Verbal Diorama

Verbal Diorama is a podcast all about How It's Done. It being movies, and to be honest, this one is as Golden as they come. I'm Free to Takedown the history and legacy of KPop Demon Hunters, with the outcome of me becoming Your Idol. This is What It Sounds Like... my little Soda Pop.When director Maggie Kang set out to create an animated musical combining K-pop, Korean mythology, and a demon-slaying girl group, she had a clear vision: to make a film authentically rooted in Korean culture. After more than a decade working on major animated projects, Kang pitched what she called her "love letter to K-pop" and her Korean heritage to Sony Pictures Animation. The result was KPop Demon Hunters, a film that would go on to become a global phenomenon that no-one saw coming.The film's success exceeded all expectations. KPop Demon Hunters became Netflix's most-watched film ever with over 500 million views, surpassing even Squid Game. The soundtrack made history as the first film soundtrack to place four songs in the Billboard Hot 100's top ten simultaneously, with lead single "Golden" holding the number one spot for eight weeks. The song earned five Grammy nominations, and songwriter EJAE became the first Korean American woman nominated for Song of the Year.KPop Demon Hunters represents a significant evolution in the Korean Wave. Created by a largely non-Korean production team in America, the film nonetheless maintained deep cultural authenticity, from its references to Korean girl groups of the past, and to Korean shamanism, to the small details like how characters use their chopsticks. It combines vibrant animation with KPop culture, creating a unique visual and audible feast. The soundtrack is not just catchy; it's Golden.Play me on repeat 끝없이 in your head.Support Verbal DioramaLoved this episode? Here's how you can help:⭐ Leave a 5-star review on your podcast app💰 Join the Patreon for bonus content and early access☕ Send a tip to support the show📱 Share this episode with fellow film loversGet In TouchI would love to hear your thoughts on KPop Demon HuntersTwitter: @verbaldioramaInstagram: @verbaldioramaFacebook: @verbaldioramaLetterboxd: @verbaldioramaEmail: verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] comWebsite: verbaldiorama.comAbout Verbal DioramaEar Worthy 2024 Best Movie Podcast Winner | Golden Lobes 2025 Earworm Award Nominee | Ear Worthy 2025...

They scare, because they care. But do they? Do they really?Animation Season 2026 kicks off with Pixar's fourth feature, turning 25 years old this year, the incomparable Monsters, Inc.In the world of Monsters, Inc., fear is a power source, and children's screams fuel the world of Monstropolis, which is both clever and a bit dark. This is a bright colourful movie, that cleverly hides its darkness from kids, but adults will see it everywhere.James P. Sullivan, as Monsters Incorporated's number one scarer, has no idea that his world is literally about to be changed by a three-year-old human girl, who finds herself in Monstropolis. His best friend Mike Wazowski is an eyeball with arms and legs who just wants to put that thing back where it came from, or so help me!Originally titled Monsters, Monsters, Inc transformed from the story of an accountant in their 30s reliving childhood fears of monsters, to a story about scaring just being the monsters' day jobs. Neither Sulley nor Mike were in the original pitch, both characters evolved massively over time.The production of Monsters, Inc. involved significant technological advancements for Pixar - only six years after Toy Story - especially in fur animation, making Sulley's character feel more lifelike and relatable. And bizarrely, also tentacles.Animation isn't just for kids; it’s a versatile art form that can tell deep stories, as seen in the exploration of themes like fear and love in Monsters, Inc. It cleverly critiques societal fears and misconceptions, showing how characters are shaped by the narratives they believe—like the monsters thinking children are toxic.I'm pretty sure kids aren't toxic, though, right? RIGHT?Support Verbal DioramaLoved this episode? Here's how you can help:⭐ Leave a 5-star review on your podcast app💰 Join the Patreon for bonus content and early access☕ Send a tip to support the show📱 Share this episode with fellow film loversGet In TouchI would love to hear your thoughts on Monsters, Inc.Twitter: @verbaldioramaInstagram: @verbaldioramaFacebook: @verbaldioramaLetterboxd: @verbaldioramaEmail: verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] comWebsite: verbaldiorama.comAbout Verbal DioramaEar Worthy 2024 Best Movie Podcast Winner | Golden Lobes 2025 Earworm Award Nominee | Ear Worthy 2025 Best Movie Podcast NomineeVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and...

