Spirited Animation

Muppet Christmas Carol

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 01:55:46 +0000

According to Erin's very niche and nerdy liturgical knowledge, it is Christmastide until February 2...so we're still celebrating with The Muppet Christmas Carol! So light a lamp (not the rat), grab some cheeses for us meeses, and listen as we discuss this holiday favorite!

Hilda

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 21:21:34 +0000

Tim and Erin help you kick off the new year by discussing our favorite cozy, eco-justice adventurer with 3 seasons and a movie, Netflix's Hilda. From pitch bibles to perfectionist friends to dealing with authority's inevitable disappointment, we think Hilda has much to teach us about great storytelling, growing up, and parenting.

The Triplets of Belleville

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 01:35:45 +0000

Would college Tim and college Erin be friends? No. But we gain more appreciation for nerdy college Tim by watching Triplets of Belleville, and discuss the importance of music, intergenerational relationships, and snooty French animation.

KPop Demon Hunters

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 21:30:04 +0000

Listen to a recording of our first ever LIVE SHOW!

Thanks to our special guests, Dr. Mathieu Berbeguier and Rev. Jin Kyung Ko, and our hosts at Carnegie Mellon University! We loved the opportunity to build community, talk about fandom, learn about Korean culture, and revel in general greatness that is K-Pop Demon Hunters!

Molly of Denali

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:25:57 +0000

Join Erin and Tim as they reflect on one of their favorite productions on PBS Kids, Molly of Denali. We love Molly's tenacity, generosity, and ability to teach kids about both indigenous culture and misinformation.

You can find our more about the ELCA's Indigenous Ministries and Tribal Relations, especially the work of Truth and Healing from Indian Boarding Schools at elca.org/indigenous.

Cars

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 18:52:08 +0000

Spirited Animation is back with Season 3!

We kick off this season with a franchise that takes regular laps through the Jones' house - Disney-Pixar's Cars! We talk about community, toxic masculinity, and finding joy!

Anastasia

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:54:59 +0000

Hearts don't fail us now! Tim and Erin end the journey of this second season discussing Don Bluth's Anastasia! We talk rom-coms, gendered experiences of movies, Anastasia's magical growing hair, and how to talk to our kids about historically inaccurate* movies. We'll be back in a couple of months with more spirited conversations!

*understatement.

Also, https://explosm.net/comics/surgery

Rob DenBleyker is dead wrong on this one... but The Pebble and the Penguin doesn't work with the pun.

Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

Mon, 05 May 2025 20:50:13 +0000

Erin and Tim continue their mini-theme examining the animation of Tim's childhood through the recent return of Wallace, Gromit, an AI-smart gnome, and one very naughty penguin

Tim ponders why animators seem to love gadgets but distrust automation while Erin considers Wallace's meddling with Gromit's garden as an invitation to understand the people we love and what they most care about.

It's all in embracing process.

The Lego Movie

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:14:11 +0000

Erin simultaneously makes fun of Tim's AFOL (adult fan of Lego) status and praises his parenting in this episode about The Lego Movie. We talk about Will Arnett's iconic Batman, Will Ferrell's inability to hug, and the importance of playing well. Share your memories of Lego and playing well on our Social Media!

Batman: The Animated Series

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:23:38 +0000

The world is falling apart because of the callous whims of billionaires...so we take on the world's most famous billionaire vigilante by watching episodes of the 90's classic, Batman: The Animated Series.'

Listen as Erin rants about how billionaires are inherently immoral, and her longing for a series of superhero men in therapy to address their problematic relationship to toxic masculinity and toxic charity. And don't even get us started on the 90's fat-phobia... thought ultimately Tim brings us around to appreciate the artistry and cultural significance of this series that has shaped millennial culture more than we'd care to admit.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 21:05:45 +0000

Tim and Erin pay their seasonal homage to the work of Hayao Miyazaki by discussing his classic Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and delve into trypophobia, ecojustice, and gender-bent Christ figures.

Tim talks airplanes and environmental stewardship, but really just listen to find out why Erin feels this features one of the best crucifixion allegories in all animated cinema!

Klaus

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 01:44:18 +0000

Hannukah may be over but there are still two more days of Christmas. Happy holidays from Spirited Animation! May your gift giving be un-coerced by magical surveillance and may "a true selfless act always spark another.”

Erin and Tim discuss the Netflix feature Klaus, holiday traditions, grief, community restoration, and whether Santa has any place in a Christmas movie not titled Elf.

The Wild Robot

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 21:49:32 +0000

Do you have deep questions about robots, creation, love, and family? Don't have Disney+ so you can't watch Wall-E or Lilo and Stitch? Watch The Wild Robot instead!

Tim and Erin discuss how no one is programmed to be a parent, and what building community across biological/robotic divides can teach us about humanity. It's all fine :) Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

The Man Who Planted Trees

Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:07:45 +0000

In this special episode, Erin and Tim process (some of) their feelings around the US Presidential election, and contemplate how small, persistent action can make desolation transform into abundance using The Man Who Planted Trees as salve and inspiration.

Plus a related shout out to some more contemporary animated reflections on caring for the land, from an indigenous perspective:

Láwa7 (Frankie Mcdonald, 2021) https://indigenousartscollective.org/frances-mcdonald/

ABC Kids - Lullaby (Jake Duczynski, 2024) https://studiogilay.com/

Inside Out 2

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 18:55:52 +0000

Erin and Tim are back! We enter the world of Riley's emotions where we confront all of our feelings, secrets, and beliefs. What shapes our sense of self? How do we find balance between hope and toxic positivity? What on earth do we do with kids going through puberty?! We loved returning to the Inside Out-verse and hope you do too!

