Animaniacs Wiki
Advertisement
Animaniacs Wiki
Patb reacting to cher "Oo-oh..."
This article contains some inappropriate material that may make some readers uncomfortable. Viewer discretion is advised by the Animaniacs Wiki.


This is a list of instances in which other works which have referenced the Animaniacs franchise in some capacity.

Television[]

Show Episode Description Image
Tiny Toon Adventures "Tiny Toon Adventures: Spring Break Special" (1994) Pinky and the Brain make cameo appearances as two of the caged pets when Elmyra announces that she is going to catch the Easter Bunny, whom she believes is Buster Bunny. The Warner siblings make a brief cameo as well at the White House Easter Egg Roll, once again doing their literal running gag of being chased by Ralph.
PATB in the Spring Break special
Warners on Tiny Toons-0
"Tiny Toon Adventures: Night Ghoulery" (1994) Fifi is seen dressed like Dot in the opening credits. Also, in the "Frankenmyra" sketch, when Elmyra searches for a brain, she gets out the Brain, who is unamused by this pun (Acme Labs is credited for providing Brain). Also in "The Devil and Daniel Webfoot", Mr. Director and Baloney make non-speaking cameos.
TinyToonsTrickOrTreating
Brain Night Ghoulery
New York News Thin Line A costumed Yakko appears at a child's birthday party, scaring the children.
Watch here.
Yakko New York News
ER "The Birthday Party" (1995) A shirt with Yakko on it is seen.
1024px-No image available
"Hell and High Water" (1995) A patient is seen with an Animaniacs lunchbox.
Er warners lunchbox cameo
"The Right Thing/A Shift in the Night" (1996) A character wears an Animaniacs shirt.
1024px-No image available
Freakazoid! "Freakazoid and Friends" (1995) The Warners appear to sing a song, sung to the tune of the Animaniacs theme, about Freakazoid and his numerous allies and enemies. During the song, Freakazoid, Steff, Douglas Douglas, Sergeant Cosgrove, Emmitt Nervend, and the Lawn Gnomes are shown mimicking the "We have pay-or-plays contracts" shot from the Animaniacs intro. Freakazoid and Friends
"Freakazoid is History!" (1995) In the altered timeline shown as a result of Freakazoid saving Pearl Harbor in 1941, it is revealed that Brain is now president, and Pinky is flying Air Force One. The brain freakazoid is history

Pinky flying Air Force One

"Next Time, Phone Ahead" (1996) The writers tell Steven Spielberg that they decided to end the show early this week and show some more Animaniacs reruns instead. Spielberg initially agrees to this and they briefly cut to the Animaniacs intro, but Spielberg changes his mind and continues with the story. Animanizoid
"Sewer or Later" (1996) Freakazoid insists that there is no way he will go into the sewers. The camera cuts to the sewers, expecting to show him having gone down there, but he is instead at home, watching Animaniacs. Freakamaniacs
"Dexter's Date" (1996) Yakko Warner is listed as one of the donors for this episode during the "Bonjour, Lobey!" musical number. He is revealed to have donated one singular dollar to the program. Freakazoid Yakko donation
"The Freakazoid" (1996) The Lobe's present for Freakazoid is wrapped in Animaniacs-themed wrapping paper.

Later in the episode, when one of Freakazoid's neighbors calls him "wacko" for not trying to stop the Lobe's crime spree, Wakko suddenly shows up and starts singing "Wakko's America," telling Freakazoid that Steven Spielberg loves these sort of things because Animaniacs is his favorite of their shows. Freakazoid begs to differ, insisting that his show is Spielberg's favorite, but then Brain appears, saying that Pinky and the Brain is Spielberg's favorite. The three of them take their argument to Spielberg himself and ask him which one of them is his favorite, but he only responds, "Who are you people?" as the trio looks on in confusion.

