Animaniacs - The Birth of Smart Cartoons - Video Essay

[@TheBubblypumpkin]

I feel like (before it was canceled) "Phineas and Ferb" kinda walked that small line of funny jokes for the parents BUT flies right over their kids' heads.

[@winup9417]

it wasent cancelled the creator ended it

[@poweroffriendship2.0]

Nah! The show wasn't cancelled. That's because the show ended on a positive note doesn't mean it's cancelled. The creator may have the decision of either ending the show or just keep moving until the sun explodes.

[@JamesChessman]

Phineas and Ferb was actually hilarious and completely better quality than Animaniacs which was trash

[@coolcapricorn2296]

@@JamesChessman Well, Animaniacs did come quite a few years before Phineas and Ferb

[@JamesChessman]

@@coolcapricorn2296 Well I haven't seen Animaniacs since the 90's but I never found it funny... P&F had me laughing everytime I saw it. IDK, maybe I need to give it another chance

[@hunniedelite]

Man that finger Prince bit is hilarious!

[@umachan9286]

Actually while Animaniacs was possibly the most influential of the group there were several other cartoons that came before that were, at some point, considered the "birth" of smart cartoons. Animaniacs however is the one we all remember the best.

[@bhakti235]

beetlejuice was one of them

[@GagsAnimation]

Way better than Simpsons

[@itsjayden8002]

Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures pretty much started the 90s animation renaissance

[@umachan9286]

@@itsjayden8002 That brings back memories. Well, that and the "cocaine" incident that got it taken off TV.

[@chloehepperle5886]

I used to LOVE watching Animaniacs with my brother when I was little. Ah, good times😊

[@asingh53]

The 90s was the golden era for cartoons, so many good things that I remember and even looking back at Animaniacs I still realise there were jokes I just did not get at the time but get now and I chuckle. I think walking that line where both an adult and a child can enjoy a cartoon is tricky but as you said sometimes you just need to give people the space to be creative instead of interfering with them.

[@mechajay3358]

_What can be said, this show was "Zany to the Max"_

[@JoshJFu]

Tiny Toons and Animaniacs were two of my favorite cartoons growing up.

[@melikaihsampson]

Me 2

[@iexistplshelp1716]

While this show had an impact on animation I think the Simpsons was the cartoon that brought animation back when it came out.

[@TheRealBlackarrot]

Definitely couldn't make the "finger Prince" joke on Kids WB, bless you Fox Kids

[@ryanwilkins2233]

This made a lot of shows and musical and adult show. Without this show existing, we won't have any of these show, or musicals by the Disney channel we have today

[@tehfizzeh]

yay Animaniacs! still quote it from time to time :). who cares if it was the start or middle of Smart cartoons (for people in comments) lets just be happy we got reminded of the greatness of this cartoon. :') good times!

[@ФёдорБегеза]

Лунита?! From the moon?

[@RandomAssaultPodcast]

Batman aired a year before Animaniacs, so I think it was Batman that paved the way for other cartoons, although I guess Batman was aimed more towards young adults anyway, so you're right about Animaniacs being one of the first new cartoons aimed at everyone

[@lucapeyrefitte6899]

Random Assault Podcast I thought Batman was targeted towards teens?

[@mgelliott86]

I'm 32, i still watch those Batman shows

[@icecreamhero2375]

Everything in this video is so hilariously wrong. Seth McFarland didn't watch Animanacs, Animanacs is overrated, There were tons of great cartoons before Anaimanacs, It wasn't the first show to have double entendres, all of them do that, What about Rocky and Bullwinkle that show had lots of Adult jokes. You make it sound like adults can only laugh at raunchy hidden jokes. Even adults find the Regular jokes funny.

[@TheCartoonGamer8000]

I appreciate what you were trying to do in this video, but it's flawed research wise. Batman TAS came out a year prior to Animaniacs and it most likely didn't inspire Family Guy/South Park's musical numbers (Seth Macfarlane has a musical background as well as Trey Parker and Matt Stone). Seth and Genndy also may have worked on Johnny Bravo and Powerpuff Girls respectively, but they weren't the main creative minds behind them (that goes to Van Partible and Craig McCracken). I don't doubt that Animaniacs was quite influential, but it wasn't the first show to do what it did or even to its scale. Smart and interesting cartoons have been around since the days of Looney Tunes -- a show that directly inspired Animaniacs and Tiny Toons no less. I think your heart was in the right place, but the information just needs to be laid out better. Keep at it man, because I definitely see the potential in this video.

