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Nation of Animation is a cartoon book club podcast for all ages! Join lifelong cartoon fans Ryan Stevens and Brooke-Erin Smith every other week as they discuss classic cartoons through...
show more
Nation of Animation is a cartoon book club podcast for all ages! Join lifelong cartoon fans Ryan Stevens and Brooke-Erin Smith every other week as they discuss classic cartoons through a modern lens and celebrate everything cartoons have to offer!
show less
Episodes & Posts
Episodes
Posts
Explicit
Transcribed
31 OCT 2026 · We honor the memory of voice acting (and acting, and just, like, life) legend Tim Curry.
REAL WORLD RECS
Ryan: Digger (Alejandron Innaritu, 2026)
Brooke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8lBaSFDGlA in I'm Thinking of Ending Things (Charlie Kaufman, 2020)
and
Paranormal Activity on Broadway Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
21 OCT 2026 · We brave the Alaskan wilderness to check out the critically under-appreciated Bob's Burgers cousin show, The Great North! We talk about how to make it as a modern animated show, network vs streaming television, Nick Offerman's whole deal, and A LOT of talk about modern TV. Digressions aplenty in this thrilling conversation!
EPISODES DISCUSSED
Season 1 Episode 6 - “Pride and Prejudance Adventure”
Season 2 Episode 1 - “Brace/Off Adventure”
Season 3 Episode 18 - "Pa Shank Redemptions Adventure"
Season 5 Episode 2 - "The Prince of Hides Adventure"
REAL WORLD RECS
Brooke: Cutting your own bangs
Ryan: K.A. Applegate's Animorphs series Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
26 AUG 2026 · Listeners, is it perhaps the case that you ain't happy? And in fact, you're feeling sad? Well don't worry, because this week we do indeed have sunshine in a bag as we unpack the awesome animated super-band, Gorillaz! We talk Blur, the convoluted lore of these cartoon musicians, their own eras, eclectic music tastes, and more!
REAL WORLD RECS:
Brooke: Monopoly GO!
Ryan: 'The Bright Sword' by Lev Grossman Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
12 AUG 2026 · We discuss Pixar's crowning achievement, WALL-E! It's about a little robot with big dreams, big robots with little empathy, and future space-baby people. We analyze the secret sauce that makes this movie so good: character designs, musicals, Real Human Being Fred Willard, and much more!
PLUS in this week's animation news, a special ad sponsor (not for us -- not yet!), a bizarre upcoming movie, and an, uhhh, *impassioned* plea for anime from one cartoon fan in Texas.
MOVIES DISCUSSED:
WALL-E (2008), dir. Andrew Stanton
REAL WORLD RECS
Brooke: Widow's Bay on Apple TV+
Ryan: The Backrooms, dir. Kane Parsons Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
29 JUL 2026 · It's the Return of the King! King of the Hill's second season (and 15th season overall) is here, so we finally discuss its miraculous resurrection from last year. How has the Hill family grown up? What has life had in store for our dear Bobby Hill? What the hell is Dale Gribble doing these days?
EPISODES DISCUSSED:
Season 14 Episode 1 - 'Return of the King'
Season 14 Episode 2 - 'The Beer Story'
Season 14 Episode 6 - 'Peggy's Fade-Out'
Season 14 Episode 9 - 'No Hanks Left Behind'
REAL WORDS RECS
Brooke: A BIG surprise!
Ryan: A RELATED surprise! Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
15 JUL 2026 · CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of mental illness, suicide, dementia, and online harassment of a trans woman. Listener discretion is advised.
Brooke and Ryan dive into the surprising rise and complex conclusion of the indie animation super-hit The Amazing Digital Circus. How did this show catch fire? And why can't fans just be normal about it? Also, did we enjoy the show? Is Ryan the Jax of the podcast? Listen and find out!
WE FORGOT TO DO REAL WORLD RECS, WE'RE SORRY ABOUT THAT, WE RECOMMEND THE AMAZING DIGITAL CIRCUS AND BEING NORMAL ON THE INTERNET Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
27 MAY 2026 · Just in time for the show's end, Ryan and Brooke tune into adult swim's latest adult animation darling, the anarchistic and internet-laced Smiling Friends! We talk animation style, changing senses of humor, the 00's internet, and whether it's better to burn out or fade-away, all while staying mostly on topic. You picked the BEST time to listen!
