Although a big lifelong aficianado of animation, here wouldn't be any question of seeing anything animated regardless of the studio, director, style, how old it is and its critical reception, will hardly say that everything animated is great. There is some bad or worse animation out there. With my knowledge having been extended and broadened, my love and appreciation has overtime significantly increased.
'Pinky and the Brain' is an example of brilliant animation and find it even better than 'Animaniacs', another personal favourite of mine. All of 'Animaniacs' numerous qualities are present here while making them even better, even more in quantity and even bigger in quality. It has always been one of my favourite shows, but love it even more as an adult. Due to more knowledge of animation and understanding the humour more. Same with animation in general. 'Pinky and the Brain' is like 'Animaniacs', it has something for everybody and children and adults alike will love it, it is so much more than "just another kiddie show" (just to say, absolutely hate the misconception of animation only being for children, from my experience it is even better as a young adult) and should never be dismissed as such.
Of the two segments, "From Russia with Lab Mice" is the infinitely more successful. Not that "Hickory Dickory Bonk" is bad, it is actually still great. But "From Russia with Lab Mice" is pretty ingenious, it may not be the most original of concepts but one doesn't care when it is just so entertaining and nostalgic.
There is little to criticise the animation quality for, though some of the drawing could have been smoother. The characters designs have no stiffness (personally think they have a little more refinement than those in 'Animaniacs'), the backgrounds are very detailed and the colours are a mix of vibrant and atmospheric.
Music is also faultless. The scoring is dynamic and composed in a way that is always adding to the actions, expressions and gestures and doing what good music scores in animation should do in enhancing them. The two songs, both spoofing James Bond film theme songs (one of them, 'From Russia with Love', being one of the best) has some wonderfully clever lyric writing and wit, despite the endearingly cheesy song titles.
Have never faulted the writing. It is very smart, its best parts riotous and the exchanges between Pinky and Brain are mini masterpieces. There is zaniness, wit and surprising intelligence and has references that will delight adults especially as they are more likely to get them, James Bond fans especially will be in absolute heaven, not only spotting the references but also delighting in how well integrated and timed they are in the segment. It achieves a perfect balance of never being too simplistic or too convoluted, again a vast majority of which being in "From Russia with Lab Mice". Just to say "Hickory Dickory Bonk" also has strong writing, just not quite as inspired.
While somewhat formulaic (all the stories in 'Pinky and the Brain' are, but in structure, the concept was actually very original), this is a not so common example of formulaic not being a bad thing and not mattering at all, because of the cleverness, creativity and idea variety of the writing and storytelling, here benefitting from a different opened up location. One worries about repetition, no worries are needed because there is a lot of freshness and variety to stop that from happening.
Younger audiences will have little trouble understanding but adults will get more out of it, because the humour is more understandable when older due to more familiarity. Both are easy to follow while not being childish, something that is remarkable for with a story that could potentially be confusing if not done well. Yet it is done in an accessible way. 'Pinky and the Brain' always excelled when it came to references and spoofs, and there is no exception here, think that it is one of the best episodes in this regard actually.
Characterisation always was a major strength, it is in both segments here. Pinky and Brain were two of 'Animaniacs' best characters, Brain especially stole the show whenever he appeared and elevated already very good to great episodes to an even better level, and more than deserved their own show. For me they are even more interesting and defined here in 'Pinky and the Brain'. It is hard not to endear to Pinky and his inane comments and actions, he is not the brightest mouse on the block and Brain's frustration is understandable. But he is one of the finest examples of stupid not falling into the trap of being obnoxious, throughout the show's run Pinky never once annoyed me. Pinky instead is very funny and often hysterically so and simply adorable.
Brain is the infinitely smarter one of the two, a genius in fact, although also the meaner and more intricate one, a very large contrast. Somehow though he is still very lovable, it is impossible not to fall in love with his schemes and how he goes about them, nor is it impossible not to love his deadpan personality and dark sarcasm.
Have always loved the relationship/chemistry between Pinky and Brain. The duo's always compelling personalities never feel false or overdone, and the depth to their contrasting personalities and relationship has not been forgotten. The chemistry between the two is just delightful, sometimes antagonistic but there is more substance to it than all of that. It is essentially the show's heart, it was essential for it to work (make or break) and it does brilliantly.
Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche cannot be bettered as the characters. Both are amazing and throughout the show gave some of their best ever work, especially LaMarche. They are one of the main reasons as to why the characters work so well, their voices suiting the them and their personalities perfectly. The bond between them throughout 'Pinky and the Brain' has always been present and never been lost.
