Uncover All the Fascinating Details About Animaniacs

While delving into the origins of Animaniacs, I reached out to creator Tom Ruegger for insights. Anticipating brief replies, I was thrilled to receive an extensive seven-page response filled with incredible details. If you're curious about the true story behind Animaniacs—now being revived on Hulu—you've come to the perfect spot.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

The journey of Animaniacs traces back to Tiny Toon Adventures, a Warner Bros. animated series produced by Steven Spielberg. Following the massive success of Tiny Toons, Spielberg tasked producer Tom Ruegger and his team with developing a new animated series.

Spielberg initially proposed featuring Plucky Duck, a beloved character from Tiny Toons, as the lead in the new series. At the same time, Ruegger was crafting characters inspired by his three sons. These ideas merged to form a trio of duck siblings. However, the team quickly noticed the oversaturation of animated ducks, including Disney’s Donald Duck, DuckTales, Darkwing Duck, and Warner Bros.' Daffy Duck. Spielberg acknowledged this but emphasized the need for a standout name to market the show effectively.

Ruegger found inspiration in the prominent “WB” logo on the Warner Bros. studio water tower. He envisioned a group of siblings designed in a 1930s-style animation, naming them the Warner Brothers. While they exhibit dog-like traits, their exact species remains ambiguous. The show bible categorizes them as “Cartoonus Characterus.”

Initially, there were four Warner siblings: Yakky, Smakky, Wakky, and their younger sister, Dot. As the designs evolved, Yakky transformed into Yakko, while Smakky and Wakky merged into Wakko. Once the Warner estate approved the use of the family name, the show was ready to launch.

THE WARNER SIBLINGS (INCLUDING THE WARNER SISTER)

Episode #65, "The Warners 65th Anniversary Special," reveals that the Warners were originally created in 1929 as sidekicks to Buddy, an early Warner Bros. Animation character. Their sole purpose in Buddy’s cartoons was to surprise viewers by popping out of unexpected spots and flattening the star with oversized mallets. Despite later receiving their own cartoon series, the shorts were deemed too bizarre for audiences and were locked away in the Warner Bros. vault, with the Warners themselves confined to the studio’s water tower—until their modern-day escape.

The Animaniacs comic book by DC Comics introduces a forgotten Warner sibling named Sakko Warner in issue #33. Sakko’s design closely resembled the flamboyant Rip Taylor, known for his glitter-throwing antics. However, since the comic wasn’t written by the show’s original team, Sakko isn’t recognized as part of the official Animaniacs storyline.

Paul Rugg, a writer for Animaniacs, conceptualized an official fourth Warner sibling for the unproduced movie Wandering Warners We. Named Lakko Warner, this character was portrayed as the untalented family member who would have been dismissed by his siblings during the film’s plot.

Dot, the Warner sister, is short for her full name: Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the Third, created by producer Sherri Stoner. Tress MacNeille, the voice behind Dot, also brought life to Babs Bunny in Tiny Toons and Gadget in Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers. MacNeille’s prolific career includes numerous roles on The Simpsons, most notably Agnes Skinner.

Rob Paulsen, renowned for voicing Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, lent his voice to Yakko. Paulsen had previously voiced minor characters in Tiny Toons, and Ruegger believed he was ideal for Yakko. During auditions, Paulsen submitted multiple voice interpretations, with three of the final five options being his. Unsurprisingly, he secured the role and also voiced Dr. Otto von Scratchansniff and Pinky.

Casting Wakko’s voice proved to be the most challenging among the Warners. During auditions, actors were asked to deliver a “wacky” performance, resulting in overly exaggerated voices that didn’t quite fit. On the final day, Ruegger brought his 1990 Almanac for inspiration. Despite numerous attempts, the perfect voice remained elusive. During the last session with Jess Harnell, Ruegger flipped through the almanac’s celebrity list and asked Harnell to impersonate icons like Elvis, Rodney Dangerfield, and Frank Sinatra. Harnell’s spot-on Beatles impressions, particularly his Ringo Starr, caught the producers’ attention. After adjustments, Ringo’s voice became the foundation for Wakko.

WHAT'S MICKEY DOING UP THERE?

To hype Animaniacs before its debut, a massive Yakko balloon was placed atop the Warner Bros. water tower. Studio head Bob Daley, unaware of the promotion, mistook it for a poorly designed Mickey Mouse and ordered its removal. The balloon lasted less than 12 hours before being deflated, but writer Paul Rugg captured a photo as proof.

Following the balloon mishap, Daley took steps to differentiate the Warners from Mickey. He felt Yakko and Wakko’s designs were too smooth and rounded, so he instructed Ruegger to add side whiskers to avoid confusion and legal issues. Ruegger and Warner Bros. Animation president Jean MacCurdy rushed to implement the changes, as some animation segments were already completed.