Freakazoid's present Freakazoid with Wakko and Brain

Road Rovers "Take Me To Your Leader" (1997) The Brain makes an off-screen cameo in the sanitarium as one of the megalomaniacs arguing over who gets to rule the world. The scene also closes out with an instrumental arrangement of the Pinky and the Brain theme song.
The Mask: Animated Series "The Goofalotatots" (1997) Stanley meets his favorite cartoon characters, the Goofalotatots: a skunk, a beaver, and a squirrel who are very obvious spoofs of Yakko, Wakko and Dot. The Mask Animaniacs Reference
The Spooktacular New Adventures of Casper "Ghost Jam/Do the Spooky/Dr. Harvey and Mr. Gruesome" (1998) Ghostly versions of characters resembling the Warner Siblings appear in "Ghost Jam." Ghost Jam Warners
The New Batman Adventures "Torch Song" (1998) Bruce asks Barbara what she’s doing tonight, to which she responds "The same thing we do every night Pinky..." The uncultured billionaire doesn’t understand what she’s referencing, so she replies "Nevermind."
On HBO Max, this episode is listed under season 3 of Batman: The Animated Series.
1024px-No image available
Mystery Science Theater 3000 "Hobgoblins" (1998) Pearl Forrester calls her assistants "Pinky" and "Brain."
1024px-No image available
The New Batman Adventures "Beware the Creeper" (1998) The Creeper says Mindy's famous line, "Okay, I love you, bye-bye!"
On HBO Max, this episode is listed under season 3 of Batman: The Animated Series.
1024px-No image available
Two of a Kind "Prelude to a Kiss" (1998) Ashley turns down the idea of kissing the local boys Max and Brian, and dismisses them as "Pinky and the Brain." (Clip here)
1024px-No image available
Histeria! Various (1998-2000) Much of the human designs are repurposed from Animaniacs. The World's Oldest Woman has her own theme song, which is set to the same melody as that of Slappy Squirrel's.
World's Oldest Woman

An earlier design of World's Oldest Woman, as seen in the Animaniacs cartoon "Davy Omelette."

"The Wild West" (1998) During the song about the Gold Rush, Yakko can be seen on the TV that Father Time is watching. Yakko on Father Time's TV
"Really Oldies But Goodies" (1998) Loud, Charity and Aka sing about Alexander the Great to the tune of the Animaniacs theme song.
1024px-No image available
"More Explorers" (1998) Montezuma plans to give most of his gold to Hernán Cortez, but will not give up his favorite possession, a gold statue of Dot. Montezuma holding a Dot statue
"Better Living Through Science" (1999) In the segment about Florence Nightingale, Loud, Froggo, and Toast shout "hello, nurse!" as Nightingale walks by. A snippet of the Animaniacs theme is heard immediately afterward.
Screenshotter--YouTube-Histeria-GreatMomentsinMedicinefromBetterLivingThroughScience-3’15”
South Park "Cartman's Silly Hate Crime 2000" (2000) The kid in juvenile hall says there are 2 kinds of kids, those who like Animaniacs and those who don't. Cartman nervously replies he doesn’t like Animaniacs.
SouthParkAnimaniacs
ToonHeads "Director Norm McCabe" (2002) Near the end of the hour-long special, the narrator highlights Norm McCabe's return to Warner Bros. in the late 1990s (although she accidentally said late 1980s) to work on Pinky and The Brain. A promotional cel of Pinky and The Brain is used when his work on the series is mentioned..
PinkyandTheBrainCartoonNetwork
Malcolm in the Middle "Long Drive" (2003) A Wakko doll is seen on the hutch in the background during the scene right after the theme song as Hal and Lois are talking.
Wakkomalcolminthemiddle
Duck Dodgers "Pig Planet" (2004) The Cadet's nephews and niece, Porko, Puerco and Sow, are based on Yakko, Wakko and Dot; and share the same voices. In the episode, music reminiscent of their theme song plays briefly during their zany cartoon antics. It should be noted that this episode was a collaborative effort between Animaniacs veterans Tom Minton, Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone, and Paul Dini.
187469
Sgt. Frog "Handsome Keroro Presents: The Episode We Wanted to Call Tiny Toons or Animaniacs, But Those Were Already Taken" (2004) This episode's title spoofs both Tiny Toon Adventures and Animaniacs.
1024px-No image available
I Love the '90s: Part Deux "1993" (2005) Animaniacs is the penultimate topic of discussion in the episode, with the first half focusing on the Warners while the remainder highlights Pinky and The Brain. Voice actors Rob Paulsen and Ben Stein were two of the commentators who discussed Animaniacs. Clips from the Animaniacs opening as well as various Warners and Pinky and The Brain segments from season one are seen in the prologue and Animaniacs portion of the episode.
VH1 I Love the 90s Animaniacs
Chuck "Chuck Versus the Alma Mater" (2007) Animaniacs is one of the shows brought up in the TV show identification duel between Lester and Morgan.
1024px-No image available
Robot Chicken "Kramer Vs. Showgirls" (2011) A small portion of the "90s Revisited" segment features Pinky and the Brain; who are still used as test subjects at Acme Labs; with the Brain now having a large tumor in his head and suffering arthritis and blindness due to side effects from testing. Pinky is then revealed to have a human ear grotesquely sticking out of his back, referencing the "Vacanti mouse".
Screenshot (146)

