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In this episode of iCritic LIVE, we are joined by renowned animation journalist, critic, historian, and publisher Amid Amidi for an in-depth conversation spanning animation history, criticism, and industry trends.

As the co-founder and former publisher/editor-in-chief of Cartoon Brew (2004–2025) and creator of Animation Blast, Amid has spent over two decades serving as a central catalyst for modern animation scholarship and journalism. In this episode, we dive into:

Ward Kimball & Disney History: A sneak peek into Amid’s upcoming biographical study on Ward Kimball—one of Disney’s legendary "Nine Old Men" and arguably the most inventive animator in studio history.

The Oscar Race for Best Animated Feature: A critical look at the history, evolution, and current landscape of the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

The State of Animation Journalism: The changing dynamics of animation criticism, reporting, and preserving the history of classical and modern animation.

Whether you're a casual fan or a hardcore animation historian, this discussion offers a fascinating look inside the art form from one of its foremost experts.

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Part 2 picks up exactly where the first deep dive left off — moving beyond the headline‑level breakdown of the Paramount settlement and into the structural, financial, and strategic consequences that are already reshaping the industry. In this episode of iCritic LIVE, Kevin unpacks the ripple effects across licensing, distribution, streaming partnerships, and long‑term corporate positioning, revealing how this settlement is influencing decisions far outside Paramount’s own walls.

We explore how the agreement is affecting deal‑making, why certain divisions stand to gain or lose, and how the settlement is quietly altering the balance of power between studios, streamers, and content owners. This chapter goes deeper into the mechanics: what’s changing behind the scenes, what insiders are watching closely, and why the settlement’s second‑order effects may matter even more than the initial terms.

Topics Covered:

• The immediate industry reactions following the settlement
• How the agreement is reshaping licensing and distribution pipelines
• Strategic shifts inside Paramount and its competitors
• The settlement’s long‑tail impact on contracts, rights, and consolidation
• What Part 1 didn’t cover — and why these details matter

A focused, analytical continuation of the story — perfect for listeners tracking the evolving business of Hollywood and the forces driving its next major transformation.

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In this episode of iCritic LIVE, Kevin breaks down the full scope of the Paramount settlement — what triggered it, what was actually agreed upon, and how the fallout is reshaping the entertainment landscape. This isn’t just a headline recap; it’s a deep, structured exploration of the legal, financial, and industry‑wide implications that studios, creators, and audiences will be feeling for years.

We walk through the timeline of events, the pressure points that led to the settlement, and the strategic motivations behind Paramount’s decisions. Then we dig into what the settlement really means: shifts in licensing, ripple effects across streaming platforms, changes in distribution pipelines, and how this could influence future negotiations across Hollywood.

Topics Covered:

• What sparked the Paramount dispute and how it escalated
• The full breakdown of the settlement terms
• How the agreement affects studios, streamers, and content owners
• Long‑term implications for contracts, rights, and media consolidation
• Why this settlement matters more than most people realize

A must‑listen for anyone following the business of entertainment, media law, or the evolving power dynamics of Hollywood. This is the complete picture — and what comes next.

Support the show

►Want a question answered on iCritic Live? Send a question here and we'll answer it (if it's a reasonable question): https://streamelements.com/kevintrod/tip

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►PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/KevinTRod

Website: http://www.icritic.net
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My Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/22VIH93Q0H9EP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_gm__wl

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If you would like to send me snail mail, please send all (legal) packages to:

iCritic
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All view are protected by the First Amendment and all images and video clips used are protected under Fair Use.