Despite considering myself a big lifelong fanatic of animation, as has been said quite a number of times, there wouldn't be any question of seeing anything animated regardless of the studio, director, style, how old it is and its critical reception, will hardly say that everything animated is great. There is some bad or worse animation out there. My love and appreciation has overtime significantly increased, with my knowledge having been extended and broadened.
'Pinky and the Brain' is an example of brilliant animation and have always considered it even better than another personal favourite of mine 'Animaniacs'. All of that show's numerous qualities are present here while making them even better, even more in quantity and even bigger in quality. It has always been one of my favourite shows, but love it even more as an adult, due to more knowledge of animation and understanding the humour more. Same with animation in general. 'Pinky and the Brain' is like 'Animaniacs', it has something for everybody and children and adults alike will love it, there is so much more to it than being a show for kids and nothing more and dismissing it like that would be somewhat insulting.
"Broadway Malady" is not one of my favourite 'Pinky and the Brain' episodes. There is nothing inherently wrong with it actually and almost everything about it is fantastic. It just lacks the imagination and ambition of some of the best episodes.
There is little to criticise the animation quality for, though some of the drawing could have been smoother. The characters designs have no stiffness (personally think they have a little more refinement than those in 'Animaniacs'), the backgrounds are very detailed and the colours are a mix of vibrant and atmospheric.
Music is also faultless. The scoring is dynamic and composed in a way that is always adding to the actions, expressions and gestures and doing what good music scores in animation should do in enhancing them. Also "I Am Gonna Have to Hurt You" is not only very catchy in melody, it does again what so many other songs featured in 'Pinky and the Brain' in having insanely clever lyric writing.
Have never faulted the writing. It is very smart, its best parts riotous and the exchanges between Pinky and Brain are mini masterpieces. Absolutely loved that "what rhymes with June" exchange. There is zaniness, wit and surprising intelligence and has references that will delight adults especially as they are more likely to get them. It achieves a perfect balance of never being too simplistic or too convoluted, a balance not always found in family shows.
Formulaic has seldom not been a bad thing in 'Pinky and the Brain' and rarely matters at all, because of the cleverness, creativity and idea variety of the writing and storytelling. This is something that is not common in film and television to me, because if there is not enough variety or freshness it feels predictable and repetitive.
Younger audiences will have little trouble understanding, because such a good job as ever is done making the humour accessible regardless of age, but adults will get more out of it, because the humour is more understandable when older due to more familiarity. It is easy to follow while not being childish, and the references (such as 'Broadway Melody' of course) are affectionate and witty providing that one is familiar with what is being referenced. Even if not familiar, it does provoke interest and the references are still effective regardless due to the comic timing working so well.
Pinky and Brain are even more interesting and defined than in 'Animaniacs', where they were frequently two of that's show most interesting characters (particularly Brain), now that they are at the forefront and not supporting characters. It is hard not to endear to Pinky and his inane comments and actions, he is not the brightest mouse on the block to put it lightly and one sort of sympathises with Brain in his frustration. Yet he is one of the finest examples of stupid not falling into the trap of being obnoxious, throughout the show's run Pinky never once annoyed me. Pinky instead is often hysterically funny and simply adorable.
Brain is the infinitely smarter one of the two, a genius in fact, although also the meaner one, a big contrast to Pinky. Have also found him the funnier and more interesting character despite his meanness, which tends not to be a good trait and renders the character unlikeable, but Brain's comic timing and well rounded personality stops that from happening. This meanness compared to Pinky's lack of brightness has always been a very large contrast. Somehow though he is still very lovable, it is impossible not to fall in love with his schemes, and regardless of whether it is inspired or not one does so here to some extent. Nor is it impossible not to love his deadpan personality and dark sarcasm.
Have always loved the relationship/chemistry between Pinky and Brain. The duo's always compelling personalities never feel false or overdone, and the depth to their contrasting personalities and relationship has not once been forgotten. The chemistry between the two is just delightful, sometimes antagonistic but with substance also to balance it out. What has always been the heart of the show, which is the chemistry between the two characters, was crucial to work and always has done superbly.
Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche, prolific voice actors for very good reason and among the best, are irreplacable as Pinky and Brain and both give some of their best work throughout the show, obvious here. LaMarche has always been especially wonderful and relishes Brain's deadpan dialogue and dark sarcasm. If asked what it is that makes the characters work particularly well, it would be Paulsen and LaMarche's voice acting which gives them so much life. If they recorded together, it has always been clear that they were having a ball.
