Flashback Friday with Bruce W. Smith

Were you one of the millions of kids that grew up watching “The Proud Family” TV series on the Disney Channel in the 90s?  If so, you’re in for a great show with series creator Bruce Smith.  Find out why Robin Williams called him “the Animator” and why the animation world looks up to Bruce Smith! 

The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast is sponsored by Stuart Ng Books!

Indie Animation with the founder of Brazen Animation - Bryan Engram

To celebrate today’s release of the 2d animated film “Light of the World”- a film the Bancroft’s worked on- they discuss the ins and outs of creating a 2d independent animated feature film. They are joined by directing partner John J Schafer and producer Pam Darley. Let’s get into it! 

The Bancroft’s sit down with Julia McIntyre, also known as @thebookishanimator_   After losing her dream job in 2d animation, she gained popularity on her social media by creating animated scenes based on  books she was reading. Publishers now come to her to create custom content for new book releases!  

Welcome to a fun and inspiring episode of our podcast, featuring YouTube character designer, filmmaker, and influencer Jackie Droujko! 🎙✨

In this candid conversation, Jackie opens up about her creative journey — from early struggles to major successes — and shares the lessons she’s learned along the way.

It's podcast episode 275 and we saved it for the amazing Kyle T. Webster!  If you have used Photoshop within the last five years, you know Kyle by his digital brushes that he created for Adobe.  He has an interesting story of being the forerunner of creating digital brushes, creating relationships with major studios, being an early entrepreneur on Gumroad, and his more recent decision to leave Adobe to join Procreate!  Get "brushed up" on Kyle in this episode! 

Is 2d animation making a comeback?  It is if you're talking with Tom and Tony and Aaron Blaise and Nick Burch!  Join these four animation vets as they discuss where 2d animation is now, what's happening with Aaron's one man-, hand drawn "Snow Bear" short film, will Disney get back into the 2d game, and what's next for this group of 2d animation lovers!  

There are a flood of amazing animated short films out and coming your way so Tony and Tom are sitting with a few creators to discuss their films pre-Oscar buzz!  For this episode, the Bancrofts interview Disney animation supervisor Nathan Englehardt and Disney Storyboard artist Jeremy Spears, the two creators/directors of the CG animated short film "Forevergreen".  This short was created by themselves and a small team of dedicated artists, all on their "off hours" from their jobs at Disney and elsewhere.  No big studio funding, just lots and lots of sweat and love poured into a film that has an amazing style and story.  Don't miss this episode!  

Tony (without Tom this time) sits down with the founders of Steamroller Animation- a new independent animation studio that is creating "steam" throughout the industry!  Innovative training programs and interesting projects abound at Steamroller.  Have a listen to hear how they are trying to make a difference in the US animation market!  

Recorded at this year’s Animation Y’all Expo this was a panel called “Making it in Animation” with words of encouragement from vets to newer industry professionals. This panel includes tips, tricks and anecdotes from Aaron Blaise, Lara Carson, Matt O’Callaghan and wonderfully moderated by Chelsea Trousdale. If you are struggling to find your way in the crazy business of animation, this podcast is for you!

Here's a description: In our unofficial "Part 3" of podcasts where we talk to industry insiders about GenAI usage and how it will affect artists, The Bancroft Bros talk with filmmaker Paul Trillo from the LA studio, Asteria.  Paul and his team have just finished an animated music video for artist Cuco called “A Love Letter to LA" that uses hand drawn 2d animation and GenAI in harmony with each other.  Paul went out of his way to make sure real artists and animators were paid and that they created a "clean" AI data 

The Bancroft Brothers present the Chris Sonnenburg show- co-starring Jeff Snow!  Yep, this episode is a panel that Chris and Jeff put on at our own Animation Y'all Expo just a couple months ago.  Chris leads the panel which is called "Here’s the pitch..” - and he goes deep on how you need to think about your show so it can get bought!  Chris and Jeff use real world examples and behind the scenes of developing shows like the "Tangled" animated series for Disney!  This one should NOT be missed!  

Co-creator of Pixar’s Win or Lose series, Carrie Hobson!

