Nostalgium Arcanum - Episodes Tagged with “Cartoon”

Freakazoid!

Doug Lief — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:15:00 -0800

He's here to save the nation, so stay tuned to this station. Freakazoid! was unlike any cartoon before or since. Superficially a superhero parody, Paul Rugg and company used their cache and platform to create this satirical fever dream populated with outdated impressions, inexplicable bits, unforgettable characters, and writing wholly untethered to reailty and the rules of comedy. Guest super-dude extraordinaire, comedian and filmmaker Tarik Davis (@tarikrdavis, tarikrdavis.com) joins us to celebrate a show that broke the fourth wall, every convention, and quite possibly, our brains.

You can find Tarik on NBC's The Amber Ruffin Show, and on his essential podcast, Brothers From Another Planet, see him perform live with Freestyle Love Soupreme.

More importantly, Tarik's short film "Doc - Race, Revolution, Relativity, and the Confessions of a Time Travelling Terrorist" is now out and you can (and should) watch it here: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-uBvVgBTIY) The trailer for his new short film, "We're Not In Harlem Anymore", is available here: (https://youtu.be/M6KTil92tX8?si=p1emxuYOa8c7ZQJa)

Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, "Playing By Ear" (https://playingbyear.fireside.fm) and our limited-run Jim Henson Series, "Still Muppeting" (patreon.com/stillloadingpod).

If you have feedback, find us on the socials here:
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The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
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You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Theme to A Summer Place - Percy Faith
Freakazoid! Theme - Richard Stone
We'll Meet Again - Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, as sung by the cast of Freakazoid!
All score from Freakazoid! by Richard Stone, Steven Bernstein, Julie Bernstein, Gordon Goodwin, Tim Kelly, Carl Johnson
All score from Teens Titans Go! by Armen Chakmakian and Jason Brandt

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Doug Lief — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:15:00 -0800

It wouldn't be Christmas without Yuletide stealing, so we've got one more episode that's very revealing. The kids drop by the pod, to discuss who's Who, and give How The Grinch Stole Christmas a proper review.

Be sure to also check out our monthy musical podcast, "Playing By Ear" (https://playingbyear.fireside.fm) and our limited-run Jim Henson Series, "Still Muppeting" (patreon.com/stillloadingpod).

You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All score from How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Theodore Geisl (lyrics) and Albert Hague (songs) and Eugene Poddany (additional music)

The Hobbit

Doug Lief — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 00:15:00 -0700

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead, as Frodovember begins with the 1977 Rankin Bass adaptation of The Hobbit. We go there and back again with guest podcaster Case Aiken (Another Pass, Men of Steel) to enjoy our mutual first experences with Middle Earth and the works of J.R.R. Tolkein.

You can support Case and his network, CertainPOV, at patreon.com/CertainPOVMedia

Be sure to also check out our musical podcast, Playing By Ear! - https://playingbyear.fireside.fm

You can also use YouTube, if that's your thing: https://www.youtube.com/@NostalgiumArcanum/podcasts

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All music from The Hobbit by Murray Laws and Jules Bass
The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins - Leonard Nimoy
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police

A Goofy Movie

Doug Lief — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:15:00 -0700

It's the perfect cast... podcast! Today is the 30th anniversary of A Goofy Movie. While Goofy is, well, goofy, Disney's story of father/son bonding has for more depth than its dippy dog characters would suggest. We're seeing I 2 I on this film's excellence with a full Goof Troop with comedian Eileen Mayse (@i_lean) and podcaster Case Aiken (Another Pass, Men of Steel). A-hyuck!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All sonsg from A Goofy Movie by Tom Snow and Jack Feldman
All score from A Goofy Movie by Carter Burwell
Score form The Shining by Wendy Carlos, Rachel Elkind

The Land Before Time

Doug Lief — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:30:00 -0700

Don Bluth's paleontological take on Bambi thrilled audiences in 1988 and remains a beautifully animated film with a heart as big as a Longneck's. We're joined by Randy Allain and Kris Ingersoll of the Media/Lit podcast to discuss this adventure, and why it still resonates today.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All score from The Land Before Time by James Horner
If We Hold On Together - Diana Ross
Valley Girl - Frank Zappa and Moon Zappa

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Doug Lief — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 01:00:00 -0700

South Park, CO may be a quiet mountain town but decades on it remains the locus for satire, profanity, and the occasional doomsday prophesy. Friendly faces Dave Jackson (the Tales From the Backlog podcast) and comedians Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) and Rolland Lopez (@rollandlopezvoiceactor) join us to go down to South Park and have ourselves a time with their 1999 musical feature outing that fully let Trey Parker and Matt Stone off the leash of basic cable.

