Animaniacs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Animaniacs
Series logo featuring (from left to right) Yakko Warner, Dot Warner, and Wakko Warner
Genre	Sketch comedy Musical Slapstick Satire
Created by	Tom Ruegger
Voices of	Rob Paulsen Jess Harnell Tress MacNeille John Mariano Chick Vennera Maurice LaMarche Frank Welker Bernadette Peters Nancy Cartwright Julie Brown Laura Mooney Sherri Stoner Nathan Ruegger Paul Rugg Luke Ruegger Cody Ruegger Jim Cummings Tom Bodett Jeff Bennett
Theme music composer	Richard Stone
Opening theme	"Animaniacs Theme" performed by Rob Paulsen, Tress MacNeille, and Jess Harnell
Ending theme	"Animaniacs End Title"
Composer(s)	Richard Stone Steven Bernstein Julie Bernstein Gordon Goodwin Carl Johnson J. Eric Schmidt
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	99 (274 segments) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Steven Spielberg
Producer(s)	Tom Ruegger (senior producer) Rich Arons Sherri Stoner Rusty Mills Peter Hastings
Running time	20–21 minutes (1–10 minutes per segment)
Production company(s)	Warner Bros. Animation Amblin Entertainment
Release
Original network	Fox
Original release	September 13, 1993 (1993-09-13) – November 12, 1994 (1994-11-12)
Chronology
Related shows	Animaniacs (2020–2023) Tiny Toon Adventures The Plucky Duck Show Freakazoid! Pinky and the Brain Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain

Animaniacs is a fun American cartoon show that mixes comedy and music. It was created by Tom Ruegger for Fox Kids in 1993. Later, in 1995, it moved to The WB network's Kids' WB block. The show ran until November 14, 1998.

This cartoon was the second one made by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment with Warner Bros. Animation. The first was Tiny Toon Adventures. Animaniacs had 99 episodes and a movie called Wakko's Wish. You might have seen reruns on channels like Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, or Discovery Family.

Animaniacs is like a variety show. It has many short skits with different characters. Most episodes had three mini-episodes, each with different characters, plus short connecting parts. The show was known for its great music, funny jokes about society, pop culture references, and memorable catchphrases.

A new version of the show, Animaniacs (2020 TV series), started in January 2018. Steven Spielberg and many of the original voice actors came back for it. It first aired on Hulu on November 20, 2020, and its final season came out on February 17, 2023.

About the Show

What is Animaniacs About?

The main characters are the Warner siblings: Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. They live in the Warner Bros. Water Tower at the Warner Bros. studio in Burbank, California. But the characters often travel to different places and times.

In their crazy adventures, the Animaniacs characters meet famous people, historical figures, and characters from popular movies and TV shows. Andrea Romano, who directed the voices for the show, said the Warner siblings helped connect all the different parts of the show.

Each Animaniacs episode usually had two or three short cartoons. These could be very short, less than a minute, or take up the whole show. This mix of lengths made the show feel like a "sketch comedy" show.

Who Are the Characters?

Animaniacs had a wide cast of characters; shown here are the majority of the characters from the series, among them, Ralph T. Guard, Otto Von Scratchansniff, and Hello Nurse.

Animaniacs had many characters, each with their own stories. The Warner siblings, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, are cartoon stars from the 1930s. They were locked in the WB Tower until the 1990s, when they escaped! They often interact with studio staff like Ralph the Security Guard, Dr. Otto Scratchansniff (the studio psychiatrist), and his assistant, Hello Nurse.

Other popular characters include:

• Pinky and the Brain: Two smart laboratory mice who always try to take over the world.
• Slappy Squirrel: An older cartoon star who is very clever. She teaches her nephew, Skippy Squirrel, about cartoon tricks.
• The Goodfeathers: Three pigeons who are friends.
• Buttons and Mindy: A dog and a little girl.
• Chicken Boo: A giant chicken who everyone thinks is a human.
• Flavio and Marita (The Hip Hippos): Two fancy hippos.
• Katie Ka-Boom: A teenage girl who turns into a monster when she gets angry.

In the first season, there were also segments with Rita and Runt (a cat and dog who get into trouble) and Minerva Mink (a beautiful mink). Only Pinky and the Brain, and the Warners, returned for the new 2020 series.

The Warner siblings as platypuses, before they were changed to their dog-like visual style. The idea for the Warners to be platypuses was changed during pre-production of the series.

Voice Actors and Animation

Who Lent Their Voices?