In this fun episode, the Bancroft Bros get the chance to speak with the amazing voice actor, Eric Bauza, the voice for Daffy Duck, Elmor Fudd and many more.   He also does a pretty good TRUMP, as you'll hear.   We discuss the upcoming release of the fully 2D animated new WB feature film, "The Day the Earth Blew Up".   You won't want to miss this one!  Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts from.  

The Bancroft Brothers are honored to have the legendary illustrator, James Gurney on the podcast this week!  We discovered so many similarities in our paths and mutual loves and influences.  Enjoy this discussion of animation, illustration, and even a bit of where he believes things are headed for himself- and possibly you.  

The twins interview twins in this Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast episode!  French animation mastors and Disney alum directors, Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, have a storied past on some of the most epic Disney films of the 90s.  Tony and Tom discuss their storyboarding and directing of some of the most iconic scenes in films like Hunchback of Notre Dame and Fantasia 2000!   Enjoy the accents!  

Welcome to another Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast!  In this episode, Tom and Tony interview uber-talented illustrator and character designer Thomas Fluharty. Thomas has been in advertising and editorial illustration for magazines and newspapers for most of his career and has recently dove into the animation world through character design. In fact, he is the head character designer for the new "The Chosen" animated series. 

The BBros reminisce about a time in their lives when these two wet behind the ears, shy boys were trying to break into the animation industry. These are the stories that were game changer moments and helped define us. Listen to this episode if you are just starting out and-Seize the day!

The Bros enjoyed a sit down conversation with the talented UK Concept Artist Izzy Burton!  Fresh off of working together on a 2D feature film, we discuss: Her amazing drive and how she doesn't suffer from FOMO, but FONC (Fear of Not Creating), having an artist partner, and what the UK animation market is like right now and how she finds work.  Happy New Year from the Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast and thank you for your support in 2025!

In this episode, Tom and Tony interview a true “artist’s artist”, Tod Polson, master animation designer and director.  We discuss Tod’s amazing book about Maurice Noble and what he learned from Chuck Jones's main layout artist at Warner Brothers Studios.  We then dive into discussing his newest short film, “The 21” a powerful and stylized film that tells the true story of martyred men of faith in the 90s. This is an amazing, Oscar-worthy short!

As promised, this is the Bancroft Brothers breakdown of this year’s Lightbox Expo. And it was a good one! The B boys also talk about their own expo, Animation Y’all in Nashville and give out some exclusive announcements!  You know who’s coming? You will after listening to this episode!

In this episode, the “twin bros that knows” interview Showrunner Natasha Kline, creator of the Disney show “Primos”.  Hear her story of developing it through a hurtle like the pandemic while keeping site of her dream- to make a show based off her own story- about a Latin American girl with many different cousins all living nearby!  After all, “Primos” means Cousins!  Toon in now on @ApplePodcasts @Spotify or the link in my IG bio!  

On this Flashback Friday, step back in time as the Bancroft Brothers interview one of their top ten wants for the podcast, the legendary animator, James Baxter. Find out what one of the top five animators in the world did at the beginning of his career that set him on a lifelong path of animation success. In addition, learn what movie James wishes he could do over.  And, hear how James was lured away from Disney by Katzenberg and Spielberg. This and lots more on this amazing podcast.

“The Amazing Digital Circus”!  They dive into what makes the series creators, Glitch Productions so different in their approach to making shows on YouTube!  Is this the future of animation?  Yes it is!  

Welcome to the Bancroft Brothers "update" episode!  And, unlike the rest of the industry, it's all fun news!   Tom and Tony discuss their crazy weekend at the annual Twins Day Festival, an update on the feature film they are working on, and a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT about the newest Animation Expo on the block- created by The Bancroft Brothers!  Enjoy! 

Tom and Tony take on the subject of Generative AI once again but this time with guest Aniket Bhatt, Meta animator and artist!  Aniket and the twins discuss some of the misconceptions artists have about AI and how it may not be taking over entertainment like everyone is saying! 

