Once Upon A Disney: Recent Episodes
Andie Redwine and Larry Brenner
An educational podcast providing analytical yet fun loving academic look at Disney narrative filmography from the 20th Century.
Playwrights Gabriel Jason Dean and Jessie Dean join Larry and Andie to discuss Disney's adaptation of the Dickens classic. Topics include the need for a singular protagonist and reductionistic pitfalls in adaptation.
Batter up! Larry and Andie analyze this Texas baseball classic. Topics include a late inciting incident, too much dramatic irony, and a pitch certain to be a hit!
Andie and Larry explore this Wonderful World of Disney TV film. Topics include handling an adaptation, the danger of redundancy, and the need for a strong climax.
What's the craic? It's this episode! Andie and Larry enjoy a wee bit of fun while engaging with this amazing cinematic spectacle. Topics include clever dialogue, the use of subtext, and the joys of consent in romantic scenes.
Screenwriter Andrea Nasfell joins Andie and Larry for such topics as character development without the use of dialogue and the power of an ambiguous ending.
In a rare turn of events, Larry and Andie both struggle with a film they really wanted to like. Topics include a too long mahnishtahnah and the need for Medusa.
The Holy Goof's Brett Niethamer join Andie and Larry to unpack this Jim Henson masterpiece. Topics include character work, plotting concerns, and how indifference might be the worst evil.
Andie and Larry dig into the Disney Channel's answer to the ABC Afterschool Special. Highlights from this made for TV movie include character work and the theme of embracing love after loss.
Second star to the right! Larry and Andie return to the Peter Pan franchise to discuss plot questions and why Wendy should have been able to go back to Never Land.
Andie and Larry dive into Disney's wildly successful 1970's western for children. Topics include the protagonist's relationship with the villain and a problematic mahnishtahnah.
Playwright Gina Marie Dropp comes on board to discuss the last film in the Disney Renaissance. Topics include a lengthy exposition, an extended climax, and great character work.
Larry and Andie offer strong rewrite suggestions for this Disney live-action movie. Highlights include: a better mahnishtahnah, a discussion about the Dove Foundation and G rated fare, and The Glad Game!
Andie and Larry kick off Season 5 with this legendary Disney Princess. Topics include false tension, potential solutions for protagonist problems, and Larry's new game First Or False.
In this bonus episode, Larry takes a not particularly nostalgic look at the Chip N' Dale's Rescue Ranger series and discusses how your characters need to be right for the story you're trying to tell.
Larry and Andie dive into to this made for TV musical with a discussion of character motives, strong structure, and Larry's concept of superfoiling.
Sacre bleu! Larry and Andie dissect this animated Disney feature with an eye toward missed opportunities, an underuse of characters, and plot and protagonist problems.
Wocka wocka!! Another Muppet movie - so you know Larry is fired up! Join Andie and Larry as they explore Muppet character development and laud the genius of Frank Oz's direction.
Hakuna Mata-two? Join Larry and Andie as they analyze the 1998 sequel to the 1994 hit The Lion King. Topics include showing vs. telling and why giving the protagonist the satisfaction of triumph in the climax is always the way to go.
Happy Halloween! Larry and Andie tackle this cult classic. The duo discuss the dangers of a long windup in exposition, the importance of character choice, and the need to stick to your rules in your screenplay.
Season 4 kicks off with the piece de resistance from the 1990s Disney Renaissance, Beauty and the Beast. In this episode, Andie and Larry tackle protagonist problems, foiling, and recent film criticism on Stockholm Syndrome.
For this season finale, Larry and Andie are joined by artist Taj Whitesell to unpack the hit launching the Disney renaissance. Highlights include many craft takeaways and Larry's working theory of Who REALLY Framed Roger Rabbit?
Andie and Larry tackle this Disney retelling of the epic Greek myth. Topics include the need for a protagonist with selfless goals and why too much exposition can lose your viewers.
In this episode, Larry talks about the five part Ducktales "movie" Time is Money, which introduces the character of Bubba Duck to the cast.
Vrrrrrooooom! Disney Villain Alonzo Hawk joins the Herbie world, and Andie and Larry are here for it! Topics include using a false climax, the lack of a showdown, and choosing to start a film with your antagonist.
Playwright Bryn Tanner joins Larry and Andie in unpacking this adaptation of Victor Hugo's foundational French novel. Topics include the dangers of explicit exposition, protagonist problems, and adult themes in a movie for families.
Join Larry and Andie as they crack the case of this movie, including discussions of foiling, the use of time in a screenplay, and how this movie starts perfectly.
The Holy Goof's Brett Niethamer combines forces with Larry and Andie to discuss the first computer animated Disney classic. Topics include protagonist problems, the need for a character to address flaws, and overkill on worldbuilding.