Screenshot (147)
MAD "Spy vs. Spy Kids / The Superhero Millionaire Matchmaker" (2011) In the "Mickey Mouse Mouse Control" segment, the title character has captured various cartoon mice and rats, among them are Pinky and the Brain.
PaTB on Mad
Robot Chicken "Eviscerated Post-Coital by a Six Foot Mantis" (2012) A segment features Pinky and the Brain going out for a hardcore night on the town, which is revealed to be a hallucination from the drugs scientists are testing on the mice. Maurice LaMarche reprised his role as the Brain, but has since alluded to this segment and expressed regret regarding it. He noted that he only agreed to appear out of desperation to reprise the character. Rob Paulsen was unable to reprise Pinky as the episode’s budget could only afford one guest voice-actor.[1]
Screenshot (148)
The 7D "Grim the Dragon" (2014) A nurse resembling Hello Nurse appears in the episode providing relief to Grumpy and Hildy. It should be noted that Tom Ruegger and a majority of the Animaniacs cast and crew worked on the series.
Tumblr nc0r03eWo21rv7bujo1 1280
Shipping Wars "Looney Tunes Blues" (2015) Sculptures of the Warners from the Warner Bros. Studio Store are shown at Randy's Toy Shop.
Screenshot (178)

Besides Dot in the center, Wakko can be partially seen in the right of this image.

Animation Domination High-Def Shorts "Scientifically Accurate Pinky and the Brain" (2015) An edgy, "scientifically accurate" take on Pinky and the Brain is presented in this musical, adult-themed parody.
Scientifically Accurate PATB short
Robot Chicken "Cheese Puff Mountain" (2015) A segment features a modified Just Toys "Bend-Ems" Yakko figurine singing an inappropriate number in the style of "Yakko's World." Rob Paulsen had reportedly declined to voice Yakko for this sketch.[2]
Unknown-0
Mystery Science Theater 3000 "The Beast of Hollow Mountain" (2017) After a character in the movie says, "Enrique what you going to do"?, Jonah quotes "The same thing I do every night, Pedro; try to take over the world!".
1024px-No image available
Adam Ruins Everything "Adam Ruins Science" (2017) An animated segment analyzing the flaws of studying on lab mice parodies the aesthetics of Pinky and the Brain; with a spoof of Brain's "The same thing we do every night" line.
Adam Ruins Everything PATB
Mystery Science Theater 3000 "Mac and Me" (2018) Jonah quotes that the aliens looked like "if humanity evolved from Pinky and the Brain." Later Jonah quotes "Hello, nurse" after seeing Debbie's sister.
1024px-No image available
The Simpsons "Krusty the Clown" (2018) "Animaniacs Reboot" is one of the hundreds of shows seen on TV screens.
3008 ms 1
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Episode aired July 15, 2019 A parody of "Wakko's America" is performed by "Wakko" (not voiced by Jess Harnell) to give a geography lesson to then-U.S. president Donald Trump. It can be viewed here.
Colbert Animaniacs screenshot
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic "The Ending of the End - Part 2" (2019) Twilight's line "The same thing we do every time, Pinkie - try to save the world!", is a clear reference to The Brain's famous line.
1024px-No image available
Teen Titans Go! "P.P." (2021) Beast Boy mistakes the acronym "P.P.", which in this context means "pet peeve", for the act of using the bathroom, similar to the Warners mistaking the same acronym for the same thing in the episode No Pain, No Painting, but in that case, it stood for Pablo Picasso.
1024px-No image available
The Simpsons "The Wayz We Were" (2021) A parody of The Brain appears in an online quiz with other "hyper-intelligent" cartoon characters.
The-simpsons-brain

