PODCAST · tv
Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor
by Jim Hill Media Podcast Network
Jim and Drew break down the animation world frame by frame, until you get the singular picture. If you love Disney animation, Pixar, and the classics that were hand sketched, or built out of 1's and 0's in a computer, this is the podcast that draws you in.
Episodes
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Disney's Hexed Casts a Colorful Spell on Animation (Ep. 379)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor have plenty to discuss as Disney's upcoming animated feature Hexed takes center stage, with a fresh trailer, striking visual designs, and new details about the creative team. They also explore the latest animation announcements from New York Comic Con, a milestone...
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Woody Woodpecker, Walter Lantz, and the Last Man Standing in Animation (Ep. 378)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take a trip through animation history as they explore the life and legacy of Walter Lantz, the creator of Woody Woodpecker. Following Drew's visit to Lantz's historic Toluca Lake home, Jim traces the animator's unlikely career, from inheriting Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to...
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The Real Story Behind The Return of Jafar (Ep. 377)
With Drew Taylor sidelined by a broken foot, Jim Hill takes the controls for a solo edition of Fine Tooning packed with animation news and Disney history. Jim checks in on DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten Island, Studio Ghibli Fest, Dana Terrace's Knights of Guinevere, and Drew's new making-of...
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Darkwing Duck Gets Dangerous Again as Disney+ Orders the Reboot (Ep. 376)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back with a packed week of animation news, including Disney+ finally ordering its long-in-development Darkwing Duck reboot to series with Mark Hamill, Seth Rogen, and Lizzy Caplan among the announced voice cast. They also check in on DreamWorks Animation's Forgotten...
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Transformers’ 40-Year Apology Tour Rolls Out for Optimus Prime (Ep. 375)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into Hasbro’s “Transformers: The Apology Tour,” marking 40 years since Transformers: The Movie traumatized a generation by killing Optimus Prime. They also look at Peter Cullen’s final performance as the Autobot leader, his lesser-known Disney animation work, and Jim...
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Inside DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island - Plus a First Look at the Lucas Museum (Ep. 374)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick things off with Drew’s behind-the-scenes perspective on moderating the press day for DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, the studio’s Filipino mythology-inspired adventure. Then they run through the latest animation and box office news, from Spider-Man: Brand…
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Spider-Man Swings Summer 2026 Into the Record Books (Ep. 373)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed round of animation news, beginning with a fascinating follow-up to their Tim Curry tribute and the real story behind his brief run as the Joker on "Batman: The Animated Series." They break down a record-setting summer at the box office, from...
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Coyote vs. Acme Beats the Odds at the Box Office (Ep. 372)
Coyote vs. Acme finally gets its theatrical moment, and Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into the surprisingly strong opening weekend for the long-shelved Warner Bros. Animation film. They also reflect on the losses of Tim Curry and Peter Cullen, as well as stop-motion and visual-effects legend Phil...
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Gargoyles May Take Flight Again on Disney+ (Ep. 371)
Fine Tooning is back with a packed post-D23 week of animation news, as Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into fresh trailers, release dates, box-office milestones, and one potentially very big Disney revival. The conversation ranges from Laika’s long-awaited Wildwood and Warner Bros. Animation’s…
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Exciting Animation News from the D23 Expo (Ep. 370)
Drew and Jim take a break from Disney’s D23 fan expo festivities to talk about everything they learned in a jam-packed set of panels and announcements! NEWS • The End of Oak Street beats Paw Patrol at the box office but Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into first place again • The threequels are...
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What Disney Animation Could Reveal at D23 2026 (Ep. 369)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are getting ready for D23 2026 with a look at the animation news, movies, and announcements worth watching before the big Disney Entertainment Showcase. Along the way, they check in on the box office, upcoming Looney Tunes and PAW Patrol releases, and a newly announced...
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The Giant Behind Willie: Billy Gilbert’s Larger-Than-Life Disney Legacy (Ep. 368)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with animation news from San Diego Comic-Con, Netflix House Philadelphia, and the latest streaming and box-office releases. Drew shares what it was like moderating DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island panel for a packed Ballroom 20 crowd, while Jim explores how...
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“Swapped” Chases the “KPop Demon Hunters” Crown (Ep. 367)
Netflix animation is having another monster year, with Nathan Greno’s body-swap comedy “Swapped” racing up the platform’s all-time rankings behind “KPop Demon Hunters.” Jim Hill and Drew Taylor also examine Disney’s uncertain live-action remake strategy, the return of “Hotel Transylvania” and a…
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The Original Voice of Winnie the Pooh (Ep. 366)
Join Drew and Jim to discuss the latest news in animation and check in on the box office of a live action adaptation that didn’t do quite as well as Disney may have hoped. They also take a close look at the career of actor Sterling Holloway and how his role as a tree in a Shirley Temple film The...
