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Pinky and the Brain

Series, 1995, Kids' WB, Set in Acme Labs

Pinky and the Brain is #20 of 28 in release order and #20 of 28 in chronological order in the Saturday Morning Cartoons.

The story

Pinky and Brain are genetically enhanced laboratory mice who reside in a cage in the Acme Labs research facility. Brain is self-centered and scheming; Pinky is good-natured but feebleminded. In each episode, Brain devises a new plan to take over the world, which ultimately ends in failure, usually due to Pinky's idiocy, the impossibility of Brain's plan, Brain's own arrogance, or just circumstances beyond their control.

Pinky and the Brain recap

Two genetically altered lab mice live in a cage at Acme Labs. The Brain is a short-tempered genius; Pinky is cheerful, simple and full of strange sayings. Every night, Pinky asks what they are going to do, and the Brain answers that they are going to try to take over the world. Each plan, built around a disguise, a giant machine or a scheme to win public opinion, fails, often through Pinky's blunders or the Brain's overlooking something obvious. The pair began as a segment on Animaniacs and got their own show in 1995, first in prime time on The WB and then on Kids' WB. The episodes lampoon films, musicals and history, with many famous guest voices. In its last season the network made the producers add Elmyra, a girl from Tiny Toon Adventures who hugs animals too hard, and the show was retooled as Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain, in which the mice are her pets.

Pinky and the Brain ending explained

Pinky and the Brain has no story finale. The world is never conquered: the original show ended in 1998 after four seasons, and the retooled Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain ran for one season until 1999. The mice returned in 2020 as a regular segment in the Hulu revival of Animaniacs, still in their cage at Acme Labs and still trying to take over the world every night.

Where to watch Pinky and the Brain

Pinky and the Brain isn't on a US streaming service right now. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.

Ratings

IMDb 7.8/10

Where it fits

Cast