Animaniancs Reboot Being Considered

[ZepFloyd94]

Reportedly, Warner Bros. and Steven Spielberg are in the process of developing a revival of the classic 90s animated series.

I can see this being on Netflix, considering the original series is also there.

 

[AnOminous]

It will probably suck, be completely infected with SJW bullshit, and none of the sharp and sometimes edgy humor of the original.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

I'm not sure what to think of this, honestly. Animaniacs, as popular as it is, is a product of its time--unintentionally or not (I don't know if they ever considered that). It's best for it to stay as such. It's obvious the only reason this is being considered is because of the 90s nostalgia trip that's going on right now. Warner Bros., for whatever reason, just isn't willing to make original products simply because they're just not selling--well gee, if they had stayed in the animation business instead of temporarily closing shop, they'd probably still be on top of things (as well as properly marketing their own properties--*coughIronGiantcough*--they put big-budget animation on hold because of Looney Tunes: Back in Action, yes?).

I remember Maurice LaMarche at a con panel last year said he'd be up for a Pinky and the Brain CGI/live-action movie, though Rob Paulsen sadly wasn't there to give his own thoughts on that idea, especially since Animaniacs would've also been brought up alongside it. Kind of surprised that hasn't been considered, since they could do things with it.

If Warner Bros. wants to reboot a cartoon of theirs, they should bring back Freakazoid. I think that one can be updated well to today's Internet pop culture, though the character might just implode in on himself and that'd be the end of it.

It will probably suck, be completely infected with SJW bullshit, and none of the sharp and sometimes edgy humor of the original.

Sadly, I see this happening, especially in this severe political climate we're in. Yes, Animaniacs got political, too, but it wasn't mean-spirited--whenever it took a jab at politics, it did it smartly and humorously and not out of spite. I don't see the reboot doing that, especially since it's obviously going to be more aimed towards the adults who grew up on this series, and there's going to be no one there to tell them to tone things down because "We gotta pander!".

That's the other thing--because Animaniacs aired on TV, they had to deal with the censors, which is probably why the jokes were as clever as they were because they had to outsmart the media watchdogs. Netflix doesn't have that, far as I know, and that alone just automatically takes away a good chunk of the show's charm.

 

[Steamboat_Bill]

At least it's only in development, which means it might not go anywhere, because for Chrissakes, enough with the reboots already!

What I'd like to see is a new show with that same sort of satirical humor that the Spielberg shows of the 90s did so well; something inspired by those shows but able to stand as its own thing. But God knows no one would even consider such a thing today.

 

[Jewelsmakerguy]

At least it's only in development, which means it might not go anywhere, because for Chrissakes, enough with the reboots already!

They won't stop until either everything gets rebooted or they stop making money, and neither don't seem to be happening anytime soon.

As for the idea of an Animaniacs reboot. I feel @Kari Kamiya hit home a lot of the major points that would hold it back- the political humor being more on the nose and forced, the fact that it's on Netflix. But there's one other fact that not many people seem to realize, the sad fact that the original's not aged all that well.

Let's ignore the fact that it's a 90s show and it wearing that fact on its sleeve (that's going to be a given). The problem is that when you go and rewatch it, you'll notice that only a select amount of shorts are really any good, and most of those are the big three- The Warners, Slappy and Pinky & the Brain. All the other shorts are mediocre at best, and outright unwatchable at worst. And a lot of the humor relies on a mix of wordplay and slapstick, which can be overbearing after a certain point.

Also, part of the show's appeal was its animation, and while it never really succeeded (for every "La-La-Law" or StarToons short, there was always a crappy short churned out by one of the lesser contractors, and that number increased as the show went on, even from the normally top tier studios like TMS and Wang), it did try. But with animation as it is today, with it either being flat Flash animation, crappy Tumblr-style or faux-rubber hose style, I can't expect the animation to be anywhere near the level of the post Season 4 shorts, let alone one of the higher quality ones.

All and all, I'm rather skeptical they can pull it off, especially with all the factors going against it.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Also, part of the show's appeal was its animation, and while it never really succeeded (for every "La-La-Law" or StarToons short, there was always a crappy short churned out by one of the lesser contractors, and that number increased as the show went on, even from the normally top tier studios like TMS and Wang), it did try. But with animation as it is today, with it either being flat Flash animation, crappy Tumblr-style or faux-rubber hose style, I can't expect the animation to be anywhere near the level of the post Season 4 shorts, let alone one of the higher quality ones.

That's a really good point. Warner Bros.'s style changed in the 2000s with the rise of Flash animation, and it's going to be really obvious with Animaniacs. Hell, Duck Dodgers visually looks like a product of its time since it did rely quite a bit on limited animation, though it's had some nicely-animated segments itself. Animaniacs was literally an updated Looney Tunes/Warner Bros.'s style, but it can't implement Dodgers' style without losing its charm.

I also just realized that whoever they'll get to be the composer is going to have to fill Richard Stone's big shoes. I honestly can't think of anyone who'll be able to get the zany score down to a "T".

