Nation of Animation

Nation of Animation
  • 5.0 (13)
  • ANIMATION & MANGA
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

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!

  1. FEB 7

    Dungeons and Dragons and Diners and Drive-Ins and Dives

    Get yourself a heaping plate of podcast! We talk about Delicious in Dungeon, the anime smash hit that has us going back for seconds. Will Brooke like this anime? What is the tastiest monster in the land? What video games do the best manga writers play? All these questions and more are on the menu in this week's Nation of Animation! EPISODES DISCUSSED: Ep 4 - “Stewed Cabbage/Orcs” Ep 8 - "Raspberries / Grilled Meat" Ep 12 - "Red Dragon II" Ep 22 - “Griffin / Familiars” REAL WORLD RECS Brooke: Pupsicle Dog Toys Ryan: Hobonichi Weekly Planners Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    1 hr

  2. JAN 24

    The New Yorker(s)

    We’re in a New York state of mind! This week, we salute our favorite cartoon depictions of the great city of NYC, ranging from the mythic and the fantastical to the grounded and the grimy. What is the allure of this place, and what do people love to draw from it? What has it been like for us to live here? Take a big bite of this Big Apple and find out! Link to Women In Animation Portfolio Review REAL WORLD RECS Brooke: Assassin’s Apprentice, by Robin Hobb Ryan: The City We Became, by NK Jemisin The State of Animation is New York! Get it? Because it’s a State! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    1h 1m

  3. 12/27/2025

    The Island of Misfit Toons

    We've been adrift in a sea of holiday animation and washed up on a strange island...you'll find no stop-motion reindeer or magical snowmen here, no memorable singalongs or classic characters. You're on the Island of Misfit Toons!  We plumb the depths of strange and forgotten holiday animation specials, and come up with three intriguing animations from yesteryear. Join us as we float up to the North Pole, an alien world, and a derelict orphanage to celebrate the holidays in new (and occasionally even entertaining) ways! SHOWS WE DISCUSSED O' Christmas Tree (1994, dir. Russ Harris & G Brian Reynolds) Aliens First Christmas (1991, dir. Russ Harris & G Brian Reynolds) Christmas Comes But Once A Year (1936, dir. Dave Fleischer and Seymour Kneitel) And from our podcast to your [name of group], Happy Holidays! We'll see you in 2026! REAL WORLD RECS: Brooke: Last Holiday (2006, dir. Wayne Wang)  Ryan: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang ( 2005, dir. Shane Black) Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    36 min

  4. 12/13/2025

    A SECOND HELPING of KPop Demon Hunters (w/ Meggie Gates & Laura Petro)

    It's the holiday season, and we're still feasting on the bounty of KPop Demon Hunters, the film that keeps on giving, and we've brought in two Huntrix superfans: Meggie Gates and Laura Petro of the YA, We Read It podcast! After double-digits of re-watches, what else does the film have to offer? Can anything stop its awards season momentum? All this, plus Brooke taking on a heaping helping of animation news! The state of animation is STRONG! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    56 min

  5. 11/22/2025

    Resurrected by KPop Demon Hunters

    AFTER TEN THOUSAND YEARS (or three months) AWAY, WE HAVE FINALLY RETURNED! Ryan and Brooke resume their destinies as podcasters and endeavor to cast a podcast-based spell of protection across the whole world, all while talking about the streaming sensation that’s sweeping all nations — KPOP DEMON HUNTERS! We talk about the music, the look, the fashion, and the undeniable fandom in our mighty return from hiatus! It’s good to be back! REAL WORLD RECS BROOKE: “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret” on Netflix/ the New Jersey PATH train RYAN: Di Fara pizza in Midwood, Brooklyn  The state of animation is STRONG! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    1 hr

  6. 08/09/2025

    Table For Two At The House of Mouse

    This week, we cover the cartoon that Disney DOESN'T WANT YOU TO SEE! The unlisted, unstreamable, unmistakable hybrid workplace comedy/ clip show House of Mouse! We talk the legacy of the Disney Sensational Six, Clarabelle Cow, and that darn Mortimer Mouse!  Episodes discussed: Season 1 Episode 2, "Big Bad Wolf Daddy" Season 2 Episode 12, "Ladies Night" Season 3 Episode 19, "Clarabelle's Christmas List" Season 3 Episode 22, "Pete's House of Villains"   Real World Recs Brooke: Diet Cherry Coke Ryan: Twilight (2008) Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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   The station of animation is...Maus! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    46 min

  7. 07/12/2025

    Podsepolis, The Persepolis Podcast (Feat. Lilly Heidari)

    Ryan, Brooke, and professional actor/writer/friend of the pod Lilly Heidari crack open the history books AND the comic books as they read Marjane Satrapi's adaptation of her autobiographical graphic novel, Persepolis! We talk about history, the life of a person in the middle of historic events, the power of one's own culture, expatriation, and the bizarre fun of being assigned comic books in college. This one has it all! FILMS DISCUSSED: Persepolis (2007, dir. Marjane Satrapi & Vincent Paronnaud)   Real World Recs Lilly: 'Look: Poems' by Solmaz Sharif Brooke:Labubu dolls Ryan: The Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Inside ‘Elio’s’ “Catastrophic” Path: America Ferrera’s Exit, Director Change and Erasure of Queer Themes Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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   The station of animation is Strong! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    1h 5m

  8. 06/28/2025

    Baby Time

    Strap on that diapy and get that thumb out of your mouth! These babies have gotta do what a baby's gotta do, and in this case, these babies have got to talk about Rugrats! We break down the perspective of babyhood, the importance of life lessons, the drag of being all growed up, the majesty of Cynthia, and so much more! Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation and our Instagram and Twitter @cartoonbookclub, 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   The station of animation is Babies! EPISODES DISCUSSED: Season 2 Episode 6A - “Regarding Stuie” Season 2 Episode 13B - “What the Big People Do” Season 2 Episode 20A - The Seven Voyages of Cynthia Season 3 Episode 21A - Angelica’s Worst Nightmare” Subscribe to Brooke's Turning-30 Project, '30, Wordy, and Striving' HERE: https://brookeerinsmith.substack.com/   Real World Recs Brooke: 'Everything You Ever Wanted,' by Luisa Sauma Ryan: 'The Golden Toad: An Ecological Mystery and the Search for a Lost Species' by Kyle and Trevor Ritland Follow our bluesky @nationofanimation, our Letterboxd @NationAnimation, and our Instagram and @cartoonbookclub, 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

    41 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Nation of Animation
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    117
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Audio Mint
  • Show Website
    Nation of Animation