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All songs from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut by Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Mark Shaiman

Suck my balls!

TV Theme Songs

Doug Lief — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 01:00:00 -0700

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale of a podcaster and guests, who sit around debating which old theme songs were the best. We're joined by Ami Lief (creepy and kooky) and Ryan Merlo (mysterious and spooky) to round table our top ten TV theme songs.

Be sure to check out Ami's beautiful handmade earrings at https://www.etsy.com/shop/MomoBunnysmoreCo

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute - Jim Guthrie
I Can’t Watch This – Weird Al Yankovic (parody of U Can’t Touch This by M.C. Hammer)
Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street – Joe Raposo
Come and Knock On Our Door – Ray Charles and Julia Rinker
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Chuck Lorre and Dennis C. Brown
Everywhere You Look - Jesse Frederick
Horsin’ Around Theme – Jesse Novak
Animaniacs – Richard Stone
Movin' On Up - Ja'net DuBois
Green Acres Theme – Vic Mizzy
Meet the Flintstones – Hoyt Curtain
The Addams Family – Vic Mizzy
(Theme From) The Monkees - Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, performed by The Monkees
According to Our New Arrival - Judy Hart-Angelo, Gary Portnoy, performed by Leon Redbone
Saved By The Bell - Scott Gale
Big Bang Theory Theme – Barenaked Ladies
Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not) – Mike Post, performed by Joey Scarbury
The Brady Bunch - Frank De Vol, Sherwood Schwartz, performed by Peppermint Trolley Company
Searchin' My Soul – Vonda Shepard
The Ballad of Gilligan's Isle - Sherwood Schwartz, George Wyle
This Is the Theme to Garry's Show – Joey Carbone, performed by Bill Lynch
Tiny Toon Adventures Theme - Bruce Broughton, performed by Charlie Adler, Tress MacNeille & Joe Alaskey
The Mysterious Cities of Gold - Haim Saban and Shuki Levy, performed by Noam Kaniel
I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts
The Muppet Show Theme - Sam Pottle
Where Everybody Knows Your Name - Gary Portnoy
DuckTales - Mark Mueller, performed by Jeff Pescetto
Love Is All Around - Sonny Curtis
Unbreakable - Jeff Richmond
Rock On – Linda Perry
As Long as We Got Each Other - Eric Carmen, performed by B. J. Thomas and Jennifer Warnes
Too Many Cooks – Shawn Coleman, Michael Kohler, performed by Shawn Coleman, Cheryl Rogers, Michael Magno, and Patty Mack

Disney Songs, Part 2

Doug Lief — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 01:00:00 -0800

We're back to revisit our favorite Disney songs to infinity and beyond! Last time we covered songs from Walt Disney Studios' animated features. This time we're covering everything else from Pixar to Touchstone to the Disney Channel to the amusement parks and more. Returning guests Ami Lief, Tania Newton, and Ryan Merlo join us for a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious massive mouse house roundtable.

Be sure to check out Ami's beautiful handmade earrings at https://www.etsy.com/shop/MomoBunnysmoreCo

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits

Intro - Dark Flute - Jim Guthrie
Baroque Hometown (Jean-Jacques Perrey / Gershon Kingsley)
The Climb (Jessi Alexander / Jon Mabe)
Let’s Get Together (Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman)
Un Poco Loco (Germain Franco / Adrian Molina)
So Long And Thanks For All The Fish (Joby Talbot / Christopher Austin / Garth Jennings)
Mickey Mouse March (Jimmie Dodd)
Come Little Children (John Debney)
If I Didn’t Have You (Randy Newman)
Grim Grinning Ghosts (Buddy Baker / X Atencio)
I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing (Dianne Warren)
Nobody Like U (Billie Eilish / Finneas O’Connell)
Because You Loved Me (Dianne Warren)
Learn Me Right (Mumford & Sons)
Yo, Ho! (A Pirate’s Life For Me) (Buddy Baker / X Atencio)
Substitutiary Locomotion (Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman)
The Tiki Room (Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman)
Pictures in My Head (Jeanne Lurie / Aris Archontis / Chen Neeman)
We Belong Together (Randy Newan)
When She Loved Me (Randy Newman)
Hay Un Amigo En Mi (Randy Newman / Gipsy Kings)
Remember Me (Rober Lopez / Kristen Anderson Lopez)
Oogie Boogie’s Song (Danny Elfman)
Babysitting Blues (Mark Mueller / Robert Kraft)
He Lives In You (Lebo M)
Lava (James Ford Murphy)
Let’s Go Fly A Kite (Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman)
DuckTales Theme Song (Mark Mueller)
It’s A Small World (Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman)
What I’ve Been Looking For (Andy Dodd / Adam Watts)
You’ve Got A Friend In Me (Randy Newman)
This Is Halloween (Danny Elfman)
Sunflower (Post Malone / Swae Lee)
I Don’t Dance (Matthew Gerrard; Robbie Nevil)
Le Festin (Michael Giacchino)
A Spoonful of Sugar (Richard Sherman / Robert Sherman)
Life’s A Happy Song Finale (Brett McKenzie)
Monsters, Inc. Main Theme (Randy Newman)
Just The Way We Are (Alf Clausen)

