Few animated shows from the 90s are as beloved and regarded as Animaniacs. Airing in 1993 and lasting five seasons, the show followed the zany cartoon Warner Siblings — Yakko, Wakko, and Dot — and a hilarious cast of characters around the famous Warner Brothers movie lot. The series is known for its chaotic energy and ability to cater to both children and adults alike.
What kept Animaniacs fresh (and continues to do so in its 2020 reboot by Hulu) is its episode structure. Each episode contains three shorts or segments, each focused on one of the dozens of characters created for the show. The segments range from quick recurring jokes or songs to full shorts. All brought a smile to fans’ faces, but some managed to rise above others. Here are a few of the best segments from the Animaniacs series.
Good Idea, Bad Idea
This simple but effective segment was introduced early on in Animaniacs’ run. A narrator would begin telling viewers a “Good Idea” — like doing your own yard work — versus a “Bad Idea” — like doing your own dental work. The ideas were acted out by Mr. Skullhead, a simply designed character, who would either be rewarded for his good ideas, or suffer greatly for his bad ideas. The ideas were usually a play on words that would lead Mr. Skullhead, and in turn viewers, on a satirical path towards what to do (or not do) in social situations.
Slappy Squirrel
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A segment done in the vein of classic Warner Brothers cartoons like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, Slappy Squirrel focused on the titular grouchy aging squirrel and former star of fictional Looney Tunes cartoons in the company’s heyday. At the time of Animaniacs, Slappy Squirrel lives in a treehouse with her nephew, Skippy, a timid and adorable squirrel. Skippy and Slappy often spend the segments running into people from Slappy’s past like Walter Wolf or the two face regular troubles like upbeat neighbors. What sets the segment apart is Slappy’s washed-up Hollywood persona and her use of Looney Tunes-level cartoonish violence to solve any situation — including blowing the Warner siblings’ nanny out of the lot when the three children wouldn't do it themselves.
The Wheel of Morality
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This segment is a staple of earlier Animaniacs and was sadly retired after the series’ third season. Wheel of Morality was quicker than other segments and was done at the end of the episode. The Wheel pokes fun at the Federal Communications Commission demands that children learn an educational lesson from children's programming. Older brother Yakko spins the Wheel of Morality to get a moral — which is usually a hilarious take on a popular saying or complete nonsense. The Warner Siblings all commented on the morals "meaning" before they were chased by the movie lot's security guard, Ralph.
Yakko’s World / Wakko’s America
There’s a fact that is often forgotten about Animaniacs: it was pitched as an educational children’s show for Saturday morning cartoon blocks. The series’ favorite place to drop a few facts on its viewers was through songs that were often parodies of musical theatre or popular nursery rhymes. Dozens of songs could be put on this list — like a song listing each United States president plus a fun fact about them or a ballad recounting famous explorer Magellan’s journey to find the West Indies — but few compare to Yakko’s World and Wakko’s America.
These two educational songs are linked together because they fill the same purpose. Both are feats done by the Warner Brothers — Yakko naming all of the countries on Earth (at least the ones that existed in 1993) and Wakko naming all of the capitals in the United States. The songs are incredibly catchy while teaching viewers and remain some of the most memorable moments of Animaniacs and growing up in the 90s in general.
Pinky and The Brain
This piece would feel incomplete without these two lab rats making an appearance. The only Animaniacs segment that warranted its own spin-off show, Pinky and the Brain follows a genius and his dim-witted sidekick as they attempt to take over the world when the lab closes for the night. Brain's dark personality and iconic voice are the perfect opposite to Pinky's outbursts and clownish behavior. Every segment has Pinky and Brain try out a new plan for world domination, each more outlandish and exaggerated than the last. Some of the best include Brain becoming a child actor in an effort to woo everyone with his cuteness and the duo distracting the world with lava lamps before turning humans into the home decor item.