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The Great Mouse Detective and Disney’s 50-Year Directing Act (Ep. 365)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor take a Fourth of July detour on Fine Tooning for a deep dive into the first 50 years of Disney animation directors. With Ron Clements’ memoir now pushed to October and The Great Mouse Detective celebrating its 40th anniversary, Jim and Drew trace how Disney’s animated...
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Annecy After Midnight: Drew Taylor Reports Back from Animation’s Busiest Week (Ep. 364)
Drew Taylor is back from Annecy, sleep-deprived but fully loaded with animation news, studio reveals, and a few very good Brad Bird breakfast stories. This week, Jim and Drew look at Toy Story 5’s massive second weekend, Supergirl’s box office debut, and the Minions’ return to the big screen…
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Stitch Gets a Second Take with Chris Sanders (Ep. 363)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor look at a packed week in animation, from the box office surprises around Disclosure Day and Obsession to the latest honors for Aardman’s founders. They also preview Pixar’s Gatto, salute Floyd Norman’s upcoming Academy Honorary Award, and remember Tinker Bell reference...
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Toy Story 5 Finally Premieres! (Ep. 362)
Drew Taylor is back from the Toy Story 5 Premiere and Jim Hill gets all the details! They talk about some highly anticipated projects like The Doomies heading to Disney Plus, some Treehouse of Horror-related theming coming to The Simpsons at Universal, and plenty of other animation they’re…
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Toy Story 5 Brings Jessie Full Circle (Ep. 361)
Drew Taylor and Jim Hill dive into one of the busiest weeks in animation and entertainment news, from early reactions to Pixar's Toy Story 5 and its surprisingly Jessie-focused story to major developments involving Rick & Morty, X-Men '97, Jorge Gutierrez, and Netflix animation. Along the way…
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Rick & Morty Goes to the Movies While Bluey Takes Over the Parks (Ep. 360)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack a packed week in animation and themed entertainment news, from Warner Bros. officially developing a standalone Rick & Morty movie to Disney’s growing Bluey presence in both Anaheim and Orlando. Along the way, the duo discuss Universal Fan Fest’s future, the...
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Wildwood, Shrek Buckets & the Return of Matt Braly’s Lost Movie (Ep. 359)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the stunning debut of Laika’s “Wildwood” teaser trailer, the surprising revival of Matt Braly’s cancelled animated feature “Afterworld,” and Universal’s massive push behind the 25th anniversary of “Shrek.” They also discuss Warner Bros. Animation’s uncertain...
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Revisiting Animation’s Renaissance Through Tom Sito’s New Book (Ep. 358)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack the latest animation and box office news, from the surprising strength of The Devil Wears Prada 2 to new reveals tied to Toy Story 5, Dragon Striker, and Netflix’s Annecy plans. The duo also discuss upcoming art books, anime releases, and Tom Sito’s new memoir…
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The Devil’s in the Box Office: Prada 2 Shocks Hollywood (Ep. 357)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed episode that jumps from a galaxy far, far away to the runways of a surprise box office hit. They break down the evolving strategy behind Disney’s theatrical releases, spotlight a full-circle Star Wars character comeback, and dig into the unexpected...
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Why Mixing Animation and Live-Action Is Harder Than Hollywood Thinks (Ep. 356)
Jim Hill goes solo this week while Drew Taylor is off moderating panels at a film festival, delivering a packed episode that jumps from animation industry headlines to box office chatter and even a bit of theme park savings strategy. Along the way, Jim reflects on past California travels, breaks...
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MARVEL US DISNEY PREVIEW: Endgame Isn’t Over Yet: How Marvel Is Rewriting Its Own Finale (Ep. 16)
Jim Hill and Dan Graney unpack Marvel’s latest wave of announcements, from Avengers: Endgame returning to theaters with new footage to the growing sense that Doomsday is directly rewriting what came before. Along the way, they explore CinemaCon reveals, Infinity Vision, and what Disney’s internal...
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Forgotten Island Buzz, CinemaCon Shakeups, and a Very Strange Wonka Future (Ep. 355)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down the biggest animation and industry stories coming out of CinemaCon 2026, including Drew’s early look at DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island. They also dig into a surprisingly strong box office weekend, Studio Ghibli’s return to theaters, and some truly unexpected...
