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Animaniacs: Planet Warner/Talladega Mice: The Ballad of Pinky Brainy/D.I.Why (2023)
Fantastic Episode
I don't know why, but this episode was fantastic. Every segment in here was a winner, and I'm not afraid of saying that this is one of the strongest episode collections from the reboot. The jokes land, the timing is perfect, and the animation is fluid and concise. I'd highly recommend this to any Animaniacs fan.
"Planet Warner" was a very funny parody of those educational Planet Earth documentaries. It manages to contain some great satire aimed at the Warner Bros. Executives and keep up a playful tone throughout. While this doesn't necessarily feel like a Warners segment, it doesn't need to be. The Warners get their chance to shine later on. The pacing is fast, the jokes mostly land, and it does something that hasn't really been done before; it doesn't really feature any dialogue and instead has a narrator. That seems like a bad idea on paper, but it actually works here.
Do I need to say anything more about "Talladega Mice?" This segment has already garnered the praise of many online and I think it's all completely deserved. This is one of the best Pinky and The Brain segments we've gotten in a long time, without question. This segment was heartwarming, adorable, character-focused, dramatic, intriguing, and absolutely hilarious. This segment, which I watched twice, made me laugh really hard for a few minutes. The funny parts just keep coming. It also takes some darker turns, exploring Pinky and his anxiety issues. He even has a full blown panic attack, which took me by complete surprise. It's nice to see Brain comforting Pinky and helping him in whatever he may need. There are also some fun references to older Pinky and The Brain segments which I loved. I'm not going to spoil everything in this because I really want people to watch this and laugh for themselves. Please, I'm begging you, go watch this. It's near perfection!
"D. I. Why?" was so good! I love the innuendos at the beginning, and the song was spectacular. This was one of the best songs of the season for me and it's so awesome to hear the Warners sing again. Each Warner gets their chance to shine, including Wakko, who had a severe lack of singing parts in the first two seasons. They even harmonize! This song was just so much fun and it was paired with amazing animation. This was so much fun to watch and I'd recommend giving it a listen.
Overall, this episode was spectacular! It was a massive improvement over the first two segments from this season and it shines bright. I loved this episode and I think that each segment brought something fun and creative to the table. If you are looking for a good parody, a great song, or the best Pinky and The Brain segment from the reboot by far, I'd highly recommend this. Please, give it a watch!
Animaniacs: Ralph World/My Super Sour Sixteen/How to: Brain Takes Over the World (2021)
Mice Rule, Warners Drool
This was one of the most mixed segments from the Animaniacs reboot. I feel bad for saying this but the Warners segment was mediocre and was perhaps the worst segment from season 2. On the other hand, the Pinky and The Brain segment was one of the funniest and most creative segments from the second season in my opinion.
The cold opening "Ralph World" was a funny parody of the show "West World." It was funny and was a decent way to open up this episode.
"My Super Sour Sixteen" had a very promising premise of the Warners messing around at the CEO's daughter's sweet sixteen. However, it was very bland with barely any genuine laughs, annoying new characters, a very bad song, and the length of the episode meanders around for way too long. Some time should've been given to Pinky and The Brain since there was more effort put into that segment. "Category 5" was very bad and wasn't even a creative parody of a boy band song. It jest felt like a generic pop number without any of the comedy, charm, or satire. The CEO's daughter, Cora, was extremely annoying and boring, with almost nothing special about her except a kind of nice interaction with Dot at the end. Yakko and Wakko basically have nothing to do in this segment, though they do get a few good quips here and there. There were a few jokes that made me laugh, but unfortunately, most of the humor fell flat or just wasn't funny in the first place. This was very disappointing and I wouldn't recommend this.
The one saving grace of this episode is the "Pinky's How To" segment. This was genuinely funny with clever writing and a very fun story. The creativity and attention to detail was also admirable and some of the internet references were laugh out loud great. While more simple than the average Pinky and The Brain affair, it still managed to be enjoyable and sincerely needed to be longer since the Warner segment was not good. It seems like this segment was popular or the team just thought it was a good idea since we're going to be getting a follow-up episode in season 3. This just goes to show the mastery of Pinky and The Brain and how this segment managed to portray quality in ways the Warners just can't.