[@eddieroche6082]

I thought Seth MacFarlane was one of the major writers for Johnny Bravo.

[@draquone]

TheCartoonGamer8000 sooo condescending.... it seems though that you were not paying attention

[@MarkSparky95]

2:24 got me in tears

[@jeremyroastscoffee2495]

Kind of discounts cartoons like Muppet Babies and Bobby's World that broke the mold ahead of their time.

[@AlottaBoulchit]

Man Animaniacs was an iconic portion of my life as a kid I was rabid for it. Always watched it, had stuffed dolls of the siblings, had a cassette tape of songs from the show, went and saw Thumblelina in theatres strictly for the I'M MAD sketch that played before it. That was my FAVORITE sketch. Lol I was so hardcore for Animaniacs that I performed a lipsync to "I'm cute" dressed as Dot for a drama club competition. Won a Superior (highest mark) ribbon for it. 😂 Shit.. I learned my state capitals from Wakko's song and used to to ace a test in social studies. 😂 Animaniacs was THE SHIT and I fully believe it should come back because we have so much more weird ass pop culture to rag on. 😂

[@crsdprince]

It amazes me how influential Batman TAS, Animaniacs, Simpsons, and Johnny Bravo turned out to be for Modern Animation as a form of entertainment and Industry.

[@readwrecks]

Wait a minute, what? Batman the Animated series came out a year before Animaniacs and Disney was doing smart cartoons before that. Darkwing Duck came out a year before that, and Tail Spin a year before that. With Rescue Rangers a year before that.

[@sandywheeler5500]

This was my all time favorite cartoon. I’d watch it now if it was still on. Incredibly clever. You would have been the perfect writer for this animation.

[@hectormanuel8360]

Oh heck everybody is offended in the comments...

[@8bitdiedie]

To be honest, it’s one of his worse videos. I was surprised he said Animaniacs is the most important cartoon which is clearly not true or that it paved the way for Batman TAS which had actually came out a year before. I’m starting to notice a trend of KZbin video essayists that clearly don’t know what they’re talking about. Sorry Alex, still love your personal videos.

[@everybodyhatesvaleria]

Hector Manuel ikr personally I do think animanicas was more revolutionary then batman but thats me

[@lolabear904]

@@8bitdiedie dude look at his videos now and compare

[@lucasstoddard8628]

>Showing off how smart and witty cartoons have become >Shows fucking pickle rick >ok

[@calebsells1731]

XD his exact words where surreal and absurdist humor, which is pickle rick

[@EmpoweredADHD]

Seriously, never really thought of how influential this cartoon was.

[@oHmega14]

Man, I LOVED this show! Love your video. Though I wish you would've gave Freakazoid some love (even just a quick mention). Still a great video!

[@simplyevelynco]

Ohh no I need to rewatch animaniacs 😅

[@PartaMalaka]

what you say at the end makes total sense. "When something gets too popular the creative freedom is gone". It happens in the music industry a lot too!

[@SHANELLEBUTLER2011]

its crazy that there is so many nothing-ness of kids TV and not a mix. Im only 25 and i grew up in the era of the early 2000s Disney channel and also still being shown a mix of great older content like the animaniacs, old boomerang cartoons and some how powererpuff girls lol. IJS, there was creative mix of complex commentary on things i didn't understand in shows like Piny and the Brain or the Simpsons but still had a show like recess that explored the complexities from a kids POV in a very clever way. Im grateful to be able to sort of know good TV and still manage be apart of a generation that somehow made COW &Chicken. lmao.

[@g1blot198]

What!?!G1 Transformers are not cash grabs!!