RETRACT-IMANIACS

During Animaniacs' development, several supporting characters were considered but ultimately dropped. One concept involved The Flea Family from Tiny Toons, but they were quickly cut. Another idea was Bossy Beaver, a hardworking beaver obsessed with building “the greatest dam ever,” constantly thwarted by his clumsy sidekick, Doyle. Inspired by Tiny Toons artist Ken Boyer, Bossy was deemed too similar to Pinky and the Brain and removed.

Nipsey and Russell, a duo of scheming raccoons who roamed the streets at night, were also scrapped after Spielberg concluded the show had enough comedic pairs.

Another abandoned concept was As the Petri Dish Turns, a microscopic soap opera featuring melodramatic single-cell organisms.

A CARTOON FOR ADULTS

Animaniacs debuted on Fox on September 13, 1993, and swiftly rose to become one of the top-rated children’s shows. Its charm lay in its dual-layered humor: kids enjoyed the slapstick comedy, while parents and college students appreciated the clever wordplay and subtle adult jokes. Yakko often quipped, “Good night, everybody!” after risqué moments, as if anticipating the show’s cancellation.

The show featured several “adult” moments, including the notorious “fingerprints” joke (at 2:15):

Starting with episode 70, Animaniacs moved to The WB. Despite strong ratings, it struggled to connect with the younger demographic advertisers sought. New episode orders declined, and the series concluded with its 99th episode on November 14, 1998.

THE SUPPORTING CAST

Slappy Squirrel, the jaded, retired cartoon squirrel who revels in exposing old Hollywood secrets, was created and voiced by Sherri Stoner. Stoner began her career as an actress, appearing in shows like Little House on the Prairie and Knots Landing, while honing her comedic skills with The Groundlings. She also served as a live-action reference for Disney animators, inspiring Ariel in The Little Mermaid and Belle in Beauty and the Beast.

Skippy Squirrel, Slappy’s nephew, was voiced by Nathan Ruegger, Tom Ruegger’s eldest son and the muse behind Yakko Warner. Nathan also voiced baby Plucky Duck in Tiny Toons, known for his obsession with flushing objects and watching them swirl “down the hooooole.” Today, Nathan is a successful filmmaker with several independent projects to his name.

Mr. Skullhead, a minimalist skeleton character, originated from a childhood sketch by Sherri Stoner. Initially appearing as a barrette in Elmyra’s hair on Tiny Toons, he later starred in Animaniacs’ “Good Idea, Bad Idea” segments. Narrated by Tom Bodett, the Motel 6 spokesperson, these sketches were complemented by Mime Time, where a mime faced relentless punishment for simply being a mime.

Mindy and Buttons were nearly cut from the show until Spielberg’s children saw their design and adored them. Mindy’s iconic lines, like “Ok. I love you! Bye-bye!”, were penned by Deanna Oliver, a Groundlings alumna, and voiced by Nancy Cartwright, famously known as Bart Simpson.

Rita the cat and Runt the dog, though strays, were brought to life by two highly accomplished actors. Rita was voiced by Bernadette Peters, a two-time Tony winner and three-time Grammy nominee. Runt was played by Frank Welker, a prolific voice actor whose work in films like Transformers, The Little Mermaid, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? has contributed to over $12.9 billion in global box office revenue.

Les Miseranimals, a whimsical animal adaptation of Les Miserables, became a standout in the Rita and Runt segments. Here’s one of Rita’s memorable solos from the episode:

Minerva Mink — initially named Marilyn Mink — was voiced by comedian Julie Brown. However, her appearances were limited due to concerns about her overly sexualized portrayal for a young audience. At Jean MacCurdy’s request, one of her segments was revised, redrawn, and reshot to tone down her revealing design.

Colin, famously known as “The Randy Beaman Kid,” was a young boy who stepped outside to share the wild escapades of his friend, Randy Beaman. Voiced by Colin Wells, the son of writer Deanna Oliver, his amusing anecdotes can be found in a YouTube compilation.

Whenever Yakko and Wakko spotted the Warner Bros. studio’s attractive blonde nurse, they’d enthusiastically shout, “Helloooo, Nurse!” Originally written for Buster Bunny in Tiny Toons, the line was never used and was instead given to the Warners. This recurring joke led to the nurse being affectionately dubbed Hello Nurse.

Here’s Yakko and Wakko serenading their beloved medical professional:

PINKY AND THE BRAIN

Pinky was inspired by Warner Bros. Animation director Eddie Fitzgerald, who shared Pinky’s cheerful personality and frequently used phrases like “Narf!” and “Egad!” Fitzgerald even auditioned for the role. Other contenders included John Astin, famous for playing Gomez in the original Addams Family series. However, Rob Paulsen’s Cockney-accented portrayal won over the producers.

