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Animaniacs: Give Nostalgia a Chance
5 years ago
General
I haven't seen the Animaniacs reboot; I refuse to get my hopes up. If you're wondering why, it's because I remember the 1990s series. This is a reply I posted in a previous journal, but it's better off in a journal entry of its own.
Early '90s cartoons had a lot going against them, most notably that the writers (who couldn't draw) were privileged over the animators (who were considered field hands). The result: illustrated radio. Further results: "clever" scripts (translation: not funny); "adult" humor (translation: over the heads of the kids who were supposed to be the show's audience); boring characters (anybody remember Rita and Runt, Mindy and Buttons, Katie Ka-Boom, and the Goodfeathers? Didn't think so).
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot were a hive-mind version of Daffy Duck before Daffy developed a personality. Random lunacy isn't that interesting.
Minerva Mink is the incarnation of Rule 34, so of course she was jettisoned almost immediately.
Pinky and the Brain was the one segment of the show in which the writers were allowed to use their imagination, so of course they were spun off into their own show. Which was ruined by the addition of Elmyra.
Do I sound bitter?
[EDIT: As long as we're on the subject, will it surprise anyone that I find the 1990-92 Tiny Toon Adventures unwatchable? As the animated teen sex comedy of our feverish furry imaginations, it's brilliant. As a TV series, it's depressingly dull -- recycled characters doing recycled gags.]
Early '90s cartoons had a lot going against them, most notably that the writers (who couldn't draw) were privileged over the animators (who were considered field hands). The result: illustrated radio. Further results: "clever" scripts (translation: not funny); "adult" humor (translation: over the heads of the kids who were supposed to be the show's audience); boring characters (anybody remember Rita and Runt, Mindy and Buttons, Katie Ka-Boom, and the Goodfeathers? Didn't think so).
Yakko, Wakko, and Dot were a hive-mind version of Daffy Duck before Daffy developed a personality. Random lunacy isn't that interesting.
Minerva Mink is the incarnation of Rule 34, so of course she was jettisoned almost immediately.
Pinky and the Brain was the one segment of the show in which the writers were allowed to use their imagination, so of course they were spun off into their own show. Which was ruined by the addition of Elmyra.
Do I sound bitter?
[EDIT: As long as we're on the subject, will it surprise anyone that I find the 1990-92 Tiny Toon Adventures unwatchable? As the animated teen sex comedy of our feverish furry imaginations, it's brilliant. As a TV series, it's depressingly dull -- recycled characters doing recycled gags.]
*Quietly hides immense and very realy, true and not a lie enjoyment of Rita and Runt. Bernadette Peters made him feel things that later helped him move to the enjoyment of live musical theater and an appreciation of music even with damaged hearing from childhood infections*
Totally. Totes magotes. I am there, hundo P.
*Totally hides still remembering the Goodfeathers song as well, and the Katie-Kaboom song, and empathy for Buttons.*
Hundo. P.
I will admit, while I still have a soft spot for the original Animaniacs and some of the jokes still make me laugh, the slapstick/"zany" vibe didn't age very well. Most of the jokes are extremely dated too.
Honestly your opinions are valid, nobody really talks about the show's weaker points. Besides, I wasn't too hyped when I saw the trailer either, without nostalgia goggles Animaniacs might not do great nowadays.