Writers Get Animated

How does a crazy idea break bad? Chris and Mackenzie explore some high concept shows that come from way, way out of left field to see how a crazy idea can be crazy good or go crazy bad! Joing them as they journey through the plot holes of Yogi's Space Race and as they traverse the wonders of Steven Universe. How is Steven Universe like Breaking Bad? Can you fall in space? Is "rock" a derogatory term for gems? Would someone actually spin a wheel to create a crazy show?

Chris and Mackenzie go through the shows that influenced them as writers. We run through the gamut of Gargoyles, the DCAU (DC Animated Universe), Looney Tunes, Wolf's Rain, Venture Bros., Darkwing Duck, Futurama, The Simpsons, Duck Tales, and Freakazoid. What makes a show "influencial" instead of simply "enjoyable?" What lessons can we learn from ducks? How many Shakespeare characters can exist in animated form?

Our fans ask: "Chris and Mackenzie, why don't you write cartoon shows?" Because no one is paying us to. However, with the help of our Wheel of Crossovers, we're bringing you three brilliant show concepts that don't exist yet. You can pay us now, Big Animation. The rules are simple: We spin the wheel to get two shows and one concept, then we have up to seven minutes to come up with a viable show. When we're done, one of those three prompts must be stricken from the wheel FOREVER. It's part improv, part animation nerdery. We prove that "It writes itself!" Or do we?

Today's episode is brought to you by the letter "J" for "Jack." Chris and Mackenzie get into children's shows chosen by Chris' 3-year-old son, Jack: Puffin Rock and Doc McStuffins. Why do pygmy shrews fart? Who tells Chris to stay on track with his playwriting? What kids' show is most like Eyes Wide Shut? What if the scientific method was a musical? What's the difference between stuffed lambs and plastic goats?

It's a very special episode of Writers Get Animated. Chris and Mackenzie open up about a very important (and complicated) topic: diversity/inclusivity in animation. The candid, personal conversation covers some large territory including Doc McStuffins, Speedy Gonzales, The Legend of Korra, Gargoyles, Star Vs. The Forces of Evil, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Futurama.

What's up, Doc? Chris and Mackezie take a sharp right turn at Albuquerque and go deep, deep down the wabbit hole to study the Chuck Jones masterpiece "What's Opera, Doc?" What does Elmer Fudd really want in life? Does Bugs Bunny actually love Elmer Fudd? Where did Bugs get that horse?

If you think The Simpsons stopped being great after awhile, you’re right! BUT! It did not stop being good! Chris and Mackenzie are joined by resident Simpsons expert Dr. Rachael Riggs Leyva to compile a list 10 great Simpsons episodes after Maude Flanders died. What makes a great episode of The Simpsons? Is child abuse still funny? Just how wibbly wobbly timey wimey is time in Springfield? When did Homer and Marge meet again?

What's one way to bring back your favorite character in a "fun" or "new" way? Give them kids! Chris and Mackenzie go on a voyage with Popeye (and Son) and join Team Avatar with their first look at The Legend of Korra. What color hair does Popeye have? What does a sailor have to do with Cajun chicken? Was Avatar Aang a good father? Who wants to buy a ship full of stinking fish?

Chris and Mackenzie talk about the 88th Oscars! Not the Animated feature category, though. Their focus? The category everyone should care about more: Animated Shorts. The nominees: World of Tomorrow, Sanjay's Super Team, We Can't Live Without Cosmos, Bear Story, and Prologue. This year's group of nominees only includes two films animated with computer graphics. Is this a return to traditional animation? How much dialogue do you need for a short film? Can anyone ever beat Pixar?

Video games and cartoons. The two often go hand-in-hand. If someone likes cartoons, they often like video games. But should we really like video games AND cartoons? Is their union an unholy matrimony, or is there potential for cartoons based on games to be the biggest thing since Marvel comics went cinematic? Their victims for the day: Sonic the Hedgehog and The Legend of Zelda. Bonus mentions of The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Boom, and Futurama: The Lost Episode.

It's the episode Gotham deserves! Chris and Mackenzie spelunk into the Bat-Cave to investigate tone in Batman: The Animated Series! There have been many incarnations of Batman, and Batman: The Animated Series has shown the Dark Knight from many angles and in some very different lights. In this episode of Writers Get Animated, they look at three Bat-episodes: Almost Got 'Im, Over the Edge, and Tales of the Dark Knight.

It's everyone's favorite animated Great Dane! Chris and Mackenzie scarf down a whole box of Scooby Snacks to talk about Scooby-Doo and his gang of meddling kids! They look at the very first episode of Scooby-Doo (What a Night for a Knight) and the first episode of Be Cool, Scooby-Doo (Mystery 101), the latest incarnation. They ask the questions no one asks, such as: Why does Daphne hang out with these people? Are Velma's glasses sonic? And does all this happen inside of Scooby's head?

"Hey, you remember that really successful movie? Now, it's an animated TV show!" What could possibly go wrong? Chris and Mackenzie investigate the different ways companies have spun-off movies into animated shows and dive into some successes, looking at episodes of Aladdin and Men in Black.

When two worlds really love each other... They crossover! Chris and Mackenzie go in-depth the granddaddy crossover event: "The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones" in which we learn that Fred Flintstone is a terrible person. Seriously. Then, they follow up with Simpsorama, the Simpsons/Futurama crossover episode in which we're reminded that Bender is awesome.

It's the long lost unaired pilot of Writers Get Animated! And by 'long', we mean 'not at all'. Listen! As Chris and Mackenzie get awkwardly close to their mics. Gasp! As our heroes struggle for something to talk about. Marvel! At their ability to fill their holiday broadcast schedule. As part of our (previously) unaired pilot, we look at the unaired pilots of The Real Ghostbusters and Regular Show and then discuss ditched concepts such as Gotham High (It's Batman in high school!) and Roger Rabbit vs. Nazis!

To celebrate the New Year, Writers Get Animated brings you shows that have no resolutions! Cliffhangers! They're everywhere: mid-season finales, season finales, quarter-season finales. Some shows do it well, some shows were cancelled before the cliffhangers could be resolved. Chris and Mackenzie define three types of cliffhangers by taking a look at the multiple endings of Futurama, the "Who Shot Mr. Burns" episodes of The Simpsons, and the final episodes of Young Justice.

It's the Writers Get Animated Very Special Christmas Special Christmas Special! Chris and Mackenize look at two holiday classics... Well, one holiday classic (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer) and a show with "Christmas" in the title (He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special) to answer the big questions no one asks: Is the North Pole a Marxist ideal? How did the toys get to the Island of Misfit toys? How does Skeletor get the Christmas Spirit? And what exactly is a "Beast Monster?"

A long time ago, in a Nigel's living room far, far away... Celebrate (or lament) the release of The Force Awakens with Chris and Mackenzie! We go way back to the first episode of Star Wars: Droids and then Force-jump into two story arcs from Star Wars: The Clone Wars to see how animation has helped expand the Star Wars universe.

What's new (everyone-else-but-Scooby-Doo)? In this episode, Chris and Mackenzie discuss some of the new shows they caught and decide which shows they'll continue to watch. Special focus on Guardians of the Galaxy, Wabbit, We Bare Bears, and Star vs. The Forces of Evil. 2014 set the bar high for new animated shows. Does 2015 hold up?

In this episode, we explore the concept of origin stories, beginning with the grandaddy of them all: Superman. Join Chris and Mackenzie as they journey through the origin story episodes of Darkwing Duck and The Powerpuff Girls. How does each follow, distort, and have fun with the concept of origin stories?