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.
Almost all the previous episodes of the show falls in the very inconsistent but also very watchable category, excepting Episodes 5, 11 and 16 which for me were great. "The Warners are Present"/"The Pinktator"/"Know Your Scroll" is another one of the very inconsistent but also very watchable episodes, actually thought that generally it was pretty good despite not caring for one segment (which was not a surprise for me as that was the case with a lot of the episodes from this reboot). Luckily the other two more than made up for that.
For me the best segment was "The Pinktator". Which was sharply, smartly and wittily written on the whole and the story had a huge amount of energy and felt freshness despite the premise not being a novel one. It just about avoided preachiness too. Once again, the character writing for both titular characters is a delightful revelation and indicative of people that loved and understood the characters. Really liked Pinky's bigger role. The chemistry is dynamite.
Really liked "The Warners are Present" on the whole. It isn't an original plot and it is slight, but it's energetic, the writing is mostly funny and smart with no signs of dumbing down, it is a subject that is relevant today and it is true in spirit to that of the original 'Animaniacs' on the whole. The Warners were inconsistently characterised on this show, but this is thankfully closer to the wackier, witty personalities of the original than the smug ones that have been apparent in some episodes. It could have been sharper though and took more risks.
Was not too crazy about "Know Your Scroll". The writing could have been a lot sharper in that and didn't need to lay on its messaging as thickly as it did, seeing as it is stuff that most viewers of the show would know already. Also found it quite thin, too safe in writing and the Warners don't have the same amount of personality that they had in "The Warners are Present" and come over as smug.
A lot of fine individual components can be found. 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, done by some of the best and most prolific voice actors in the business now and ever, is impeccable. It was a masterstroke bringing the voice actors back and the right thing to do.
Good but not great. 7/10.
Almost all the previous episodes of the show falls in the very inconsistent but also very watchable category, excepting Episodes 5, 11 and 16 which for me were great. "The Warners are Present"/"The Pinktator"/"Know Your Scroll" is another one of the very inconsistent but also very watchable episodes, actually thought that generally it was pretty good despite not caring for one segment (which was not a surprise for me as that was the case with a lot of the episodes from this reboot). Luckily the other two more than made up for that.
For me the best segment was "The Pinktator". Which was sharply, smartly and wittily written on the whole and the story had a huge amount of energy and felt freshness despite the premise not being a novel one. It just about avoided preachiness too. Once again, the character writing for both titular characters is a delightful revelation and indicative of people that loved and understood the characters. Really liked Pinky's bigger role. The chemistry is dynamite.
Really liked "The Warners are Present" on the whole. It isn't an original plot and it is slight, but it's energetic, the writing is mostly funny and smart with no signs of dumbing down, it is a subject that is relevant today and it is true in spirit to that of the original 'Animaniacs' on the whole. The Warners were inconsistently characterised on this show, but this is thankfully closer to the wackier, witty personalities of the original than the smug ones that have been apparent in some episodes. It could have been sharper though and took more risks.
Was not too crazy about "Know Your Scroll". The writing could have been a lot sharper in that and didn't need to lay on its messaging as thickly as it did, seeing as it is stuff that most viewers of the show would know already. Also found it quite thin, too safe in writing and the Warners don't have the same amount of personality that they had in "The Warners are Present" and come over as smug.
A lot of fine individual components can be found. 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, done by some of the best and most prolific voice actors in the business now and ever, is impeccable. It was a masterstroke bringing the voice actors back and the right thing to do.
Good but not great. 7/10.