Animated Wonders

Explosion Network
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  • Film Reviews

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. 4d ago

    "Black Dog Serenade, Mushroom Samba” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 16 & 17 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss episodes 16 & 17 of Cowboy Bebop, in which Jet discovers a dark secret from his past and how he goes about getting revenge. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E16 - Black Dog Serenade  Original Air Date: Octobeer 22, 2001 Director: Ikurō Satō Writer(s): Michiko Yokote Synopsis: Jet's old cop partner calls in a favour to stop a group of convicts on a highjacked transport ship, one of which Jet has a personal vendetta with. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E17 - Mushroom Samba Original Air Date: October 29, 2001 Director: Kunihiro Mori Writer(s): Michiko Yokote & Shinichirō Watanabe Synopsis: The Bebop crashes onto the moon after being side-swiped in space. Ed and Ein venture out for food but are entangled in the operations of an outlaw smuggling psychedelic mushrooms. 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. Oct 1

    "Bohemian Rhapsody, My Funny Valentine” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 14 & 15 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss episodes 14 & 15 of Cowboy Bebop, in which Faye discovers a dark secret of her past. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E14 - Bohemian Rhapsody Original Air Date: October 15, 2001 Director: Hirokazu Yamada Writer(s): Dai Satō Synopsis: The Bebop crew investigates a bizarre series of Hyperspace Gate Tollbooth robberies, each executed by a different party, and the mastermind that orchestrated the entire thing: Hex. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E15 - My Funny Valentine Original Air Date: October 22, 2001 Director: Kunihiro Mori Writer(s): Keiko Nobumoto Synopsis: Faye recounts her awakening from cryogenic freezing and a man, Whitney Hagas Matsumoto, who helped her before dying. Jet, however, arrives on the ship having caught him for a bounty. Faye now needs to know what was real. 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. Sep 24

    "Jupiter Jazz” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 12 & 13 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss episodes 12 & 13, Jupiter Jazz part one and two, in which Faye disappears, and Spike believes he’s finally going to reconnect with Julia. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E12 - Jupiter Jazz (Part 1) Original Air Date: October 8, 2001 Director: Yoshiyuki Takei Writer(s): Keiko Nobumoto Synopsis: Faye disappears with all the money on Bebop. Ed tries to find her and discovers a "Code Name Julia" on Jupiter's moon, Callisto, which makes Spike believe that it's his Julia. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E13 - Jupiter Jazz (Part 2) Original Air Date: October 15, 2001 Director: Ikurō Satō Writer(s): Keiko Nobumoto Synopsis: Faye is attacked and later helped by Gren, who holds a grudge against Vicious. After explaining his story to Faye, he chases after Vicious, and when he and Spike end up reaching him, a three-way battle takes place. 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. Sep 21 ·  Bonus

    Forgotten Island - Journey Through Friendship and Mythology | Animated Wonders

    We discuss Forgotten Island, breaking down its themes of friendship and culture, as well as its animation style. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  SHOW DOT POINTS The film focuses on a unique female friendship. Cultural heritage and mythology play a significant role. Animation styles are diverse and visually impressive. The story explores the dynamics of growing apart. Voice performances enhance character depth and relatability. The film's humour balances emotional moments. The target audience may be older children and up. Memorable characters contribute to the film's charm. The film's themes resonate with personal experiences. The animation blends traditional and modern techniques. MOVIE CREDITS: Film title: Forgotten Island Release year: 2026 Country / Origin: United States Director: Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado Writer(s): Joel Crawford, Januel Mercado Studio/Distributor: DreamWorks Animation, Universal Pictures Main cast: H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, Lea Salonga Synopsis: Two best friends become stranded on the mystical world of Nakali, where their only escape might cost them their shared lifetime of memories. 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

  5. Sep 17

    "Ganymede Elegy, Toys in the Attic” Review - Cowboy Bebop, Season 1, Episode 10 & 11 | Animated Wonders

    We discuss episodes 10 & 11 of Cowboy Bebop, which explore Jet’s past more deeply, as well as a story that leaves Spike to save the crew from a nasty surprise on the ship. YOUR HOSTS 🎙️ Dylan Blight 🎙️ Ashley Hobley  EPISODE #1 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E10 - Ganymede Elegy Original Air Date: October 1, 2001 Director: Hirokazu Yamada Writer(s): Akihiko Inari Synopsis: Jet confronts his past on Ganymede where a woman he loved, Alisa, had left him without saying goodbye. Spike learns of a new bounty that has a connection to Alisa. EPISODE #2 CREDITS: Episode Number & Title: S01E11 - Toys in the Attic Original Air Date: October 9, 2001 Director: Kunihiro Mori Writer(s): Michiko Yokote Synopsis: A mysterious something is sneaking around the Bebop and biting the crew, leaving nasty purple welts. Eventually, Spike is the only one left, and must prepare himself to save the ship. 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

  6. Sep 10

    "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

  7. 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

  8. 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

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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
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Animated Wonders

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