Oo-De-Lolly! Larry and Andie discuss the first Disney animated feature without Walt, including the dangers of crafting a narrative feature with one eye to television.
Arrrr, Matey! Andie and Larry unpack this treasure of a film, offering a lot of historical content, a thematic breakdown, and a discussion on film adaptation and why some parts of a novel do not make the cut.
There's a snake in my boot! Larry and Andie rave over this near perfect sequel, picking up where Toy Story left off. Topics include a dual inciting incident, themes, and how Pixar solves the Buzz Lightyear problem.
Larry and Andie tackle the first Disney movie musical completed without Walt. Topics include the Fetch Quest trope, how best to marry plot and music, and the problems with a heavy edit.
In this bonus episode, Larry discusses the pilot of Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985.) He posits that this series is an important pivot point, drawing from past successes in Disney animation but also laying the groundwork for Disney stories for years to come.
Join Andie and Larry for this followup to The Muppet Movie. Topics include love triangles, how cameo appearances need to drive the story, and how one of us feels Fozzie is grossly underutilized.
This BONUS episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Naslund-Mann School of Writing at Spalding University. Topics include the Mahnishtahnah, trouble with the inciting incident, and the vaudevillian nature of this movie musical.
Andie and Larry shrink down the elements of this late 80's classic. Topics include showing over telling, the primary importance of theme, and wondering who in the backyard is the real protagonist!
Larry and Andie "bounce" through this theatrical reboot of the Winnie The Pooh franchise. Topics include character continuity in a franchise, thematic challenges, how songs need pathos, and how to write a character experiencing a dark night of the soul.
Team Fritz or Team Ernst? Screenwriter Andrea Nasfell joins Andie and Larry for a discussion of this classic family film. Topics include the inciting incident, character arcs, and the structure of the film influenced by television.
Join Andie and Larry to discuss foiling, character relationships, and worldbuilding using this fast-paced Pixar classic.
Larry and Andie discuss Disney's first live action comedy and the dangers of editing a TV show into a feature - namely setups never paid off.
Join Andie and Larry for a discussion of this Disney miss - a movie which favors plot and location over character and theme - and what's up with no music?
Join Andie, Larry, and Director Tom Provost for this look at the 1961 live-action classic. Topics include dramatic questions, a recipe for Flubber, and why Mrs. Chatsworth is the true villain of the picture.
Kicking off Season 3 with the film credited with ushering in the Disney Renaissance of the 1990s! We discuss the importance of the 'mahnishtahnah,' characterization, and why the movie would end differently today.
In this last episode of Season 2, Larry and Andie tackle this truly perfect film. The prologue's exceptional use of exposition for worldbuilding and relationships, music, and complex characterizations driving plot - The Lion King has it all!
Larry and Andie heroically tackle this futuristic Disney Channel Original Movie. While it's not their favorite, the duo discuss flaws in the script and ways to improve the film.
VRRROOOM! Andie and Larry explore the highest grossing movie of 1969 starring a little VW bug named Herbie. Explorations include obstacles and complications, strong characterization, and what makes an antagonist a true villain.
Larry and Andie dig into this 1955 classic, asking lots of hard questions: how should a protagonist function, where should this film start, and why isn't Lady the hero of her own movie?
In this bonus episode, Larry takes a look at the Fluppy Dogs, a one hour Disney special that aired in 1986, never to be seen again. Larry summarizes the special, then focuses on how one goes about building a pitch for intellectual property in need of a reboot.
Director Denis Hennelly comes on board with Andie and Larry to analyze this 1979 Disney venture into space. Topics include Chekhov's Gun, 70s storytelling, and storytelling parallels with 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
Director Storme Wood joins Andie and Larry for a lively discussion analyzing 1977's The Rescuers. Subjects covered include dramatic questions, inciting incidents, and where the story really should start!
Larry and Andie talk The Muppets in their first full-length feature film. Two Mahnishtahnahs, three climaxes, and an explanation of multiple meta-references? Why, it's almost as if the Muppets wrote their own screenplay!
Join Larry and Andie for a conversation about Dumbo, the little movie that could. We compare Timothy Mouse to Jiminy Cricket, talk about the use of music, and discuss how empathy is built for a silent protagonist.
Andie and Larry discuss Disney's first all-American film, spliced together from three episodes of the Disneyland television series. Special emphasis in this podcast given to historical consideration in storytelling.
Poet Kiki Petrosino joins Andie and Larry for a look at Disney's take on the Dickensian classic, A Christmas Carol. Topics include casting choices, notes on screen adaptation following source material, and some wacky trivia in Game Time With Larry!
Larry and Andie tackle Aladdin 2: The Return of Jafar with the help of Nivi Engineer, discussing the shortcomings of a sequel film designed as the pilot for an animated series and the importance of consistency between films in a franchise.