All in all, excellent. 9/10
'Pinky and the Brain' is an example of brilliant animation and find it even better than 'Animaniacs', another personal favourite of mine. All of 'Animaniacs' numerous qualities are present here while making them even better, even more in quantity and even bigger in quality. It has always been one of my favourite shows, but love it even more as an adult. Due to more knowledge of animation and understanding the humour more. Same with animation in general. 'Pinky and the Brain' is like 'Animaniacs', it has something for everybody and children and adults alike will love it, it is so much more than "just another kiddie show" (just to say, absolutely hate the misconception of animation only being for children, from my experience it is even better as a young adult) and should never be dismissed as such.
Of the two segments, "From Russia with Lab Mice" is the infinitely more successful. Not that "Hickory Dickory Bonk" is bad, it is actually still great. But "From Russia with Lab Mice" is pretty ingenious, it may not be the most original of concepts but one doesn't care when it is just so entertaining and nostalgic.
There is little to criticise the animation quality for, though some of the drawing could have been smoother. The characters designs have no stiffness (personally think they have a little more refinement than those in 'Animaniacs'), the backgrounds are very detailed and the colours are a mix of vibrant and atmospheric.
Music is also faultless. The scoring is dynamic and composed in a way that is always adding to the actions, expressions and gestures and doing what good music scores in animation should do in enhancing them. The two songs, both spoofing James Bond film theme songs (one of them, 'From Russia with Love', being one of the best) has some wonderfully clever lyric writing and wit, despite the endearingly cheesy song titles.
Have never faulted the writing. It is very smart, its best parts riotous and the exchanges between Pinky and Brain are mini masterpieces. There is zaniness, wit and surprising intelligence and has references that will delight adults especially as they are more likely to get them, James Bond fans especially will be in absolute heaven, not only spotting the references but also delighting in how well integrated and timed they are in the segment. It achieves a perfect balance of never being too simplistic or too convoluted, again a vast majority of which being in "From Russia with Lab Mice". Just to say "Hickory Dickory Bonk" also has strong writing, just not quite as inspired.
While somewhat formulaic (all the stories in 'Pinky and the Brain' are, but in structure, the concept was actually very original), this is a not so common example of formulaic not being a bad thing and not mattering at all, because of the cleverness, creativity and idea variety of the writing and storytelling, here benefitting from a different opened up location. One worries about repetition, no worries are needed because there is a lot of freshness and variety to stop that from happening.
Younger audiences will have little trouble understanding but adults will get more out of it, because the humour is more understandable when older due to more familiarity. Both are easy to follow while not being childish, something that is remarkable for with a story that could potentially be confusing if not done well. Yet it is done in an accessible way. 'Pinky and the Brain' always excelled when it came to references and spoofs, and there is no exception here, think that it is one of the best episodes in this regard actually.
Characterisation always was a major strength, it is in both segments here. Pinky and Brain were two of 'Animaniacs' best characters, Brain especially stole the show whenever he appeared and elevated already very good to great episodes to an even better level, and more than deserved their own show. For me they are even more interesting and defined here in 'Pinky and the Brain'. It is hard not to endear to Pinky and his inane comments and actions, he is not the brightest mouse on the block and Brain's frustration is understandable. But he is one of the finest examples of stupid not falling into the trap of being obnoxious, throughout the show's run Pinky never once annoyed me. Pinky instead is very funny and often hysterically so and simply adorable.
Brain is the infinitely smarter one of the two, a genius in fact, although also the meaner and more intricate one, a very large contrast. Somehow though he is still very lovable, it is impossible not to fall in love with his schemes and how he goes about them, nor is it impossible not to love his deadpan personality and dark sarcasm.
Have always loved the relationship/chemistry between Pinky and Brain. The duo's always compelling personalities never feel false or overdone, and the depth to their contrasting personalities and relationship has not been forgotten. The chemistry between the two is just delightful, sometimes antagonistic but there is more substance to it than all of that. It is essentially the show's heart, it was essential for it to work (make or break) and it does brilliantly.
Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche cannot be bettered as the characters. Both are amazing and throughout the show gave some of their best ever work, especially LaMarche. They are one of the main reasons as to why the characters work so well, their voices suiting the them and their personalities perfectly. The bond between them throughout 'Pinky and the Brain' has always been present and never been lost.
All in all, excellent. 9/10