 

[Emperor Pilaf]

I remember seeing this bit of news and I am excited but at the same time worried. On one hand It could potentially revive Warner Brothers animation and make room for more shows like it but on the other hand someone could ruin it by shoehorning in politics becuase its relevant and makes money these days. It really depends on how they'll go about it, the Samurai Jack mini-series is a good example of a revival that was made with love and effort. Guess what executives when you put forth your best people will notice it.

Powerpuff girls 2016 and Teen Titans go are cautionary tales on how not to do a reboot. I hope Animaniacs doesn't fall into that trap because I always admired shows like that and tiny toons for actually putting real effort into their humor and being trend setters rather than trend followers. Think about all the memes and jokes that spawned from the Samurai Jack reboot, and it was just 10 episodes then compare it to the Powerpuff Girls reboot that falls flat on its face when trying to force memes.

One thing I'd love to see the Warners do in this reboot is annoying an SJW type person who got on their nerves much like how they would with others who they would come across in the original show. As much as id love to see it, that would never happen if they hire people with a agenda to work on the reboot. This reboot has a lot to prove, I'll be optimistically skeptic like I am with the Dark Crystal Prequel series.

 

[Quijibo69]

I bet one of the new animators they will get will want to screw Dot. He will insert himself will Dot in every scene.

 

[AnOminous]

Let's ignore the fact that it's a 90s show and it wearing that fact on its sleeve (that's going to be a given). The problem is that when you go and rewatch it, you'll notice that only a select amount of shorts are really any good, and most of those are the big three- The Warners, Slappy and Pinky & the Brain.

This is an important point. People look back at Animaniacs fondly and don't remember that it was hit or miss, and there were a lot of misses. The stuff that was good was really good, but as you also point out, almost all of it was Warner siblings, P&TB or Slappy-related. I can barely even remember the other shit.

One thing I'd love to see the Warners do in this reboot is annoying an SJW type person who got on their nerves much like how they would with others who they would come across in the original show. As much as id love to see it, that would never happen if they hire people with a agenda to work on the reboot. This reboot has a lot to prove, I'll be optimistically skeptic like I am with the Dark Crystal Prequel series.

Imagine the shitfit if they did this but with tumblrinas.

 

[Robot Holocaust]

There's no way they can get away with Hello Nurse without Tumblr having an autistic temper tantrum.

 

[Muttnik]

Animaniacs worked not only because of its humor but also because of how much it got away with adult jokes and slipped past the censors. You just can't make stuff like that nowadays when people get offended at EVERYTHING.
Apart from Samurai Jack, there hasn't been much luck in the cartoon reboot department. I wouldn't risk it. Some things should just be left alone to preserve the memory of them in their glory.

 

[AnOminous]

There's no way they can get away with Hello Nurse without Tumblr having an autistic temper tantrum.

Any time Trigglypuffs die of heart attacks is a good thing.

 

[Shokew]

Sorry, but no thanks - Unless they can really avoid even attempting to entertain the Social Justice Universe crowd, this will suck just as hard as NuPPG. Simple as that.

It might be able to get past the censors, due to not being on TV, but that's all I see going for it - I don't see it being nearly as funny or intelligently handled, unless these writers have some constraint over themselves (including politically) - again, unlike NuPPG or Social Justice Universe.

Also, count me in as someone sick of all these reboots. New ideas with better and different art styles or get out, please.

 

[IdaRita]

Just stop with all those remakes, people are tired of them. And Netflix seems to want new episodes of everything that was popular watch on their service.

Thankfully it "might be considered", it's even in preproduction.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

If we're lucky and one or more of the voice actors croak (as in their voices give out for too long, or they die), then they may not consider reviving it after all due to fan outcry of "It's never going to be the saaaaame!"

And I made myself sad just thinking about it.

 

[Shokew]

If we're lucky and one or more of the voice actors croak (as in their voices give out for too long, or they die), then they may not consider reviving it after all due to fan outcry of "It's never going to be the saaaaame!"

And I made myself sad just thinking about it.

Yeah - that sounded pretty wrong, honestly...

If people in this career field must die, let them do so living meaningful and rewarding lives with what's left of their time, not wasting it on coming back to things that should be moved on from (e.g.: this nonsense.).

 

[MalWart]

One thing I'd love to see the Warners do in this reboot is annoying an SJW type person who got on their nerves much like how they would with others who they would come across in the original show.

They should do a "Genders of the World" song in which only male and female are mentioned and cut it off from there, a la Sopranos. It'll be a fun cocktease for the retards that genuinely believe there are 97+ genders.

 

[Kari Kamiya]

They should do a "Genders of the World" song in which only male and female are mentioned and cut it off from there, a la Sopranos. It'll be a fun cocktease for the exceptional individuals that genuinely believe there are 97+ genders.

Or they should do "Pronouns of the World" in which they sing all of the gender-specific pronouns in different languages. That could throw them over the edge while still being educational on top of it.

 

[Tragi-Chan]

Man, why is it so hard to just come up with a decent original idea?

 

[Kari Kamiya]

Man, why is it so hard to just come up with a decent original idea?

It basically just boils down to money and turning a profit. It's riskier to throw money at something original than it is to throw money at brand with an established audience/fanbase. Also they legitimately do believe the mainstream audience consists of sheep--which is honestly true. For some reason, audiences are "afraid" to try anything new.