1 9 9 5 – 1 9 9 9 (USA)
99 x 22 minute episodes
After decades of imprisonment in the water tower at Warner Bros studio lot, three cartoon characters – Yakko, Wakko and Dot – escaped to wreak madcap mayhem and drop sight gags galore – often to musical accompaniment.
Each episode consisted of either one adventure or two to three shorts.
The trio were joined in their “zany to the max” antics by a crayon case of comic creature creations, among them: Slappy Squirrel, the Goodfeathers (three pigeons who were a clever take-off of the Mafiosi in the 1990 film Goodfellas), the Hip Hippos, Mr Skullhead, Pinky and the Brain, Mindy and Buttons, and Viennese psychiatrist Dr Scratchensniff.
Intended as a successor to Warner Bros’ Tiny Toon Adventures the show combined classic Warner Bros animation with rapid-fire pop culture references (eg: Gorbachev walking the streets with a board proclaiming “Will sell secrets for food”) to enjoy crossover success.
The Executive Producer for Animaniacs was Steven Spielberg – indeed its full title was Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs. He personally supervised each script.
Yakko
Rob Paulsen
Wakko
Jess Harnell
Dot
Tress MacNeille
Pinky
Rob Paulsen
The Brain
Maurice Le Marche