[@tatsukagemarou]

Wow. I'm liking all this guys videos

[@xX_SushiRoll_Xx]

I feel like he could do a solid Yakko waner impression

[@LumpoMcBlumbo]

Damn I could tell by the voice but dang alex has had such and amazing change

[@Extinguisher10]

Not as many of those jokes went over kids heads as people thought. We might not have know exactly what it meant, we certainly had an idea

[@juliannaagoncillo6090]

Thoughts on the latest Animaniacs reboot? I doubt you're gonna do a reaction to the 2020 version so I preemptively assume you will answer it here~

[@WoodenFilms]

I like how he talks straight to the camera for 4 minutes to reach the 10 minute threshhold for extra ad revenue.

[@calebsells1731]

Wooden Films Look I don't mind, he makes good content so why should we care or be offended if he gets paid for it? You aren't being forced to watch the last 4 minutes.

[@ritaandrunt5767]

This show never fails to make me smile for the past two year's this show has made me smile and laugh so Manny iconic songs and moments and memories from this show no wonder people look back it fondly and claim it as part of thier childhood I can see why even though I was born in 2003 I wasn't allowed to watch this show until I was older and in 2020 from then on 2021 and 2022 have been dedicated to me watching this fantastic and humorous series and I recently watched and finished the reboot of the show on hulu both the first and second season of it Lets just say that anyone who was a fan of the oringal series will definitely like the reboot

[@LegoandmoviereviewsBlogspot]

I understand your video has good intentions, but I don't feel like you have the whole picture. Animaniacs obviously wasn't the birth of smart cartoons. In the "Golden Age of American Animation" we had series like Looney Tunes, Tom & Jerry, and the many cartoons of Tex Avery. The downfall of theatrical animation came during the 70s with the near death of theatrical shorts, and the passing of Walt Disney, heavily effected his company, causing Disney's animated films to become much cheaper (and even reuse animation). And at that time Disney was the only major animation company consistently producing animated features during the 70s. The downfall of television animation came in 70s when many parent groups wanted to remove violence from cartoons, and causing them to become super desensitized during that time, causing animation companies such as, Hanna-Barbera to struggle. They would be lucky if they got a series that lasted for more than 2 years. Series like, Adventures of the Gummi Bears (1985), DuckTales (1987), & The Simpsons (1989) paved the way for the 90s cartoon renaissance. Hanna-Barbera found success again when purchased by Turner in 1991, which led to Cartoon Network's launch and success with many shows. And in 1991 Nickelodeon released Rugrats, Doug, and Ren & Stimpy, leading to the release of many successful NickToons such as Rocko's Modern Life, and SpongeBob. Theatrical was revived after the huge success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) which led to Disney releasing The Little Mermaid in 1989, which led to the Disney renaissance of 90s and the release of animated features from other companies such as Warner Bros. Animation & DreamWorks. And you said in your description that Animaniacs LED TO Batman: The Animated Series, although it was released a year earlier. So, while I still LOVE Animaniacs, it was not the biggest influencer on animation at the time. And it was many other factors that led to a huge animation revival, and Animaniacs was just one of the results.

[@imsorrybut8107]

That's very true what you said about the scrutiny which occurs when a show gains popularity.

[@liberpolo5540]

No one: Absolutely No one: Me: LAKE TITICACA! OH, LaKe TiTiCaCA!!!!

[@icecreamhero2375]

3:47 Wrong about Family Guy. Seth McFarland is a musician so he put heavy emphases on music in his shows.

[@Jordshortz]

It’s so cool that Alex Meyers shares the same love of Animaniacs as me :)))

[@Radu93Z]

Omg the finger Prince joke was golden :')

[@jaggin7561]

Great video

[@AngryGamerGirl]

You give me a Yakko voice vibe.... me and my husband have been binging your tv shows were weird back then lol

[@BMoney8600]

1993? That's the year my parents got married

[@MewPrincess2000]

What about Gummi Bears, DuckTales, Rescue Rangers, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, Muppet Babies, Garfield and Friends, and The Smurfs? Gummi Bears led to DuckTales, which led to Rescue Rangers, which led to The Disney Afternoon, which led to Nicktoons, which led to Cartoon Cartoons Muppet Babies had pop culture references, clever imagination scenes (which led to stuff like Rugrats), and even clips from movies A Pup Named Scooby-Doo led to Tiny Toon Adventures, which led to Animaniacs The Smurfs had great writing and lovable characters and was very fun Garfield and Friends had humor that went over kids heads having meta humor, clever wordplay, and other types of great humor

[@Ryeven]

YES!! Finally someone else recognizes Garfield and Friends!!