More from the 90s Disney Afternoon Programming Block! Larry and Andie tackle the first five episode miniseries of the long arc animated series Gargoyles. We talk pros and cons of serialized cartoons, seeding the pilot for later payoff, and how this near perfect franchise deserves a revival!
The Holy Goof's Brett Niethamer joins Larry and Andie to discuss Disney's epic underwater adventure. Highlights include the film's historical significance in cinema, the importance of seeing a movie through the lens of the intended audience, and the layered portrayal of Captain Nemo.
Larry's on his own today, talking about the 1985 Disney TV show, The Wuzzles. What are the Wuzzles? WHY are the Wuzzles? He reviews the first three episodes of the Wuzzles series, then talks about why your tv series always needs to explore your core concept.
M-I-C-K-E-Y...Why? Because he's where it all began! Join Andie and Larry as they dig into two of Mickey Mouse's biggest hits. Topics include narration and aesthetic distance, protagonist problems, and how Donald Duck really does steal every scene!
Join Larry and Andie for an in-depth look at the last animated feature to bear Walt Disney's imprint. We talk protagonist problems, characterization, and the difficulty in isolating a climax for this film.
Happy Halloween! In this fan-requested episode, Andie and Larry talk extensively about how horror movies work and how this film is a bit of a miss.
In the second film in our Halloween trilogy, Larry and Andie dig into this classic Tim Burton tale. Highlights include suggestions for Oogie Boogie and Larry's thesis on what holiday this film is really all about.
For the first film in our Halloween series, author Nancy McCabe joins Larry and Andie to take a deeper look at one of their childhood favorites. The trio discusses film tone, how special effects save the day, and the problem with introducing a protagonist mid-movie.
Join Larry and Andie for a discussion of this 1961 classic Disney hit, including what they believe would improve this story for modern viewers.
Season 2 of Once Upon A Disney kicks off with Toy Story, Pixar's first feature length narrative. Join Andie and Larry and their special guest Lynnell Edwards for a discussion about obstacles, themes, and breaking the rules.
Larry and Andie round out Season 1 of the podcast with exposition, building tension, and a comparison of Cinderella to Snow White.
Disney writer Cassie Brower joins Larry and Andie for this Hayley Mills classic. Dramatic irony, shifting protagonists, a greeting from Minnie Mouse - this episode has it all!
The List Live podcast's Joseph Myers joins Andie and Larry to discuss economical storytelling and rounding flat characters.
Writer Taj Whitesell joins Larry and Andie for a look at the series engine for the original DuckTales animated series. We discuss tools needed to build a series plus super foiling and the need for an audience surrogate.
Film critic Richard Propes joins Andie and Larry for a fresh look at the beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood.
In this episode, Larry and Andie are joined by Holly Beck to talk The Fox And The Hound, a film that marked a departure from traditional Disney happy endings.
Lauren Milberger joins Larry and Andie for a talk about the body-switching genre, gender politics in the 1970s, and why this film did not require voiceover.
Larry and Andie are joined by award-winning playwright Kira Obolensky to dig into the background, characters, and episodic nature of the mad world of Wonderland.
Brett Niethamer of TheHolyGoof.com joins Andie and Larry to talk The Emperor's New Groove and why starting at Kuzco's lowest point makes sense for the film.
Jennifer Geraghty joins Larry and Andie for a look at this underrated Disney gem - a coming of age female protagonist set against the antagonizing backdrop of the Great Depression.
Larry and Andie discuss the foundational Disney animated feature, Bambi. Highlights include relationships between characters and writing hard subjects.
Medieval literature expert Doc Krueger joins Andie and Larry for Disney's take on the origin story of King Arthur.
Andie and Larry invite filmmaker Storme Wood to discuss escalating stakes and Larry's evil opposites theory in Pinocchio.
Etta Devine and Gabe Diani join Andie and Larry in fleshing out the storyline of Disney's darker take on Oz.
Larry, Andie, and guest star Tom Provost discuss setups, payoffs, dramatic tension, and characterizations in the live action film That Darn Cat!
Playwright and author Bridgette Dutta Portman joins Larry and Andie in discussing characters and themes in Disney's first animated narrative feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Larry, Andie, and guest host Nivi Engineer discuss Disney's 1992 version of Aladdin. This educational podcast discusses characterization, timeless content, and the Disney sidekick.
Second star to the right! In this educational podcast, Andie and Larry discuss character doubling, foils, and the real villain of Peter Pan.
In this educational podcast, Larry and Andie dig into this 1959 masterpiece and introduce the concept of dramatic irony.
Our first episode! Larry and Andie kick off this educational podcast with a look at one of Disney's most iconic films.