Video Store Podcast

Welcome to my sophomore episode, all about animation! If all you know about animated features is big studio blockbusters like Toy Story or Into the Spider-Verse, let me expand your mind into some vintage treasures from the fringes of animation history. These films will give you a new appreciation for the art form, and a throwback to the days when everything was drawn and painted by hand. Digital animation today is still driven by artists, and these old-school rarities are part of what paved the way for what animation can do. And it’s not just for kids either!
WIZARDS (1977)
Ralph Bakshi is a legend in the animation world, known for his raunchy, gritty urban dramas like Fritz the Cat and Cool World. This is a fantasy he made one year before his animated adaptation of Lord of the Rings — and it has similar themes & visuals of elves, fairies, orcs, battle sequences, an evil overload and a wise wizard. It’s sloppy, funny, strange, and a psychedelic fever dream.
ALLEGRO NON TROPPO (1976)
This is Italian animator Bruno Bozzetto’s classic parody of Disney’s Fantasia, with all the familiar themes — except the orchestra is all made up of elderly ladies and a gorilla attacks. Six classical music pieces are set to different styles of animation, from the sad & beautiful to zany & bizarre. It’s a glorious romp of satire and naughtiness.
ROCK & RULE (1983)
If rock music is more your jam, it’s a moral imperative to check out this Canadian cult classic. Songs by Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Cheap Trick, Iggy Pop, and Earth, Wind & Fire pump up the energy in this loud & ludicrous story about an evil rock star searching for the perfect voice to unleash an unearthly demon. Turn up the volume and enjoy a kaleidoscope of crazy animation and special effects!
TWICE UPON A TIME (1983)
While wrapping up his original Star Wars trilogy with Return of the Jedi, George Lucas helped his colleague John Korty (and co-director Charles Swenson) get this film made — but hardly anyone saw it. But time and animation fans have saved it from total obscurity, and it’s an absolute delight. Filmed in a special stop-motion technique called LUMAGE, this is a brilliant mix of color, design, and improv comedy about a band of unlikely heroes who must save the world from an eternity of nightmares.
Hope you enjoy these animated classics!
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Hello! My name is Marc Allie. I’m a teacher, blogger, author, and pretty much the biggest nerd you’ll ever meet. As a longtime Video Store Podcast listener, I am thrilled to be a member of the staff. For our staff picks this week, I’ve got four recommendations from the varied career of Kurt Russell.
Escape from New York (1981)
Escape from New York is the film that cemented Kurt Russell’s transition into a motion picture powerhouse. The film was directed by John Carpenter and was written by Carpenter and Nick Castle. The movie has a low budget, but it became a cult classic over time. Kurt Russell plays Snake Plisskin, a hardened but cool anti-hero that became an action icon.
Used Cars (1980)
Used Cars is a lesser known film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, and produced by Steven Spielberg, so it’s got quite a pedigree behind it. The movie, as you might expect, is about used cars. Two rival used car dealerships sit right across the highway from each other. Rudy Russo, Kurt Russell’s character, works at the less reputable of the two car lots. His performance as a slick used car salesman shows off his comedic chops.
Soldier (1998)
Soldier was directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. Kurt Russell plays the “Soldier” of the title. His name is Todd 3465. That’s right, he doesn’t have a last name, only a number. Todd has been raised from birth to be an emotionless soldier. Todd is the best of the best, but when the “newer model” of soldier comes along, he’s tossed out with the trash and has to make a new life for himself. Russell relies on his physical prowess as well as expressions and body language in this nearly wordless role.
Executive Decision (1996)
The last movie on our recommendations list is Executive Decision, an action thriller directed by Stuart Bird. The film mixes military action, espionage, and suspense to great effect. It’s one of the better “Die Hard on an airplane” movies of the 1990s. Kurt Russell plays an intelligence analyst who is thrust into an impossible situation: board a plane filled with terrorists while it’s already in the air.
Thanks for coming into the store today. Let me know what you think of my staff picks!



