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Pinky and the Brain

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

Pinky and the Brain is #4 of 10 in release order and #4 of 10 in chronological order in the Warner Bros. Cartoon Classics.

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, like "Narf!" and "Zort!". 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. When the Brain asks Pinky whether he is pondering what he is pondering, Pinky's answer is always absurd. 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 Saturday mornings on Kids' WB. The episodes lampoon films, musicals and history, with many famous guest voices. Rob Paulsen voiced Pinky and Maurice LaMarche the Brain, and the show won a prime-time Emmy for "A Pinky and the Brain Christmas" (1995).

Pinky and the Brain ending explained

Pinky and the Brain has no story finale, and the world is never conquered. The last episode of the original show, "Star Warners" (November 1998), casts the mice as parodies of the Star Wars droids. The network had already pushed for changes, and the show was retooled that year as Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain, in which the mice become pets of Elmyra Duff. They returned in 2020 as a regular segment of the Hulu Animaniacs revival.

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