Overall, this was a very mixed episode. There was a great segment, an ok segment, and a weak segment, all varying in quality significantly. I would recommend the Pinky and The Brain segment indefinitely and would say that this is the only segment worth watching here. The others aren't memorable and I hope that nothing else to come will be as poorly executed as the Warner segment in this episode.
Animaniacs: A Brief History of History/The Incredible Gnome in People's Mouths: "Gerard"/The Prisoner's Dilemma/Math-terpiece Theater: Beachballs (2021)
Good Segments, Ok Segments
This episode was one of the weaker overall outings from the second season. I don't want to say this because I liked two of the segments quite a bit in this episode. However, the other two segments were just okay overall. This is one episode where I'd recommend you check out the good segments and skip the not so great ones when viewing.
"A Brief History of History" was the second best song from the reboot in my opinion. Everything comes together wonderfully. The animations is clever and creative, the lyrics are very fun and catchy, the vocals are some of the best ever in the franchise's history, and I found the song funny. This was a great first segment and was a wonderful way to bring back a classic Animaniacs tradition in educational numbers (though I'd argue that Yakko's Big Idea was better and it did this first).
The Gnome in People's Mouths was by far the weakest segment in the episode. This is also the worst new segment from the reboot with a very inconsistent tone and an almost alarming amount of gross-out humor. The animation is nice, but that's all I can say. This was actually worse than the segment from season 1, which surprised me. I just found this segment more boring and unfocused than the last one and I wouldn't recommend this to any fan of the show.
The Prisoners' Dilemma was by far the best overall segment in this episode. It was full of funny jokes, cute interactions between the mice, and an interesting story. I liked some of the new character designs and the concept of Pinky being observed as the "ultimate villain" by the other bag guys was amusing. Also, this episode has the best meta-joke in the entire second season, without a doubt (Also the traffic-light party joke). While this is one of the weaker Pinky and The Brain segments from season 2, it manages to still be a strong episode with so much to offer. I'd recommend this to anyone.
Math-terpiece Theater was not the best segment and wasn't that great, but it wasn't too bad. I liked how it made math problems more creative. I also adore the animation in this segments and the amount of creativity was welcome. I still feel like this segment wasn't necessary though as we've already had Masterpiece Theater parodies in the original show.
In conclusion, this episode had some highlights: a great song, a fun Pinky and The Brain segment, and some nice animation. Though, not all the segments brought the laughs and it did have some problems. I'd recommend this episode for the song and the PaTB segment only, the rest are sort of bland but not that bad.
Pinky and the Brain: This Old Mouse (1997)
Best Written Episode of the Show by a Landslide
I know, right? I love the Christmas episode with all my heart and I still would call it the best episode of Pinky and The Brain, but this episode blew my expectations out of the water and rose to the top to become one of my absolute favorites. Out of all the episodes from this fantastic show, this is the one I want to re-watch over and over again. This may not be the most emotional episode, but it was by far the best written one in terms of story.
The animation was very well put together and expressive. Wang isn't my favorite studio but this is one of their highlights. The color are vibrant, the movements are fluid, and the character expressions are some great stuff.
The story is one of the best put together by the show. Brain facing a mid-life crisis where he realizes he'll still be taking over the world in his old age is a very compelling premise. I like the idea of Brain pursuing other hobbies, believing that the future can't be changed due to one of his inventions. I also really loved the ending; it really shows how much Pinky and Brain care for each other and that they'd do anything to protect their significant other. This episode also had a lot of funny moments, including the origin of one of the best songs from the spin-off: "Just Say Narf!" The plot is key to the overall fantastic premise.
