Every now and then, we must remember when the Mouse had our best interests at heart. Case in point: 1991's Beauty and the Beast. Queen Woman Frankie Sparks (@shoottheflick) returns to celebrate this tale as old as time. Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari *Art by esteesdave* References: Beauty and the Beast. Audio commentary by Kirk W…

We anticipate that our listeners will spend this weekend with their families and friends. But like the WDC, Wyatt, along with guests Frankie Sparks and Scott Eisenberg (@shoottheflick), just wants to get this latest live-action remake over with. "Kal-El, No!" Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari References: Barnes, Brooks. “Snow White …

Ah-hyuck! Not Just a Goof debuts on Disney Plus today, and Wyatt is joined by directors Kevin Lima and Eric Kimelton to briefly discuss the documentary and the impact of its subject, A Goofy Movie, on pop culture. "For the first time ever, we're seeing it I 2 I!" Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari *Art by rain1940_art* Resources: Dis…

If you don't spend your Valentine's Day raising a little Midnight Madness, you're doing something wrong. Good thing Frankie Sparks (@shoottheflick) is a team player along for the ride! Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari References: Ebert, Roger. “Junior High School Movie Review (1980).” Roger Ebert, 11 Jan. 1980, https://www.rogerebe…

They say curiosity often leads to trouble... Wyatt and guest host / scholar Abigail Fine finally begin discussing 1951's Alice in Wonderland, beat by beat. Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari *Art by @johnmakesart* References: Carroll, L. (n.d.). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Alice's Adventures in Wo…

"What do you do when things go wrong? Oh, you pod." Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari References: Amidi, Amid. “Everybody Wanted to Sue Disney in 1940.” Cartoon Brew, 31 Dec. 2016, https://www.cartoonbrew.com/classic/everybody-wanted-to-sue-disney-in-1940-58472.html. Caselotti, Adriana, and Brian Sibley. “Snow White Speaks! Adriana …

'Tis the season for corporate shilling! Wyatt and Frankie Sparks (@shoottheflick) chat about Disney's first two network television specials for NBC and CBS. There's a lot to unwrap with these gifts, so pop open a bottle of Coke and enjoy. Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari References: Disney History Institute. “Seasonal - One Hour in…

Disney writer and historian Jim Fanning (@tulgeywoodtv) comes on the show to chat about... dragons. Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari *Art by @johnmakesart* References: Reitherman, Wolfgang, et al. “Sleeping Beauty.” Buena Vista Film Distribution Co, 1959. Solomon, Charles, and Eric Cleworth. “Walt’s Moving Illustration: The Making …

Christina & Joey (@whenuwishuponapodcast) join Wyatt in discussing Snow White for the umpteenth time. But this time, with scary trees and heart boxes. Opening Music: "Dreams from Yesteryear" by Ankari Art by mario.illustrates References: Danley, Michael Sky. “Walt Disney Story Conference on Snow White’s Huntsman Knife Sequence, June 27th, 1936.” Sk…

Frankie Sparks (@shoottheflick) may as well be a co-host by this point. But this time, she and Wyatt encounter spookables, smashed pumpkins, and Elizabeth Berkeley in the 100-Acre Wood. "Oh bother," indeed. References: Perry, Eithan. “Winnie the Pooh Boo to You Too!” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Oct. 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlpt5VZHxHs&t=660s…

Class is back in session, but Wyatt and Frankie Sparks (@shoottheflick) are still on summer vacation. High School Musical 2 was a "fabulous" break from our Disney studies and we hope you jump in the swimming pool at the Lava Springs resort with us! References: Houdinimanden. “Turn Off the Dark - T.V. Carpio.” YouTube, YouTube, 20 Aug. 2011, https:/…

Summer vacation may still be sizzlin', but here on Disney Reel to Reel, we celebrate the Lord and all he provides for us. Case in point: a mockbuster entitled Sunday School Musical. Joining Wyatt is friend and returning guest, Frankie Sparks from @shoottheflick, and we hope you enjoy the things we do for your entertainment. Send us a text…