Bottom-Right

Amphibia "Froggy Little Christmas" (2021) During the end credits, Polly receives a Narf Gun for Christmas. This is a reference to both Nerf Gun toys and Pinky's famous verbal tic.
PATB Reference in Amphibia
The Boys Presents: Diabolical "Laser Baby's Day Out" (2022) This episode is a parody/homage to various classic cartoons, with Animaniacs being named as a particular source of inspiration. Animaniacs composers Steve and Julie Bernstein were also brought in to help with the music, and Animaniacs reboot studio Snipple Animation Studios even animated the short. As producer Seth Rogen put it, they had brought in "the exact same people who do the thing we were kind of satirizing."[3] The episode itself has a similar formula to the Buttons and Mindy cartoons.
Laser Baby's Day Out
Tiny Toons Looniversity "Whatever Happened to Babsy Bunny?" (2024) Silhouettes of Pinky and the Brain appear on one of Elmyra's discarded calendars, presumably as a reference to the three's association via the infamous Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain series. Looniversity PEATB ref
Velma "This Halloween Needs To Be More Special!" (2024) In this infamous adult-animated series, Norville (Shaggy) wears a costume of Pinky during the Halloween special. Additionally, a costume of Brain can also be seen. Velma Pinky cameo

Movies[]

Movie Description Image
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996) The 2013 Blu-ray release of the movie features concept art with the Brain at a Mad Scientist convention.
MST3KTM Brian
See Spot Run (2001) James watches the Pinky and the Brain episode "Brainania" in Gordon's apartment.
See Spot Run PATB
Bolt (2008) The pigeons that Bolt meets in New York are very similar to the Goodfeathers.
1024px-No image available
Batman: Bad Blood (2016) Batwoman said "Hello, nurse." when Luke Fox arrived to help her and Nightwing against the nuns.
1024px-No image available
Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018) Starfire recognizes the Warner Bros. Water Tower as the home of the Warners (who are erroneously referred to as the show's ensemble name, the Animaniacs).
Titans see water tower
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) The Warners make a few silent cameos in the film:
  • The Warners appear as audience cameos during the game, with the three of them watching the game from the edge of Marvin the Martian's spacecraft.
  • A statue of Dot Warner appears in an office room.

Documentaries[]

Name Episode Description Image
Looney Tunes: Back in Action - Behind the Tunes (2004) N/A In this DVD featurette, Yakko, Wakko, Dot, Pinky, and the Brain appear on the old Warner Bros. Studio's Animation mural with other WB animated stars.
Warners-mural-back-in-action

We accept this as compensation for the Warners not appearing in the movie's Water Tower scene.

