The Silver Age comes to an end! Daniel is joined by Melbourne Fringe Creative Director/CEO and foster carer Simon Abrahams to look at the joyous jungle classic ‘The Jungle Book’ and how it depicts the relationship between children and non-biological caregivers.

Daniel is joined by award-winning performer and co-creator of the StoryKids podcast Verity Hunt-Ballard to look at the beloved musical classic ‘Mary Poppins’ and discuss why the character and film has become such a beloved cultural icon, the film’s transition to the stage, and the messages that lie at its heart.

Daniel is joined by teacher Billy Kanafani to look at the gorgeous medieval fantasy ‘The Sword in the Stone’, and discuss how the film depicts the vital and complicated relationship between teachers and students, and the importance of education in teaching young boys to be good men.

Daniel is joined by production designer, architect and fashion designer Eugyeene Teh to discuss the groundbreaking Disney classic 'One Hundred and One Dalmatians', how it draws from contemporary influences for its dynamic new look, and how the Xerox process changed animation forever.

Daniel chats with award-winning film historian, author and artist Mindy Johnson about the important contributions of women to Disney animation in the first four decades of the studio, the opportunities that were offered to them and how their incredible work paved the way for the generations of women to come.

In the second part of our look at the legendary animated classic ‘Sleeping Beauty’, Daniel is joined by theatre director Stephen Nicolazzo to discuss the film’s visual storytelling, the relationship between Aurora and Philip and its lasting legacy on animation, cinema and art.

Daniel is joined by Australian Ballet principal artist Dimity Azoury to begin our two-part look at the monumental animated classic ‘Sleeping Beauty’, discussing the influence of Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet on the film and the drive for perfection in artistic pursuits.

In part two of our In-Betweener on Disneyland, Daniel looks at the building of the park, the landmark companion television series, the chaos of its opening day and its lasting cultural impact.

Daniel is joined by veterinarian Daniel Taft to look at Disney’s enduring canine romance ‘Lady and the Tramp’, how it represents the relationship between dogs and their owners, and why we have such great affection for them.

In part one of our In-Betweener on Disneyland, Daniel looks at how the iconic amusement park came to be, Walt’s inspiration, and the unusual plans to finance the ambitious undertaking.

Daniel is joined by social historian Frank Golding to look at Disney’s swashbuckling adventure 'Peter Pan', discuss the real experiences of children removed from their families, the complex roles of mothers and fathers in a child’s life, and the reality of never wanting to grow up.

Daniel is joined by academics Dr Elizabeth Hale and Anna Mik to talk about Disney’s legendary adaptation of ‘Alice in Wonderland’, the importance of the original novel, how the two works act in conversation with one another, and possible meanings behind Alice and her Wonderland.

The Silver Age begins with the beloved romance 'Cinderella'. Daniel is joined by theatremakers Katrina Cornwall and Morgan Rose to talk about the dangerous expectations set up by romance narratives, the trope of women in conflict over the attention of a man and a modern version of the 'Cinderella' story in 'The Bachelor'.

Daniel chats with acclaimed Disney historian J.B. Kaufman about his work and research, his experiences at the Disney Archives, some of his most exciting discoveries and projects he hopes to pursue in the future.

Daniel is joined by entertainment writer Louis Peitzman to talk about one of the great forgotten gems of Disney animation, ‘The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad’, the film’s complicated origins, and its unusual impact of American popular culture.

Daniel looks at Walt Disney’s testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee in October 1947, his complicated relationship with politics, and the contentious rumours about him that persist to this day.

Daniel is joined by Disney historian JB Kaufman to look at the first three package films, discuss how they came to be, and why these mostly forgotten films are an important chapter in the history of Disney animation.

We look at the work from Walt Disney Productions during the Second World War, and Ink & Paint producer/editor Alex Amster joins Daniel to chat about the propaganda films.

We begin our journey through the Wartime Era with the two South American-themed Good Neighbor films. Daniel is hooked by comedy writer and performer Djovan Caro to discuss their handling of cultural representation, their technical achievements and their legacy today.

The Golden Age of Disney Animation comes to an end! Daniel is joined by Melbourne-based psychologist Chris Cheers to discuss the 1942 masterpiece ‘Bambi’, how it depicts early childhood development, the iconic death of Bambi’s mother, and why the film elicits such a strong emotional response from its audience.