Olá, friends! Today, Ray returns to discuss their favorite sequence from Disney's 1944 film, The Three Caballeros, with Wyatt. Along the way, they'll reunite with bi king José Carioca, learn about whale mating within the city of Salvador, and yearn for a Bahia that exists only in this film. "Take me there!" References: Canemaker, John and Ken Ander…

Well, we finally made it (maybe a month early, but it's all about the celebration)! Christina & Joey (@whenuwishuponapodcast) are on hand to recount memories, play games, and lament the current state of the WDC with your host, Wyatt. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcast and host Wyatt @goldenafternoon51 on Instagram! *Logo by johnmakesart* M…

We come back with Disney's centennial flop... and boy, did it make a nose dive. Frankie Sparks (@shoottheflick) returns to join Wyatt in a discussion on this most befuddling celebration of Disney fandom yet. References: Astor Rhymemaster. “‘This Wish,’ the Most Awkward ‘I Want’ Song.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Jan. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7…

Call-oo, callay, a new episode today! Ray returns to discuss an abandoned version of Alice with Wyatt. Along the way, they discover Walt’s one-sided amusement with the book and Raeley sets up her own tabletop RPG campaign based on this adaptation. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcast and host Wyatt @goldenafternoon51 on Instagram! Feel free …

When a tale as old as time is retold... for the pedants of Cracked dot com. With the help of friend and @shoottheflick co-host Frankie Sparks, Wyatt trudged thru the swamps of 2010s live-action remakes. Boy, are you in for a wild ride. References: Abramovitch, Seth. “Original ‘Lion King’ Screenwriter Apprehensive of Remake: ‘I Wasn’t Thrilled with …

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Long time no hear, but I return with the archetypal romance of 1950's Cinderella. With the help of friend/fashion historian Marley Healy, we break down the lewks of the Royal Ball, as well as the depiction of romance in early Disney films. In this case, it helps if your Prince Charming's a Christian Dior stan. Refer…

"Heigh-ho, the merry-o!" Our first episode of 2024 takes us back into the story of Pinocchio. Joining Wyatt is children's literature professor and head of DisNet operations, Rebecca Rowe! References: Allan, Robin. “Marionettes.” Walt Disney and Europe: European Influences on the Animated Feature Films of Walt Disney, John Libbey, London, 1999, pp. …

Yup. This is our holiday episode. Scholar Abigail Fine returns to share her expertise on fairy godmothers with Wyatt as we break down Sequence 3 of Walt Disney's Cinderella. References: The78Prof. “1947 Hits Archive: Chi-Baba Chi-Baba - Perry Como (a #1 Record).” YouTube, YouTube, 14 May 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIiSXQ9QCDE. Ander, Cos…

It may not be the end of the world as we know it. But with 2005's Chicken Little, we uncover an earth-shattering moment in Disney animation. It's a tale of corporate upheaval, creative fatigue, and artistic change which Ray is poised to recount for everyone... to Wyatt's disgruntlement. References: Animation Compendia. “Chicken Little - Teaser Trai…

Back at it again with the magic mirrors! Apologies for the runtime, but Dr. Bee Eldridge joins Wyatt to discuss the rivalry between Queen Grimhilde and Snow White. We also break off into tangents about a Shakespearean (or "all-male") version of Snow White and the logistics of public restrooms. References: Croonr1. “One Song (1938) - Kenny Baker.” Y…

Happy Halloween, daaaarlings! To celebrate this annual tradition, Wyatt and Ray turn the clock back to 1929. We witness the birth of the Silly Symphony cartoon, the shady business practices of a Mr. Pat Powers, and share our thoughts on the best country music stars of 2023. Truly a celebration of all things Disney. References: Johnson, Mindy. “Mary…

We (and by "we," I mean me, Wyatt) at Disney Reel to Reel love a good guilty pleasure movie. High School Musical: The Concert: All Access Pass is more than that. It's a time capsule, in all its uncomfortable, sparkly glory. Frankie Sparks of @shoottheflick joins me on this trip through 2006-2007 pop culture. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodc…

