Buzz
Earlier this May, Rob Lammle shared an extensive deep dive into the world of Animaniacs. Now, we’re diving even deeper into the lives of Yakko, Wakko, Dot, and their animated companions. With the release of Animaniacs: Volume 4 on DVD tomorrow, we had the chance to speak with Tom Ruegger, the creator of Animaniacs, and Rob Paulsen, the voice behind Yakko, Pinky, and numerous other characters, to uncover exclusive behind-the-scenes stories from the series' concluding episodes. Sit back and enjoy the ride!
EPISODE 77: “THIS PUN FOR HIRE” / “STAR TRUCK” / “GO FISH” / “MULTIPLICATION SONG”
“This Pun for Hire”
TOM RUEGGER: This episode was crafted around the time Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg were forming DreamWorks. By the end of the first season, Steven had declared it his top favorite cartoon due to its relentless barrage of jokes and puns. The wordplay never ceased, culminating in a clever nod to 'the stuff that DreamWorks are made of.' It’s a charming conclusion and stands out as one of our finest works.
“Star Truck”
ROB PAULSEN: Maurice LaMarche delivered a flawless William Shatner impression here, something he’s famously skilled at. He even initiated International Talk Like William Shatner Day, which Shatner himself has acknowledged and embraced.
“Multiplication Song”
RP: Another brilliant creation from Randy Rogel. With each new song, Randy set the bar higher, not to challenge us but because his ideas kept getting more extraordinary. There’s even talk of Randy and me performing his music live, following the success of our Los Angeles shows. The audience adored it, so we’ll see where this goes.
EPISODE 78: “THE SOUND OF WARNERS” / “YABBA DABBA BOO”
“The Sound of Warners”
RB: Tress MacNeille took on the role of 'Julie Andrews,' delivering a delightful performance with lyrics like 'the hills are alive in the town of Burbank.' Her spot-on impression of Julie Andrews, with her signature sweet phrasing, was a standout. While Tress is renowned for voicing Dot, it’s a treat to see her versatility shine through other characters in the series.
EPISODE 79: “MY MOTHER THE SQUIRREL” / “THE PARTY” / “OH! SAY CAN YOU SEE” / “THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SONG”
TR: This episode holds a special place as the only half-hour of Animaniacs featuring all three of my sons. In 'Oh! Say Can You See,' my middle son Luke voiced The Flame, a role he played throughout the series. Meanwhile, my oldest son Nathan brought Skippy to life in 'My Mother The Squirrel,' and my youngest son Cody voiced the bird.
“The Party”
RP: If I recall correctly, this episode features a hilarious parody of Christopher Walken. “Why won’t anyone talk to me? I’m Christopher Walken. Why won’t anyone say hello?” It’s particularly amusing because, over the years, many of us have met or worked with someone who knows Christopher Walken. While we adore him, they often describe him as quite the eccentric character. [Laughs]
“The Twelve Days of Christmas Song”
TR: Here’s a piece of trivia so obscure that only those involved in the show would know. In this song, a tiny blue bird sings “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in a uniquely odd manner, with everything being turtle doves, culminating in a massive, king-sized turtle dove. One day, my youngest son Cody came home from school and announced, “I learned a Christmas carol today.” When I asked him to sing it, he performed it exactly as it appears in the cartoon. I immediately decided to bring him to the recording studio the next day. Without any preparation, we placed him in front of the mic and said, “Sing that song again.” It was spontaneous and unscripted, and that’s how the episode came to life.
EPISODE 80: “DOT’S ENTERTAINMENT” / “THE GIRL WITH THE GOOGILY GOOP” / “GUNGA DOT”
“Dot’s Entertainment”
RP: The creation of Andy Lloyd Webby is absolutely brilliant. This was during the peak of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s success, with every musical he produced becoming a massive hit. The cartoon cleverly captures Webber’s reputation for being a bit of a diva, resulting in some truly comedic moments.
“The Girl with the Googily Goop”
RP: One of the show’s strengths was its ability to honor classic cartoons, giving Animaniacs a sense of timelessness. By crafting a backstory where the Warners had existed for decades and were locked away in a water tower, the creators added depth and authenticity to the series. These nods to the past not only paid respect to the original cartoons but also enriched the mythology of the Warner siblings, making the show feel enduring and iconic.
