Pavlov's Mice/Chicken Boo-Ryshnikov/Nothing But the Tooth is the 18th episode of the original Animaniacs. It originally aired on October 6th, 1993. Every single cartoon in this episode has to do with Russian culture.
Theme Song
Last line
Yakko, Wakko & Dot: Pinky and the Brain-y...
Pavlov's Mice
Animation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, Ltd.
Plot
In Russia of 1904, Pinky and the Brain attempt to steal the Czar's crown jewels so they can take over Russia. When Pinky points out that the jewels are guarded by fierce soldiers known as Cossacks, Brain says that is no problem as a lunar eclipse will occur that night, making everywhere so dark no one can see anything, as such they can sneak into the treasury without the Cossacks' knowledge. Only one other problem stands in their way, Brian always sings "I'm a Little Teapot" when he hears a gong and Pinky does a Cossack dance whenever a bell rings.
Crew
- Story by John P. McCann, Tom Ruegger and Sherri Stoner
- Written by John P. McCann
- Directed by Michael Gerard
Songs
Trivia
- Clips from this segment would later be used in the Pinky and the Brain (spin-off) intro and the Animaniacs extended theme song opening.
- The shot of Brain's temper growing is used in the Pinky and the Brain (spin-off) theme.
- The shot of is used in the show's extended theme song opening.
- Both clips are used in the Animaniacs Suite.
- While most regions use the Wang version of the intro in this episode, the 2003 Russian dub has the TMS version dubbed over the Wang version.
- The title is a parody of Pavlov's Dog.
- In the opening shot of 1904 St. Petersburg, March Slav can be heard.
- The ending chorus is sung in a Russian folk dance style complete with them shouting "Narf!" in the way they would shout "HEY!"
Goofs
- Ivan Pavlov did not study conditioned responses, he really just wanted some saliva to study. This goof was mentioned in the "Please Please Please Get a Life Foundation" cartoon. However, due to the constant conditioned responses he was getting, he is credited for "Pavlovian responses" in psychology and the study of behaviors.
Gallery
Chicken Boo-Ryshnikov
Animation by Akom Film Production
Plot
Chicken Boo appears as a famous ballet dancer. When he accidentally revealed himself as a chicken the audience booed at him and left Lincoln center.
Crew
- Written by Deanna Oliver
- Directed by Michael Gerard
Trivia
- This is the first Chicken Boo segment.
- Chicken Boo's alias is a pun on Mikhail Baryshnikov, Russian ballet dancer.
- The title card BGM is Turkey in the Straw.
- In the theme song, during the "You wear a disguise to look like human guys..." part, instead of Chicken Boo trying out disguises in front of a mirror, a Brady Bunch-style shot of Boo's disguises are shown.
- Despite this being a Chicken Boo short, this does not have the person who knows Chicken Boo is a chicken saying, "He's a chicken, I tell ya! A giant chicken!" and then coming back after Chicken Boo is unmasked to say, "I told ya that guy was a chicken."
Gallery
Tower Escape
Animation by Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Plot
The Warners escape from the water tower via a sky gondola.
Nothing But the Tooth
Animation by Akom Film Production
Plot
The Warners are Rasputin's dentists when he comes down with a toothache, causing him no end of misery. When Rasputin attempts to rid the Warners by having the Tsar arrest them, his teeth fall out, rendering his hypnosis ineffective. The Tsar kicks Rasputin out and thanks the Warners for saving Russia. The musical number in this cartoon is "Call Dr. Yakko."
Crew
- Written by Deanna Oliver & Paul Rugg
- Directed by Greg Reyna
Songs
Trivia
- The Warners claim to be professional shriners. In actuality, the shriners are not a career, but a men's nonprofit organization that has built several hospitals for children who are burns victims and/or in need of artificial limbs. They are more famous for the red fezes and tiny cars driven in parades to raise awareness for the hospitals.
- The belief that Rasputin hypnotized the Tsar into doing his bidding was the widespread rumors that he used hypnosis to cure the Tsar's son whenever he had medical problems to cure him, which is now largely discredited.
- A little girl knocking out Rasputin was a play on the term anesthesia. Dot remarks that most kids probably would not get it and tells them to ask their parents. The little girl was meant to be Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II. Dot's line would later become confusing when the Don Bluth film Anastasia would be released in 1997.
- One accurate scene shown was where Rasputin was appointing ministers as he saw fit. In 1916 (when the episode took place) the First World War was on, and Tsar Nicholas II was not in his palace, but on the front lines acting as supreme commander of the army. In the Tsar's absence, he entrusted most of the decisions of day-to-day government operations to his wife, who in turn deferred much to Rasputin. As a result, Rasputin wielded enormous political clout, hiring and firing ministers willy-nilly.
- Once again, the stock footage of Wakko playing the rimshot from "Episode 5: Taming Of The Screwy" is reused after Yakko's "Russian/rushin'" pun.
Wheel of Morality
Animated by Tokyo Movie Shinsha
The moral of the story is: "Brush your teeth after every meal. This moral brought to you by the American Dental Association."
Trivia
- This is one of the few times where the moral of the show is an actual moral.
- This is also one of the few times the Wheel of Morality leads into a chase ending where Wakko has to pull an item out of his Gag Bag to return to the water tower.
Chase Ending
Animated by Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Plot
The Warners return to the water tower via a magic carpet from Wakko's magical gag bag. When Ralph attempts to fly on the carpet, an anvil falls on him. The Warners just shrug and go back into the tower.
Cast
Voice Actors: | Character(s): |
Rob Paulsen | Yakko Warner, Pinky, Ivan Pavlov |
Jess Harnell | Wakko Warner |
Tress MacNeille | Dot Warner, Puppy |
Maurice LaMarche | The Brain |
Frank Welker | Chicken Boo, Announcer |
Barry Dennen | Czar Nicholas II |
John Glover | Rasputin |
Stinger
Wakko: Lather...
Dot: Rinse...
Yakko: Repeat.
The Mulberry Bush plays during this stinger.
Transcript
Sources