LCJ Q&A Podcast

Three-time Emmy winner Tony Hale ("Veep", "The Mysterious Benedict Society") returns as the beloved Forky in Disney and Pixar's "Toy Story 5", which is available now on Digital, this Tuesday Sept. 22 on DVD, and this Wednesday Sept. 23 on Disney+. Hale joins me to share his insights on voice acting, being part of "TS5", and the future of Forky.

Mike McMahan ("Rick & Morty", "Solar Opposites", "Star Trek: Lower Decks") and Joe Chandler ("American Dad!") discuss their adult animated comedy series adaptation of the classic SEGA video game "Golden Axe", premiering this Wednesday Sept. 16 on Paramount+.

The third "Shaun the Sheep" feature film "The Beast of Mossy Bottom" opens in theaters nationwide this Friday Sept. 18. It's a Halloween treat for families and fans of this beloved stop-motion animation franchise. Joining me is longtime Aardman art director Andy Brown.

Andrew Law and Matt Murray are the Emmy-winning co-showrunners and executive producers of the new adult animated comedy series DANG!, about the young adult Dang siblings — Andrew, Eunice and Ruthie — navigating life in The Big Apple. DANG! premieres this Tuesday Sept. 8 on Netflix.

This summer's Star Wars movie "The Mandalorian and Grogu" is now available to watch on Disney+. Charles Alleneck has been a digital artist and animator at ILM — Industrial Light & Magic — for over 25 years. Alleneck (who also happens to be the son of my high school English teacher) discusses "Mando", working with director Jon Favreau, and highlights of animating on 2011's Oscar-winning "Rango".

Bobby Podesta, the Annie Awards nominated directing animator of Pixar's "Cars", joins me to talk about the 2006 animated classic, which returns to theaters nationwide for its 20th Anniversary on Sept. 4. Learn insights on the making of the movie, the origins of "Mater's Tall Tales", and the lasting impact of this mega-popular global franchise.

Ben Gregor is the director of the new family film "The Magic Faraway Tree", in theaters this Friday Aug. 21. He joins me to discuss working with stars Andrew Garfield, Claire Foy and the legendary Judi Dench, plus how animation, VFX work and the incredible sets and costumes made this story (based on the beloved books) come alive.

The third "PAW Patrol" feature film, "PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie", is in theaters nationwide this Friday Aug. 14. Always great catching up with director Cal Brunker and writer Bob Barlen, who share insights on the pups, dinosaurs, visuals, Backstreet Boys... and if the cinematic franchise will continue.

After years of anticipation, "Coyote vs. ACME" finally opens in theaters on Aug. 28. Director Dave Green shares his thoughts on the release and presenting the Looney Tunes characters in ways we've never seen them before.

"The Day You Begin", based on the book by Jacqueline Woodson, is a new one-hour animated special about four kids experiencing their first day of Kindergarten. PBS Kids VP of Content Adriano Schmid discusses the heart and humanity of the special, which premieres this Friday August 7th.

Eliza Hart, VP of Preschool Development at Nickelodeon Animation, joins me to talk about the new CG family series "Teeny Mutant Ninja Turtles", centered on the eight-year-old versions of the beloved heroes in a half shell. It premieres this Friday July 24th on the Nick Jr. YouTube channel.

Saladin K. Patterson is the EP and showrunner of "King of the Hill". The fantastic new season of the iconic animated comedy series about Hank, Peggy, Bobby and their friends premieres this Monday July 20th on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. Patterson shares highlights of what fans can expect this season and why audiences continue to embrace this show.

Bobby and Romy are tween friends who love looking for spooky creatures. What happens when they finally find them? It all unravels on the new Disney animated series "The Doomies", from co-creators Andrés Fernandez and Henry Gifford, premiering this Friday June 26th on Disney+.

Finn and Jake return in new one-off-style episodes on the series "Adventure Time: Side Quests", premiering Monday June 29th on Disney+ and Hulu. Joining me are the trio of Nate Cash ("Tiny Toons Looniversity"), Victor Courtright ("Aquaman: King of Atlantis") and Nick Cross ("Over the Garden Wall").

In 1999, Tim Haines created the iconic "Walking with Dinosaurs" TV series. Now the five-time Emmy winner is returning to nature storytelling on television as the executive producer of NBC's new summer event program "Surviving Earth", premiering this Thursday June 11th at 8pm.

The new animated show adaptation of the popular online game "Among Us" is now streaming on Paramount+. Series creator Owen Dennis ("Infinity Train") shares what he values in the characters, cast and art of comedy.

Key is a young man enamored with the soccer-like game of Gorotama. On the eve of the World Cup, Disney presents an action-packed new animated series "Dragon Striker", from co-creators Sylvain Dos Santos and Charles Lefebvre. It premieres Wednesday June 10th on Disney+ and Hulu.

NBC's new summer event series "Surviving Earth" chronicles the creatures and major changes of the planet over thousands of years — and the impact today. It premieres Thursday June 11th at 8pm (and begins streaming on Peacock the next day). Joining me to discuss the show are VFX supervisor He Sun ("The Lion King") and animation supervisor Joe Tarrant ("Ex Machina").

Reza Memari is the director of the new animated feature "The Last Whale Singer", in theaters nationwide on June 5th. It's about a Humpback Whale named Vincent who, a decade after losing his parents, must find his song in an effort to protect the oceans.

It's my preview of the most anticipated movies of Summer 2026 on WAMC-FM. For the text of this commentary, visit the Jackson Murphy page on WAMC.org. (Aired May 19, 2026)