CORPORATE LINE: Based on three animated characters–Yakko, Wakko, and Dot–ANIMANIACS made its debut on the WB in 1993. Yakko and Wakko are supposedly the original Warner Brothers, and Dot is their sister. Locked in a water tower since the 1930s due to the unbroadcastable nature of their cartoons, the trio escapes and enjoys some thoroughly postmodern adventures in this smart show. This release offers the first volume of episodes.
THE REVIEW: The great thing about Animaniacs was that it appealed to kids as well as adults while looking like a cartoon solely for children. The show is fun because of the hilarious parodies and silly gags. It’s funny to see an entire episode based on a movie and birds acting out the Godfather—called Goodfeathers. The rest of the characters are quite zany—the best being Pinky and the Brain—which ended up having their own offshoot cartoon.
All of the parodies are great for adults while the dopey gags are made specifically for kids. You get the pie in the face, hammer on the head, and more. The Animaniacs running around driving everyone crazy is certain to appeal to the kids watching.
In any case, Animaniacs is a great cartoon that can be viewed by any age. Some jokes have adult innuendo, but it is buried so deep that you would have to be older to get most of the references. So with all things considered, it was nice to watch a show I watched a decade ago that is as good now today as it was back then. That’s a big compliment.
THE EXTRAS: Animaniacs Live! Comic Maurice LaMarche hosts an in-studio-style interview via satellite big-screen TV with Animaniac friends.
FRANKLY: The Animaniacs Vol. 1 DVD set showcases a brilliantly funny cartoon. I remember watching them when they were first released. I’ll give my age away—but I was in college and would watch these because the parodies where hilarious. It was one of the few smart cartoon comedies of the day–there weren’t shows like the Family Guy, Futurama, etc. at the time. The Animaniacs is as funny today as it was ten years ago.
+ Charlie Craine
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