Brain’s character was based on Warner Bros. artist Tom Minton. Both mice were initially designed from caricatures of Eddie Fitzgerald and Tom Minton, drawn by Bruce Timm of Batman: The Animated Series. While Brain’s appearance wasn’t modeled after Orson Welles, Maurice LaMarche intentionally gave him a Wellesian voice, inspired by a famous recording of Welles struggling with a frozen peas commercial.

LaMarche, a seasoned voice actor, often practiced by mimicking Orson Welles’ frustrated outtakes. When he saw Brain’s design, he immediately channeled Welles, refining the impression over time. The episode “Yes, Always” features a nearly verbatim recreation of Welles’ infamous recording.

Pinky and the Brain received their own spin-off series, which aired for 65 episodes on The WB from 1995 to 1998. The show followed their ongoing quest to conquer the world, occasionally thwarting the schemes of Snowball, a villainous hamster voiced by Roddy McDowall.

The studio later pushed for a more traditional format, suggesting a domestic sitcom approach. They even cast Dick Clark as a quirky, Kramer-like neighbor. Unhappy with this direction, the writers used the opportunity to parody classic sitcom tropes, much to the dismay of Warner Bros. executives. Shortly after, the show was moved to Saturday mornings.

The series was revamped as Pinky, Elmyra, & the Brain, incorporating a character from Tiny Toons as the mice’s new owner. Although 13 episodes were produced, only six aired under this title. The remaining episodes were included in a clip show featuring various Warner Bros. cartoons, titled The Cat & Birdy Warneroonie PinkyBrainy Big Cartoonie Show, later renamed The Cat & Bunny Warnernoonie SuperLooney Big Cartoonie Show. This format continued until 2000.

Pinky and the Brain are renowned for their memorable catchphrases. One of Ruegger’s favorites includes:

Brain: “Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?”Pinky: “I think so, Brain, but if they called them sad meals, kids wouldn't buy them.”

THE MUSIC

The show’s music was a standout feature, with nearly every episode showcasing original compositions. Led by Richard Stone, the team of composers earned five Daytime Emmys for their exceptional work across various musical categories.

Stone faced the challenge of creating music that perfectly complemented the lyrics written by the show’s writers. For instance, Ruegger penned the Pinky and the Brain theme lyrics to the melody of “Singing in the Rain” from the 1952 musical. The alignment is striking when you mentally sing along:

They're Pinky and the Brain / I'm singin' in the rain They're Pinky and the Brain / Just singin' in the rain One is a genius / What a glorious feeling The other's insane / I'm happy again They're laboratory mice / I walk down the lane Their genes have been spliced / With a happy refrain They're dinky / I'm singin' They're Pinky and the Brain / I'm singin' in the rain

Due to licensing constraints, the original film’s music couldn’t be used, so Stone composed a new melody. The enduring popularity of the Pinky and the Brain theme is a testament to his skill.

One of the show’s most iconic songs, "Yakko's World," was crafted by Randy Rogel, a screenwriter then working on Warner’s Batman: The Animated Series.

While assisting his son with geography homework, Rogel began naming countries from a globe. Noticing that “United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama” rhymed, he envisioned it as the start of a song. Rogel penned the lyrics to the tune of The Mexican Hat Dance Song and shared it with Ruegger, believing it suited Animaniacs. Ruegger and Spielberg adored it, and Rogel soon joined the show as a staff writer.

Rob Paulsen, Yakko’s voice actor, can still flawlessly perform "Yakko’s World" nearly two decades later.

(While you’re here, explore Paulsen’s weekly podcast, where he frequently hosts former Animaniacs colleagues.)

FEATURE FILM FOLLIES

In 1999, Warner Bros. released Wakko's Wish, a 90-minute film featuring the Warner siblings and much of the show’s cast. Initially titled It's a Wakko, Wakko, Wakko, Wakko Wish, a nod to the classic It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World, the studio’s marketing team pushed for a shorter name. Ruegger suggested Wakko's Wacko Wish, but the team shortened it further.

Initially considered for theaters after positive test screenings, the movie was ultimately released directly to VHS by Warner Bros. It still lacks a wide DVD release, though it’s available for purchase on Amazon.

Ruegger’s website showcases several concept posters by Bob Doucette for unrealized Animaniacs films. These include the WWII-themed This Means Warners, the 1776-set Revolutionary Warners, a twist on Oliver Twist titled Little Orphan Warners, and Winter Warner Land, where the siblings would have disrupted Santa and his elves at the North Pole.

Elements from the scrapped film Hooray for Hollywood were repurposed in the 1998 two-part episode Hooray for North Hollywood. Similarly, The Road to Bohemia contributed several plot points to Wakko's Wish.

A heartfelt thank you to Tom Ruegger for sharing incredible insights and access to the Animaniacs story. Visit his website for more nostalgic Warner Bros. Animation content. This article originally appeared in 2012.