Expectations were very mixed for this 'Animaniacs' reboot. The original 'Animaniacs' is one of my favourite animated shows and a favourite overall. Likewise with 'Pinky and the Brain' (not the case with its spin off 'Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain'). Part of me was interested to see how they would work in a contemporary setting, but much of me also questioned its point because it didn't sound necessary to me as can be the case with a lot of reboots.
The show did briefly pick up in the fifth episode, before returning back to the unevenness that was present in a vast majority of the show's episodes. "Warner She Wrote"/"France France Revolution"/"Gift Rapper" is another inconsistent episode that manages on the whole to actually be pretty good, especially considering that all three segments focus on the Warner siblings. It is most interesting for being an episode that doesn't have a Pinky and the Brain segment, though one does see them cameo at the end of "Gift Wrapper".
"Warner She Wrote" is by far the best segment, absolutely love anything mystery oriented and the subject immediately appealed in one of the best scenarios for any of the Warner siblings' segments of the show. Love the Warners' personalities, which are closer to the ones in the original 'Animaniacs', the entertaining mystery that has some neat clues and ways of getting to the truth and the pace is lively. Let down only really by the somewhat predictable denouement.
Liked "France France Revolution" on the whole, although the ending jars somewhat with the tone of the rest of the subject (especially when one knows what happened to the real Marie Antoinette) and occasional heavy handedness. It is not easy at all having a fun scenario set during such a major and awful historical event, but "France France Revolution" manages it as long as one accepts it as a what if. There is some funny smart writing here and some clever historical references, and again there is a good deal of energy. Interesting to see Marie Antoinette in this way, in a way never seen before anywhere.
"Gift Rapper" didn't do make for me however. Anything centered around music, as a singer myself, immediately has me sold, but the story is pretty thin and bland, there is little imaginative about the material and the Warners come over as a little too smug. The Pinky and the Brain cameo is the best part.
Coming onto talking about the individual elements, the animation is bright and beautifully detailed with some suitably wild expressions in faces, eyes and body language, despite preferring the bolder and more traditional look. The music fits well and while it may not enhance the action it adds to it in a way that's appealing and accessible. The theme tune is hip and catchy. The voice acting is great all round, recasting the original voice actors again was a masterstroke and it was like such a big gap had not happened. Most of the writing is fine and likewise with the pace.
Uneven episode but pretty good despite one disappointing segment. 7/10.
The show did briefly pick up in the fifth episode, before returning back to the unevenness that was present in a vast majority of the show's episodes. "Warner She Wrote"/"France France Revolution"/"Gift Rapper" is another inconsistent episode that manages on the whole to actually be pretty good, especially considering that all three segments focus on the Warner siblings. It is most interesting for being an episode that doesn't have a Pinky and the Brain segment, though one does see them cameo at the end of "Gift Wrapper".
"Warner She Wrote" is by far the best segment, absolutely love anything mystery oriented and the subject immediately appealed in one of the best scenarios for any of the Warner siblings' segments of the show. Love the Warners' personalities, which are closer to the ones in the original 'Animaniacs', the entertaining mystery that has some neat clues and ways of getting to the truth and the pace is lively. Let down only really by the somewhat predictable denouement.
Liked "France France Revolution" on the whole, although the ending jars somewhat with the tone of the rest of the subject (especially when one knows what happened to the real Marie Antoinette) and occasional heavy handedness. It is not easy at all having a fun scenario set during such a major and awful historical event, but "France France Revolution" manages it as long as one accepts it as a what if. There is some funny smart writing here and some clever historical references, and again there is a good deal of energy. Interesting to see Marie Antoinette in this way, in a way never seen before anywhere.
"Gift Rapper" didn't do make for me however. Anything centered around music, as a singer myself, immediately has me sold, but the story is pretty thin and bland, there is little imaginative about the material and the Warners come over as a little too smug. The Pinky and the Brain cameo is the best part.
Coming onto talking about the individual elements, the animation is bright and beautifully detailed with some suitably wild expressions in faces, eyes and body language, despite preferring the bolder and more traditional look. The music fits well and while it may not enhance the action it adds to it in a way that's appealing and accessible. The theme tune is hip and catchy. The voice acting is great all round, recasting the original voice actors again was a masterstroke and it was like such a big gap had not happened. Most of the writing is fine and likewise with the pace.
Uneven episode but pretty good despite one disappointing segment. 7/10.