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Pixar’s “Be Fri” Mystery, Netflix’s Animation Expansion & the Future of Theatrical Animation (Ep. 354)
Jim and Drew dig into a packed week of animation news, from the surprising cancellation of a promising Pixar project to Netflix’s growing global animation footprint. Along the way, they explore box office winners, long-gestating passion projects finally coming to life, and the evolving…
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Mario’s Massive Opening, AI Animation Backlash, and the Mystery Disney Drone Show (Ep. 353)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off this week’s Fine Tooning with a real-life animation-adjacent story involving Bob’s Burgers’ Eugene Mirman, before diving into a huge Easter weekend box office led by Nintendo’s latest animated hit. From Disney+ shorts and Netflix trailers to Broadway updates and…
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Super Mario Galaxy Fever, KPop Demon Hunters Mania, and a Shifting Disney Villains Land (Ep. 352)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor unpack a packed week in animation, from Universal’s massive push behind Super Mario Bros. Galaxy to the continued global surge of KPop Demon Hunters. They also break down the latest box office winners, Pixar’s underappreciated Hoppers, and what’s really going on with...
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Zootopia 2’s Billion-Dollar Run, Firefly’s Animated Comeback & A Trip Through LA’s Art Scene (Ep. 351)
Jim Hill returns from Los Angeles with stories from animation bookstores, gallery visits, and Pixar’s latest hit, while Drew Taylor dives into a packed week of industry news. From “Zootopia 2” nearing another major milestone to surprise revivals like “Firefly,” this episode covers the evolving...
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Shannon Tindle on Ultraman, Lost Boys, and Animating the World of John Wick (Ep. 350)
Animation writer-director Shannon Tindle joins Drew Taylor for a wide-ranging conversation about breaking into animation, developing new projects, and navigating Hollywood’s ever-changing animation landscape. Shannon reflects on his career from CalArts to DreamWorks and beyond, sharing...
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Hoppers Leaps to Number One, The Wild Robot gets a Sequel, and Cartoon Lagoon Has New Projects Coming (Ep. 349)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor are back together after Drew's birthday escape to Palm Springs, and they've got plenty of animation news to talk about. Pixar has its biggest ever box office for an original film opening, Pete Docter's Wall Street Journal interview takes an odd turn but at least they have…
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Criterion Crowns KPop, Zootopia 2 Climbs Higher & Smiling Friends Signs Off (Ep. 348)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick off this week’s show a little early to accommodate Drew’s Palm Springs getaway, but that doesn’t slow down the animation news. From Netflix making a rare physical media play with KPop Demon Hunters to Zootopia 2 quietly becoming 2025’s biggest domestic hit, there’s a...
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KPop Demon Hunters Sweeps the Annies While Toy Story 5 Steps Into the Spotlight (Ep. 347)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor return with a packed week in animation, from awards-season shakeups to shifting box office math and a first real look at Pixar’s next big sequel. Along the way, they spotlight a streaming acquisition that could become a Halloween favorite, a few strategic release-date...
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The Simpsons at 800: No Finale, Just More Springfield (Ep. 346)
As The Simpsons hits its 800th episode, Jim Hill takes a moment to appreciate how this once-scrappy Fox upstart became an animation institution that may never actually end. From the long-lost series finale concept where Homer and Krusty were secretly the same person to the show’s upcoming...
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Josh D’Amaro Gets the Big Chair, Dana Walden Gets the Creative Keys at Disney (Ep. 345)
Welcome back to Fine Tooning, where Drew Taylor and Jim Hill record on Super Bowl Sunday, dodge football talk, and instead zero in on animation news, box office bruises, and one of the biggest corporate shake-ups in Disney history. Along the way, there is chatter about Super Bowl trailers, art...
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From “Goat” to “Hoppers,” Why 2026 Is Shaping Up to Be the Year of Animated Animals (Ep. 344)
This week on Fine Tooning, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor kick things off on Groundhog Day weekend by leaning into an appropriately animal-heavy episode. From Sony Pictures Animation’s upcoming sports comedy Goat to Pixar’s sci-fi action comedy Hoppers, the guys break down why animated animals are…
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The Last-Minute Fixes That Turned The Lion King into a Classic (Ep. 343)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor break down a very strange January weekend for animation and the box office. Between a massive snowstorm shutting down hundreds of theaters, surprise Oscar nominations, and some heartfelt remembrances of animation legends, this episode covers a lot of ground. There is...
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From Mr. Magoo to Speedy Gonzales - How Animation History Keeps Repeating Itself (Ep. 342)
Right in the thick of awards season, Drew Taylor and Jim Hill cover a wide swath of animation history and current events - from box office heavyweights and streaming announcements to the complicated legacies of mid-century cartoon characters. Along the way, they connect the dots between past...
