When Animaniacs returns in 2020, the original cast will be back to reprise the voices! The podcast Animanicast confirmed via tweet on October 8 that the entire cast of the landmark animated series will be returning for the series reboot on Hulu.
Warner Animations Animaniacs was one of the best loved modern animated series. It was a cartoon for the whole family, with everything from puns on Anastasia and anesthesia in a Rasputin sketch for adults, and educational songs like “Yakko’s World” and “Wakko Sings the State Capitals” for grade school students. The scriptwriters never shied away from topical references nor political jokes. In many ways, Animaniacs was reminiscent of Laugh-In. It’s almost frightening to consider what they might do with the current administration.
The Animaniacs reboot has already been picked up for two seasons, with Steven Spielberg returning as executive producer of the series, with Sam Register, President, Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, and Amblin Television Co-Presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also serving as executive producers. While you wait for new episodes, the complete original Animaniacs series has just arrived on Hulu, as well.
According to Deadline, Wellesley Wild (Family Guy, Ted, Ted 2) will be the showrunner. Wild served on Family Guy for eight years and also served as a co-executive producer on Seth MacFarlane’s The Orville.
The new Animaniacs will be Hulu’s first foray into original content made for families.
Animaniacs History
From 1993 – 1998, Animaniacs featured Rob Paulsen as Yakko Warner, Jess Harnell as Wakko Warner, and Tress MacNeille as their sister Dot. Maurice LaMarche voiced the Brain and Rob Paulsen voiced his partner/minion Pinky. Bernadette Peters (Lilly St. Regis in the live-action Annie) voiced Rita in the Rita and Runt sequences. Frank Welker (Darwin in seaQuest DSV) voiced her canine partner Runt. As is common in cartoons, many of the actors voiced multiple roles. Maurice LaMarche was Squit, in the Goodfeathers skits, and Rob Paulsen also did Dr. Scratchensniff. Frank Welker, who has voiced nearly every talking animal in Hollywood in the past forty years, was also studio CEO Thaddeus Plotz and Ralph the security guard.
Rob Paulsen’s New Book ‘Voice Lessons’
Rob Paulsen’s new memoir Voice Lessons was released by Viva Editions, an imprint of Start Publishing, on Oct. 8, 2019. The book discusses the Emmy-wiining Paulsen’s battle with throat cancer, and the more than 250 cartoon voices he has performed. The book is available in both paperback and Kindle.
In addition to starring in Animaniacs, and his work for Disney and on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paulsen was also the voice of Throttle, the leader of the Biker Mice from Mars.
Are you looking forward to reading Voice Lessons and seeing the new Animaniacs episodes? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below. We always want to hear from you.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
