We have a lot of great stories this week about new animation based on existing properties like the "Dredd" fanimation, a stop-mo "Elf" holiday special & Todd McFarlane making a new "Spawn" animated series... and new stuff like the "Over the Garden Wall" miniseries! We LOVED doing the special episodes but it's great to talk about animation news stories again and we want to know what YOU think about them too! Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on what we talked about[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep53-princess_kabooya.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #53: "Princess KaBOOYA"]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! This week we reached out to other animators and creatives to give us their worst experiences in freelance that they could share with us like ghost stories around a campfire. Spooooooky! The idea is that if you're thinking of getting into freelance or can relate to some of these stories, they can serve as a heads-up on what you might encounter and/or how to prevent them. See? It's fun AND educational. I'm very proud of this episode so I hope you enjoy it and get lots of great information out of it![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep52-freelance_horror_stories.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #52: "Freelance Horror Stories"]

Alan Becker, creator of the hit 'Animator vs Animation' stick-fight series joins us to talk about his experience with Kickstarter, virality, and his process!

Stephen teaches food chemistry, a video of Pat is unearthed, Rob & Pat flirt over text message, a couple fans get in a Facebook fight on our page, and we all do impressions of Ray Romano. We also talk about Alan Becker's new short "Animator vs Animation IV," the strangely infamous new "Rocky & Bullwinkle" clip, and much more! We're getting close to our one-year anniversary and things are starting to ramp up. Enjoy the insanity![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep49-stackin_books.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #49: "Stackin' Books"]

Speed round! Pat and Stephen had to get to trivia night because who else's going to know what year Space Jam was released (ahem 1996)? We all watched the Simpsons/Family Guy crossover episode and have some words. Don Hertzfeldt's Simpsons couch gag made people confused and intrigued. Also, the CW cancelled its Saturday morning cartoon lineup, the last of its kind on network TV, and you might be surprised what we think about that. And finally, we have clips and trailers to talk about![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep48-we_just_gave_up.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #48: "We Just Gave Up"]

Pat's back! Feels so good to have the gang together for this one because we've got some great stories suggested by YOU. "Popeye", "Where Are They Now" animated short, "Deadpool" greenlit, "Rick and Morty" co-creator Justin Roiland fighting the Union, The Hub dies, Stephen updated an animation from 2010, and we inspire people apparently... seriously. And we have another submitted question! You will enjoy this one. You will. I promise. Kinda.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep47-two_and_a_half_men.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #47: "Two and a Half Men"]

With a slow news week, Rob and Stephen settle down and talk about something bugging Rob lately: "how to be an animator AND have a life." We talk about productivity methods, past experiences, full time VS freelance, and of course -- stories! And also... VIEWER QUESTIONS!! But we start it all off with a clip from earlier in the week when Rob called Stephen to practice his telephone script he had to read on behalf of the Brooklyn Bourough president. And you all know what happens when Rob tries to read aloud... under pressure.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep46-hot_cocoa_show.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #46: "Hot Cocoa Show"]

While Pat's off being all married and stuff, Rob and I talk about Signe Baumane's "Rocks in My Pockets," Bento Box keeping jobs in the US, and the "Hullabaloo" IndieGoGo campaign and why 2D ISN'T DEAD YOU GUYS jeez! I can't WAIT for the comments on THIS episode[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep45-butterfly_mcbeebee.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #45: "Butterfly McBeeBee"]

Is "Hello Kitty" a cat or isn't she?! Is "Bojack Horseman" any good? Is Marvel actually making a "Guardians of the Galaxy" animated series? She is, it is, and they aren't. There, now you don't need to listen to the episode. But if you didn't you'd miss our soothing voices and witty quips! Rob has some major technical issues and it made for an Intro that made me laugh so hard while I was cutting it together I had to take a break to wipe the tears from my eyes. How's THAT for raising your expectations too high?! Also, do YOU know why we named this episode "Purse on Vacation?" I'll give you a hint: say it fast. I'll give you another hint: Rob can't pronounce words.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep44-purse_on_vacation.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #44: "Purse on Vacation"]