The show had amazing voice actors!

• Rob Paulsen voiced Yakko, Pinky, and Dr. Otto von Scratchansniff.
• Tress MacNeille voiced Dot.
• Jess Harnell voiced Wakko.
• Sherri Stoner, one of the show's writers, voiced Slappy Squirrel.
• Maurice LaMarche voiced the Brain.
• Frank Welker voiced Ralph the Security Guard.

The voice director, Andrea Romano, said they really wanted Rob Paulsen for Yakko. Tress MacNeille was chosen for Dot because she was "hilarious." Jess Harnell said he did a John Lennon impression for his Wakko audition, and it went great!

For Pinky and the Brain, Maurice LaMarche used a voice inspired by Orson Welles for the Brain. Rob Paulsen got ideas from British comedy for Pinky's voice. Sherri Stoner ended up voicing Slappy Squirrel herself after showing Steven Spielberg what the voice would sound like.

How Was the Animation Made?

Animaniacs cartoons were made by many different animation studios around the world. These included studios in Japan, Chicago, Taiwan, China, New Zealand, and South Korea. Often, one episode would have parts animated by different companies.

Animaniacs had a very high quality of animation for a TV show. The characters moved smoothly and didn't just stand still and talk, which made the show look very lively.

The Music of Animaniacs

Music was a huge part of Animaniacs. Every episode had at least one original song or musical piece. Steven Spielberg wanted this to be a key feature. The show used a 35-piece orchestra, which is a lot for a cartoon!

Composers like Richard Stone, Steve Bernstein, and Julie Bernstein wrote music for the show. They tried to make the music sound like the classic Looney Tunes cartoons. This made the show expensive but gave it a unique sound. Many writers, like Randy Rogel, also wrote a lot of music for the series.

Humor and Jokes

What Makes Animaniacs Funny?

The humor in Animaniacs was very varied. It included everything from funny parodies to silly cartoon violence. The show often made fun of popular TV shows and movies.

Steven Spielberg said that Animaniacs' humor, especially its social commentary, was inspired by the Marx Brothers and Looney Tunes cartoons. He also said the show balanced funny violence with educational parts, so it was never too extreme.

Animaniacs also used many memorable catchphrases, running jokes, and segments.

Yakko, Wakko and Dot shake hands with their Tiny Toon Adventures predecessors Buster and Babs Bunny and Plucky Duck, who make a cameo appearance in an episode of Animaniacs.

Catchphrases and Running Jokes

Many characters had their own special phrases.

• Yakko often said "Goodnight, everybody!" after a joke.
• Wakko's favorite word was "Faboo!"
• Dot often reminded everyone how cute she was.
• The most famous phrase from all three Warners was "Hello-o-o, nurse!"

In the "Pinky and the Brain" segments, Pinky always asked, "Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?" And Brain always replied, "The same thing we do every night, Pinky: try to take over the world!" Brain also often asked Pinky, "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"

The show also had many running gags and repeated segments. The ending credits always had a joke credit and a funny scene with the water tower. Another recurring segment was "The Wheel of Morality," which gave a silly "moral" at the end of an episode. These repeated parts helped make the show easier to produce.

Parodies and caricatures made up a large part of Animaniacs. The episode "Hello, Nice Warners" introduced a Jerry Lewis caricature (left), who made occasional appearances in the series and film.

Parodies and Caricatures

Animaniacs loved to make fun of popular TV shows, movies, and famous people. They parodied adult shows like Seinfeld and Friends, and even kids' shows like Barney & Friends. They also made fun of trends in the U.S. One episode even joked about Power Rangers!

The show also made fun of Disney films, with parodies of movies like The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Pocahontas. Being parodied on Animaniacs was seen as a compliment!

Songs and Music

Animaniacs had many different kinds of songs. A lot of them were parodies of classical or folk music with educational lyrics.

• "Yakko's World": Yakko sang the names of all the countries in the world to the tune of the "Mexican Hat Dance".
• "Wakko's America": Wakko listed all the U.S. states and their capitals to the tune of "Turkey in the Straw".
• "The Presidents": This song named every U.S. president to the tune of the "William Tell Overture".

The Animaniacs theme song, sung by the Warners, won an Emmy Award for best song! The show also released several music albums and sing-along videos.

Show History

Animaniacs is a super fun animated TV show from Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment. It first started on Fox Kids on September 13, 1993. Later, it moved to Kids' WB on September 9, 1995. The show finished on November 14, 1998, after making 99 episodes!

