Episode 82: The World is Mi Familia

Few movies have quite the nuanced take on life and death as those made for young audiences—and few with the deftness that Pixar’s Coco has. After returning from a honeymoon in Mexico, Derek & Laurel explore the traditions of Dia de los Muertos as they relate to Miguel Rivera’s journey in the 2017 film, all tied together through the power of love and music. Themes of memory, personal and universal relationships, and storytelling as culture round out this week’s Midnight Myth. Keep your tissues handy—it’s Pixar—and all topics from the Crusades to spirit animals are on the table.

Episode 70: Outside In

The Pixar train continues to roll here at the Midnight Myth, where this week, we’re picking apart the science and magic of Inside Out. Watching the coming-of-age of a young girl through the eyes and oculus of her tiny, anthropomorphized neurotransmitters, we’re got pressing questions about what the movie says about us, our emotions, and our role in the universe. We’ll compare Inside Out to classic forms and conventions of storytelling while diving into the complex and fascinating world of emotional theory.

Episode 69: Pixar Special

There is a power in all of us, waiting to be tapped into, and it is unlocked through the magic of human emotion. This week’s episode is dedicated to celebrating one of the Hollywood’s greatest studios: Pixar. In a part game, part analysis, and part fresh take into The Incredibles 2, Derek and Laurel cherish and toast the animation studio which brings man, woman, and child together for a nice song and good cry.

Episode 68: That's Incredible!

The arrival of Pixar’s long-awaited sequel to ‘The Incredibles’ has us itching to revisit the beloved family of superheroes. Turning a critical eye to the story of the Parr family and their secret identities, we’ll explore each character’s journey toward becoming fully actualized beings—with or without superpowers. For a kids’ movie, ‘The Incredibles’ digs into surprisingly mature subject matter, like suburban dissatisfaction, political ideologies, and gender roles. We’ll do our best to leave no stone unturned in this analysis. No capes!