The Emmys happened! They're a thing! We talk about the winners and our love for "Bob's Burgers" as well as the Every Simpsons Ever marathon happening on FXX (whatever THAT channel is...). The great Lord/Sir/Mr. Amazing Richard Attenborough passed away and we honor him, but then he honors us right back by giving us maybe the greatest transition we've ever done (divined through Pat, who's back this episode)! And don't say we never did anything for you, because we read another email exchange between a major company asking for free work and an artist who just won't take it anymore (emphasis mine)![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep43-emmy_nom_noms.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #43: "Emmy Nom Noms"]

Stephen and Rob talk about the new TMNT (2014) movie and compare to the Indie 1990 movie

Robin Williams, long-time friend to and lover of animation and a comedic and dramatic role model for many left us this week. We talk about what impact his life and career had on us and the field of animation as a whole. Other stories we cover in this episode are a survey which shows that YouTube stars are more popular than mainstream celebs among US teens, Golden Globes changing the animation rules, and what's going on with the Legend of Korra.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep41-supermoon_nanu_nanu.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #41: "Supermoon Nanu Nanu"]

This week we talk about the new Spongebob Squarepants movie, Studio Ghibli might be closing, and Ross "rubberNinja" O'Donovan breaks down why YouTube's algorithm is hurting Indie Animators. Oh also, guess what? We made it to 40 episodes! Not a traditional milestone but who cares... we haven't completely fallen on our faces yet and that's something. Thanks for listening and discussing the episodes and all the stuff we say -- means a lot to us, or something.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep40-aladdin_in_space.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #40: "Aladdin in Space"]

We're back! Last week's podcast was an awesome (if I do say so myself) old-timey radio show style episode... but this week we're back on animation stories from the week. We saw 5 minutes of the Simpsons/Family Guy crossover, the Mike Tyson Mysteries trailer, the Smiley face is getting its own show, and LAIKA's CEO wants to make hand-drawn animated films. Also, what happens when a huge Kickstart campaign (*cough* Yogscast *cough*) fails. Enjoy![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep39-the_face_of_the_arms.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #39: "The Face of the Arms"]

This week we shake things up by recording one of Pat's stories as an adventure radio show! It was enormous fun to do and we hope you get as much joy as we did from it... and it's under 20 minutes![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep38-city_of_monsters.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #38: "City of Monsters"]

CONSPIRACY! CONTROVERSY! A wage-fixing cartel was exposed in Silicon Valley with top animation studios at the center, so we discuss it... as best we can. Or as best as Stephen can explain it to Rob and Pat. We also talk Emmy noms, a new animation program, Andrew Kaiko's new fanimation using Toon Boom Animate, and Pat created a character![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep37-zeus_is_loose.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #37: "Zeus is Loose"]

We have a monster of an episode this week! Two weeks of stories jam packed into one awesome episode with the entire crew: Stephen, Rob, & Pat. We talk about an email exchange between a writer and a producer, Glen Keane's new animated short "Duet," and some kid made a Kickstarter campaign to make potato salad and for some reason has earned $70,000+ (as of this post). Oh also, Rob met Shaggy and made a new animated short (not related)! Enjoy this delicious 2 hour episode... we hope it's as fun to listen to as it was to record![audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep36-diergo_kattora.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #36: "Diergo Kattora"]

This week saw the release of a new TMNT (2014) trailer... so we talk about that. But in other less upsetting news, Genndy Tartakovsky's "Popeye" (2016) CGI film has a new image associated with it and it looks great! Finally, we talk about Colin Firth dropping out as the voice of Paddington... and coin #Firf in the process.[audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/rubberonion/the_rubber_onion-ep34-tmnt_burn_victims.mp3|titles=The Rubber Onion - #34: "T.M.N.T. Burn Victims"]