Po may be the laziest, clumsiest panda in the Valley of Peace, but he secretly dreams of becoming a kung fu legend. When the villainous snow leopard Tai Lung threatens the Valley, Po is unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy. Under Master Shifu’s training, he embarks on a high-kicking adventure to stop Tai Lung’s evil plans.

Craig, Elisabeth and guest Riley Brown discuss fanboys, self-belief vs destiny, cryptic mentors and the movie “Kung Fu Panda” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

• 0:54

  Craig, Elisabeth and Riley talk about cartoons and fandoms.

• 12:30

  Craig, Elisabeth and Riley discuss "Kung Fu Panda"

• 48:56

  Recasting

• 1:07:15

  Double Feature

• 1:11:14

  Final Thoughts

• 1:15:36

  A preview of next week's episode "How to Train Your Dragon"

Next week Ani-MAY-tion ends with a fan favorite "How to Train Your Dragon"

After years of playing it safe, Mr. Fox breaks a promise to his wife and returns to his wild ways, stealing from the ruthless farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Bean. His actions put his family and their animal friends in danger, forcing them to hide deep underground. Now, Mr. Fox must use all his cleverness to outsmart the farmers and save his community.

Craig and Elisabeth are joined by Movies that Make Us hosts Tracy Mangum and Jake Dietz to discuss quirkiness, Wes Anderson, sex shops and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” on this week’s Matinee Heroes!

Show Notes

• 1:04

  Craig, Elisabeth, Tracy Mangum and Jake Dietz talk about the cartoons Jake's kids enjoy.

• 14:41

  Craig, Elisabeth, Tracy and Jake discuss "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

• 51:33

  Recasting

• 1:27:44

  Double Feature

• 1:32:21

  Final Thoughts

• 1:42:57

  A preview of next week's episode "Akira"

Next week Ani-MAY-tion gets retro with the classic 80's anime "Akira"

Recorded live at EmpireCon 2019 in Los Angeles, this episode of Conversations with Craig dives deep into the foam, felt, and freakishly fun world of movie puppetry with two absolute legends: Mike Quinn and David Barclay. These are the guys who’ve literally had their hands inside Yoda—yes, literally—and helped bring the most beloved alien puppet in cinema history to life. From The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi to The Dark Crystal and Little Shop of Horrors, Mike and David have been at the heart of some of the biggest (and weirdest) creatures ever to hit the screen—and yes, they even pulled out a Yoda puppet mid-panel. You’ve never seen a conversation get this real.

• The Secret Life of Yoda: Mark Hamill helped launch David’s career after meeting him in a London toy store, while Mike snuck onto The Muppet Show set using cigarettes and chocolate.
• Audrey II's Gym Routine: It took eight weeks—and some torn muscles—to shoot one song for Little Shop of Horrors with the massive Audrey II puppet.
• Live at the Hollywood Bowl: Performing Muppets live is no joke—just ask Mike, who once took a couch to the head mid-show.

“Yoda in Return of the Jedi? That was me. Just the right hand. But hey, sometimes that’s all you need.” – Mike Quinn

Want more exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes stories from the people who bring your favorite characters to life? Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcasting platform for more behind-the-scenes stories and exclusive interviews.