Animaniacs

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Clever 'toon is bursting with fun for kids and adults.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this cartoon has something for everyone, blending over-the-top comedy and outrageous adventures that are sure to please the kiddies with smart satire and hilarious cultural references that teens and adults will love. There's a fair amount of humorous cartoon violence (explosions, collisions, punches, and the like), the occasional double entendre, and lots of fun found in mild misbehavior, but none of it is likely to affect kids. And the show does features segments with an educational flair, such as songs that teach about the solar system, U.S. history, and world geography.

  • The Animaniacs make a sport of breaking the rules, often to the chagrin of unsuspecting supporting characters. But some skits have an educational quality, as with musical numbers that put lists like the countries of the world and the U.S. presidents to song.
  • Many of the slapstick skits use cartoon violence for humor, and none of the multiple crashes, explosions, or blunt force traumas cause realistic injury. Some storylines include scenes of war or historic battles, where characters use guns, swords, and other weapons.
  • Buxom female characters wear tight dresses that accentuate their curves, and some dialogue includes mild innuendo or double entendre. Dot is prone to starry-eyed flirting with handsome guys.

What's the story?

ANIMANIACS is a 1990s collaborative production by Warner Bros. and Steven Spielberg. The cartoon is structured like a variety show, featuring an ensemble cast of anthropomorphic animals -- including lab mice Pinky (voiced by Rob Paulsen) and the Brain (Maurice LaMarche), the Martin Scorcese-inspired pigeon trio The Goodfeathers, and know-it-all showbiz veteran Slappy the Squirrel (Sherri Stoner) -- and three central characters known as the Warner siblings: Yakko (Paulsen again), Wakko (Jess Harnell), and the infinitely adorable Dot (Tress MacNeille). The mischievous trio lives on the Warner Bros. studio lot, but their outrageous adventures take them around the globe as well as throughout different periods in world history, where they often wreak their own brand of havoc on those around them.


Is it any good?

 

Satirical, witty, culturally relevant, and occasionally irreverent, Animaniacs is a bundle of fun packed with as much energy as its three off-the-wall main stars. Kids will be drawn to the characters' larger-than-life personalities and zany escapades, and parents will equally enjoy the show's slapstick exchanges, hilarious parodies, spoofs, and multiple pop-culture references.

While most of the content is frivolous and highly unrealistic, some segments do blend entertainment and educational quality in a kid-pleasing manner. Frequent musical numbers include songs that teach about the U.S. presidents or list all the states and their capital cities, for example, and the characters' travels through literature and historical times -- though highly fictionalized -- give kids a reference for famous events like World War II and significant figures like Picasso, King Arthur, and Abraham Lincoln.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how this cartoon compares to others kids have seen. Kids: What do you like about this show? Do you enjoy the characters’ adventures? Do you think this show intends to teach you anything? If so, what? How would you compare this cartoon to some of your other favorites? How does its style differ from theirs? Which do you like better? Why?


This review was written by Emily Ashby
Adult
February 15, 2010
 
You MUST See This!
This is (in my honest opinion) the best cartoon Warner Bros. EVER created in the 90s. It's funny, clever, sarcastic, and even educational. Yakko Warner himself taught me ALL of the nations of the world. United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Haiti, Jamaica, Peru...Shall I go on? It's really a fantastic show. However, it does have quite a bit of sexual references...Alright make that a LOT of sexual references. Including Ms. Hello Nurse who defeats the laws of physics. (I think you know what i mean) Overall, it's a very good children's show, and I highly recommend it.

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Kid, 13 years old
November 14, 2010
 
An Enjoyable Show For All Ages!
I am at the age that I understand innuendo, and for me, that just makes this show even more funny! The jokes are so very subtle, that even the most astute little child would not get it, but there is humor for them as well! The perfect mix! But let's not forget, they even have educational episodes! Their 50 states and capitols song just helped me pass a test! Wonderful Show all around! Thanks for reading! GOOOOOO SLAPSTICK!

