"The Simpsons" LEGO episode happened, DreamWorks launches a YouTube channel, and "The Flintstones" head back to the big screen! We also discuss the "TimeOut Top 100 Animated Films" list and our personal favorites. Oh and we also talk pooping... because we're adults. So this week's podcast was LIVE so there's a lot more showing off... which comes out in the form... OF SONG -- because that's normal. Enjoy![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep27-yabba_dabba_dont.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #27: "Yabba Dabba Don't"]

And we finally break the 2hr mark! That's right, we talk about Batman and The Simpsons -- listing off our favorite episodes and moments -- and then shift over to talking about sexism in movies and the Bechdel test again. But if that's not enough, we close out the podcast with about 30min of discussing racism (centered around a story about "The Jungle Book")... so it's a super light and breezy listen. Oh, and Pat sings! As always, I encourage anyone to post their thoughts and feelings in the comment section. See you there![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep26-can_we_edit_that_one_out.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #26: "Can We Edit That One Out?"]

Rob and Stephen talk about animation: where they got started, thoughts on where animation is going, and how to stay young & naive in a world that keeps knocking down your optimism. We were going to talk about some stories from this week, but since Pat is not with us on this episode we just ended up talking about some of the more "animator" parts of animation. Oh and let's not forget... this episode ends in violence! Not kidding. Hope all of you enjoy it and we'd love to hear what you have to say in the comments! I think this will prompt a great discussion of what animation is to you.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep25-i_do_mickey_mouse.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #25: "I Do Mickey Mouse"]

What an episode!! We have a couple great storytelling moments, we talk about focus groups, design issues, animation tips, and discussions on the best cartoon vehicles and how Hollywood turns shows into movies. This might be the most "Rubber Oniony" episode yet! We do all the things. Thanks to everyone who submitted topics and questions and hope you enjoy. Join the discussion in the comments and let us know what you think or what you'd like us to cover next week![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep24-illuminaughty.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #24: "Illuminaughty"]

Archie's gonna die! Rob was on Comedy Central! We tell vomit stories! So many things happening. This was our second attempt at a live podcast and we had a great turnout in the chat! Everyone was suggesting names for the title of the podcast and we ultimately chose the one Ryan Cooper from Mukpuddy animation studio suggested. This is also the first time we have something unique for both those who saw the podcast live and those of you listening here... success! But what I really want to know is... what are some of YOUR unrelated vomit stories?[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep23-unrelated_vomit_stories.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #23: "Unrelated Vomit Stories"]

This week's podcast is all about the TMNT (2014) first trailer and how much it sucks... and why. We (meaning Stephen mostly, let's be honest) break down every incarnation of the Turtles and how things got to be where we are now, with two great incarnations and a possible disaster on the way. Also, Rob tells a sad story at the end you won't want to miss! This week, the audio was recorded off a LIVE broadcast with viewers and errrrrrrything. Fans made images, illustrations (below) and comments... it was a lot of fun! You can check the recorded video below, if you're into that sorta thing...[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep22-tmnt2014_trailer_talk.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #22: "TMNT (2014) Trailer Talk"]

This episode might have my favorite segment in it so far where we rip up eHarmony's industry-specific list "15 Reasons to Date an Animator." Rob & Stephen are flying solo this episode with Pat off fighting crime for the week... and it goes as you might guess. Character voices are created, stories are told, transitions are fumbled, innuendos are made. But first, we HAD to talk about new info about the TMNT movie coming out... because Stephen...[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep21-beefy_teenage_mutant_ninja_babies.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #21: "Beefy Teenage Mutant Ninja Babies"]

A bunch of the things we talk about this week were actually stories that broke just yesterday! The new Peanuts teaser trailer hit this week and impressed everyone except, predictably, Pat. Also, in the world of "what-the-what-really-are-you-serious?!"... Sofia Coppola is rumored to be directing a Live-Action "The Little Mermaid." Finally, "The Incredibles 2" was confirmed, and so was "Cars 3"... what?! So we talk about those things. Enjoy all these talks![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep20-its_a_pube_charlie_brown.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #20: "It's a Pube, Charlie Brown"]

Slow week for animation stories but we're back and funnier than evah! We have a great discussion about the internet, content creation, and the free vs paid problem of the previous two points. Oh we also talk about the new Simpsons couch gag and a whole bunch of Cartoon Network talk because of Stu Snyder's departure. We'd love to see what you think about these discussion so leave a comment, because comments are delicious to my creator tummy.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep19-crab_faces.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #19: "Crab Faces"]

Long live Adele Dazeem!! The Oscars were this weekend so we talk about them out of mostly obligation, but the real stories are with our own Rob Yulfo and Pat Ryan coming out with brand new creative content! Rob's got a new animated short and Pat has just started a Sci-Fi radio show series (both embedded below). We also talk about painted movie posters, Bill Waterson's new "comic", the documentary on the Rhythm & Hues bankruptcy and the VFX issue as a whole. This one was recorded in one long shot and I didn't go back to remaster anything because Rob again... has computer issues. We literally recorded this 3 hours prior to me typing this. So... enjoy!! (=[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep18-adele_dazeem.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #18: "Adele Dazeem"]

