Yakko's Big Idea/Mouse Congeniality/Rejected Animaniacs Characters[1] is the 19th episode in the Animaniacs reboot and the 6th episode in its 2nd season.
Synopsis[]
Yakko has a new idea for an invention. Pinky participates in a "Miss Universe" pageant. The Warners revisit some rejected Animaniacs characters.[2]
Theme Song[]
Variable Verse[]
Wakko: Making gain-eys!
Yakko's Big Idea[]
Animation by Titmouse, Inc.[3]
Plot[]
Yakko has a great, musical new idea for an invention to present to Wakko and Dot.
Crew[]
- Written by Lucas Crandles and Timothy Nash
- Directed by Erik Knutson
Songs[]
Trivia[]
- The ABC reality business series Shark Tank is spoofed in this cartoon as Pitch Me, I'm Dreaming.
- Some of the alien designs resemble the Wisps from the video game Sonic Colors.
- When Yakko is gaming, sounds from Super Mario Bros. can briefly be heard.
- Yakko flies around in his ship from "Yakko's Universe" at several points in the song.
- Exoplanets are a real thing and much of the songs lyrics are based off real life Exoplanets.
- Notably Pegasi 51-B and Kepler-186f are both actual Exoplanets.
- Yakko even sees these planets through the Kepler Space Telescope, a way Exoplanets can be found.
- While Yakko is playing the arcade game and sings "Why not play Asteroids all day," the animation and Yakko's pose are nearly identical to a scene from "Wakko's America."
Possible "Wakko's America" reference
Mouse Congeniality[]
Animation by Digital eMation
Plot[]
Brain helps Pinky enter a "Miss Everything" beauty pageant at "Chump Tower", in order to infiltrate a world leader summit upstairs.
Crew[]
- Written by Lucas Crandles and Timothy Nash
- Directed by Erik Knutson
Trivia[]
- The title of this cartoon is a spoof of the 2000 comedy film Miss Congeniality.
- Ironically, Miss Congeniality stars Sandra Bullock, which Brain quotes he "learned a thing or two from that Sandra Bullock movie [he] half watched on the plane: Speed 2: Cruise Control." Speed 2 also stars Sandra Bullock.
- When Pinky wears his blonde wig, he slightly resembles his mother albeit with a slightly different hairstyle.
- Television personality and Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn guest-stars in this cartoon as the host of the pageant.
- Pinky mentions meeting his evil tether is a reference to Jordan Peele's horror film Us.
- Second consecutive appearance of caricatures of Maduro, Kim and Putin in a Pinky and the Brain cartoon; after their appearance in "The Pinktator."
- While Brain ponders what "evil and nefarious" deeds the dictators are doing, it is shown that Putin and the other dictators are engaging in a game of "Kiss, marry kill" concerning three famous celebrities named "Chris." Putin's order goes as follows: first, Chris Hemsworth. Next, marry Chris Pratt. Lastly, kill Chris Pine (a deed his guards are ready to do until Putin reminds them that this is just a game).
- Maurice LaMarche teased a recording of this episode in an Instagram post dated March 3, 2021.
March 3, 2021 recording session of this episode via Maurice LaMarche's Instagram page.
Rejected Animaniacs Characters[]
Animation by Titmouse
Plot[]
The Warners revisit rejected characters from the cutting room floor including Aqua-Claus, Mime and Meme, The Office Supplies and Social Butterfly.
Crew[]
- Written by Wellesley Wild, Ted Mulkerin, and Jordan VanDina
- Directed by Erik Knutson
Songs[]
Trivia[]
- This segment was inspired by Amblin rejecting characters and concepts during development of the reboot.[4]
- The living room and kitchen in "Mime and Meme" look very similar to the same rooms in the Griffin household from Family Guy; right down to the purple couch in the living room.
- Episode writer and Animaniacs showrunner Wellesley Wild worked on Family Guy; so this may be intentional.
- Aqua-Claus makes fun of "Syncro-Vox" animation used in works such as Clutch Cargo.
- Social Butterfly bears a resemblance to Maggie Pesky, the protagonist of from Disney Channel's short-lived, yet critically praised cartoon The Buzz on Maggie.
- The mime seen in the "Mime and Meme" skit is not the one usually seen in the show.
- The other rejected characters that the Warners discuss at the very end are Gerry Mander the Salamander, Juan Percent the Salsa Tycoon, and Pinocchio the Press Secretary.
International Releases[]
- Australia: November 6, 2021 (Stan)
- Canada: November 12, 2021 (Teletoon)
- Latin America: March 31, 2022 (HBO Max)
Cast[]
| Voice Actors: | Character(s): |
|---|---|
| Rob Paulsen | Yakko Warner, Pinky, Scrooge |
| Jess Harnell | Wakko Warner |
| Tress MacNeille | Dot Warner, Judge #1, Old Woman, Witch |
| Maurice LaMarche | The Brain, Aqua-Claus, Judge #2, Pageant Judge |
| Frank Welker | Ralph T. Guard |
| Anthony Carrigan | Vladimir Putin |
| Chris Cox | Binder, Truck Driver |
| Stephanie Escajeda | Woman |
| Chris Geere | Disgruntled Employee |
| Jake Green | Correction Fluid, Pageant Registrar |
| Tim Gunn | Pageant Host |
| Zeno Robinson | Gordon |
| Kari Wahlgren | Stapler, Social Butterfly |
References[]
- ↑ https://showcase.onthedemo.com/newyorkcity/en/program/18658409/2
- ↑ Hulu Press- Animaniacs (2020)
- ↑ https://twitter.com/skeletoon/status/1456725308829175808?s=21
- ↑ Tweet by Gabe Swarr. Published November 22, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2023.