I Know That Voice (2013) N/A Animaniacs is one of the many animated properties discussed in this documentary. Rob Paulsen, Jess Harnell, and Maurice LaMarche recall their experience with the franchise and even briefly perform their characters' voices.
1024px-No image available
Spielberg (2017) N/A Archival footage from the Pinky and the Brain episode "Schpiel-borg 2000" is shown to highlight Steven Spielberg's animated accomplishments.
Pinky-and-the-brain-schpiel-borg-2000-screen
CNN's The History of Comedy "Drawn to be Funny" (2018) Animaniacs is one of the cartoons discussed in this episode. Series creator Tom Ruegger is also interviewed.
Tom Ruegger CNN
Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story (2020) N/A Pinky and the Brain and Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain can be seen as some of the many TV shows mentioned.
Happy Joy
I Love You, You Hate Me "I Love You" (2022) As part of the documentary's research into negative reception behind Barney & Friends, footage of a cutscene from the Animaniacs Game Pack featuring Baloney the Dinosaur is shown to represent how Animaniacs parodied Barney. Curiously, the Game Pack footage is erroneously credited as coming from the original Animaniacs series itself. Additionally, the footage is cropped to 16:9 widescreen (as is the case with other 4:3 footage presented in the documentary mini-series).
Barney documentary Animaniacs
100 Years of Warner Bros. "Wizarding World & the Big Bang" (2023) Footage from the Animaniacs reboot cartoon "Suspended Animation Part One" is very briefly used near the end of the episode. Both the original Animaniacs and the reboot are also lumped together under a single tagline while this footage is shown.

Additionally, footage from the reboot's theme song was also briefly used in the related video "Warner Bros. 100 Years of Talent" (around the 0:33 mark).

Animaniacs 100 Years of WB cameo

Video Games[]

Name Description Image
Crash Bandicoot Franchise (1996-) The character of Doctor Neo Cortex was partially inspired by The Brain. Director Jason Rubin was fond of Pinky and the Brain, and imagined "a more malevolent version of the Brain" with minions resembling the weasels from the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. This helped to further develop the character.

Interestingly, the Brain's voice actor, Maurice LaMarche, would later portray Cortex's subordinate Doctor Nitrus Brio in some Crash games.

Neo Cortex render

Dr. Neo Cortex

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (2012) One of the trophies you can get is called "Helloooooooooooooooo Nurse!".
1024px-No image available
Skullgirls (2012) One of Peacock's pre-round introduction lines is "Hellooooooo nurse".
Skullgirls Hello Nurse
Jazzpunk (2014) After cleaning crumbs off a NPC, the NPC says "Okay, I love you, bye-bye", Mindy's catchphrase.
1024px-No image available
Lego DC Super-Villains (2018) One of the civilians in Smallville will occasionally mention that he likes to imagine the local water tower as the comfortable home for a family of orphaned cartoon characters.
1024px-No image available
Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem (2021) [note 1] In the game's 2021 promotional event for Space Jam: A New Legacy, the Water Tower appears sporting a similar design to how it looks in the the Animaniacs reboot.
World-of-mayhem-water-tower
MultiVersus (2024) It appears that Animaniacs would have some involvement in this game with balloons of Yakko and the Brain appearing in some key art along with the Water Tower. A stage inspired by the WB Studio Lot with said balloons (albeit the balloon versions of Pinky, Wakko and Dot are added, alongside a generic green balloon) is also in the game. ACME Labs can be seen in the background of the stage (along with some feathers of Squit, Pesto and Bobby on top of the soundstage at the left) as well, and glimpses of the reboot Water Tower's interior can be seen. The stage's music (entitled "Come On Down to the Warner Bros. Lot") is reminiscent of the show's background music (as well as other background music from the Warner Bros. cartoons of the '90s, such as Tiny Toons, Freakazoid!, and Histeria!) and the song "I've Got a Ha'Penny" from Wakko's Wish.
Multiversus Promo Header with Yakko and the Brain balloon
MultiVersus - Water Tower stage (with platforms)
MultiVersus hot air balloons

Print[]