The characters are extremely likeable and charming. Brain is at his best here, being stuck up, but somewhat kind-hearted throughout. I love his mid-life crisis because we get to see a much more vulnerable side to the mouse we've known for so long. I also love it when he tries to get Pinky to leave at the end because he fears for his friend's safety. That was just so sweet and charming. Pinky was one of the highlights for me from this episode. His never-ending kindness and eagerness to help out Brain and to keep him safe made me root for him the entire time. The duo's relationship was strengthened by this episode and it shows. The voice acting was also very good with a ton of emotions being shown in a realistic manner.
Overall, this episode is one of my favorites of any cartoon I've ever seen. I still rank the Christmas episode higher due to the great ending, but this episode is arguably better to some extent. I'd recommend this to anyone who loves complex and mature storylines as well as endearing character interactions worth remembering. Please watch this episode at any costs, it's a masterpiece.
Animaniacs: Warner's Ark/The Apology/Narf Over Troubled Water/The Warner's Vault (2021)
Come for the Warners, Stay for the Mice
I'm surprised that this episode doesn't have any reviews on IMDB because I personally found this to be one of the strongest and most inventive episodes of the reboot. Once again, it's a near perfect Pinky and The Brain segment paired with some pretty fun Warner segments, though those aren't perfect by any means. I would recommend you watch this episode if you want some good slapstick and a catchy song or two plus some great storytelling.
"Warner's Ark" was not the strongest segment from Season 2 but it was far from the worst. The song was very catchy and I found this much better than Noah's Lark from the original Animaniacs. I liked the Chicken Boo cameo at the end and I liked the designs of many of the fantasy animals (especially the return of one of season 1's best characters: Benedict the Dragon). "Is This Egg Yours?" was a very fun song with a great beat and some funny moments, though it wasn't the best in my opinion.
"The Apology" is a very funny satire of the popular apology video trend from YouTube. While many could see the Warners as unlikeable and out-of-character in this segment (and I don't blame you), I personally found this hilarious. It was nothing too special, but it was good for what it was.
The highlight from this episode was definitely "Narf Over Troubled Water." It was easily the best Pinky and The Brain segment from the reboot in my opinion with so many fun moments and a heartwarming conclusion. I loved the song "I Ate a Rock" and found it to be funny, along with it being an catchy melody and a loving parody. The episode also dives into the characters, with some of Brain's vulnerabilities being shown here such as his fear of being disliked and his feelings for Pinky. In a rare case, Pinky is portrayed as morally in the wrong, with him becoming too into the life of the famous and neglecting Brain's opinions. In the end, Pinky does learn that Brain was right and comes back for him. The ending was very sweet with Brain and Pinky running away from a studio in a parody of The Graduate. It was kind of a bittersweet ending since I wanted to see more but it fulfilled me nonetheless. I would highly recommend this segment for anyone.
The Warner's Vault was probably the weakest segment in this episode. While I thought it was a very fun parody of cheesy 70's PSAs with a great art style, the pacing felt slow and there weren't many laughs. Still it was a valiant effort with some payoff.
Overall, I think this episode is worth a watch, if only for the Pinky and The Brain segment alone. The pacing can be slow at times, but this is still a highlight of the reboot for me. If you love Pinky and The Brain, you'll like the episode without a doubt. If you like the Warners, you might be a little underwhelmed but not by much. In conclusion, this was a very enjoyable watch and I recommend it.
Pinky and the Brain: Brain's Song (1996)
Shockingly Underrated
I don't know why, but this episode is very good in my opinion. I just clicked with it personally in ways that some other episodes just didn't. I wanted to re-watch this again right after and I was genuinely surprised at how great it was. I would highly recommend this episode if you're a fan of sports movie parodies or if you just want a good laugh.
The animation isn't my favorite in this episode. Akom doesn't have a bright color scheme and this episode proves this. Some of the mice's expressions in this episode were pretty well animated, though and I thought the craziness of the entire situation was well handled.
The premise isn't the most creative, with Brain trying to make a sappy sports movie to make all the world leaders so sad, that they'll hand over the world to him in an instant. However, this episode succeeds at making a simple story very interesting in the long run. The beginning with Brain trying to make Pinky cry leading to him crying over a movie was sweet, funny, and actually kind of touching. The ending was very funny with Brain shaking and vibrating all over the place. My favorite part of the episode was when Pinky and Brain were actually filming the movie by themselves. This part managed to have some humorous satire as well as some moments full of emotion, though it was fake. Overall the storyline was very fun, despite being simple.
