Animated Wonders

Explosion Network
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Animated Wonders is an Explosion Network podcast celebrating animation in all its forms—from Japanese anime to Hollywood hits and overlooked international gems, we’re here to celebrate the stories that only animation can tell. Each episode dives deep into a single film, exploring its story, themes, cultural impact, and the artistry behind its animation.

  1. 1d ago

    "Waltz For Venus, Jamming with Edward” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 8 & 9 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss episodes 8 & 9 of Cowboy Bebop, which sees the hacker Edward join the team of Bebop. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E08 - Waltz for Venus Original Air Date: December 24, 2001 Director: Yoshiyuki Takei Writer(s): Michiko Yokote Synopsis: After collecting a bounty, Spike gains a fan in Roco Bonnaro. Roco, a small-time gang member, stole a rare and valuable plant from his own gang. Spike finds it's more valuable than he is, but Roco has a different plan for the plant. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E09 - Jamming with Edward Original Air Date: October 1, 2001 Director: Ikurō Satō Writer(s): Dai Satō Synopsis: Something is carving giant pictures on Earth's surface and the Earth police put out a bounty, drawing in Spike and Jet. A talented computer hacker, Edward, is rumored to be the culprit, but the truth is much different. CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blackburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

  2. Sep 3

    "Sympathy for The Devil, Heavy Metal Queen” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 6 & 7 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss Cowboy Bebop episodes 6 & 7, where Spike meets a dangerous child who may have a secret, and V.T, a space truck hiding a secret. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E06 - Sympathy for the Devil Original Air Date: December 17, 2001  Director: Ikurō Satō Writer(s): Keiko Nobumoto Synopsis: Spike and Jet chase a dangerous enemy who, despite having the appearance of a little boy, is altered genetically due to a meteor shower on earth. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E07 - Heavy Metal Queen Original Air Date: September 24, 2001 Director: Kunihiro Mori Writer(s): Michiko Yokote Synopsis: Spike, Faye and Jet are all after Decker, a bounty head in possession of high explosives. They meet V.T, a female space trucker, and team up with her to catch Decker on a dangerous chase through an abandoned mine. CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blackburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

  3. Aug 27

    "Gateway Shuffle, Ballad of Fallen Angels” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 4 & 5 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss episodes 4 + 5 of Cowboy Bebop, in which we see Spike come face-to-face with Vicious, his old friend and now enemy, from when Spike was part of the Red Dragon Syndicate. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E04 - Gateway Shuffle Original Air Date: September 10, 2001 Director: Yoshiyuki Takei Writer(s): Sadayuki Murai Synopsis: Spike and Jet take on Maria Murdock, the leader an extreme animal rights activist group called the Space Warriors. Faye stumbles her way back onto the Bebop and may help them out. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E05 - Ballad of Fallen Angels Original Air Date: September 24, 2001 Director: Tetsuya Watanabe Writer(s): Michiko Yokote Synopsis: While searching for Mao Yenrai, an executive of the Red Dragon Syndicate, Spike ends up confronting Vicious, his old enemy. CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blackburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

  4. Aug 13

    "Stray Dog Stut, Honky Tonky Women” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 2 & 3 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss episodes 2 and 3 of Cowboy Bebop, which introduce Faye Valentine to the series. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  SHOW DOT POINTS EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E012 - Stray Dog Strut Original Air Date: September 3, 2001 Director: Ikurō Satō Writer(s): Michiko Yokote Synopsis: Spike and Jet go after Abdul Hakim, who has stolen a "data dog" from a research facility, for an 8 Million Woolong reward. It turns out they are not the only ones after him. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E03 - Honky Tonk Women Original Air Date: September 10, 2001 Director: Kunihiro Mori Writer(s): Ryōta Yamaguchi & Keiko Nobumoto Synopsis: Spike and Jet first meet Faye Valentine at a casino, who is involved in a scam with a mob boss in an attempt to relieve her massive debt. They find out Faye is more devious than it first appears. CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blackburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

  5. Aug 6

    "Asteroid Blues” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 1 | Animated Wonders

    We kick off our new season focused on Cowboy Bebop by discussing the first episode of this seminal anime. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E01 - Astroid Blues Original Air Date: September 3, 2001 Studio: Sunrise   Director: Yoshiyuki Takei Writer(s): Keiko Nobumoto CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blakcburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

  6. Jun 29

    Minions & Monsters - Cinematic Journey | Animated Wonders

    We discuss the latest entry in the Despicable Me film universe, Minions & Monsters. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  SHOW DOT POINTS This movie is one of the more enjoyable entries in the series. The big bad of the movie was microphones. The third act fizzles out with a random resolution. The film creatively weaves Minions into cinema history. Illumination is committed to silly, childlike fun. James and Henry bring a fresh dynamic to the minions. The Hollywood references are fun but may go over kids' heads. The bizarre storyline with DORT adds a unique twist. The monsters are the least interesting aspect of the film. The film features clever jokes that appeal to older audiences. MOVIE CREDITS: Film title: Minions & Monsters Release year: 2026 Country / Origin: United States Director: Pierre Coffin Writer(s): Pierre Coffin, Brian Lynch Studio/Distributor: Illumination // Universal Pictures Main cast: Pierre Coffin, Trey Parker, Allison Janney, Christoph Waltz, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeff Bridges, Zoey Deutch, Bobby Moynihan, Phil LaMarr Synopsis: Follows the Minions in 1920s Hollywood as they search for frightening creatures for their monster movie, partner with a green creature, and must save the planet after unleashing monsters. CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blakcburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

  7. Jun 24

    Toy Story Wrap-Up | Animated Wonders

    We wrap up our discussion of all the Toy Story films from Pixar/Disney by discussing the themes of all the films, animation quality, and which ones affected us the most. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blakcburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

  8. Jun 23

    Despicable Me 4 - The Highly Forgettable Entry | Animated Wonders

    The Despicable Me series continues its run with the fourth film, featuring Gru and company attempting to be in hiding. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  SHOW DOT POINTS The film is highly forgettable and lacks substance. The character dynamics between Gru and Gru Jr. are the highlights. The pacing of the movie is off, making it feel unbalanced. Mike White's writing for this film raises questions about his involvement. The minions' role in the franchise is unclear and poorly executed. The film's humour is lacking, especially for a Will Ferrell character. The animation style remains solid, but the story fails to engage. The breaking into the school scene is the best part of the film. The film feels like a culmination of the series, possibly its last entry. Russell Brand's character has been written out due to controversies. MOVIE CREDITS: Film title: Despicable Me 4 Release year: 2024 Country / Origin: United States Director: Chris Renaud Writer(s): Mike White, Ken Daurio Studio/Distributor: Illumination // Universal Pictures Main cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Pierre Coffin, Joey King, Miranda Cosgrove, Stephen Colbert, Sofia Vergara, Will Ferrell CREDITS 🎵 Music: Kawaii Anime Pop, by Tak_Music Licensed from Audio Jungle 🎨 Artwork: Simon Blakcburn 📝 Show notes powered by Riverside.FM 👉 DISCOVER MORE ARCADE COUCH & EXPLOSION NETWORK Listen to every episode // Check out the website // Support Explosion Network

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About

Animated Wonders is an Explosion Network podcast celebrating animation in all its forms—from Japanese anime to Hollywood hits and overlooked international gems, we’re here to celebrate the stories that only animation can tell. Each episode dives deep into a single film, exploring its story, themes, cultural impact, and the artistry behind its animation.

Information

  • Creator
    Explosion Network
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Animated Wonders