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 14:31:45 +0000

We're back! Join us as Tim and Erin take the leap into the Spider-verse. Themes of animation labor, parenthood, isolation, heresies and comic book canon make this is a particularly complex web of an episode. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Song of the Sea

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 11:30:14 +0000

Season 2 Premiere!

We discuss the movie that made Erin fall in love with Tim. Song of the Sea combines Celtic folklore, imagery and spirituality in an animated story of grief and family healing. This makes for an ideal spirited start to our new season.

Tokyo Godfathers

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 18:27:10 +0000

Merry Christmas! Tim and Erin are joined for the holiday season by Dr. Rayna Denison to discuss Tokyo Godfathers. Themes of homelessness, shame, chosen family and reconciliation make this the perfect Christmas movie as we celebrate a baby born in a manger. Blessings to all as we seek to bring more light and warmth into the world!

Nimona

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 00:48:40 +0000

Season Finale! Erin and Tim wrap up this first batch of episodes with Nimona. Based on IP by our favorite ND Stephenson, it's a delightfully trans-positive, queer-affirming take on how society makes a monster, and what it means to let ourselves be metal as we seek to bring about justice and change. Special thanks to River White for being way cooler than us, and giving their perspective on this great film!

Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 16:56:58 +0000

The spooky season isn't over! Tim and Erin are joined by RMU's Visiting Documentary Filmmaker, Kevin Schreck, for a celebration of the Simpson's Tree House of Horror! From Poe to SciFi to Lutherans, we talk about the ability of the Simpsons' expanded universe to tell great stories and ask big questions about humanity, horror, and Halloween.

Find out more about Kevin's work here: https://www.kevinschreck.com/

Turning Red

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 15:12:16 +0000

Erin and Tim are joined by Pittsburgh's Period Pastor, Rev. Karie Charlton, to discuss Pixar's Turning Red! We talk about menstruation, ministry, and mother-daughter relationships. Tim talks a little bit too, but mostly follows Mei's dad's example of a wonderful, supportive male ally.

Find Pastor Karie on social media platforms at @PeriodPastor or at www.periodpastor.com

Find out more about Days for Girls and the importance of access to menstrual products and education at www.daysforgirls.org.

Pinocchio

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 12:27:42 +0000

Tim and Erin watched adaptations of the classic tale of a wooden boy discovering how to be "real" by Disney and Guillermo del Toro, and have a clear favorite. With it's rich theological implications around incarnation and sacrifice, and it's beautiful and intentional filmmaking, del Toro's film is the epitome of why we engage in these spirited conversations.

Toy Story

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 01:05:58 +0000

Sorry, this episode is a week late. We welcomed a new baby to the Jones family last Thursday!

We discuss the first major full-length computer animated film - Toy Story by Pixar. CW: We do acknowledge harassment and assault accusations against filmmaker John Lasseter and discuss the nature of making media in toxic environments. Beyond that, we talk about belonging, friendships, and why Sid gets a bad rap. Join us for the adventure! We promise not to make a million sub-par sequels.

Bluey

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:15:11 +0000

Tim and Erin are joined by their friend and colleague, Professor Andrew Ames, to dive into every parent's favorite "kids" show - Bluey! We talk about the ways in which it uses the principles of game design, and how it encourages us as parents to reawaken our imaginations to spark fun in our own lives and community!

Check out Andrew's work here: https://andrewyames.com/

An American Tail

Thu, 17 Aug 2023 01:03:20 +0000

Tim and Erin dive into their own nostalgia and explore the great Don Bluth film An American Tail. Fievel, Henri, and Tiger lead us into themes of immigration, welcome, and what to do about the complicated nature of the American Dream!

To learn more about and support the work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, go to lirs.org.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 00:43:46 +0000

While maybe not the extreme hate-watch we expected, Erin and Tim discuss the merits of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and the limits of nostalgia-based film-making. We give high praise to badass girl boss Peaches, lament that Bowser is caged in by his incel energy, and wish for an overall fuller story. But ultimately, the kids in our lives love it, so it's not a bad way to spend a few hours.

My Neighbor Totoro

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 21:37:38 +0000

We venture into the fantasy world of trolls, soot sprites, and Cat buses by watching My Neighbor Totoro, the iconic offering from Japanese animated film maker Hayao Miyazaki. We also welcome our first guest EVER, Pastor Erin Angeli! Erin serves at The Commonwealth of Oakland here in Pittsburgh. Check out what they are up to (including Forest Church!) https://www.oaklandcommonwealth.com/.

My Father's Dragon

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 20:24:48 +0000

Erin and Tim discuss the newest offering from Cartoon Saloon, one of our favorite animation studios! My Father's Dragon is a story about a magical island of animals, where we learn lessons about allyship, listening to others, and telling our stories to future generations. What stories will you tell?

Encanto

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:22:13 +0000

We enter the world of the Family Madrigal and talk about family systems, generational trauma, sibling rivalry, and how Antonio is the cutest! We *do* briefly forget to talk about Bruno...but we get there! Stay tuned all the way to the end!

The Lion King

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 19:22:53 +0000

Our FIRST EPISODE! We celebrate the pinnacle of Disney's Golden Age with this classic! Is this the best opening sequence in any movie ever? (Yes!) Do we always cry at Mufasa's death? (Also yes). Is Hakuna Matata an appropriate lesson for our kids? (We'll discuss!)