The Ghost and Molly McGee Interview With Bill Motz, Bob Roth And Steve Loter – Exclusive

We have been looking forward to the premiere of The Ghost and Molly McGee, and when we had the opportunity to talk to some of the producers about the show we were all in! We get to ask Bob, Bill and Steve all of our burning questions about the show and get some great answers. Make sure to tune in and watch on October 1st.

The series follows tween optimist Molly, who lives to make the world a better place, and grumpy ghost Scratch, whose job is to spread misery. When one of Scratch’s curses backfires, he finds himself forever bound to Molly, creating an unlikely friendship that leads to humorous misadventures as they navigate Molly’s new school and town. Longtime writing/producing duo Bill Motz and Bob Roth (“LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures”) are creators, and serve as executive producers alongside Steve Loter (“Kim Possible”). The trio have worked on a number of projects together including “Kim Possible,” “The Penguins of Madagascar” and “The Legend of Tarzan.”

BSCKids: How did you get involved with the show?

Bob & Bill: We came up with the idea for this show many, many years ago. It’s a concept that we kept coming back to, polishing and honing, until it was finally ready. Thank goodness we found the right time and place for “The Ghost and Molly McGee” to flourish!

Steve: I’ve known Bill Motz and Bob Roth for a long time and we’ve done many projects together. The concept of “The Ghost and Molly McGee” was so great, I had to be a part of it!

What do you think that “The Ghost and Molly McGee” brings to the table that is different from other animated series?

Bob & Bill: “The Ghost and Molly McGee” is a straight-up fun romp, packed full of wild, quirky humor, beautiful animation, fantastic music, and hopefully a few poignant moments that stick with you long after the show is over.

Steve: It’s a fun, quirky show. Our stories tackle their subjects in an offbeat, unexpected manner that is simultaneously its own weird, heightened reality, and yet very much Disney at its core.

Pick your favorite character and describe them?

Bob & Bill: Impossible! If we picked Scratch, Molly would be hurt. And if we picked Molly, Scratch would be furious. So, we’re going to play it safe and say it’s the combination of Molly and Scratch that makes the show work.

How many versions of Scratch did you go through as a team and how did his look get finalized?

Steve: My brother John was the original designer of Scratch, long before I came onto the project. He crafted the original shape and aspects of his face and landed it immediately.

Without giving anything away, do you have a favorite episode from a storytelling perspective?

Bob: Ooh, good question. We’ve got an episode called “Game Night” that I absolutely love. It reveals so many funny and unexpected things about the McGee family. And another episode, “No Good Deed,” has a great twist in the middle. (That’s the second time I’ve picked two favorites. I’m not good at picking!)

Bill: My answer changes constantly, but at this moment, I think my favorite is “All Systems No.” It’s a delightful romp focused on Molly and Scratch where they both come to appreciate the other’s point of view.

What episode do you feel like has the best music in it for the season?

Steve: Our songwriter is the amazing Rob Cantor. Rob explores many musical genres in the show, including K-Pop, country, and 80’s power ballads, but so far my favorite is a Disney-style musical number called “Lose Lose.”

What does a normal working day look like for you?

Bob & Bill: One of the beautiful things about this job is there is no such thing as a normal day. Some days we’re working with our brilliant voice actors before reviewing artwork with our wildly talented design team. The next day we might be talking with our incredible animators at Mercury Filmworks and then checking out a few animatics or breaking stories in the writers’ room.
Each day is different, and each day is a whirlwind, but they are all fun!

Steve: The day is usually all about reading scripts, watching animatics and animation scenes, listening to the amazing voice actors recording sessions, and having a great time!

Tell us something people would be surprised to learn about you?

Bob: I’m the least surprising person you’ll ever meet… which I guess could maybe be interpreted as surprising…?

Bill: Bob and I met at a summer production workshop at USC and bonded over our mutual love of Star Wars.

Steve: I’m a massive music fan and I’ve made an animated music video for Rob Cantor’s band, “Tally Hall.” And I made an album cover for another song contributor, Pugwash.

Why should everyone tune in to watch “The Ghost and Molly McGee?”

Bob: Because if you don’t, Scratch will haunt you until you do. Seriously though, every episode of “The Ghost and Molly McGee” delivers huge laughs, great songs, beautiful animation, and a friendship that is so fun to watch, it’s spooky. I promise you won’t want to miss a moment!

Bill: It’s full of joyful hope… and I think we can all use a little more of that.

Steve: The show is an offbeat comedy romp, but the thing that people will really connect to is its relatable, genuine heart.

Special thanks to Bill, Bob and Steve for taking the time out of working on this great show to talk to us.

“The Ghost and Molly McGee” premieres Friday, October 1 (9:35 p.m. EDT) on Disney Channel and the first five episodes will be available Wednesday, October 6 on Disney+. The second episode debuts in the series’ regular timeslot beginning Saturday, October 2 (9:00 a.m. PT), leading into the season three premiere of “Amphibia.”