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Hello, and welcome to my debut episode! My name is Ken, a writer, illustrator & animator from Vancouver — and I’m excited to join the Video Store Podcast staff. If you have kids in your life looking for a great film to watch this summer, or to enjoy as a family with mass quantities of popcorn, listen close! I’ve got some you may have never heard of, but will definitely want to see.
ZATHURA: A Space Adventure (2005)
If you’ve seen any of the JUMANJI movies, this is the same kind of idea — but in space! Two brothers discover a board game that comes to life and hurls them into the far reaches of the galaxy, where they must battle hungry space aliens, meteors, a killer robot, and other dangers. The only way to get home is to finish the game, if they can survive!
Earth to Echo (2014)
If you like STRANGER THINGS, you’ll get a kick out of this adventure. It’s like E.T. meets THE GOONIES shot with cel phones, in a found-footage style. A group of friends are getting ready to move out of their neighborhood when they discover a tiny robot in the desert who needs to get home. Perfect for projecting onto a sheet in your backyard under the stars.
Riddle of Fire (2024)
An amazing indie gem where a band of kids called The Three Immortal Reptiles go on an adventure in the woods to outwit a band of criminals called The Enchanted Blade. Delightfully weird with a dungeon-synth soundtrack, this film feels like a throwback to Disney adventure films of the ‘70s with some GOONIES and LORD OF THE RINGS elements. Disclaimer: some mild profanity and kids cussing.
SKETCH (2025)
Amber and Jack are two kids grieving the death of their mother, and Amber draws scary monsters to cope with her sadness. When they discover a magic pond in their backyard that heals or brings anything that touches it to life, it’s a recipe for chaos and adventure. This is an amazing film that more families really need to see. A cocktail of giant monsters, chase sequences, battle scenes, and personified metaphors for emotions of fear, sadness and grief, it’s been described as JURASSIC PARK meets INSIDE OUT — but also with a touch of its own unique genius.
Thanks for joining us at the Video Store Podcast for some kids’ adventure recommendations! Let me know what you think of them!
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Summer is here and we’re staying indoors instead of sweating it out. We’re keeping it cool in the A/C and with some chilling horror anthology TV to help us get through the long summer days. Here are 4 horror anthology series I’ve picked for our staff picks will this week.
Tales from the Darkside (1983)
What could’ve been Creepshow: The Series became Tales from the Darkside. Created by Night of the Living Dead director George A. Romero and horror producer Richard P. Rubinstein, Tales from the Darkside is a half-hour horror anthology show filled with practical effects, and crazy good folks in the director’s chair and the writer’s room. I recommend the pilot episode, “Trick or Treat” starring Barnard Hughes, if you want a good flavor for this series.
Freddy’s Nightmares (1988)
Spun off from the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Freddy’s Nightmares gave many parents nightmares with its dark, disturbing, violent, and scary content being aired in syndication on broadcast TV where just anyone could watch it! Robert Englund reprises his role as Freddy Krueger and opens and closes each episode with some framing narration. The episode I think you should check out to get a taste for the show is “Killer Instinct,” which stars the great Lori Petty. It’s eerie, creepy, and frankly a bit disturbing. If you’re down for a good scare or just a big A Nightmare on Elm Street fan, Freddy’s Nightmares is well worth your time.
The Outer Limits (1995)
The 1995 The Outer Limits revival is an incredible cavalcade of acclaimed science fiction and horror writers, directors, and actors. Lasting for 152 episodes and seven seasons, The Outer Limits (1995) far outstripped its predecessor, and offers viewers a fascinating and often poignant exploration of human topics through the lens of science fiction horror. There are so many episodes I could point to for great examples from this series, but one of my favorites is the season 4 episode, “Glyphic.” Starring Rachael Leigh Cook, Brad Swaile, written by Naren Shankar, and directed by the late, great Catherine O’Hara, this is a fascinating episode that deals with an unexplainable disease with an out-of-this-world solution.
The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972)
Finally, The New Scooby-Doo Movies from 1972 rounds out my selections for the staff picks wall this week. No, it’s not exactly what comes to mind when you think of anthology horror TV, but hear me out, I think it is. It follows in the anthology horror TV format of new guest stars every week, a new monster or ghost to figure out, a bit of mystery to uncover, but it’s wrapped in an animated comedy package. It’s anthology horror that’s fun for everyone, be they adults, kids, or teens. And it also serves as a good chaser if you need something more lighthearted after the first three recommendations. While I literally enjoy every episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, I think “The Loch Ness Mess” featuring The Harlem Globetrotters is one of the more interesting, if not strange episodes of the series.
Thanks for joining us at the Video Store Podcast for some more summer spookies! If you like these, check out my episode last year for four more Summer Spookies, perfect for this time of year.
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Hey gang, We’re hiring here at the Video Store! If you’ve got a passion for film, some podcasting experience, and a good quality microphone, the Video Store might just be the place for you. If you’re interested, please drop us a line in our direct chat box. We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Please note that the Video Store Podcast is a “for-fun” project and a labor of love for all of us who collaborate here. Each host is responsible for writing, editing, creating images, and uploading their own episodes. If that interests you, please drop us a line!



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.videostorepodcast.com