[@mgelliott86]

We are the buddy bears we always get along!

[@fangsabre]

Animaniacs is probably one of my all time favorite cartoons

[@takineko]

Haha i wrote a couple essays on Animaniacs too, amazing

[@CabezasDePescado]

Rick and Morty falled prey to its own popularity as you say at the end, season 3 was weak except some episodes

[@icecreamhero2375]

Rick and Morty was never funny at all. It is one of the worst cartoons I have ever seen. When I turn it on I always ask myself Where is the joke. It's from the Adult Swim school of try too hard to be weird and we'll give you a cartoon show it doesn't even have to be funny.

[@untamed55gaming48]

''It wasn't just a good cartoon'' It was the best cartoon.

[@sweetncool]

I loved Animaniacs. I was 8 when it came out & watched it everytime it came on. I hated Ren and Stimpy & still do. My teen bro watches reruns & I cry from dread lol

[@orsonwelles4254]

What about Mighty Mouse, the Simpsons, ...

[@MetFanMac]

The former was not influential, the latter falls under the category of animated sitcom.

[@ink1931]

just because it's an animated sitcom doesn't mean it isn't influential

[@MetFanMac]

The point he was attempting to make was that Animaniacs was different from other cartoons before it, one example of which being "animated sitcoms" like The Flintstones or The Simpsons. In any event, I didn't say it wasn't influential.

[@clubcasabe3450]

MetFanMac Mighty mouse was influential, bruce timm and John kricfalusi worked with Ralph bakshi in that cartoon.

[@deadstockparadise5898]

"Mighty Mouse not influential" LOL. Animaniacs is overrated as shit and everything good about it is not due to Ruegger. "it was made by animators for animators" holy fuck are you serious what a horrible video

[@GalaxyLimeBridge]

Lol. I'm gonna come clean. I've never seen Animaniacs

[@TheEverSoTalented]

Yes my man....Animaniacs was very underated it never wasn't a show that all us kids were raving over but it eas definitely different....am i right saying Pinky & the Brain was a part of the show or something else, im in the UK but we loved sat morning as Batman: The Animated series was unmissable....they should re-run that series as it was (way,way) before its time and im sure kids today would most definitely appreciate it as a cross between animation and film noir 👌🏼

let's not forget that animaniacs is basically just a modernized looney tunes

[@elizabethmathews4450]

I loved Animaniacs growing up!

[@nikkiserevino3910]

You should do American Horror Story

[@ObiWanCannabi]

watching this on shrooms and my god your shirt...

[@JasmineLajeunesse]

I can't believe you didn't talk about Pinky and The Brain!

[@Cerinaya]

I miss a lot of the 90's cartoons.

[@xiyyea5205]

Mans really stretching out the vid for that ad revenue

[@legzfalloffgirl5148]

We're not big babies... THESE are big babies!!!!

[@MandyBuglet]

I've been a huge Animaniacs fan since I was ten! xD

[@Mr.Tw1sty]

Same

[@DownerIsland]

9:40 Then comes the advertiser friendly era...

[@theactualTVB]

3:50 I AM CORNHOLIO AND I COME FROM LAKE TITICACA. um hehehehe.

[@RoamTownGirl]

Ok, I think I'm a bit older than your target audience, so you must not know about: Bullwinkle & Rocky, Fractured Fairy Tales, Super Chicken, Geroge of the Jungle, Tom Slick, Tennessee Tuxedo, and of course, Bugs Bunny. Don't get me wrong, I love Tiny Tunes & Animaniacs, BUT they were so totally NOT the first!

[@fenomozo9108]

Tom Ruegger himself shared this video on his facebook account. Wow.

