Trailers, Box Office Surprises & SpongeBob’s Return: Animation’s Holiday Push (Ep. 333)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

Tv & Film, Places & Travel, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

As the long Thanksgiving weekend approaches, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a flurry of newly dropped animation trailers, surprising box office projections, and the industry shifts shaping Spring and Summer 2026. Recorded just as holiday season ramps up, this week’s Fine Tooning mixes news, nostalgia, and some unexpected industry history. HIGHLIGHTS Why studios dropped so many major trailers this week — and what their early online rollouts say about today’s marketing playbook. A look at the weekend box office projections, including the strong debut for Now You See Me, Now You Don’t 3 and the surprising second-week drop for Predator: Badlands. Angel Studios’ upcoming animated musical David and its early pre-sale strategy heading into the crowded December slate. First impressions of The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants — plus memories from the 1980s Jetsons revival session featuring Mel Blanc. Updates on Super Mario Bros. Galaxy Movie, new leadership at Paramount Animation, and how “evergreen” franchises like Toy Story continue to evolve. A quick detour into the Magic Castle, close-up magic legends, and why those spaces still influence entertainment creatives today. Hosts Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.comDrew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work Patreon Love what we do? Support the show and get exclusive content at:https://www.patreon.com/jimhillmedia/ Follow Us Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews YouTube: @jimhillmedia TikTok: @jimhillmedia Producer Credits Edited by Dave Grey Produced by Eric Hersey — Strong Minded Agency Sponsor This episode is brought to you by UnlockedMagic.com, where you can save up to 12% on Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando tickets — including select after-hours events and holiday offerings. Run by the same trusted team behind DVC Rental Store and DVC Resale Market. When you book, tell them Drew & Jim sent you! 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.
0:06.1	I'm entertainment writer Jim Hill and Mr. Taylor, whose writings on the industry you can regularly read over on the rap,
0:12.9	and his musings on the Mission Impossible movies, you can still listen to and enjoy on Light the Fuse, the official Mission Impossible podcast. Drew and I are
0:23.4	recording this week's show on Sunday, November 16th, just 10 days out from the long Thanksgiving
0:30.5	Day weekend. So do you and Katie have any plans, Drew? Well, we are going to a wedding in Santa Barbara later today.
0:39.8	That's why we are recording a little bit early.
0:42.9	Who has a wedding on a Monday, Jim?
0:44.8	You tell me.
0:46.2	But, you know, we're doing it.
0:48.3	We're making it work.
0:49.1	Okay.
0:49.7	Okay.
0:51.1	Well, me this week, I'm actually down in Florida with Mr. Tessa and Mr. Shul.
0:58.4	Uh, we're recording some stuff at, uh, Ayappa.
1:02.0	Uh, that's the, uh, the international, uh, amusement park and attractions association.
1:09.5	Uh, this is their annual convention.
1:12.1	It's the Arn County Convention Center.
1:15.1	Hopefully we'll see some cool stuff.
1:17.3	But as for the Thanksgiving, long Thanksgiving weekend, Nancy, I'm going to be a Thanksgiving
1:25.9	bachelor, and Nancy's flying out to Kansas City that morning.
1:30.3	She and her friend are doing that Hallmark Christmas experience, Kansas City, and me, well,
1:37.7	you know, someone's got to take care of the cats and turn out 35 podcasts a week.
	...

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