There was also a movie called Wakko's Wish. It came out straight to video on December 21, 1999. Animaniacs even had a spin-off show, Pinky and the Brain. That show started on September 9, 1995, and ended on November 14, 1998.

About the Episodes

The Animaniacs show is made up of many short cartoons, called segments. Each segment usually stars different characters. Here's a quick guide to who stars in which segments, shown by color:

• Blue = Yakko, Wakko, and Dot (the main Warner siblings!)
• Green = Slappy Squirrel (a grumpy but funny old squirrel)
• Red = Pinky and the Brain (two lab mice trying to take over the world)
• Orange = Goodfeathers (three pigeons who act like mobsters)
• Gold = Chicken Boo (a giant chicken everyone thinks is a human)
• Brown = Buttons and Mindy (a dog who protects a little girl)
• Maroon = Rita and Runt (a singing cat and a goofy dog)
• Pink = Katie Ka-Boom (a teenage girl who turns into a monster when she gets mad)
• Purple = The Hip Hippos (two fancy hippos on adventures)
• Tan = The Flame (a talking candle flame who teaches about history)
• Magenta = Minerva Mink (a very beautiful mink)
• Lime Green = Mr. Skullhead (a skeleton character)
• Gray = One-Shots / Ensembles (other characters or groups of characters)

Season 1 (1993–1994)

The first season of Animaniacs had 65 episodes. It aired on Fox Kids. This season introduced us to all the amazing characters. You saw many segments with Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. They sang songs like "Yakko's World" and "The Planets Song." You also met Pinky and the Brain, Slappy Squirrel, and the Goodfeathers. Buttons and Mindy, Rita and Runt, and Chicken Boo also had their first adventures. This season was full of music, jokes, and silly stories.

Season 2 (1994)

Season 2 was shorter, with only 4 episodes. It continued to air on Fox Kids. In this season, we saw more of the Goodfeathers and Buttons and Mindy. Katie Ka-Boom also appeared, showing her explosive temper. The Warners continued their funny antics, including the popular "I'm Mad" song.

Season 3 (1995–1996)

This season had 13 episodes and moved to Kids' WB. The show kept its fun style. The Warner siblings had new songs and adventures. Slappy Squirrel and Pinky and the Brain also had more segments. We saw more of The Flame teaching history. This season also featured "The Presidents Song" and "The 12 Days of Christmas Song."

Season 4 (1996)

Season 4 had 8 episodes and aired on Kids' WB. This season brought more silly stories for the Warners. We saw more of Chicken Boo and the Hip Hippos. Buttons and Mindy also had new adventures. There were also segments featuring other characters like Ralph.

Season 5 (1997–1998)

The final season had 9 episodes and aired on Kids' WB. The Warners continued their funny adventures. Slappy Squirrel and Pinky and the Brain also had more segments. This season included the two-part episode "Hooray for North Hollywood." The show ended with "The Animaniacs Suite," a special musical segment.

Special Episodes

Marathon Special (1998)

On July 4, 1998, a special marathon called "Animaniacs Attack Marathon" aired. It showed many popular shorts from the series. This was a great way for fans to re-watch their favorite moments.

Film (1999)

The Animaniacs story continued with a movie called Wakko's Wish. It was released on December 21, 1999. In this movie, the Warner siblings go on a quest to find a wishing star. They hope to bring happiness back to their town.

Watching Animaniacs at Home

You can watch Animaniacs episodes on different home video formats.

VHS Tapes

In the past, Animaniacs episodes were released on VHS tapes. In the United Kingdom and Australia, these tapes were called "volumes" and had mixed episodes. In the United States, the tapes often focused on a certain theme. Each tape usually had four or five cartoons and lasted about 45 minutes.

DVD Sets

All 99 episodes of Animaniacs are available on DVD in four boxed sets. The first volume sold very well when it came out. On October 2, 2018, a "Complete Series" DVD set was released. This big set includes all 99 episodes and the movie Wakko's Wish. It also has special bonus features from the earlier DVD sets.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Episodios de Animaniacs para niños

The Fox Kids Years (1993–1995)

Animaniacs first aired on September 13, 1993, on the Fox Kids block. It ran there until September 8, 1995. Fox ordered 65 episodes all at once for the first season.