[@SHANELLEBUTLER2011]

NEW SUBSCRIBER, UMM SO NOW THAT I BINGE WATCHED ALL UR VIDEOS IM SUBSCRIBING IN HOPES THAT U DON'T GET TOO SUPER POPULAR AND DECIDE TO ABANDON YOUR CHANNEL. LOL NO PRESSURE! I'm glad i found u.

[@rainyfeathers9148]

The adult humor went over our heads as children and looking back maybe I don't want to hear or see 11, 7 and 5 year old siblings acting like this (they have a therapist... red flag anyone?) but even with that, the fact that they're not sneaky or subliminal with the saturation of sexual whatnot makes it relatively harmless in my opinion. There's much worse aimed at teens who're already vulnerable as such. Now they're catching them early with the alarmingly wicked 'hero' characters aimed at younger kids.

[@malathabdualazeem9149]

Thıs video took me waaaay back😭😢💙💔

[@chidivids2005]

The reboot exceeded my expectations. Who else?

[@fenomozo9108]

Also you should do a Freakazoid video.

[@alyteima4185]

I really agree with most of this but what about Disney? Especially the Disney Afternoon which premiered in 1990. Disney shows then had humor but also an emotional gut punch in many episodes

[@joeywarren3576]

I still watch these shoes

[@octemberfury]

Man, too bad those musical segments are usually the worst part of 90s cartoons. With the possible exception of See My Vest.

[@TheFairyGoblin]

I miss Alex videos like this!

[@JuanCastillo-jq9zo]

I Remember That Show When Is On The Aired On Kids WB When I Was Kid Back In The Early 90's And 2000's My Character Is Wakko Warner Because He Is Funny And He's Said Good Night Everybody

[@lolabear904]

It’s time for annnnimaaaaanniacs!

[@LostInTheMania]

DuckTales anyone? It came out in 1987 and really reinvigorated animation. DuckTales was not a show to sell toys for once and it did well and helped. The show really brought animation back to life... So not mentioning it seems bad in hindsight.

[@mgelliott86]

I was never a fan of duck tales growing up, was more into chip n dales

[@robbiefarabee6954]

Also in the 80s you got the smurfs and the smurfs weren't made to sell toys. Same thing as Mighty Mouse the new adventures.

[@beekeeper8474]

Slappy the squirrel!

[@AmatMiguel]

Batman TAS came BEFORE Animaniacs

[@PG-III]

Yes.

[@amber689]

Hello Nurse!

[@beekeeper8474]

This show is why I'm such a smart ass

[@sonjabanks3794]

ANIMANIACS IS THE BEST SHOW EVER!!! THEY BETTER NOT MESS UP THE REBOOT!!!

[@jacintoacatitla1040]

Who watching in 2020

[@lolabear904]

Me

[@omgcandy16Kimicari0]

Not a good sign when your essay topic barely reaches 6 minutes. How do you go 6 minutes talking about US animation for adults and not mention Fritz the Cat?

[@Jeiwiqiwjwnnsne]

I fucking loved animaniacs

[@bellaann518]

I feel old 😂.

[@cferracini]

Freakazoid, please? =D

[@VXDRG]

your the best

[@keypath4389]

Ralph Bakshi

[@icecreamhero2375]

Animanacs is ok it's not nearly as funny as the real Looney tunes.

[@FunnyMihayla]

try putting sexual innuendos in cartoons nowadays... oh the good ol' days

[@Ryeven]

AnimANIACS!

[@icecreamhero2375]

Everything in this video is so hilariously wrong. Seth McFarland didn't watch Animanacs, Animanacs is overrated, There were tons of great cartoons before Anaimanacs, It wasn't the first show to have double entendres, all of them do that, What about Rocky and Bullwinkle that show had lots of Adult jokes. You make it sound like adults can only laugh at raunchy hidden jokes. Even adults find the Regular jokes funny.

[@Chamelionroses]

Ever hear of Satanic Panic? Just asking in thought of humor.

[@sweatysoup8793]

my childhoooood

[@JohnnyZenith]

Yeah give me Thundercats.

[@DCMarvelMultiverse]

Uh. Facts are off I think.

[@alexand6183]

please watch ninjago masters of spinjitzu

[@justgonnacomment]

❤