Even with Stephen still on the road the podcasts don't stop... not with tablets, mobile hotspots, and coffee shops! This week had simultaneously the greatest rumor & the biggest, immediate letdown of that rumor. But with that, there's good news about Spectacular Spider-Man finally coming to Blu-ray, Greg McCleod's new animated short "365" and confirmation that Miyazaki really is retiring. Listen to the greatness![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep17-jurassic_pat.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #17: "Jurassic Pat"]

Stephen is traveling this week... but that won't stop us! The podcast continues, with a spit & glue setup only MacGyver could understand. This week we talk about Clone Wars coming to Netflix, Annie Leibovitz making our casting game come true, and Rob finds a tumblr that... well... I'll let him explain it. We also talk about a post that made its rounds this week on what it actually means to be an animator. It was short and blunt and we have words about it.This week, a friend and fellow animation geek, Jules Jammal, passed away at a well-lived but still young age of 39. There is a link to a scholarship set up in his name in the annotations in the post. Please consider giving.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep16-animals_are_dumb.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #16: "Animals Are Dumb"]

"The LEGO Movie" blew our collective minds this weekend and we had to talk about it... a LOT! But don't worry there are absolutely NO spoilers at all in the discussion. We get into some interesting topics like metamodernism and the new comedy, selling out and how it's a crap concept, and the remix culture and understanding what the soul of a property is. Oh... and we had a WHOLE BUNCH OF TECHNICAL ISSUES! Man alive... for this being the most discussion we've ever had on any subject(s), this was a bad time to have audio go wonkey, mic problems, people cutting in and out. But ever the profession, I have edited this thing together in a Lynchian masterpiece of epic awesomesauce. If you ever leave a comment on one of our podcast episodes, this is the one to do it on. A lot going on here and we'd love to hear what you think! Oh and psst... little secret... stay for the very very end. Hashtag smiley face (that's me trying to understand young culture).[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep15-everything_is_lego.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #15: "Everything Is LEGO"]

RANTS! Oh my, the rants. There's a lot to talk about this week and we really fit a lot in. This might be one of my favorite episodes yet, and definitely has my favorite Rob Yulfo photoshops (Homey/Joker & us as princesses at the bottom of this post). Last week was our special trivia episode so this week we're back to form with a longer episode where we really open up on some topics. I encourage all of you to post in the comments your thoughts on these topics. I look forward to it![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep14-joker_dont_play_that.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #14: "Joker Don't Play That"]

It's my (Stephen's) Birthday! So, of course, we're playing trivia. Actually I'm reading the trivia questions while Pat & Rob struggle to happen upon a correct answer. Happy Birthday to me. This is another "special" podcast in that it's one of those short ones. It's an artifact of my hosting company, I only have so much space per month so every 4th episode... you get this. You're welcome.Sidenote: This Saturday, Feb 1st at 10pm ET on the LIVE section of this website we will be doing a special one-night only LIVE podcast during the Annie Awards ceremony. Anyone who has ever watched them knows what an unpredictable night it can be so you should absolutely join us. We have a chat room where you can interact with us and everything... almost like we planned it! You can RSVP on the Facebook event page too if you like.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep13-old_kid_brooks.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #13: "Old Kid Brooks"]

Behold in the intro, the strangest sounding burp in the world... courtesy of Rob (who else?)! This week we talk about John K working for Miley Cyrus, Alan Becker blowing up the internet, and just about everything else under the sun. This episode could easily be called "tangents" because we are ALL over the place. Pat is a bit sick again (rapidly becoming a theme on the podcast) but toughed it out for your benefit. Still, it was a lot of fun to record! Have enjoyment with the words we have uttered.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep12-panzerfaust_tank_fist.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #12: "Panzerfaust Tank Fist"]

In this episode we discuss The Simpsons honoring Miyazaki, Michel Gagne's new movie, a couple new trailers, another "trick" competition to scheme animators to work for free and Meryl Streep's character attack of someone long since dead at an award show for someone completely different sitting right there in the audience. It's been a weird week. We also find out that PAT IS A RAPPER. Learn something new every day.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep11-good_at_fighting_dragon_ballz.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #11: "Good at Fighting Dragon Ballz"]

For the first podcast of 2014 we talk "Frozen"s success, Rob's new animated short, and a lot of death. One passing that hit us was that of "Apple Dave" (mistakenly called "Apple Dan" on ep1). It hit us hard. Hit us right in the podcast. But never fear... we're still as dumb and likable as ever! Let us lift your spirits and get your year started off with a few laughs and some actual sincerity (for 0.4 seconds). Happy 2014!![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep10-apple_dave.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #10: "Apple Dave"]