The brothers interview an amazing up and comer director, Usman Raiz. His new Indy feature film, The Glassworker, premiered at this year’s Annecy film festival to rave reviews!  Hear how Usman’s 10-year journey making Pakistan’s first animated feature film was laced with challenges and inspiration all along the way! 

The brothers Bancroft discuss Production Design with Pete Oswald of the “Garfield” movie!  Pete is a multitalented animation and children’s book artist with a wealth of knowledge on character design, art direction and production design!  Enjoy!  

The Rise of Glen Keane!  In this episode, the Brothers Bancroft discuss one of their favorite topics: the legendary animator Glen Keane!  But, they don't discuss the part of his career that is what eveeryone know him from - the The Little Mermaid to the present day- BUT they do a deep dive (okay, more shallow and not researched) in THE EARLY DAYS OF GLEN KEANE!  We talk about the first 4-5 films that he was involved in and how he got noticed at Disney.  This is the MAKING of Glen Keane episode!  You WILL learn something new!  

"Running a worldwide drawing challenge" with Whitney Pollett and Lauren Barger.  We are wrapping up May, but not without talking to Tom's partners in "MerMay", the amazing Whitney Pollett and Lauren Barger!  Tony and Tom dig into how MerMay became the second largest drawing challenge on the internet and a worldwide phenomenon, what are the changes happening with the event, and how Whitney and Lauren plan on growing it!  Also, we discuss their careers in Toy Design and Character Design and how they make it all work!  

Flashback Friday with Victoria Ying

The long awaited “AI discussion” episode is here!  The Bancroft’s talk all things artificial intelligence and animation with special effects guru and YouTuber Niko Pueringer of the Corridor Crew channel!  They discuss the ins and outs of the issues behind the technology that is potentially changing the animation industry. Is there a way to use it as a tool, is there a hopeful future living in the new AI world, or are we all doomed?  Let’s start the discussion! 

Today we go back in time to rediscover Mitchels VS the Machines. the brothers interview Mike Rianda (director), Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Producers). If you missed it the first time around, you won't want to miss this. 

Many of our listeners are experiencing hard times or will be sometime soon. We brought in former Pixar intern Meridian Gray Culpepper, storyboard artist and YouTuber.  Meridian had created a popular video about “Surviving a Layoff in the Animation Industry”.  Let’s get into it! 

Tony and Tom recorded LIVE from Dublin, Ireland on the state of the Irish animation industry!  You've heard of @cartoonsaloon and the amazing feature films being made at that studio, but the Brothers dig deeper, into the wealth of production studios in Dublin, Kelkinney and further out that are making many of your favorite TV series and films!  We spotlight three Irish animation industry pros: Claire Finn, Managing Director, Lighthouse studios, Paul O'Flanagan, Creative Director, Boulder Media, and Eimhim (Evan) MacNamara, Owner, Matchbox Mountain studio.  Grab a chair and join us for a pint of animation knowledge!  

Tom and Tony get together to answer YOUR questions about the animation industry in this fun, casual episode!  There's a lot of stress and layoffs in the industry right now and we want to talk it through with our listeners!  Also, the Bancroft Bros are going to Ireland next week so they put out a call to do a meet up in Dublin!  Come one, come all!  

In a heartfelt episode, Tom and Tony talk to their Disney animation mentor, Mark Henn, who has retired from Disney Feature Animation after 43 years of service!  Hear Disney stories from the legendary creator of classic characters like Jasmine, Young Simba, Mulan, Tatiana and more!  

In this episode, the Bancrofts speak with Olan Rogers, indy series creator of "Final Space" as well as the new short, "Godspeed"!  Olan has a lot to say about the pitfalls and joys of making your dream TV project in the studio system of Hollywood.  From being one of the OG Youtubers, to a showrunner/creator, having a clothing line, to owning an ice cream shop- Olan has done it all- simultaneously!  Listen and learn!  

Tom and Tony have a great discussion about the innovative new animated series, "Wingfeather Saga" with Keith Lango (Head of CG Animation) and Garrett Taylor (Art Director).  AND WE MEAN INNOVATIVE: The whole project is crowd funded to the tune of $5M, they are using Unreal Engine for instantaneous rendering, it has 2D sets and CG characters with painterly textures, it's based on a popular book series, and it's all being created by a small team in NASHVILLE, Tennessee?  This podcast has it all!  