Sound the trumpets! Wyatt simply couldn't wait any longer (THOUGH THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED IN JUNE)! In this introductory episode to Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, he is joined by co-host of @shoottheflick, Frankie Sparks! A chaotic intro to a movie that Wyatt remains beside himself with joy over! You can find the show @disreeltore…

The stars shine bright this Saturday as Wyatt is joined by fashion history writer, Marley Healy (@bastion_of_fashion), to discuss the iconic sequence in 1940's Pinocchio, where Ginger Rogers brings a doll to life and appoints little Fred Astaire as the doll's conscience. Well, that's my head-canon, at least. Check out her numerous fashion history a…

Is the leader of the club M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E or N-I-C-K-I M-I-N-A-J? Regardless, Ray and Wyatt make their way through Mickey's 50th birthday special without having ever discussed a Mickey Mouse cartoon. We discuss the Golden Age of Hollywood nostalgia, our favorite guest appearances, and an "Uncanny Valley" Elton John. You have to see it to beli…

Furries unite! Wyatt and Ray take a trip on down to Zootopia, where anyone can be anything! *seven years later* Oopsies. Join us as we discuss the alternate storylines, cultural legacy, and whether we prefer this film to 1973's Robin Hood. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcast and host Wyatt @goldenafternoon51 on Instagram! Feel free to write…

Hey Wildcats! It's time to "get'cha head in the game!" Ray and Wyatt make their way on over to East High School to audition for the spring musicale, Twinkle Towne, only to discover this 2006 DCOM is actually a mid-century teen movie in 2000s drag. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcast and host Wyatt @goldenafternoon51 on Instagram! Feel free …

Even when we reach "dud" features, there's still a crap ton to discuss. Such is the case with Fun and Fancy Free, a film which would fall into obscurity if it weren't for Walt's trio of cartoon personalities... and Jiminy Cricket. Hope you find more entertainment in our lampooning than in this packaged product with a capital "P." You can find the s…

We're feeling mighty surreal this week! Ballet, baseball, and bewilderment make up our reactions to 2003's Destino, the collab between Walt Disney and everyone's favorite ocelot pet owner, Salvador Dalí. We discuss the history, the connection between dreams and surrealist art, as well as the themes within the short. It turned out funnier than descr…

Here it is, the moment of truth! 20 Disney animated films have won our hearts and inflicted rage upon Ray and I (Wyatt). Together, we begin the rigorous task of determining which are beauties or beasts. The ending is actually rather satisfying. *BTW, opinions are like bum holes; everyone's got their own. So don't get pi**y if your fave isn't ours.*…

Heigh-ho, muthaf***ers!!! Our final era of Disney animation takes us back to the beginning, when Walter Disney was young and full 'o beans. Ray and I (Wyatt) rank Walt’s first five children: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, and Bambi. Which film becomes a real boy and which takes a bite outta that poisoned apple? Give a …

Thought you'd learned enough about this hidden gem? Think again! We (Wyatt, Christina & Joey (@whenuwishuponapodcast)) have another two hours of information, laughs and surprises. And don't worry, we haven't forgotten the other half of the brand; this is the "queer" side of the coin. *Side Note* The Roger Edens anecdote is accurate, but it was attr…

Taking a two-week break from rankings, because, without a doubt, this deep delve lives up to the standard set at the beginning of this podcast. Podcasting buddies Christina & Joey (@whenuwishuponapodcast) join me (Wyatt) on this deep, deep, DEEP dive into all things Reluctant Dragon. The stories will surprise you, maybe even shock you... or at leas…

"When will [Disney’s] reflection show who they are inside?" In this episode (where we may or may not get canceled for our film opinions), Raeley and I (Wyatt) wrap this chunk of the Renaissance era with rankings and discussions of Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan. The closer we get to our …

We invite you to "be our guest" as Raeley and I (Wyatt) rank and discuss two of every Millennial's fave Disney films, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, and Beauty and the Beast. We'll decide how great the 1990s were here... as a pair of seasoned Zoomers. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcast and host Wyatt @goldenafternoon51 on Ins…