Care Bears

Doug Lief — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0800

You stare into the Care Bear and the Care Bear stares back at you. This week guest podcaster Jala Prendes (Jala-Chan's Place, Monster, Dear Monster, The Level) drops in from the clouds to help us revisit the Care Bears franchise and how its tender-hearted worldview taught a generation of children to be empathetic and also buy lots of toys.

Find Jala online at @Fireheart_Media on X and fireheartmedia.bsky.social. Her show The Level is also part of the Duckfeed.tv podcast network.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
I Wanna Be a Care Bear (Bob and Merry Chimbel)
All score from Care Bears (1980s series) by Patricia Cullen
All score from The Care Bears Movie by Patricia Cullen
All score from The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation by Patricia Cullen
Forever Young (Dean and Carol Parks, sung by Stephen Bishop and Debbie Allen)

16-Bit Disney Games

Doug Lief — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 01:00:00 -0800

In the early 1990s Disney animation recaptured its magic and along with it came a wave of memorable video games for the consoles of the era. This episode we're joined by Phil Head of the Spectrum Days podcast (@SpectrumDaysPod) and Eileen Mayse (@i_lean) to revisit Aladdin, The Lion King, and Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse. Grab a controller, some cheetos, and join us for at least 16 hilarious bits.

For more of the spectacular Spectrum Days podcast, find them at https://spectrumdays.com.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content, and on TikTok (@nostalgiumarcanum) for Doug's impressions.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Friend Like Me (Alan Menken)
Original Aladdin soundtrack for the SNES by Yuki Iwai, Yuko Takehara, and Setsuo Yamamoto
Original Castle of Illusion soundtrack by Tokuhiko Uwabo and Shigenori Kamiya
Circle of Life (Elton John)
To Die For... (Hans Zimmer)
Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Elton John)

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Doug Lief — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0700

Good Grief! It's finally Halloween and that means it's time for comedian Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) to join our yearly vigil in the seasonal Peanuts special that is the most sincere.

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Linus and Lucy (and all other score) by Vince Guaraldi
Charlie Brown (The Coasters)

Calvin and Hobbes

Doug Lief — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 01:00:00 -0700

Arguably the greatest comic strip of all time, Bill Watterson's masterpiece Calvin and Hobbes melded artistic mastery, comedic timing, and most of all the profound sense of wonder at the heart of our collective childhoods. Guest Case Aiken of the Certain Point of View podcast network joins us to go exploring in its timeless wilderness. Yukon Ho!

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Calvin and Hobbes (J.J. Heller)
Calvin and Hobbes (Max D)

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Doug Lief — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 01:00:00 -0700

P-p-p-lease join our 35th anniversary retrospective on Robert Zemeckis' 1988 masterpiece with special guest Tarik Davis (@tarikrdavis) of the Amber Ruffin Show. This film still dazzles as it combines unparalleled live action and animation wizardry and a classic noir tale of persecuted toons that are anything but two-dimensional.

You can find Tarik not only on NBC's The Amber Ruffin Show, but on his essential podcast, Brothers From Another Planet, and see him perform with Freestyle Love Soupreme.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Why Don't You Do Right? (Kansas Joe McCoy, Herb Morand, sung by Amy Irving)
The Merry Go Round Broke Down (Cliff Friend, Dave Franklin, vocals by Bob Hoskins)
Smile, Darn Ya, Smile! (Frank Marsales, Abe Lyman)
All other score from Who Framed Roger Robbit by Alan Silvestri

Homestar Runner

Doug Lief — Mon, 15 May 2023 01:00:00 -0700

Everybody! Everybody! This week Rich Baker (@richbakercoaching) joins us to click our way through Homestar Runner, a veritable witch's brew of inside jokes, songs, and games which exemplifies the dadaism of early 2000s internet flash cartoons.