Welcome to Disney’s Mulan 25th anniversary podcast! This was recorded LIVE  at Lightbox Expo 2023 and includes Armand Serrano (layout artist), Chris Sanders (Head of Story), Tony Bancroft (co-director), and  Tom Bancroft (supervising Animator of Mushu)! At the last minute, Disney legend Floyd Norman (Mulan story artist) showed up and joined us as a surprise guest!  Here some great BTS stories from old people that were much younger 25 years ago!

Through  a mini miracle, Disney gave us quick access to interview “Once Upon A Studio” directors Trent Correy and Dan Abraham!  We had a ball talking BTS stories of making this short that celebrates 100 years of Disney animation! 

Engage Your Career - The Bancroft Brothers look at the current events in the industry and discuss some of the hot topics. They apply that to how their listeners need to view their careers during hard times. 

Welcome to an interview with Yashar Kassai, production designer of the new TMNT: Mutant Mayhem film!  Additionally, he was a  production designer on both Spiderverse films and The Murphy’s Vs the Machines! Hear Yashar’s wisdom of the ages about style, the difference between a production designer and an art director, and how AI can be used in the production process- all while Tony and Tom make juvenile swipes about his working on the Emoji movie!  Enjoy! 

This is a special podcast for the Bancroft Brothers- they talk with old CalArts roommate and former Pixar storyboard artist Jim Capobianco on the eve of the release of his new indy animated feature film release called "The Inventor"!  We dig into all the behind the scenes stories about how it started years ago as a 2D animated short and evolved into a stop motion feature film with celebrity actors like Daisy Ridley! 

The Bancroft’s interview long- sought after superstar #animation #characterdesigner and The New Yorker cover artist, Peter de Séve !  He influenced all your fav films- from Hunchback to Finding Nemo to Mulan to creating Scrat in Ice Age!  

Who would have thought a trip to France would end with the Bancroft Bros interviewing Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the creators of "Phineas and Ferb"?  Yep, when you go to the Annecy Animation film festival, you never know who you'll bump into!  Dan and Swampy were there with Disney TV to promote their new season of Phineas and Ferb and we grabbed them for a juicy interview full of behind the scenes and fun!  Enjoy!

How to make a career in Anime! - In the most unexpected podcast ever- the Bancroft brothers talk anime!  We got together with anime pro, Jarrett Martin, and American who has started an anime animation studio in Japan!  Jarrett has some amazing information on how YOU could break into the anime animation business right now!  Enjoy!

Tom and Tony are still yawning from jet lag as they discuss their FIRST time going to the Annecy Animation Film Festival in France!  They talk about all the things they did and the people they saw, and even some mini-reviews of some of the sneak peeks that were screened there!  Lastly, they debate the topic: "What are the PROS and CONS of the Annecy Film Festival?  Should you go? "  Find out in this episode!  

On the fortnight before the release, Tom and Tony discuss the rollercoaster ride that was the making of the new Netflix animated film, "Nimona".  The Bancrofts interview the film's directors, Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, about their film that rose from the ashes of the demise of Blue Sky and became a fiery phoenix on Netflix!  We also talk about the Annecy film Festival, drop names, and discuss Nick's problem with Disney.  Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all the others!

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In this RETRO rerelease of classic episodes of the Bancroft Brothers Animation podcast, we go back to one of are biggest "gets", director BRAD BIRD, from Episode #19!  We interviewed him on the cusp of his first live action film, "Tomorrowland"!  Hear the genuine fear he had about how it would be received as well as his love for 2D animation in this amazing podcast! 

In another Retro BBros Podcast- we go back OVER 200 episodes to another listener favorite: Podcast #25- “Failures, Flubs, Frustrations”.  In this classic, the Bancroft Twins open up about mistakes and failures in their careers and how they grew from them.  Listen again and share with a friend!

By popular request!  The Bancroft Brothers are opening our archives to some of our most popular and hard to find classic episodes!  Our first “retro” release is Podcast 8- our first Glen Keane interview!  Enjoy hearing us geek out about Glen and his amazing career!