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Fire in the Ink & Paint Department – How “Banjo the Woodpile Cat” Lit a Fuse at Disney (Ep. 341)
Right in the thick of awards season, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down to read the tea leaves on this year’s animation race while also digging into a pivotal - and often misunderstood - moment in Disney animation history. From Annie Award trends and box office signals to Don Bluth’s garage-era...
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The End of Oscar Night on Network TV and the Rise of the 2026 Animation Arms Race (Ep. 340)
Welcome back to Fine Tooning with Jim Hill and Drew Taylor, who is officially back behind the mic after a very eventful hiatus. Before diving into a mountain of animation news, the guys catch up on where Drew has been, why Burbank’s Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center has more Disney history...
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Fine Tooning Looks Back at 2025, From Disney’s AI Gamble to Animation’s Biggest Wins (Ep. 339)
As 2025 comes to a close, Jim Hill flies solo on this Drew-free edition of Fine Tooning to take stock of one of the biggest, strangest, and most consequential years the animation industry has seen in decades. From record-shattering box office runs and surprise streaming hits to uncomfortable...
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How “The Small One” Became a Very Big Problem for Disney (Ep. 338)
With Drew Taylor sidelined by a nasty case of the Christmas crud, Jim Hill flies solo for this end-of-year edition of Fine Tooning. After a bit of seasonal vamping, Jim dives into animation news before kicking off the first half of a deep-dive holiday history lesson. This week’s episode sets the...
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Disney’s 200-Character OpenAI Bet and a Detour Down the Yellow Brick Road (Ep. 337)
Drew Taylor and Jim Hill kick off this week’s show with a genuinely wild media landscape where holiday releases, awards season, and corporate maneuvering are all colliding at once. From a brewing battle over Warner Bros. Discovery to Disney’s latest tech-flavored swing, the first half is a rapid...
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Netflix Buys Warner Bros. Discovery and an Animated Trip Over the Rainbow (Ep. 336)
Jim and Drew unpack one of the biggest industry shakeups in years as Netflix snaps up Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal that reshapes everything from Adult Swim to the broader animation marketplace. Then the guys follow the yellow brick road into this week’s feature, exploring the strange,...
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Zootopia 2 Runs Wild in China and Oz Takes Over the Holidays (Ep. 335)
Jim goes solo this week while Drew speeds back toward LA for an early press screening of “Avatar: Fire & Ash.” In the meantime, Jim catches us up on a very eventful week in animation news, from the monster launch of “Zootopia 2” in China to Disney Parks animatronics already slipping into B mode.…
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Inside the Animation Money Machine: Zootopia 2, Frozen Paydays & the New Economics of Disney Franchises (Ep. 334)
As Jim Hill and Drew Taylor sit down just hours before Zootopia 2 preview screenings begin, they dig into the film’s early reactions, the surprising box-office shape of the holiday season, and the escalating economics behind today’s animated franchises. HIGHLIGHTS Early reactions to Zootopia 2…
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Trailers, Box Office Surprises & SpongeBob’s Return: Animation’s Holiday Push (Ep. 333)
As the long Thanksgiving weekend approaches, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor dig into a flurry of newly dropped animation trailers, surprising box office projections, and the industry shifts shaping Spring and Summer 2026. Recorded just as holiday season ramps up, this week’s Fine Tooning mixes news,...
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When the Sky Fell: The Turbulent Legacy of Chicken Little (Ep. 332)
Jim Hill and Drew Taylor salute Veterans Day and talk about Xavier “X” Atencio, the new Disney Editions book celebrating the Imagineer behind the Haunted Mansion’s “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” Then, Drew and Jim dive into the weekend box office — from Predator: Badlands breaking franchise records to…
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When “Chicken Little” Took Flight: Disney’s First CGI Gamble and What Came Next (Ep. 331)
This week on Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor, Jim Hill and Drew Taylor mark the 20th anniversary of Chicken Little — Disney’s first fully computer-animated feature — and trace how the film’s rocky launch reshaped the studio’s animation strategy in the mid-2000s. Recorded the morning after Daylight...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Jim and Drew break down the animation world frame by frame, until you get the singular picture. If you love Disney animation, Pixar, and the classics that were hand sketched, or built out of 1's and 0's in a computer, this is the podcast that draws you in.
HOSTED BY
Jim Hill Media Podcast Network
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor have?
Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor currently has 383 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor about?
Jim and Drew break down the animation world frame by frame, until you get the singular picture. If you love Disney animation, Pixar, and the classics that were hand sketched, or built out of 1's and 0's in a computer, this is the podcast that draws you in.
How often does Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor release new episodes?
Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor publishes regularly with 383 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor?
You can listen to Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor?
Fine Tooning with Drew Taylor is created and hosted by Jim Hill Media Podcast Network.
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