Do not send feedback to Strong Bad. Instead, find us on the socials here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/
The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_nostalgium_arcanum_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nostalgium_arcanum_/

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Everybody! Everybody! (The Brothers Chaps)
Trogdor (The Brothers Chaps)
Because It's Midnight (Limozeen)
The Ballad of the Sneak (The Brothers Chaps)
Circles (The Brothers Chaps)
Uptown Funk / Fhqwhgads Mashup by Deep V (Mark Ronson / Bruno Mars / The Brothers Chaps)

Gargoyles

Doug Lief — Mon, 01 May 2023 01:00:00 -0700

The night time is the right time for Disney's Gargoyles, a grittier, serialized tale of noble creatures who turn from stone to flesh at sundown. Special guest Amy Baum joins us to discuss the ongoing battle between these winged medieval warriors and your AP English class.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Gargoyles Score by Carl Johnson

Rugrats

Doug Lief — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 01:00:00 -0700

Just in time for Passover comedian Andrew Tavin (@andrewtavin, The House of House podcast) sits down to seder to discuss Rugrats, one of Nickelodeon's most successful properties, as well as its landmark Jewish representation.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Rugrats Theme (Mark Mothersbaugh)
All other Rugrats music by (Mark Mothersbaugh, Denis M. Hannigan, Bob Mothersbaugh, or Rusty Andrews)

DuckTales

Doug Lief — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 01:00:00 -0700

Quackaroonie! On this podcast we might solve a mystery or rewrite history as junior woodchuck Rich Baker (@richbakeractor) joins us to revisit DuckTales, a-woo-oo!

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
DuckTales Theme (Mark Mueller/Jeff Pescetto)
All DuckTales score by Ron Jones, Tom Chase, Steve Rucker, Steve Zuckerman
Three Cheers for Bubba Duck (Michael Silversher and Patricia Silversher)
Gold Nuggets Are My Own Best Friend
DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp score by David Newman
DuckTales NES Moon Theme (Hiroshige Tonomura)

The Mysterious Cities of Gold

Doug Lief — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0800

Grab your ancient medallions and solar-powered bird jets as guest Rob Palmieri (@robthewonderful of Cartoon Clip Show) joins us for an epic archeological quest through lost civilizations and maybe the best soundtrack of any 80s cartoon. It's The Mysterious Cities of Gold.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Also, check out Rob's channel and in particular, his excellent review of MCOG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecf2cg9RtCM&t=18s

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
All other score from The Mysterious Cities of Gold by Haim Saban and Shuki Levy

Pokémon

Doug Lief — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0800

Gotta catch 'em all! This week Dave Jackson (of the Tales From The Backlog podcast - @TFTBLPod) evolves into Dave Jacksazaard to discuss the global megafranchise all about turning cute little Pikachus into weapons of mass destruction.

If you have feedback, send a Pidgedot to the socials here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/
The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_nostalgium_arcanum_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nostalgium_arcanum_/

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Pokémon TV Theme (Jason Paige)
Pokémon Red & Blue Opening (Junichi Masuda)
Pallet Town Theme (Junichi Masuda)
Pokémon TV Series Score (Shinji Miyazaki)
Pokémon: The First Movie Score (Shinji Miyazaki)
Pokémon Red & Blue Ending (Junichi Masuda)
Scientifically Accurate Pokémon (Heather Campbell)

Animaniacs

Doug Lief — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 01:00:00 -0800

Hellooooooo Nurse! Guests Amy and Amir Baum join us to discuss the animan-ey, totally insane-ey, Animaniacs. Those are the facts!

If you're pondering what we're pondering, tell us on the socials here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/
The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_nostalgium_arcanum_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nostalgium_arcanum_/

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Animaniacs Theme (Richard Stone, Tom Ruegger)
Yakko's World (Randy Rogel)
Goodfeathers Theme (parody of "That's Amore" by Harry Warren)
Rita and Runt Theme (Richard Stone, Tom Ruegger)
Flat In Gay Paree (parody of "Castle on a Cloud" by Claude-Michel Schönberg)
Slappy Squirrel Theme (Richard Stone, Tom Ruegger)
Pinky and the Brain Theme (Richard Stone, Tom Ruegger)

Batman: The Animated Series

Doug Lief — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 01:00:00 -0800

Guest Rich Baker (@richbakeractor) joins us to shine the bat-signal on Batman: The Animated Series, a seminal piece of melancholy action which is arguably the best work featuring the Dark Knight, and one of the best tv shows period.

If you want to take an online improv class from Rich, go to www.daretofailimprov.com (first class is free!).

If you have thoughts on BTAS, throw a batarang over to the socials here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265036650022926/
The symbol formerly known as Twitter: @nostalgiumpod
BlueSky: @nostalgiumpod.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_nostalgium_arcanum_
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_nostalgium_arcanum_/

Be sure to follow us on Instagram in particular since that's where we post bonus content.

Musical Credits:

Intro - Dark Flute (Jim Guthrie)
Batman: The Animated Series Theme (Danny Elfman)
All other score by Shirley Walker