In this fun episode, the twins take a break from interviews and talk about some of their favorite animated animators, movies, TV shows, all-time artists and “the film that got away”.  Enjoy!  

In this episode, Tom and Tony discuss their thoughts on Artificial Intelligence and its effects on art and animation.  They also dig into their thoughts on the popular Corridor Crew video that they were featured in and the story behind how that video was created.  AI is here to stay, so let's talk about what we need to be thinking about as artists and where things are headed!

“Moving Pixels” Animators Talk about Animation

Anna Gopin (“Lightyear”, “The Mitchells vs the Machines”), Toniko Pantoja (“The Croods: A New Age”, “Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts”), and Andrew Gordon (“Ron’s Gone Wrong”, “Incredibles 2”, “Finding Dory”)  

As part of the  Bancroft Bros Oscar 2023 series, we talk to the creators of the first A24 animated film, “Marcel The Shell with Shoes On “. We interview Dean Fleischer Camp (Director of the film) and Kirsten Lepore (Animation Director) and SNL star/actress Jenny Slate (co-creator and voice of Marcel)!  Some amazing Oscar- specific stories are shared that will surprise you about this intimate and beloved film! 

Here is our interview with the co-directors and producer of the nominated animated short, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse. Based upon the award-winning book by Charley Mackesy and directed by him and co-director Peter Baynton and produced by Cara Speller

Disney TV show Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur! We interviewed the show’s Producer’s Rodney Clouden and Steve Loter.

In this epic podcast, Tony flies solo as moderator for an amazing panel of Animation Directors that was originally a live event at LightBox Expo 2022!  So few made it into the room that this will be BRAND NEW for our listeners!  Listen as Tony speaks with directors Chris Sanders (Lilo and Stitch), Brenda Chapman (Brave), Chris Williams (The Sea Beast), and Jill Culton (Abominable).  Learn from the best how they craft a story into a blockbuster feature film!  

"How to Get Your "Geek" idea sold!" - The Bros that Knows take a different path in this interview with Brian Volk-Weiss, the producer of many comedy specials and the well known docu-series "The Toys That Made Us" and "Icons: Unearthed" spotlighting the making of the Simpsons! Find out how Hollywood works behind the scenes with this ICON-ic producer!  

As 2022 comes to a close, the Bancroft Bros discuss where the animation industry sits and where it seems to be headed in 2023. Listen and let us know what you think lies ahead in 2023! 

In this EPIC podcast, the Bancroft Bros celebrate Netflix's newest animated film, "Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio" by interviewing, not one, but FOUR team members- the directors, Guillermo Del Toro and Mark Gustafson first, and then Supervising animator Brian Leif Hansen and character fabricator Georgina Hayns!  This is the podcast to listen to BEFORE you watch the BEST Pinocchio film since the OG from the 40s!  Let's do this!  

The Bros went to Lightbox Expo 2022 and held a LIVE podcast with a standing room-only crowd about the amazing Netflix show “Arcane” !  Co-creator Alex Yee and Executive Producer Melinda Dilger open up about how it all started and tell some BTS stories!   

Hi Gang! This week’s Podcast for Friday will be our interview with the creators of Netflix’s new limited animated series "Oni: Thunder God’s Tale”. We had the pleasure to interview, via zoom, The co-creator/ Director Daisuke “Dice” Tsutsumi, the Exec Producer Robert Kondo and the Producer Sara Sampson. It was a short interview becuase of some tech problems and their limited time. The zoom call audio is up on the Dropbox and ready for cutting.There are no sponsors mentioned in our interview so we hope that Preston can add them in. The series has already released a couple weeks ago so this is an “after the release interview”

The brothers Bancroft dive into what it takes to pitch and show-run an animated series for Dreamworks with this episode! Hulu’s “The Mighty Ones” is starting its 2nd season, and we interview co-creator, Sunil Hall and Exec Producer, Greg Miller about how it started as an idea to final series and the path it took along the way!