The Emperor's New Groove, unfortunately lumbered as part of the blame for the beginning of the end of Disney's Renaissance period, is actually three movies in one:The original movie that was never made, Kingdom of the SunThe movie we gotAnd the documentary that Disney does not want you to see, The SweatboxIn this episode, I'm going to be telling you about all three; plus the alleged DreamWorks plan by ex-Disney chief Jeffrey Katzenberg to beat Disney to release with The Road to El Dorado, the fact The Emperor's New Groove didn't have a script until two weeks after it was released, and how The Emperor's New Groove accurately predicted the tonal change to Hollywood animation in the 2000s.If anyone asks you how did Disney managed to make The Emperor’s New Groove, you could just refer them to this episode, or you could simply say “well, ya got me, by all accounts, it doesn’t make sense”.Mentioned in this episode:From the ArchiveThere's no new episode this week, so I thought you might be interested in revisiting this slightly older, but no less brilliant episode. Just bear in mind, this episode is several years old, it may not sound quite as polished as newer episodes, and new information may have come to light in recent years with regards to the making of this movie (please see above for the original date of release) Please enjoy this time capsule of an episode. Thanks for listening!This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podscribe - https://podscribe.com/privacyOP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy

Santa Claus: The Movie was an ambitious holiday spectacular that was supposed to save the Salkinds' crumbling film empire. Fresh off the disappointing performances of Superman III and Supergirl, producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind bet $50 million on creating the definitive cinematic Santa Claus origin story, complete with backstory, a North Pole workshop brought to life, and a modern-day New York adventure featuring Dudley Moore as a renegade elf.The Salkinds' signature approach to filmmaking, taking beloved existing characters and mounting lavish international co-productions outside the Hollywood system, had worked brilliantly for the first Superman films but was now straining under financial pressure. The father-son team assembled an impressive cast, constructed elaborate sets at Pinewood Studios, and poured resources into cutting-edge visual effects for Santa's flying sleigh. They envisioned a franchise that would become as iconic as their Superman films, a movie that would define Santa Claus for generations of children.Instead, the film became another expensive disappointment that Christmas season, unable to recoup its massive budget despite its technical achievements and heartfelt performances. The planned holiday classic flopped at the box office in the US, but it has nonetheless found an affectionate cult following in the decades since, especially here in the UK.It remains one of Britain's most loved Christmas movies. It’s pricey, overly-stuffed, extravagant, best enjoyed with a tipple, and full of nostalgia - a little bit like a traditional British Christmas to be honest.I wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a fantastic New Year. See you all in 2026!I would love to hear your thoughts on Santa Claus: The Movie !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.CONTACT....Twitter @verbaldioramaInstagram @verbaldioramaFacebook @verbaldioramaLetterboxd @verbaldioramaEmail verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] comWebsite verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & ReviewJoin the Patreon | Send a TipABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for...

Scrooged, a modern 80s retelling of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" stars Bill Murray as a cynical, mean-spirited TV executive who finally learns the true meaning of Christmas, but its production was marred with difficulties.After a four-year hiatus following the overwhelming success of Ghostbusters, Bill Murray returned to acting for this passion project. But before signing on, Murray literally tore apart the original script with screenwriters Mitch Glazer and Michael O'Donoghue to completely rework it, particularly the romantic subplot and family scenes.What followed was one of Hollywood's most notorious productions. Director Richard Donner and Murray clashed constantly throughout the three-month shoot in New York City and Hollywood. Murray felt Donner rushed through takes and kept pushing him to perform louder and broader, while Donner struggled with Murray's improvisational style.The $32 million production took a physical toll as well. Murray worked on dusty, smoky sets filled with fake snow that made him cough up blood. Co-star Carol Kane accidentally split his lip so badly during a scene that filming had to stop for several days. Co-writer O'Donoghue was equally miserable, claiming less than half the original script survived.The film's iconic ending speech was almost entirely improvised by Murray, who went off-script and received a spontaneous ovation from the crew. O'Donoghue was less than impressed, but the moment became one of cinema's most memorable holiday monologues. Scrooged adds layers of comedy and modern critique to Dickens' original text, showcasing not just the spirit of Christmas but a satirical look at the entertainment industry, and the commercialization of Christmas. Yule Love It!I would love to hear your thoughts on Scrooged !Verbal Diorama is now an award-winning podcast! Best Movie Podcast in the inaugural Ear Worthy Independent Podcast Awards and was nominated for the Earworm Award at the 2025 Golden Lobes.CONTACT.... Twitter @verbaldiorama Instagram @verbaldiorama Facebook @verbaldiorama Letterboxd @verbaldiorama Email verbaldiorama [at] gmail [dot] com Website verbaldiorama.comSUPPORT VERBAL DIORAMA....Give this podcast a five-star Rate & Review Join the Patreon | Send a Tip ABOUT VERBAL DIORAMAVerbal Diorama is hosted, produced, edited, researched, recorded and marketed by me, Em | This podcast is hosted by Captivate, try it yourself for free. Theme Music: Verbal Diorama Theme Song. Music by Chloe Enticott - Compositions by Chloe. Lyrics by Chloe Enticott (and me!) Production by Ellis Powell-Bevan of Ewenique StudioPatrons: Simon, Laurel, Derek, Cat,...