TR: Desiree Goyette voiced Googily Goop, and at the time, she was also the voice of Betty Boop in other projects. Casting her was a natural fit, requiring little effort on our part.
EPISODE 81: “SOCCER COACH SLAPPY” / “BELLY BUTTON BLUES” / “OUR FINAL SPACE CARTOON, WE PROMISE” / “VALUABLE LESSON”
“Soccer Coach Slappy”
TR: A couple of years prior, we created “Bumbi’s Mom,” where Slappy takes Skippy Squirrel to see a movie, and Skippy is deeply affected by the death of Bumbi’s mom, breaking into tears. My son Nate voiced Skippy, and in “Soccer Coach Slappy,” Skippy repeatedly gets hit in the face with a soccer ball, leading to more crying. He bawls like a child, which was a recurring theme.
The day before recording, my son Nate declared, “I won’t do this role!” I was shocked. He was acting like a full-blown diva, reminiscent of Redd Foxx’s sitcom antics. “I’m not reading this!” [Laughs] He argued, “Skippy’s older now. He shouldn’t cry anymore.” It took some serious convincing to get him on board. I even reused crying sounds from another episode because he was so resistant.
EPISODE 82: “WAKKO’S 2-NOTE SONG” / “PANAMA CANAL” / “HELLO NURSE” / “THE BALLAD OF MAGELLAN” / "THE RETURN OF THE GREAT WAKKOROTTI” / “THE BIG WRAP PARTY TONIGHT”
“The Ballad of Magellan”
RP: This song’s lyrics were crafted by John McCann and Paul Rugg, who brilliantly transformed a simple American folk tune into something hilariously absurd. It also gave Jess, Tress, and me the chance to perform a beautiful three-part harmony, making it a delightful and memorable piece.
Music was a cornerstone of the show, which is why I was thrilled during the audition process. Not only were we introducing new characters, but we were also creating entirely original music. Imagine producing 35 to 40 unique pieces for every half-hour episode—something rarely done today due to the cost. But it was worth it.
Even now, a significant reason fans adore Animaniacs is its exceptional music.
“The Big Wrap Party Tonight”
TR: This is a piece I wrote, and while I wouldn’t call it a direct parody, it’s certainly inspired by a Cab Calloway song. At the time, I was deeply immersed in Cab Calloway’s music, particularly his track “Everybody Eats When They Come to My House.” Melodically and musically, this song shares a similar vibe.
EPISODE 83: “ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO CLOCK”
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo Clock”
TR: The idea for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo Clock” stemmed from my childhood. My Aunt K lived in a retirement home, and while she wasn’t as confused as Slappy becomes in this episode, we definitely took creative liberties. We aimed to inject some heart and emotion into Slappy’s character, something we hadn’t done before. Although some were hesitant, I believed it was worth exploring. The episode balances emotional depth with classic slapstick humor, putting Skippy through an emotional rollercoaster.
EPISODE 84: “CUTIE AND THE BEAST” / “BOO HAPPENS” / “NOEL”
“Cutie and the Beast”
RP: Jim Cummings provides the voice for the Tasmanian Devil, and to this day, I believe he’s still the go-to voice for the character. Many fans know Jim for his iconic roles as Tigger and Winnie the Pooh, showcasing his incredible vocal range.
Jim, Maurice LaMarche, and I collaborated on Taz-Mania about a year before Animaniacs premiered. By then, Jim had already solidified his portrayal of the Tasmanian Devil.
It’s fantastic how Warner Bros. can cleverly parody a Disney-style story using characters from their own catalog, making it both believable and hilarious. I really appreciate that creative approach.
“Noel”
RP: Another brilliant creation by Randy Rogel. The song begins with Wakko writing a letter to Santa, hilariously misspelling it as S-A-N-T-L-A. Pure genius.
The episode concludes with a humorous silhouette scene featuring Yakko, Wakko, and Dot mocking the credits. It had a Mystery Science Theater 3000 vibe, with us joking, “Rob Paulsen? Who’s that guy? Tress MacNeille? Oh, she’s such a diva—she needs her own limo.” We poked fun at everyone on the show, including ourselves.
