Special Guest: Dr. Janeann Dill On this epic-sode, Joel discovers the vast musical range of a rubber band; Alan discovers his lack of interest. Then, Dr. Janeann Dill, physician to the arts, discusses the breaking of art history, animation balm, the deep south, and legendary animation artist, educator, and innovator Jules Engel.

Based on Suzanne Collins' bestselling YA series, Gary Ross' screen adaptation has already become a mega hit. The film was supposed to be the next TWILIGHT and it has surpassed it at the box office already. But is it any good? In the categories of story and especially acting, it is certainly better than any of the TWILIGHT films. With its dystopian society and futuristic technology, it tells a compelling sci-fi yarn. But I still have a sneaky feeling that I've seen it before and done better.

Fred Patten reviews the first American book devoted to the work of a master of comedy in both animated shorts and live-action features.

Nancy Phelps discusses the 12 collected essays analyzing women and their history and involvement in animation.

Fred Patten reviews Dart's unusual but delightful first in the Yuki 7 Gadget Girls series that combines an original secret-agent novel with a Flash-animation “complete movie trailer” DVD.

SUPERMAN, LORD OF THE RINGS, STAR TREK, STAR WARS, AVATAR and dozens of other sci-fi and fantasy tales owe their origins to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Barsoom series. This new film is based on Burroughs' A PRINCESS OF MARS, a classic of pulp fiction. Now Andrew Stanton, who won Oscars for FINDING NEMO and WALL*E, has brought the world to the screen.

Gus Mastrapa reveals his highlights of the 2012 Game Developers Conference.

This compilation is a rather ingenious six-part BBC1 TV series that puts a bit of whimsy and “cool” into the world of science, contraptions and the mankind’s need to tinker.

Fred Patten reviews a must-have book for fans of Pixar's individual films and students of modern animation in general.

For me the New Year really starts when I go to ANIMA Brussels each year in the beautiful, historic Flagey. For ten days it becomes the center of the animation world.