Name Description Image
Marvel Versus DC Vol 1 Issue #2 (1996) A statue of Pinky and Brain can be seen in a Warner Bros. Studio Store.
Marvel-Marvel Versus DC Vol 1 2 PATB
Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 Issue #413 (1996) Dolls of Pinky and the Brain appear in the issue.
Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 413 PATB
The Incredible Hulk Vol. 1 Issues #438 and #440 (1996) Pinky and the Brain were alluded to as two white mice, kept by Omnibus. One of the realistically drawn mice had an enlarged cranium, and when their cage was destroyed the sound "narf" is indicated. Also when Jailbait asked what they would do during the night Hotshot replied "The same thing they do every night... whatever that is."
PATB Hulk
PATB Hulk 2
Even More Tales to Give You Goosebumps (1996) The Animaniacs is mentioned as one of the main character's favorite show to watch with her sister.
1024px-No image available
Looney Tunes Issue 34 (1997) In the bottom-left corner of one panel, Pinky and The Brain are seen in the the audience.
P&TBLTCC
Warner Brothers Animation Art (1998) Animaniacs and Pinky and The Brain are given their own chapters, which include many animation cels from their respective shows.
WB Animation Art Animaniacs
Mad Magazine Issue #385 (1999) A rather scathing Pinky and the Brain desk plaque can be seen in a mock Warner Bros. Studio Store catalogue.
It is based off an actual desk plaque sold at said store.
Mad issue 385 patb
The Boondocks (2005) In the March 6th 2005 strip, Pinky and the Brain serve as the spokesmen for Walmart in an ad, which further weakens the retail chain's public image due to Brain's megalomaniacal desires.
Boondocks PATB
Fail of the Dead (2011) One of the fails is a joke on The Brain's name.
Fail of the Dead Brain
Geek Wisdom: The Sacred Teachings of Nerd Culture (2011) A passage is dedicated to one of Brain's catchphrases, "Pinky, are You Pondering What I'm Pondering". The book compares Brain's dynamic with Pinky to a geek wanting to relax and be themself around their non-geeky friend.
Pinky and The Brain Geek Wisdom
Archie's Sonic Universe Issue #47 (2012) A character resembling Yakko Warner can be seen being rescued by the Mercian Freedom Fighters.
Sonic universe 47 yakko
A Celebration of Animation: The 100 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All Time (2018) Pinky and The Brain are given the number 15 spot in this subjective ranking of popular cartoon characters. Co-author Joseph Wos asserts that Pinky and The Brain "are lovable failures...They are hopeful characters who never lose sight of their goals and will try again undeterred. Despite their failings and miscommunications, their friendship too remains intact...Their mismatched relationship is what makes the show so entertaining...The world might just be a better place if it were ruled by Pinky and The Brain."
PATB Celebration of Animation
It's Saturday Morning! Celebrating the Golden Era of Cartoons 1960s - 1990s (2018) Animaniacs and Pinky and The Brain are each given profiles discussing their history and legacy. Pinky and The Brain are on the cover in the form of the retired promo image that was once used by Hulu.
Saturday Morning
IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog: Annual 2019- "Sonic Fan Club" (2019) One of the members of the titular fan club resembles Dot Warner.
IDW Sonic Annual 2019 Dot
IDW's Sonic the Hedgehog: Annual 2020- "The Catalyst" (2020) The Dot Warner look-alike returns with a mace of sorts.
IDW Sonic Annual 2020 Dot
The Greatest Cult Television Shows of All Time (2020) Pinky and The Brain is included as the book discusses the spin-off series and its lasting impact on pop culture.
Pinky and The Brain Cult Classics
Variety: Children's Hour-
How Kids Television Became
the Most Heated Front in the Streaming Wars
(2021)
As a result of the popularity of the Animaniacs reboot on Hulu; Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are seen on the cover with various of other family characters. They also appear on art within the issue's article.
Notably, the image of Yakko sitting on the couch with other characters appears to be traced from fan-art by Atariboy2600 of DeviantArt.
Variety Cameo
Variety animaniacs art 2
Variety animaniacs art 3

Music[]

Name Description Image
Cartoon Network Cartoon Medley (1999) The Animaniacs and the Pinky and the Brain theme songs are both included on this album.
Cartoon Network Cartoon Medley cover
Cartoon Medley back
Your Favorite Martian - Take Over the World (2012) A recurring lyric is "What we gonna do tonight, Brain? We're gonna take over the world!
1024px-No image available
Just Doing My Thing (2020) A song on the album is titled "Animaniacs". A lyric is "eating golden grahams and watching Animaniacs".
1024px-No image available
Megan Thee Stallion- Don't Stop (2020) One of the [[1]] lyrics is "She catch a cold when she rock chains; But lemme see, Pinky and the Brain (Brain)"
1024px-No image available
John Legend- "Crowd Go Crazy" (Official Lyric Video) (2021) The Warners appear in several parts of this music video through archival footage from Space Jam: A New Legacy.
Crowd go crazy warners