EPISODE 86: “A VERY VERY VERY VERY SPECIAL SHOW” / “NIGHT OF THE LIVING BUTTONS” / “SODA JERK”
“A Very Very Very Very Special Show”
RP: I recall this episode vividly because we had just won the George Foster Peabody Award in real life—a highly prestigious honor for any cartoon, or anyone, to achieve. As a result, the episode went over-the-top with its saccharine and melodramatic tone. It was funny, but winning that award was a monumental achievement for us.
EPISODE 87: “FROM BURBANK WITH LOVE” / “ANCHORS A-WARNERS” / “WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING FROM NANTUCKET”
“When You’re Traveling From Nantucket”
RP: Yet another gem from Randy Rogel. When Randy and I performed our live show, audiences were blown away. Not only did they hear familiar tunes, but they also discovered unreleased songs that were just as brilliant. Randy even wrote a song about the spice trade and the history of warfare—it’s truly spectacular.
Randy’s talent knows no bounds. From songs about the bones in the body to countries of the world, he’s done it all. He even updated his famous “Countries of the World” song to include new nations like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Macedonia, and Ivory Coast. Performing it together is always a highlight.
EPISODE 89: “TEN SHORT FILMS ABOUT WAKKO WARNER” / “NO TIME FOR LOVE” / “THE BOO NETWORK”
“The Boo Network”
RP: I was involved with Chicken Boo, which was an incredibly quirky and entertaining cartoon. Deanna Oliver came up with this wild, possibly medication-inspired concept of a giant talking chicken, making it one of the strangest yet funniest ideas we worked on.
EPISODE 91: “MOOSAGE IN A BOTTLE” / “BACK IN STYLE” / “BONES IN THE BODY”
“Bones in the Body”
RP: Another Randy Rogel masterpiece. I can’t praise him enough. Not only is he a phenomenal songwriter, but he’s also a multiple Emmy Award winner. Randy started at Warner Bros. for his dramatic writing on Batman: The Animated Series, earning an Emmy for his work. When Animaniacs was in development, he had to prove he could excel in musical comedy. His audition piece was “Yakko’s World,” the iconic song listing all the countries. It was a bold move, and he went on to win numerous Emmys for his songs. Randy is the ultimate overachiever.
EPISODE 92: “IT” / “DOT – THE MACADAMIA NUT” / “BULLY FOR SKIPPY”
TR: I believe episode 92 marked a return to form and was a standout success. The entire half-hour was animated by StarToons in Chicago, led by John McClenahan, and the result was a visually stunning and cohesive episode.
“Dot – The Macadamia Nut”
RP: This was a clever parody of the “Macarena” song, which I found amusing since I grew tired of the original tune almost instantly. It was refreshing to see the Warner Bros. team create such a charming and humorous take on it.
TR: We secured the rights to the music from Warner Bros., and I rewrote the lyrics to give it a quirky, Animaniacs twist, turning it into a nutty version of the “Macarena.”
“Bully for Skippy”
TR: This episode was perhaps the most politically charged piece I ever wrote. It was a response to the FCC’s mandate requiring a significant amount of daily educational content for children, which influenced the types of cartoons networks could air. At the time, Reed Hundt headed the FCC, so we created a character named Reef Blunt. In the episode, Reef Blunt confronts the Animaniacs characters at a Washington, DC hearing, declaring, “We’re going to have educational cartoons, and I’ll be watching you—especially you, Miss Squirrel!” [Laughs] It’s one of my personal favorites and remains a hilarious standout in the series.
EPISODE 93: “CUTE FIRST (ASK QUESTIONS LATER)” / “ACQUAINTANCES” / “HERE COMES ATTILA” / “BOO WONDER”
“Acquaintances”
RP: At the time, I was playing hockey with Matthew Perry from Friends. I mentioned to him that we were parodying his show, and he excitedly said, “Oh my God, I love [Animaniacs]! I’d love to be on it.” Sadly, we wrapped up the series before he could join us. But given he was earning a million dollars a week, I don’t think he missed much. [Laughs]
EPISODE 94: “MAGIC TIME” / “THE BRAIN’S APPRENTICE”
“The Brain’s Apprentice”
TR: This episode was our take on The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, animated by StarToons in Chicago.
