For the location of the same name, see Brainania (Location).
Brainania is is the 5th overall episode of the Pinky and the Brain spin-off series. It originally aired on November 12, 1995.
Brainania[]
Animation by Wang
Plot[]
The Brain's latest scheme is once again too expensive to unfurl. In order to gain the money to properly fund the plan, Brain and Pinky establish a country called "Brainania" to gain lucrative foreign aid from the U.S. government.
Crew[]
- Written by John P. McCann
- Directed by Jon McClenahan
Songs[]
Trivia[]
- As was the case with certain cartoons from seasons 3 and 4 of the original Animaniacs, StarToons assisted Wang with storyboarding and sheet-timing duties for this episode. Studio founder Jon McClenahan directed as well, and his style can be seen in several shots. Another StarToons crew-member who helped out with this episode was Dave Pryor.
- Dateline spoof Punchline and its caricature of host Ted Koppel, Fred Foppel; return from the Tiny Toon Spring Break Special. They will go on to play a recurring role throughout the series, typically reporting on an episode’s events.
- Pinky and Brain would later use their Brainania-personas in the episode "T.H.E.Y."
- The island god’s name, Whanganui, is the same name used for several locations in New Zealand’s North Island. It is principally an metropolitan area and district on the western coast .
- Edward Burrow, the reporter who reports on the Brainanian motorcade’s arrival to the White House is a spoof on the late reporter Edward R. Murrow. Murrow’s style is also replicated for Burrow.
- When Bisque says "Oh, please, stop! Next you’ll be saying, ‘What-a-country!’", it is referencing the sitcom of the same name.
- The Taft memorial is somewhat accurate in description as William Howard Taft was indeed "America’s largest president" at about 335 lbs/152 kg towards the end of his term in 1913. The real life memorial however, looks far different.
- Footage of this episode is later used in the 2001 film See Spot Run (which Warner Bros. later produced), where the character James is seen watching the episode.
Gallery[]
Production Art[]
Map sketch of the "Brainania" country drawn by John P. McCann, sourced from his Twitter.
Cast[]
| Voice Actors: | Character(s): |
| Maurice LaMarche | The Brain, Additional Voices |
| Rob Paulsen | Pinky, Additional Voices |
| Frank Welker | The President, Additional Voices |
| Jeff Glen Bennett | Alan, Fontain Bisque, Additional Voices |
| Jim Cummings | Fred Floppel |
| Tress MacNeille | Mrs. Applebee, Hillary Clinton, Additional Voices |
References[]
Special thanks to Brian Norman's "Bunches of References Accumulated In a Nutshell" (B.R.A.I.N) reference guide for aiding in documenting this episode's references.