Cartoons, Clay, and Chaos: Exploring the Magic of Animation on Kanopy
🍿 Why Animation Matters
Think animation is “just for kids”? Kristy and Jeff unpack why this medium often tells stories live action never could. Turning a dismembered hand into a hero, retelling true crime with emotional clarity, or weaving folklore into modern storytelling.
🎬 Welcome back to The Film Library, a Kanopy podcast where we spotlight hidden gems, cult favorites, and movies that linger in your mind long after the credits roll - no film degree required.
This week, hosts Kristy Puchko (Entertainment Editor at Mashable) and Jeff Rauseo (film lover, animation admirer, and self-proclaimed nostalgia junkie) dive into the endlessly creative world of animation. From eerie stop-motion nightmares to hand-drawn Irish folklore, and even a certain Nickelodeon classic that defined childhoods, this episode proves animation isn’t just for kids. It’s for dreamers, weirdos, and anyone who loves when movies push the boundaries of reality!
Kristy brings bold picks that blend real life and fantasy, like the animated true-crime documentary My Old School, the breathtaking artistry of The Secret of Kells, and the moving friendship tale Robot Dreams. Jeff counters with the school shooting documentary Tower, the hauntingly original Stopmotion, and his early-2000s obsession Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
Together, they explore how animation can be funny, terrifying, heartbreaking, or all three in a single frame.
Follow Kristy on Instagram @thekristypuchko and Letterboxd @kristypuchko.
Follow Jeff on Instagram, TikTok, and Letterboxd @jeffrauseo.
Follow Kanopy on Letterboxd to see the full episode list.
Stream the films we mention for free at kanopy.com with a library card or university ID from a participating institution.
🎞️ Episode Highlights
00:57 — The Perfect Getaway (2009)
Kristy kicks things off with a sweaty, sun-soaked thriller about honeymooners, trust issues, and a tropical vacation gone very wrong.
02:46 — The Sandlot (1993)
Jeff rewinds to his childhood VHS obsession, celebrating this nostalgic ode to baseball, fireworks, and summers before smartphones.
04:48 — Memento (2000)
Jeff recalls the Nolan classic that made him realize movies could truly bend time, memory, and storytelling itself.
07:34 — The Painter and the Thief (2020)
Kristy digs into this unconventional doc about art, crime, and the shifting perspectives that come with vulnerability and friendship.
12:24 — In a Violent Nature (2024)
Jeff spotlights an art-house slasher that flips the genre’s perspective, following the killer’s quiet, brutal path through the woods.
15:43 — Triangle of Sadness (2022)
Kristy revels in Ruben Östlund’s Oscar-nominated satire of wealth, class, and bodily chaos that takes a yacht trip from luxury to disaster.
19:44 — The Art of Self-Defense (2019)
Jeff makes the case for this pitch-black karate comedy about insecurity, toxic masculinity, and roundhouse kicks
23:24 — But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
Kristy closes out with a cult queer rom-com that mixes camp, satire, and heartfelt romance, featuring Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, and a scene-stealing RuPaul.
29:18 — Wrap-Up
Kristy and Jeff reflect on how these films—whether funny, frightening, or flat-out strange—capture the unhinged, unpredictable spirit of a cinematic summer.
Ireland