Once again, "Broadway Malady" is a fine episode with so much to love. Just falls short of being one of my favourites. 9/10
'Pinky and the Brain' is an example of brilliant animation and have always considered it even better than another personal favourite of mine 'Animaniacs'. All of that show's numerous qualities are present here while making them even better, even more in quantity and even bigger in quality. It has always been one of my favourite shows, but love it even more as an adult, due to more knowledge of animation and understanding the humour more. Same with animation in general. 'Pinky and the Brain' is like 'Animaniacs', it has something for everybody and children and adults alike will love it, there is so much more to it than being a show for kids and nothing more and dismissing it like that would be somewhat insulting.
"Broadway Malady" is not one of my favourite 'Pinky and the Brain' episodes. There is nothing inherently wrong with it actually and almost everything about it is fantastic. It just lacks the imagination and ambition of some of the best episodes.
There is little to criticise the animation quality for, though some of the drawing could have been smoother. The characters designs have no stiffness (personally think they have a little more refinement than those in 'Animaniacs'), the backgrounds are very detailed and the colours are a mix of vibrant and atmospheric.
Music is also faultless. The scoring is dynamic and composed in a way that is always adding to the actions, expressions and gestures and doing what good music scores in animation should do in enhancing them. Also "I Am Gonna Have to Hurt You" is not only very catchy in melody, it does again what so many other songs featured in 'Pinky and the Brain' in having insanely clever lyric writing.
Have never faulted the writing. It is very smart, its best parts riotous and the exchanges between Pinky and Brain are mini masterpieces. Absolutely loved that "what rhymes with June" exchange. There is zaniness, wit and surprising intelligence and has references that will delight adults especially as they are more likely to get them. It achieves a perfect balance of never being too simplistic or too convoluted, a balance not always found in family shows.
Formulaic has seldom not been a bad thing in 'Pinky and the Brain' and rarely matters at all, because of the cleverness, creativity and idea variety of the writing and storytelling. This is something that is not common in film and television to me, because if there is not enough variety or freshness it feels predictable and repetitive.
Younger audiences will have little trouble understanding, because such a good job as ever is done making the humour accessible regardless of age, but adults will get more out of it, because the humour is more understandable when older due to more familiarity. It is easy to follow while not being childish, and the references (such as 'Broadway Melody' of course) are affectionate and witty providing that one is familiar with what is being referenced. Even if not familiar, it does provoke interest and the references are still effective regardless due to the comic timing working so well.
Pinky and Brain are even more interesting and defined than in 'Animaniacs', where they were frequently two of that's show most interesting characters (particularly Brain), now that they are at the forefront and not supporting characters. It is hard not to endear to Pinky and his inane comments and actions, he is not the brightest mouse on the block to put it lightly and one sort of sympathises with Brain in his frustration. Yet he is one of the finest examples of stupid not falling into the trap of being obnoxious, throughout the show's run Pinky never once annoyed me. Pinky instead is often hysterically funny and simply adorable.
Brain is the infinitely smarter one of the two, a genius in fact, although also the meaner one, a big contrast to Pinky. Have also found him the funnier and more interesting character despite his meanness, which tends not to be a good trait and renders the character unlikeable, but Brain's comic timing and well rounded personality stops that from happening. This meanness compared to Pinky's lack of brightness has always been a very large contrast. Somehow though he is still very lovable, it is impossible not to fall in love with his schemes, and regardless of whether it is inspired or not one does so here to some extent. Nor is it impossible not to love his deadpan personality and dark sarcasm.
Have always loved the relationship/chemistry between Pinky and Brain. The duo's always compelling personalities never feel false or overdone, and the depth to their contrasting personalities and relationship has not once been forgotten. The chemistry between the two is just delightful, sometimes antagonistic but with substance also to balance it out. What has always been the heart of the show, which is the chemistry between the two characters, was crucial to work and always has done superbly.
Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche, prolific voice actors for very good reason and among the best, are irreplacable as Pinky and Brain and both give some of their best work throughout the show, obvious here. LaMarche has always been especially wonderful and relishes Brain's deadpan dialogue and dark sarcasm. If asked what it is that makes the characters work particularly well, it would be Paulsen and LaMarche's voice acting which gives them so much life. If they recorded together, it has always been clear that they were having a ball.
Once again, "Broadway Malady" is a fine episode with so much to love. Just falls short of being one of my favourites. 9/10
