When it comes to animation, 'Pinky and the Brain' has always been one of my favourites. Am a big fan of animation, but won't say that every episode of the show is amazing and that it is a completely consistent show, it isn't quite. Having said that, for me it is one of those rare shows where there isn't a bad episode, something that can't be said for many shows around.
'Pinky and the Brain' is one of the best examples of a childhood favourite that has not only held up well but brilliantly. Not every childhood favourite has so this has nothing to do with nostalgia. As a young adult, actually find it even better now, due to noticing and appreciating more things and the humour being funnier and easier to understand being more familiar with any references and such. Once again, don't fall for any misconception implying that animation is just for kids and exempt from criticism or to be shied away from. 'Pinky and the Brain' has much for children and adults alike, young adults even are probably more likely to get the most enjoyment out of it, and there is much more to it than an animated show with two reasonably cute-looking mice.
Being another episode to comprise of two segments, this is another fabulous episode. It is also very interesting in seeing how Pinky and Brain first met and Brain's "legendary tail" is done with great entertainment value and imagination. It is not the most original of premises but the execution felt fresh and witty.
The animation is bright and colourful with nice attention to character and especially background detail, it's smoothly drawn too and expressive. Music is similarly blameless. 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 theme song is one of the catchiest in animation, have always felt that.
Have very rarely been let down by the writing in 'Pinky and the Brain'. Am still not. The typical zaniness and wit is there, as well as the intelligence and nostalgia. Young adults are likely to get more out of the episode than younger audiences, as the humour is more understandable. That is not to say children will not laugh, they certainly will as it is great dialogue and timed and delivered so well. Over-simplicity and convolution are thankfully nowhere in sight, nothing feels like the writers were trying too hard or being lazy.
Characterisation always was a major strength. 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, appropriate seeing as they are the focus and lead characters here. Pinky is incredibly endearing and as ever amusing, stupid can mean obnoxious but not in the case of Pinky. Also still love Brain, who has more to do here in another Brain-centric episode somewhat, for his deadpan personality and dark sarcasm. Have always loved the relationship between the duo, with such different personalities one worries as to whether they would gel together or clash but 'Pinky and the Brain' was always a masterclass of how to contrast two completely different characters and their personalities harmoniously and with substance and complexity.
Rob Paulsen and especially Maurice LaMarche do splendidly with the voice work, they have always been two of the best and deservedly prolific voice actors today and their work on 'Pinky and the Brain' is among their best. Also feel a bond between them when hearing their voice work.
In summary, fabulous. 10/10
'Pinky and the Brain' is one of the best examples of a childhood favourite that has not only held up well but brilliantly. Not every childhood favourite has so this has nothing to do with nostalgia. As a young adult, actually find it even better now, due to noticing and appreciating more things and the humour being funnier and easier to understand being more familiar with any references and such. Once again, don't fall for any misconception implying that animation is just for kids and exempt from criticism or to be shied away from. 'Pinky and the Brain' has much for children and adults alike, young adults even are probably more likely to get the most enjoyment out of it, and there is much more to it than an animated show with two reasonably cute-looking mice.
Being another episode to comprise of two segments, this is another fabulous episode. It is also very interesting in seeing how Pinky and Brain first met and Brain's "legendary tail" is done with great entertainment value and imagination. It is not the most original of premises but the execution felt fresh and witty.
The animation is bright and colourful with nice attention to character and especially background detail, it's smoothly drawn too and expressive. Music is similarly blameless. 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 theme song is one of the catchiest in animation, have always felt that.
Have very rarely been let down by the writing in 'Pinky and the Brain'. Am still not. The typical zaniness and wit is there, as well as the intelligence and nostalgia. Young adults are likely to get more out of the episode than younger audiences, as the humour is more understandable. That is not to say children will not laugh, they certainly will as it is great dialogue and timed and delivered so well. Over-simplicity and convolution are thankfully nowhere in sight, nothing feels like the writers were trying too hard or being lazy.
Characterisation always was a major strength. 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, appropriate seeing as they are the focus and lead characters here. Pinky is incredibly endearing and as ever amusing, stupid can mean obnoxious but not in the case of Pinky. Also still love Brain, who has more to do here in another Brain-centric episode somewhat, for his deadpan personality and dark sarcasm. Have always loved the relationship between the duo, with such different personalities one worries as to whether they would gel together or clash but 'Pinky and the Brain' was always a masterclass of how to contrast two completely different characters and their personalities harmoniously and with substance and complexity.
Rob Paulsen and especially Maurice LaMarche do splendidly with the voice work, they have always been two of the best and deservedly prolific voice actors today and their work on 'Pinky and the Brain' is among their best. Also feel a bond between them when hearing their voice work.
In summary, fabulous. 10/10