RP: This marked the final “Pinky and The Brain” segment within the show, though it later spun off into its own series. From Tiny Toon Adventures in the late ’80s to Taz-Mania, Animaniacs, Pinky and The Brain, Histeria!, and Freakazoid, my time at Warner Bros. was an 11-year celebration of creativity. I was there multiple days a week, working with incredible people who remain close friends today. We won Emmys, had a blast, and truly found our stride. Everything came together perfectly.
I once told Tress MacNeille, “You’ll want to capture this moment because, unless you’re on The Simpsons, it doesn’t get better than this. You’re collaborating with the best talent on both sides of the glass, alongside Steven Spielberg, the incredible orchestra, Richard Stone, Randy Rogel, and so many other brilliant minds. This is career-defining.”
I often tell interviewers that while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles transformed my career, Animaniacs truly transformed my life. I’m forever grateful for that experience.
EPISODE 95: “HOORAY FOR NORTH HOLLYWOOD (PART I)” and EPISODE 96: “HOORAY FOR NORTH HOLLYWOOD (PART II)”
“Hooray for North Hollywood”
RP: I recall Mr. Plotz being fired multiple times on the show, even by his own son in a segment titled “A Christmas Plotz,” our version of A Christmas Carol. What’s fascinating is that Bob Daly and Terry Semel, the studio heads at the time, found it hilarious that the Warner brothers poked fun at them. It’s remarkable when the people funding these expensive cartoons allow you to mock them without ego getting in the way. [Laughs]
EPISODE 97: “THE CARPOOL” / “THE SUNSHINE SQUIRRELS”
“The Sunshine Squirrels”
TR: Phyllis Diller starred in this episode. While it wasn’t one of her final performances, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to have collaborated with her.
EPISODE 98: “THE CHRISTMAS TREE” / “PUNCHLINE (PART I)” / “PROM NIGHT” / “PUNCHLINE (PART II)”
“The Christmas Tree”
TR: This marks the final Slappy cartoon. Rewatching these episodes recently, I noticed something interesting: the cartoon features a Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony from the mid-’90s, over 15 years ago. Al Roker hosted the ceremony back then, and he’s still doing it today. While some references age quickly, this one has stood the test of time.
EPISODE 99: “BIRDS ON A WIRE” / “THE SCORING SESSION” / “THE ANIMANIACS SUITE”
“The Scoring Session” and “The Animaniacs Suite”
TR: These two episodes are a tribute to the music and Richard Stone. “The Scoring Session” humorously depicts Richard taking a break at Camarillo, a mental institution in California at the time. [Laughs] He’s replaced by a composer named Nevel Nosenest (voiced by Michael McKean), a rhinoceros. The entire cast appears, and the Warners hilariously disrupt the session.
Here’s a little-known fact: The name Nevel Nosenest came about after my kids and I watched An American Tail: Fievel Goes West and were driving home. We played with the name Fievel and came up with Nievel Nose Nest, which inspired the character’s name.
RP: I remember Richard Stone, may he rest in peace, calling me to say, “Hey, we’re doing the final scoring session.” These sessions were held at the Clint Eastwood Scoring Stage on the Warner Bros. lot, the same stage where Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn worked on the original Warner Bros. cartoons. They even used Carl Stalling’s piano. The history and energy in that studio are incredible.
For some reason, they had to move to the larger scoring studio at 20th Century Fox. Richard called me and said, “Just so you know, the show is ending, and I’m working on the Animaniacs Suite. Would you like to come and see it?” I can’t emphasize enough how moving it was. Richard performed a stunning medley of the Animaniacs theme in various styles, and it was absolutely breathtaking. I was brought to tears watching it.
It was poignant because, not long after, Richard was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and passed away far too soon. At his memorial service, held on the Warner Bros. scoring stage, we all gathered to honor this incredible man. The term “genius” is often overused, but in Richard’s case, it was entirely accurate. He was a true genius and an extraordinary person. It felt as though he knew he had limited time and poured everything into his work. His passing marked a bittersweet conclusion to the series, a fitting yet deeply emotional end to an era we knew could never be replicated.
Animaniacs: Volume 4 will be available on DVD starting February 5.
All images courtesy of Animaniacs: Volume 4.
