Overview of Nick Kroll Convinced Netflix to Air Animated Animal Sex | 2 Bears, 1 Cave
Nick Kroll joins Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura for a wide-ranging conversation about animation, comedy writing, celebrity encounters, sobriety, and his latest projects. The heart of the episode is Kroll explaining why animated shows like Big Mouth and his new animal-themed series work only when they balance outrageous jokes with real emotion and careful writing. The three also trade stories about meeting comedy legends, navigating fame, and how alcohol changes Bert’s energy, social comfort, and performance.
Animated Comedy, Writing, and Why Emotion Matters
How animation is built
- Kroll breaks down how animated projects are developed through multiple stages:
- script
- radio play / audio-only pass
- rough animatic
- color screening
- rewrites and fine-tuning
- He argues animation is harder than live action because it has to become itself quickly, even though the medium benefits from time to polish.
Why Big Mouth worked
- Kroll says Big Mouth succeeded because it had:
- eight seasons to let audiences bond with the characters
- complete creative freedom on Netflix
- a balance of gross-out humor and emotional truth
- He emphasizes that big laughs land better when the audience also feels the characters’ emotional reality.
The new show: Mating Season
- The new series is described as an animated show about animals dating, mating, and falling in love.
- Kroll voices a dirty, scrappy raccoon character.
- The hosts react strongly to the show’s writing, especially the specificity of the jokes and how the emotional story underpins the sexual/animal chaos.
Comedy Craft and the Problem With Weak Improv
- Bert and Tom complain about comedies that rely too heavily on improv instead of a strong script.
- Kroll agrees that a lot of modern comedy drops the ball by not “putting it on the paper” first.
- They praise comics and writers who can combine:
- sharp setups
- emotional honesty
- well-earned improvisation
- Kroll points out that the best material feels written, not just riffed.
Celebrity Encounters, Abundance, and “Fitting In”
Operating from abundance
- Kroll says he generally lives from a place of abundance rather than scarcity.
- He acknowledges that the entertainment industry is tightening, so he’s especially grateful to still have opportunities.
- Bert says he often feels scarcity, and Kroll’s confidence made him think about how he sees himself.
The comedy legend photo
- The episode contains a long story about a photo gathering with major comedy icons:
- Adam Sandler
- Dave Chappelle
- Eddie Murphy
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Chris Rock
- David Letterman
- Kroll explains how he entered the group picture and how easy it was to read as though he naturally belonged there.
- Bert says Kroll has a rare ability to move through high-status rooms with ease.
Jerry Seinfeld recognition
- Kroll tells a story about Jerry Seinfeld recognizing him from a podcast clip where they had debated whether Jerry knew who he was.
- Seinfeld reportedly told him, “I know who you are,” and referenced Kroll’s “inter-species romance” joke, which was a nod to Mating Season.
Eddie Murphy Story and the Lesson of the Bomb
- Tom tells a brutally funny story about meeting Eddie Murphy and trying to tell him a long, personal anecdote involving Charlie Murphy.
- Eddie’s response: “Is that the end of the story?”
- The takeaway:
- legends don’t need over-explaining
- personal stories need a natural entry point
- don’t force the moment with a giant celebrity
Sobriety, Drinking, and Performance
Bert’s sober stretch
- Bert says he’s been sober for four months and feels:
- clearer
- more present
- better on stage
- better in conversation overall
- Several people, including comics he knows, have asked him if he’s okay because he seems noticeably different.
What he misses about drinking
- He misses the solitary, ritualistic side of drinking:
- putting on music
- being alone with a bottle
- going deep into a mood
- He compares that feeling to a flow state or to riding a horse at full stride.
- Kroll and Tom agree that alcohol can make social moments feel easier, but sobriety makes Bert a stronger comic.
Meet-and-greets and social energy
- Bert says meet-and-greets can feel like being “handled” when sober.
- He feels more emotionally “in it” when he’s had a drink, but acknowledges he’s better overall without alcohol.
Other Projects Mentioned
- Nick Kroll
- Adults on FX
- Goat, a basketball/animation project tied to Steph Curry
- a role in Operation Finale about Adolf Eichmann
- a new animated series centered on animal romance and chaos
- Tom Segura / Bert Kreischer
- Bert mentions his ongoing sobriety and heavier workout routine
- they joke about future movie projects, including absurd action-comedy premises
Notable Themes
- Animation needs emotional truth
- Comedy is stronger when it’s written, not just riffed
- Fame can feel normal if you don’t approach it from scarcity
- Sobriety changes both stage presence and social dynamics
- Nick Kroll’s work thrives on specificity, patience, and character-driven absurdity
Bottom Line
This episode is part comedy hang, part craft talk, and part celebrity-war-story exchange. The biggest takeaway is Kroll’s philosophy that animated comedy only works when it’s both outrageous and emotionally grounded — and that Big Mouth and Mating Season succeed because they give audiences something messy, funny, and human to hold onto.