Fantasy/Über Nachtmare/Mad Mouse: Furry Road is the 30th episode of the Animaniacs reboot and the fourth episode of its third season.
Synopsis
Pinky, Brain and The Warners experience a fantastical version of the lot. Dr. Scratchansniff accidentally orders a "pool" version on a rideshare app, forcing him to ride with the Warners. Pinky and Brain head to a desert music festival to test Brain’s latest plan for world domination.[1]
Fantasy
Animation by Warner Bros. Animation
Plot
In the fantastical land of Burbankshire, the ruthless wizard Brain creates the Warner siblings (three abominations) to aid him in his conquest. The siblings, however, are not obedient to him, and the three proceed to mess around with his potions. The wizard tries, in vain, to calm them.
After Wakko eats his wand, Brain is forced to flee with his assistant Pinky. The two are then stepped-on by a giant Ralph. With the mice out of the way, the Warners lament their only remaining worry - the All-Seeing Eye (the viewers). After Wakko expresses fears of the eye watching them in the bathroom, the trio then kicks the camera as the theme song begins...
Crew
- Written by Kathleen Chen, Brian Polk & Wellesley Wild
- Directed by Brett Varon
Trivia
- This cartoon was animated in-house by the WBA retake team from scratch.[2]
- Mr. Skullhead's face appears on one of the potions.
- This episode is a parody to The Lord of the Rings franchise.
Quotes
- Brain: Come, Pinky. We must return to our sorcerer's sanctum and prepare for...
- (Before he can finish, they got squished by a creature that looks like Ralph.)
- Yakko: Phew. That was easy. Now, all we have to worry about is that all seeing eye.
- Dot: Where?
- Yakko: There!
- Wakko: Did they watch us when we go to the bathroom?
- Yakko: Weirdos!
- (The Warners kick the screen, and the flips over to the theme song.)
Theme Song
Variable Verse
Trivia
- There is a unique transition from Fantasy to the theme song. The Warners, offended by the viewers looking at them through "everything", kicks the camera, which flips directly to the Water Tower shot in the opening.
Über Nachtmare
Animation by Saerom Animation
Plot
Dr. Scratchansniff is forced to ride with the Warners in a carpool on his way to an award ceremony.
Crew
- Written by Brad DePrima
- Directed by Brett Varon
Songs
Trivia
- This cartoon and its title parodies the Uber rideshare service.
- Dot names her two spiders after Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire, two actors who play Spider-Man.
Mad Mouse: Furry Road
Animation by Digital eMation
Plot
Pinky and the Brain head to the "Hot Sand Festival," for their latest plan that utilizes the limited availability of water. Along the way, Pinky encounters Dexter Trux, an eccentric billionaire visiting the festival who catches-on to Brain's plan, and seeks to take the water for himself.
Crew
- Written by Kathleen Chen & Brian Polk
- Directed by Brett Varon
Trivia
- Brain's Hunter S. Thompson outfit and the red convertible he drives parody the film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
- Pinky mentions the beginning of La La Land and its star Ryan Gosling when he and Brain are stuck in traffic, and a sound-alike of "Another Day of Sun" plays in the background.
- Gosling is a noted Animaniacs fan, even arranging a photo-shoot at the Water Tower in 2024 to fulfill a childhood dream of his to hang-out there as the Warners would. He credits the series with "planting some seed" in his head in regards to filmmaking.[3]
- The Hot Sand Festival is a parody of Burning Man, complete with an effigy that's dabbing.
- Brain's Yoga Class is called "Sweatin' to the Yogis" a parody of the Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobic videos hosted by Richard Simmons.
- Dexter Trux and his girlfriend are parodies of Elon Musk and his ex-partner Grimes. His company Da Vinci Motors is a parody of Tesla Inc.
- One of the stalls at the Hot Sand Festival is called "2 Wheels 2 Thirsty", which is a parody of 2 Fast 2 Furious.
Allusions to Mad Max: Fury Road
- The title of this cartoon and elements of its plot parody the 2015 post-apocalyptic film Mad Max: Fury Road.
- Brain's plan to take over the world by hoarding water by the time Earth becomes a desert wasteland is somewhat similar to the actions of the character Immortan Joe, the villainous cult leader who hoards a large amount of water for himself and only hands out a small supply from his possession to his followers.
- Brain's eye shadows near the end of the cartoon make him resemble the character Imperator Furiosa.
- The design of Brain's truck is similar to The War Rig, the vehicle that Furiosa hijacks in the movie.
- Dexter Trux's girlfriend takes on the role of The Doof Warrior (Coma), the character who is strapped to a vehicle and plays a flamethrowing guitar on Immortan Joe's war convoy. Dexter's Hot Wing crashes into her stage and she ends up playing his battle music as he chases the mice.
- The music that plays during the chase scene is similar to "Brothers in Arms", the song that plays during one of the chase sequences in Fury Road.
- The mice previously starred in a Mad Max parody in the story "Mad Mouse Lab Warrior" from issue 10 of DC's Pinky and the Brain.
International Releases
- Australia: February 18, 2023 (Stan)
- Canada: April 28, 2023 (Cartoon Network)
- Latin America: June 30, 2023 (HBO Max)
Production Notes
Cast
| Voice Actors: | Character(s): |
|---|---|
| Rob Paulsen | Yakko Warner, Pinky, Dr. Scratchansniff, Drive-Thru Employee |
| Jess Harnell | Wakko Warner, Businessman, Parmedic |
| Tress MacNeille | Dot Warner, Member #1, Pilot, Presenter |
| Maurice LaMarche | The Brain, Festival Goer #2 |
| Frank Welker | Horse |
| Chris Diamantopoulos | Dexter Trux, Festival Goer #1 |
| Natalie Palamides | D.J., Stilt Walker |
| Kari Wahlgren | Announcer, Audience Member #2, Driver, Narrator |
References
- ↑ Animaniacs -- "Episode 4" - E304. Alamy. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ↑ Instagram post by Brock Gallagher (@brockorama). Published February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
- ↑ Ramin Setoodeh - Ryan Gosling on Nearly Turning Down Ken, Singing Live at the Oscars and Wanting a ‘Beach-Off’ Over Those ‘Barbie’ Snubs. Variety. Published and Retrieved February 7, 2024.