Top Right

Visual Novels[]

Name Description Image
Monster Prom (2018) An event in "Monster Prom" has a cult try to come up with a theme song for their leader, Zoe, only to state that they blatantly ripped off the Animaniacs theme song and rejected it.
1024px-No image available

Webcomics[]

Comic Strip Title Description Image
Square Root of Minus Garfield "I Am the Very Model of a Cartoon Individual" (2013) The strip is a collection of Garfield panels accompanied by the lyrics of "I Am the Very Model of a Cartoon Individual", a song that Yakko performs in H.M.S. Yakko.
1498
Bravoman (ShiftyLook) "Voice Virtuoso" (2013) Rob Paulsen, who voices the Namco character Bravoman in the animated web series of the same name, says the word "Narf", one of Pinky's catchphrases.
Bravoman webcomic pinky reference

Web Videos[]

Show Episode Description Image
Nostalgia Critic "The Top 11 Naughtiest Animaniacs Moments" (2008) The Critic highlights some Animaniacs innuendos.
Nostalgia-critic-naughtiest-animaniacs-moments
Nostalgia Critic "Animaniacs" Tribute (2010) Interviews with the cast and crew of the series, including Tom Ruegger and his son Nate, Sherri Stoner, Paul Rugg and John McCann.
Nostalgia-critic-animaniacs-tribute
IGN's Up at Noon "Breaking Bad vs. Your Childhood" (2013) Rob Paulsen reprises his role as Pinky to perform Walter White's "I am the danger" monologue from the Breaking Bad episode "Cornered."
IGN Breaking Bad PATB parody
Bravoman (ShiftyLook) "Watching from the Shadows" (2013) A water tower with a similarly colored shield on it can be seen in the background in several shots.
Bravoman shitfylook watching from the shadows reference
Nostalgia Critic "The Purge" (2014) In perhaps the most infamous example, the review's framing device envisions a scenario where Pinky and the Brain break up, and the video ends with Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche voicing their respective characters in a curse-filled animated skit. The two have since expressed some regret regarding the skit, with LaMarche saying that he and Paulsen were "as apprehensive" as they were in-character during the video.[4]

The Purge 1 The Purge 2 The Purge 3

Nostalgia Critic "Top 11 Best Animaniacs Episodes (2015)" The critic ranks his own personal best episodes of Animaniacs.
Nostalgia-critic-animaniacs-scary-thumbnail

Help.

Camp Camp "Journey to Spooky Island" (2016) A tank labeled "Take A Cartoon Literally # 305" contains two rats. One of them has a giant brain and the other's head has been replaced with a human pinky finger; a literal interpretation of both Pinky and the Brain.
Camp Camp Pinky and the Brain
Sanders Sides "Can Lying Be Good? (2018)" After Patton says "Let's look at Kant", Thomas, confusing that word with another one that sounds the same, gets scared, then smiles, waves and says "Goodnight everybody."
1024px-No image available
Nostalgia Critic "Totally Spies The Movie (2020)" The antagonist of the film is named Fabu, which the Critic points out was Wakko Warner's catchphrase, "Faboo!".
VideoScreenshot--YouTube-TotallySpiesTheMovie-NostalgiaCritic-16’49”
Angry Video Game Nerd "Earthworm Jim Trilogy" (2023) The Nerd cites Animaniacs as an example of a direct successor to Looney Tunes (along with Tiny Toon Adventures). AVGN Animaniacs reference
BitMusical "One-Note Song (R.O.B. sings in monotone)" (2023) Wakko's two note song was one of the inspirations.
1024px-No image available
Nostalgia Critic "Wakko's Wish" (2023) The Critic takes a look at Wakko's Wish with Tom Ruegger, who reveals behind-the-scenes tidbits related to the film throughout the video. Wakko's Wish Nostalgia Critic
Tales From The Gutter "Addiction Confliction"

(2024)

A plush of Yakko is seen twice in the episode.
Yakko plush
Nightmare Yakko


Debatable References[]

The following section is a list of potential references to the Animaniacs franchise, but their veracity is debatable. As such, each reference here somewhat matches something Animaniacs-related, but there is not enough evidence to completely assume that it is indeed a full reference.