"How To Start a Virtual Animation Studio" - In this special edition of the Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast, Tony interviews Tom about his recently launched animation company: Pencilish Studios.  In this discussion, Tom opens up about why he started the company at the start of a worldwide pandemic, what's different now from when the major studios were launching back in the 40s, and what new ways of funding there are for launching your dream company!

The Bancroft Bros finally talk anime!  More specifically,  they talk about the profound influence that Hayao Miyazaki - and Studio Ghibli- had on us and the Disney studios in the 90s!  

While the cat is away, the mouse will play! With Tom out of town, Tony goes it alone with long time friend and Character Designer of the OG Kim Possible and Clerks, Stephen Silver! Tony and Stephen have an informal discussion about artistic influences, finding joy in your life and his new job as a artistic recruiter at Walt Disney TV Animation. He has gone from being an artist who showed his portfolio to Disney to now being the one to review portfolios for Disney! And he has a lot to say about how to get a job in today’s animation marketplace. Listen up y’all!

Genndy Tartakovsky

Susan Egan

Ok, let’s get into it: NFT’s! The BBros discuss the controversy that is the NFT marketplace. Is it a great new business option for artists? We speak with Gal Yosef an artist who’s life was dramatically changed 2 years ago all because of his art being sold as NFTs. Yosef breaks down the most important elements to success in NFTs and makes sense of it all for the artist.

To find out more about our NFT charity project with Ultiverse: https://twitter.com/0xElectricsheep
for more info about Ultiverse, please follow: https://twitter.com/UltiverseDAO

In this Episode, The Bancroft’s talk to old Disney pal and Director of many Disney sequels and projects.  Well, actually he talks and the Bancroft’s listen to one inspiring story after another of beating all the odds to make his dream of working for Disney come true!  

By popular demand of our five listeners, this episode is part 2 of the two part series, “The Business of Animation!”  In this episode we discuss pricing, job titles, and much more!

Did you know that the hugely popular Veggietales was the FIRST computer animated series?  In this podcast, hear from Veggitales creator Phil Vischer about how he created his revolutionary series about Christian vegetables, it's rise to success and how he lost it.  Also, some amazing early computer animation history- all in this fun, live episode!

Academy Award nominated director and co-creators Alberto Mielgo and Leo Sanchez join the Bancroft twins to discuss their “Best Animated Short film”, Windshield Wiper.  It’s a story of passion that lasted 7 years in the making!  Listen to two innovators discuss how they stayed focused inbetween creating Hollywood hit films to create a masterpiece that may go all the way!  

The Bancroft Brothers will be together again after over 30 years of living apart!  Why is Tony leaving California, the heart of the animation industry, after all these years?  Retirement?  Nope! Listen on and find out his reasons for making this huge decision!

Where do you go if you were a Pixar animator, animated and directed for Tonko House and now produce Academy-nominated short films like last years, Opera and this years VR short Namoo (fingers crossed)? Well, The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast of course! The BBros sit down with the ever creative Erick Oh and talk about his ambitions for storytelling and animation, his new VR short with Baobab Studios and how he spent researching and animating a curious octopus named Hank! Oh, it gets real up in here!

In this fun episode, the Bancroft Bros talk to the two director’s of Disney’s “Encanto”, Byron Howard and Jared Bush.   Find out how the film evolved from early concepts to the entertaining film that it is!  Watch it on Disney+ or at theaters first! Some minor spoilers ahead!

Animation pro, Scott Wiser joins the Bancroft Bros (well, Just Tom this time) to discuss creating story pitches to sell to Hollywood.  Scott discusses the challenge he took on to create a library of pitches in a short time and how he then took them out to potential investors and studios.

When you have the legendary Chris Sanders-the director and creator of “Lilo and Stitch”, “How to Train Your Dragon”, “The Croods” and many more- on your podcast- what do you ask him?  If you’re Tom and Tony Bancroft, you dig deep and get behind the scenes info on all of these historic films! Listen to this one, you won’t regret it! 

Tom and Tony have another great talk with animation auteur Jorge Gutierrez (Book of Life) but this time he is joined by his talented wife and muse Sandra Equihua!  Enjoy this inspiring talk as they discuss their new epic series on Netflix: “Maya and the Three”!