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Teen, 14 years old
November 11, 2010
 
MY CHILDHOOD
THIS WAS MY CHILDHOOD!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS SHOW NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAYS. ITS EDUCATIONAL, FUNNY, MUSICAL, CUTE, ANDJUST DOWNRIGHT AWESOME

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Kid, 13 years old
May 29, 2010
 
This is what ALL cartoons should be! Don't worry about the cartoon violence, it's nothing you wouldn't see in Looney Toons. Plus, I get to see it in school because of the educational segmentss!

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Teen, 15 years old
September 6, 2010
 
The Closest You Will Get to the Original Looney Toon's Classic Spirit
Animaniacs presents itself with numerous short skits per episode; up to four, each centering diffrent characters from its wide cast, including Slappy Squirrel, Pinky and the Brain, and of course, the anthropomorphic dog-like Warner siblings Yakko, Wakko and Dot. The show is filled with pop culture refrences and well-hidden sexual innuendos aimed at older viewers as well as slapstick comedy. The show also features memorable music and quotes as well as educational values.

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Teen, 18 years old
October 25, 2009
 
Perfect for anyone that likes laughing their butts off and learning a thing or two.
This is the only show I know of where everyone, kids, teens and adults can ALL have fun and actually LEARN things!!!!!!!!!!!! The voice work is incredible, the cultural references are through the roof, the music is fantastic, and don't even get me started on how unbelievably well-written the whole show is. Why aren't shows like this made anymore????

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Teen, 14 years old
November 26, 2011
 
Best show ever!!!!!!!
This has got to be one of the greatest cartoons in history!!!! It's cute, fun, musical, educational, hilarious, has awesome pop culture references, etc. The jokes are funny, the violence is fine, nothing to worry about, parents. It's also really educational, it taught me a bunch of stuff when I was little!!! All the songa really stick in young child minds and actually teach them a thing or two, unlike the other cartoon junk we have today. The sexual innuendos are okay, there are a fair few. But it's alright, it's nothing your child will fully understand anyway, and it's only meant for humor, of course! I love this show SO MUCH and I think it should be brought back from cancellation. Personally, my favorite character is Yakko; he's got to be the cutest smart aleck out there. His siblings, Wakko and Dot add up to be fun and zany. There are also a lot of other characters on this show that kids will really enjoy, so all in all, it makes up for a really super awesome cartoon. But it on iTunes now!!!

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Kid, 12 years old
April 30, 2011
 
cute :)
very adorable cartoon,very funny jokes,basicly one of the only american cartoons i like :)

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Teen, 16 years old
May 31, 2009
 
Really cute
This tv show should be 6+. Listen up parents out there!!! There is nothing wrong with this tv show. You can let your 5 or 6 year old kid watch this. There is some violence in it, but nothing that you wouldn't see in Bugs Bunny. All it is is just cuteness. There is some innuendo, but it's not an issue.

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Teen, 16 years old
November 25, 2010
 
Awesome, but younger kids won't appreciate it
There is a BUNCH of educational value in this show, such as a song to name the bones of the body, the states and capitals, all the presidents, the universe, even all the countries of the world! There are also a LOT of hidden messages, too, which a lot of younger kids won't get. such as: "I am Ludwig Van Beethoven! World famous composer and pianist" Yakko: "You're a what?" Beethoven: "I pianist!" Yakko: "Goodnight, everybody!" Yakko will always respond with a goodnight, everybody when adult humor is used. there was also one time where the doctor was showing Yakko some ink blots. Yakko answered girls to all of them. Then the doctor looses it and says: "You are obsessed with girls!" Yakko: "I am not! you're the one showing me all the sexy pictures" Younger kids will still like it, because of the funny child-like humor and the bright, fun, clown-like characters, but you have to be a little older to understand the full jist of it. I'm 15 and I still don't get some of the jokes.

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
Topics:book characters
TV rating:TV-G
Network:WB
Cast:Jess Harnell, Rob Paulsen, Tress MacNeille
Genre:Kids' Animation

This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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