American Dad! (2005)[]

In the episode "The Life and Times of Stan Smith," while awaiting the results of his physical, Stan addresses his family and doctor as if they were fans under the name "Stanimaniacs", which is pronounced in a similar vein to Animaniacs.

Disenchantment (2018)[]

One recurring element in the show is the fictional Squalid Squirrel cartoon series, which centers around the eponymous squirrel who is voiced by a mermaid named Mora. The cartoons are similar to older cartoons from the golden age of American animation.

The overall concept has a similar vibe to Slappy Squirrel and her own fictitious cartoon filmography. Additionally, Slappy was voiced by Sherri Stoner, who was a reference model for Ariel in the 1989 Disney film The Little Mermaid. While most likely a coincidence, Squalid and Slappy being portrayed by someone with mermaid ties (though in a more literal sense in Mora's case) somewhat lines-up.

See Also[]

  • Animaniacs Commercials - For a list of promotional campaigns either advertising or referencing Animaniacs in some capacity.

Notes[]

  1. Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem was first released for IOS and Android devices in 2018. The 2021 date listed above is when the Space Jam: A New Legacy promotional event occurred in the game.

References[]

  1. ANIMANIACS Panel - Wizard World Virtual Experiences 2021 (see 37:40-39:00). Published January 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  2. [citation needed]
  3. Maas, Jennifer (2022, March 4). Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg on 'Diabolical's' Adorably Gory Looney Tunes Tribute, More 'The Boys' Spinoffs. Variety. Retrieved June 25, 2022 (Archive from April 15, 2022)
  4. Pinky and the Brain at MomoCon 2017 (see 43:57 - 44:01). Published June 1, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
Animaniacs
Animaniacs (1993-1998)
Series OverviewEpisode Guide (Compilation Episodes) • Christmas Eve with Yakko, Wakko & Dot MarathonHooray for North HollywoodAnimaniac Attack! MarathonThe Ultimate Animaniacs Super SpecialSeries BibleSongsAlbumsCharactersSegmentsVideo GamesBooksDC Comic SeriesHome Media ReleasesGalleryBrain's Plans
Pinky and the Brain (1995-1998)
Series OverviewEpisode Guide (Compilation Episodes) • BrainwashedThe Ultimate Animaniacs Super SpecialWendy's CampaignSongsAlbumsCharactersVideo GamesDC Comic SeriesHome Media ReleasesGalleryBrain's Plans
Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain (1998-1999)
Series OverviewEpisode GuideSongsCharactersHome Media ReleasesGalleryBrain's Plans
Wakko's Wish (1999)
Movie OverviewSongsCharactersGalleryBrain's Plans
Animaniacs (2020-2023)
Series OverviewEpisode Guide (The Brain Teaches World Domination mini-series) • Twitter Watch PartiesFriends With AnimaniacsSongsAlbumsCharactersSegmentsHome Media ReleasesGalleryBrain's Plans
Running Gags
Oft-spoken phrases ("Hello Nurse" • "The Same Thing We Do Every Night" • "Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering?") • Fourth WallHidden InnuendosSpecial FriendList of References to DisneyRimshot punsDot's PetFictitious Media
Other
Brain Snacks (1998) • The Big Cartoonie Show (1999-2000) (Episode Guide) • Animaniacs Live!MultiVersus (2024) • Scrapped/Unreleased Projects and ConceptsDeleted ScenesCommercialsMerchandiseVideo GamesEventsPromotional SongsMiscellaneous SongsList of references to Animaniacs in popular culture
Advertisement