While on Fox Kids, Animaniacs became very popular. It was the second most popular show for kids aged 2–11 and 6–11, right after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

On March 30, 1994, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot appeared in a short cartoon called "I'm Mad" in movie theaters before the film Thumbelina. This short was later added to episode 69 of the show. After the first 65 episodes, Animaniacs mostly aired reruns on Fox Kids. A short second season of four new episodes was quickly made from old scripts. Then, the show moved to the new Kids' WB block.

The Kids' WB Years (1995–1998)

The show was so popular that Warner Bros. Animation decided to make more episodes. Animaniacs started on Kids' WB on September 9, 1995, with a new season of 13 episodes. Around this time, the popular characters Pinky and the Brain got their own TV show! Warner Bros. said that Animaniacs had over 1 million child viewers every week.

However, on Kids' WB, Animaniacs attracted more adult viewers than young children. This was not what the network wanted, and advertisers were not happy. So, the WB network ordered fewer new Animaniacs episodes. The show had a few more short seasons, using leftover scripts. The 99th and final Animaniacs episode aired on November 14, 1998.

In 1999, it was reported that new Animaniacs episodes stopped being made. The movie Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish was meant to be the end of the series. Producer Tom Ruegger explained that Warner Bros. decided to use old episodes instead of making new ones. He said the break was "temporary."

After the show ended, the Animaniacs team made Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish, which came out on December 21, 1999. In 2016, Tom Ruegger said that Warner Bros. started investing in the cheaper anime series Pokémon, which led to less money for shows like Animaniacs.

What Happened After Animaniacs?

After Animaniacs, Steven Spielberg worked with Warner Bros. Animation again on Steven Spielberg Presents Freakazoid. They also made the Animaniacs spin-off series Pinky and the Brain, and later Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain.

Since 2016, Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, and Tress MacNeille have toured as Animaniacs Live!. They perform songs from the show with a full orchestra. They even have an updated version of "Yakko's World" that includes new countries!

Wakko's Wish Movie

The Warners starred in a full-length movie called Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish. The movie takes place in a town called Acme Falls. The Warners and other Animaniacs characters are ruled by a greedy king. When they find out about a magical star that grants wishes, everyone races to be the first to touch it.

Even though kids and adults liked the movie in test screenings, Warner Bros. decided to release it straight to video instead of in theaters. It came out on VHS on December 21, 1999, and much later on DVD on October 7, 2014.

Merchandise and Collections

Home Video Releases

Episodes of Animaniacs have been released on DVD and VHS.

• Old VHS tapes are out of print but can still be found online. Each tape had about four or five episodes.
• Starting in 2006, Warner Home Video began releasing DVD sets of the episodes in order. The first DVD set sold very well, becoming one of Warner Home Video's fastest-selling animation DVD sets.

Comic Books

A comic book series based on Animaniacs was published by DC Comics from 1995 to 2000. It had 59 regular issues and two special issues. At first, Pinky and the Brain had their own comic book series. Later, the Animaniacs comic book was renamed Animaniacs! featuring Pinky and the Brain. Like the TV show, the comics made fun of other TV shows, movies, and comic books.

Video Games

Animaniacs also had many video games! Some of them include:

• Animaniacs (1994, Genesis, SNES, Game Boy)
• Animaniacs Game Pack! (1997, PC)
• Pinky and the Brain: World Conquest (1998, PC)
• Animaniacs: Ten Pin Alley (1998, PS1)
• Animaniacs: A Gigantic Adventure (1999, PC)
• Animaniacs: Splat Ball! (1999, PC)
• Pinky and the Brain: The Master Plan (2002, GBA)
• Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt (2005, GC, PS2, Xbox)
• Animaniacs: Lights, Camera, Action! (2005, GBA, DS).

Music Albums

Because Animaniacs had so many songs, record labels released albums featuring music from the show. These include:

• Animaniacs (1993)
• Yakko's World (1994)
• Animaniacs Variety Pack (1995)

There was also an audiobook called A Christmas Plotz. Later, more albums were released that combined songs from previous collections.

The 2020 Revival Series

A new Animaniacs series was ordered by Hulu in May 2017. This happened after the original show became popular again when Netflix added it to their library. The first season of the new show came out on November 20, 2020. The second season was released on November 5, 2021, and the third and final season on February 17, 2023.

Wellesley Wild was the showrunner, and Steven Spielberg was very involved in bringing the show back. He made sure that many of the original voice actors and parts of the show were used again. This included the return of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot (voiced by Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, and Tress MacNeille) and Pinky and the Brain (voiced by Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche). The new series also used a small orchestra for its music, just like the original.

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See also

In Spanish: Animaniacs para niños