As Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down just hours before Zootopia 2 preview screenings begin, they dig into the film’s early reactions, the surprising box-office shape of the holiday season, and the escalating economics behind today’s animated franchises.

HIGHLIGHTS
<ul>
 <li>Early reactions to Zootopia 2 and what Drew learned from scoring sessions and long-lead press days. </li>
 <li>How Wicked: For Good outpaced the original film’s opening—and why reviews may complicate the long-term outlook. </li>
 <li>Stephen Schwartz’s long history with animation—from Pocahontas to The Prince of Egypt—and his record-breaking opening weekend. </li>
 <li>A surprise Thanksgiving return for Prep & Landing and why Snowball Protocol deserved more promotion. </li>
 <li>Drew breaks down the blockbuster salaries behind Frozen 3 and 4—and how favored-nations deals shaped the cast’s negotiations. </li>
 <li>Tim Allen completes his Toy Story 5 recording, plus a look back at the franchise’s evolving pay scale. </li>
 <li>Trailer talk: David, Hoppers, and what Pixar’s 2026 slate signals for the studio.</li>
</ul>

Hosts
Jim Hill — X/Twitter: @JimHillMedia | Instagram: @JimHillMedia | Website: jimhillmedia.com
Drew Taylor — X/Twitter: @DrewTailored | Instagram: @drewtailored | Website: drewtaylor.work

Follow Us
Facebook: @JimHillMediaNews
YouTube: @jimhillmedia
TikTok: @jimhillmedia

Producer Credits
Edited by Dave Grey
Produced by Eric Hersey

Sponsor
This episode is brought to you by Unlocked Magic, from the team at DVC Rental Store — offering discounted Disney theme park tickets, including special events. Save on your next trip at <a href="https://unlockedmagic.com/?utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=finetooning">UnlockedMagic.com</a>. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Podurama

Home

Trending

Personal

Your Podcasts

New Episodes

My Files

Favourite Episodes

Tags (Folders)

Recently Played

Bookmarks

Followed Playlists

Inside the Animation Money Machine: Zootopia 2, Frozen Paydays & the New Economics of Disney Franchises (Ep. 334)

The Jim Hill Media Podcast Network

AI Chapters

AI Insights

Reviews