The characters were wonderful, too. Pinky was hilarious with all his different personas in the movie. Brain was very endearing and wasn't unlikable in the slightest. The celebrity caricatures were on the spot and added some extra humor. Also, the voice acting in this episode was top notch stuff with every emotion feeling so real. It sounded like they were having a blast.
In conclusion, you should give this episode a chance. It might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it will make you laugh nonetheless. I'd recommend this to any fan of the show, without a doubt.
Pinky and the Brain: A Pinky and the Brain Christmas (1995)
A Nearly Flawless Episode for a Nearly Flawless Show
Wow, just wow. I don't have any words for how I can describe this magnum opis of an episode. It's just astounding to behold and I was so surprised when I first watched this. I was laughing at almost every joke, the voice actors are so talented at everything they do and all the emotions they showcase here, and the ending had me in literal tears. I recommend this episode to every fan of this show and if you love emotional climaxes, then you'll love this.
The animation is superb and expressive, managing to capture the emotions of the characters very well. It's also very fluid with very little lag or awkward motion. TMS absolutely nailed it and they should have animated more episodes for the spin-off.
The story is purposefully written to deceive views into thinking it will be typical Pinky and The Brain affair, with a world domination plot failing at the episode's conclusion. The beginning and middle of the episode keep up a lighthearted tone with humorous Christmas antics between the two mice. While somewhat standard in the franchise, this time, the tone of the first two-thirds of the episode is purposefully misleading in order to make the last part more powerful.
The ending is hands-down one of the best conclusions to a Christmas special I've ever seen. When Brain reads Pinky's letter to Santa, the raw emotion in this scene is unmatched. In one 3 minute sequence, Brain goes though so many complex emotions: the sadness of when he reads Pinky's letter and realizes its importance, the guilt he feels that he disregarded his closest companion and his feelings, the anger when he decides to break his own contraption due to the entire situation. It's all portrayed with such realism, to the point where I believe that the delivery of the dialogue is what makes this scene so tear-jerking. And when Brain breaks down sobbing and wishes everyone a merry Christmas, I was crying along with him; it just hits you so hard in the feels and the emotion seeps from the screen
Another important part from the ending is the last minute or so of the special. Brain gifts Pinky a spellchecker (very thoughtful) while Pinky gives him a tiny globe keychain. The moment when Brain unwraps the gift and smiles is one of the most wholesome moments in the entire series. It just shows how much the duo really care for each other and that Pinky does want Brain to take over the world. The globe keychain's symbolism is wonderfully obvious and it has become a staple item for many fans.
The characters are as great as they always have been. Brain never becomes too unlikable and remains consistently hilarious throughout. The emotions he goes though at the end also never stray away from his core personality, while also being an important piece of character development for him. Many people fail to understand the Brain isn't as tough as he seems. He has a soft side, though sometimes some force is needed to let that part of him shine through. This episode manages to fit in a major amount of character development in the span of only 22 minutes, with Brain finally realizing how much of a terrible friend he's been. Pinky also is just an amazing character with so much love to share. He wants only the best for his friend, and he's even willing to give away all his presents for his friend's happiness. Even though some moments could be considered inane by many, he has great intentions behind his actions such as wanting to spread joy or to help others. Also, he is really funny with a majority of his lines being absolute riots.
As a Pinky and The Brain fan, I enjoy basically all of the duo's adventures. But this episode is very special to me. This episode gets me in the holiday spirit and makes me want to be generous and kind to the ones I love. This Christmas special won an Emmy and it needs to be seen to be believed. It is nothing less than a masterpiece in the realm of animation and of Christmas specials. This does not deserve to be forgotten; it should be upheld with the holiday special greats. Please, even if you're a fan of the show or not, go watch this episode. I hope you won't regret it and will treasure it as much as I have.