Another birthday episode (though late because the logo took a minute to be made)! Ray is the bigger Disney Parks fan and for their birthday, they wanted to cover a popular attraction from Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom. Wyatt sits back for once and enjoys their passionate spiel on all things Everest. References: “Animal Kingdom Throws Star-Stud…

Going back to our roots in this jam-packed folklore episode! We simply couldn't wait any longer (or at least Wyatt couldn't). We discuss three relatively obscure variants of "Snow White," including Johann Karl August Musäus's "Richilde" from 1782, "The Beautiful Daughter," an oral folktale from West Africa, and Aleksandar Pushkin's 1833 poem, "The …

The Silver Age takes a slight dip in tone as Ray and I rank and discuss Sleeping Beauty, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Sword in the Stone, and The Jungle Book. Wolfgang Reitherman steps up to direct these films, thereby taking us out of fairyland and into the wide wilderness. It was like something "once upon a dream," the likes of which we ma…

"The world is a carousel of color / Wonderful, wonderful color..." The Holy Trinity of Disney Animation eras are finally upon us (though we also include the "Revival"). In Part 1, Ray and I discuss and rank Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp. Any film that features a female character's name in the title is our insta-…

We end our reign of darkness with a sigh of relief and some "ATTITUDE," as the original poster for Oliver & Company declared. Raeley and I rank The Fox and the Hound, The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, and Oliver & Company. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcast and host Wyatt @goldenafternoon51 on Instagram! Feel free to write in …

We are 65% of the way thru the Disney animated canon, and this is the final bummer era. It's Hot Girl Summers from here on out! We discuss and rank The Aristocats, Robin Hood, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and The Rescuers. *Spoilers* The two movies that list their main characters in their titles were our mutual faves. You can find the sh…

One year of Reelin' to Reelin', y'all!!! It's been such a joy to produce this show and I'm so grateful to everyone who's stepped up, whether you be guest or listener. Raeley and I celebrate with Disney games and trivia before moving over to more gay activities like "Smash or Brawl!" Come celebrate with us! You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcas…

Part 2 takes us through Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Moana. These titans of modern animated filmmaking filled co-host Raeley and I with such hope for a new era in Disney animation... and then they "broke" the internet. P.S. This was recorded long before the public announcement that Auli'i Cravalho will be the executive producer of the live-act…

Soooo... last go-around wasn't so hot. But we do, in fact, like modern Disney, as is the case with the Revival Era. Here, we discuss and rank The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Winnie the Pooh, and Wreck-It Ralph. This was more of a nostalgia trip for us, considering 2010s pop culture, and it was fun to revisit. P.S. We recorded this before the "R…

My god, only one more dark period, a "bronze age," if you will. But until we reach the other end of the rainbow, co-host Raeley and I rank the three most recent Disney animated features: Encanto, Strange World, and... Wish. Yes, we share our tier predictions SIX months before the film's release. You can find the show @disreeltoreelpodcast and host …

Feelin' like an empty husk with this era ranking! It's all emojis, snowflakes, and trust issues from here. At least I got co-host Raeley to go down this hole with. Here we rank Ralph Breaks the Internet, Frozen II, and Raya and the Last Dragon. Follow us "into the unknown" as we trek through another Disney slump. You can find the show @disreeltoree…

*CONTENT WARNING: Brief historical discussion of asylums / mental institutions* I'm trying out a new format/series this week. Rather than discussing 10 or so films for an hour and a half, I'll discuss a three-minute scene from a 72-year-old film for fifteen minutes. But boy, was there a wealth of material to plow through. This is definitely recomme…

This month, Raeley and I get real about our feelings regarding Chicken Littl--er, I mean, the remainder of the Post-Renaissance Era. We cover Lilo and Stitch, Treasure Planet, Brother Bear, Home on the Range, Meet the Robinsons, and Bolt. I learned about this chunk of films pretty much the same way: via the Disney Channel. So while we get tense, it…