EPISODES DISCUSS:
S1 E6 - “Enchanted Forest”
S1 E 9 - “The Smiling Friends Go To Brazil!”
S2 E1 - “Gwimbly: Definitive Remastered Enhanced Extended Edition DX 4K (Anniversary Director's Cut)”
S3 E2 - “Le Voyage Incroyable de Monsieur Grenouille”
REAL WORLD RECS
Brooke: 'Red Comet: The Short Life and Blazing Art of Sylvia Plath' by Heather Clark
Ryan: Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles II in Hell's Kitchen Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
6 MAY 2026 · It's Brooke's birthday, so she gets to pick the movie! She summons up a forgotten mainstay from the VHS players of a bygone era, Don Bluth's Thumbelina. We confront our dubious memories of this childhood favorite, investigate the fascinatin history of the man who would be the Anti-Disney, and consider if, by some strange twist of fate, this movie is actually "good." What does "good" mean in this context? You'll have to listen and find out!
Real World Recs:
Brooke - "Every Brilliant Thing" by Duncan Macmillan on Broadway, starring Daniel Radcliffe
Ryan - The Spectacular Spider-Man on DVD (and the spectacular Debora Strang and David Kepner!) Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
22 APR 2026 · The minds behind Bojack Horseman and Tuca & Bertie are back on Netflix with their zaniest creation...an emotionally harrowing portrait of family across the years? And we're sure this is a comedy? Ok, if you say so! This week, we dive into Long Story Short, talk religion, family, time travel, and when we were our most interesting!
Episodes discussed:
Ep 4 - “Shira Can’t Cook”
Ep 6 - “Wolves”
Ep 7 - “Kendra’s Job”
Ep 9 - “Honoring Naomi Schwartz”
REAL WORLD RECS
Ryan - Marshmallow Peeps
Brooke - 'Heart the Lover' by Lily King Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Explicit
Transcribed
15 MAR 2026 · It's Oscar Season once again, and you know what that means -- a ton of movies, both long and short. What are our favs? What has the best odds to win? What was going on this year? Do animated movies still have that magic?
FILMS WE WATCHED:
FEATURES:
Elio
Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, and Adrian Molina
Written by Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, and Mike Jones
KPop Demon Hunters
Co-written and directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans
Arco
Directed by Ugo Bienvenu
Written by ugo Bienvenu and Félix de Givry
Zootopia 2
Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard
Written by Jared Bush
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Directed by Maïlys Vallade and Liane-Cho Han
Written by Liane-Cho Han
SHORTS
Butterfly
Florence Miailhe and Ron Dyens
Forevergreen
Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears
The Girl Who Cried Pearls
Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski
Retirement Plan
John Kelly and Andrew Freedman
The Three Sisters
Konstantin Bronzit
REAL WORLD RECS:
Ryan - Pokopia for Nintendo Switch 2
Brooke - Mary O's Soda Bread in NYC Follow our bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/nationofanimation.bsky.social, our Letterboxd https://letterboxd.com/NationAnimation/, and our Instagram and @https://www.instagram.com/cartoonbookclub/?hl=en, and follow our hosts
@thebrookesmith
and
@ryanwithcheese on Twitter
http://brookeerinsmith.com http://ryangstevens.com
&
Support secret projects on Venmo @nationofanimation
BIG THANKS TO: Jacob Menke for our theme
Follow them @menkemaster
&
Urvashi Lele for our art
Learn more about Urvashi Lele's animations by visiting http://www.sirpeagreenstudios.com and follow their endeavors on instagram at @sirpeagreen and @maisonaudmi
Nation of Animation is a cartoon book club podcast for all ages! Join lifelong cartoon fans Ryan Stevens and Brooke-Erin Smith every other week as they discuss classic cartoons through...
show more
Nation of Animation is a cartoon book club podcast for all ages! Join lifelong cartoon fans Ryan Stevens and Brooke-Erin Smith every other week as they discuss classic cartoons through a modern lens and celebrate everything cartoons have to offer!
show less
Information
| Author | Ryan Stevens |
| Organization | Ryan Stevens |
| Categories | Animation & Manga |
| Website | www.spreaker.com |
| cartoonbookclubpod@gmail.com |
Copyright 2026 - Spreaker Inc. an iHeartMedia Company
