netflix animation. • Zootopia 2 becomes 2025’s top domestic release and sees strong demand for its 4K Steelbook on launch day. • Smiling Friends ends on its own terms, with two final episodes set to air April 12. • Crunchyroll dates the next That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime movie for May 2026 as Season Four arrives this spring. • Hulu’s upcoming animated comedy Swap Meet begins development at 20th Television Animation and Sony Pictures Television. • Don Hahn’s Huz: Drawn to Life spotlights Disney animator Ron Husband and his legacy. • Dana Terrace premieres The Knights of Guinevere pilot and plans a March panel and gallery event in Alhambra. • Drawing Magic: Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida opens in Orlando with a March 8 creators panel. HOSTS • Jim Hill - IG: @JimHillMedia | X: @JimHillMedia | Website: JimHillMedia.com• Drew Taylor - IG: @drewtailored | X: @DrewTailored | Website: drewtaylor.work FOLLOW • Facebook: JimHillMediaNews• Instagram: JimHillMedia• TikTok: JimHillMedia SUPPORT Support the show and access bonus episodes and additional content at Patreon.com/JimHillMedia. PRODUCTION CREDITS Edited by Dave GreyProduced by Eric Hersey - Strong Minded Agency SPONSOR Unlock MagicPlanning a Disney or Universal trip in 2026? Unlock Magic helps you secure the very best deals on theme park tickets, with expert support from people who truly know the parks. Visit unlockedmagic.com to start planning your next adventure. If you would like to sponsor a show on the Jim Hill Media Podcast Network, reach out today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome back to fine-tuning with Drew Taylor, your one-stop shop when it comes to animation news and commentary.
0:06.2	I'm entertainment writer Jim Hill and Mr. Taylor, whose writings on the industry you can regularly read over on the rap,
0:13.7	and whose musings on the Mission of Possible movies you can still listen to, unlike the fuse,
0:18.6	the official Mission Impossible podcast.
0:21.6	Well, Drew, you're headed to Palm Springs this weekend, right?
0:24.7	Is, you...
0:25.6	I am.
0:26.8	Yeah, it's both my wife and my birthdays this weekend.
0:32.1	So we are just hanging out with the dog and unplugging for a few days, and I'm very excited about it.
0:40.4	Well, you two have earned a break, so enjoy.
0:44.4	So this is why we're actually recording the news portion of this week's show, early than the usual, folks.
0:51.1	We're doing this on Thursday night, February 26th.
0:55.2	But the, uh, that said, there's still a surprising amount of animation related news, uh, to share already.
1:03.1	Uh, like, uh, for example, we're going to get a physical media release of K-pop demon hunters, which just does not typically happen.
1:16.1	In fact, it hasn't happened at all for animated films over on Netflix, right?
1:21.4	Yeah, this is the very first one.
1:23.1	You know, we do not have a Leo disc or or a ultra man rising disc or uh anything else the
1:30.7	only one that has has come up has been pinocchio which was also put out on criterion okay so
1:37.1	i i am very excited about about this news because i'm as you know jim i am the king of physical
1:42.7	media and i am uh um so excited for this i i as you know Jim I am the king of physical media and I am so excited for this I
1:46.2	I you know again and I follow in your way and let me just put out there that they're starting
1:52.2	to do this you know uh you know Klaus you know back from 2019 I mean it holiday a holiday, a holiday film.
	...

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