Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain
Encyclopedia
Steven Spielberg Presents Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain is the retooling of the American
animated television series Pinky and the Brain
(itself being a spin off from Animaniacs
), with the title characters being joined by Elmyra Duff
from their other show Tiny Toon Adventures
. Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg
, the series was produced by Spielberg
's Amblin Entertainment
in association with Warner Bros. Animation
, and aired from 1998 to 1999 on The WB Television Network
, running for 13 episodes. This was the last animated television series produced by Amblin Entertainment
until 2007's The Land Before Time
, which is based on The Land Before Time
films.
):
Pinky and The Brain end up in a pet store, where Elmyra Duff
purchases a turtle which is accidentally carrying Pinky and The Brain in its shell:
Pinky and the Brain go through new methods of trying to take over the world, sometimes with the useless help of Elmyra.
". In a press release, Warner called the move "a fresh approach to popular favorites Pinky and The Brain
." The idea, however, was panned by animation fans and even the producers of the series. Writer and producer Peter Hastings had even left Warner Bros. for Disney over the decision.
Pinky Elmyra & the Brain had also shown dissatisfaction towards Warner Bros.; the theme song for the series had said: "Now Pinky and the Brain, share a new domain, it's what the network wants, why bother to complain?" A clip during the theme showed Pinky and The Brain getting kicked out of the Warner Bros. office during that line. Furthermore, a spoken line by The Brain towards the end of the theme adds "I deeply resent this."
, in 1999, for "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production." Both Rob Paulsen
for his voicing of Pinky, and Cree Summer
for her voicing of Elmyra, were nominated in the category, with Paulsen winning the award. That same year Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain was nominated for another Annie Award
, "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television Production," as well as being nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award, "Outstanding Children's Animated Program." The series also won a Daytime Emmy Award, in 2000, for "Outstanding Children's Animated Program."
along with segments from other Warner Brothers cartoons. The show's part in the Big Cartoonie Show lasted from January to September 1999.
series, this series was not released on VHS or DVD, and Warner Bros.
has yet to announce any plans to release the show onto DVD.
and Hardee's
offered a collection of four Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain toys with meals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animated television series Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain is an American animated television series.The characters Pinky and the Brain first appeared in 1993 as a recurring segment on the show Animaniacs...
(itself being a spin off from Animaniacs
Animaniacs
Steven Spielberg Presents Animaniacs, usually referred to as simply Animaniacs, is an American animated series, distributed by Warner Bros. Television and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. The cartoon was the second animated series produced by the collaboration of Steven...
), with the title characters being joined by Elmyra Duff
Elmyra Duff
Elmyra Jessica Duff is a cartoon character from the Warner Bros. animated television series Tiny Toon Adventures. She is one of the main characters from the show. Elmyra is voiced by Cree Summer in all of her appearances...
from their other show Tiny Toon Adventures
Tiny Toon Adventures
Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures, usually referred to as Tiny Toon Adventures or simply Tiny Toons, is an American animated television series created by Tom Ruegger and produced by Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation. It began production as a result of Warner Bros....
. Executive Produced by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
, the series was produced by Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
's Amblin Entertainment
Amblin Entertainment
Amblin Entertainment is an American film and television production company founded by director and producer Steven Spielberg and film producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall in 1981. Amblin is only a production company, and has never distributed its own movies, nor has it fully financed its...
in association with Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation
Warner Bros. Animation is the animation division of Warner Bros., a subsidiary of Time Warner. The studio is closely associated with the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies characters, among others. The studio is the successor to Warner Bros...
, and aired from 1998 to 1999 on The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
, running for 13 episodes. This was the last animated television series produced by Amblin Entertainment
Amblin Entertainment
Amblin Entertainment is an American film and television production company founded by director and producer Steven Spielberg and film producers Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall in 1981. Amblin is only a production company, and has never distributed its own movies, nor has it fully financed its...
until 2007's The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time (TV series)
The Land Before Time is an animated television series, based on characters from The Land Before Time film series created by Judy Freudberg and Tony Geiss. It was developed for television by Ford Riley for Universal Animation Studios and Amblin Entertainment , and first premiered on YTV in Canada...
, which is based on The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time
The Land Before Time is a 1988 American animated adventure film directed and co-produced by Don Bluth , and executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall....
films.
Premise
The story of the series starts with Pinky and The Brain's home, Acme Labs, gone (due to the Lab's bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
):
- "The situation's changed/For Pinky and the Brain/No laboratory, alone in the rain,/And someone's looking 'round for where they might be found ..../It's stinky for Pinky and the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain,/Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain ..."
Pinky and The Brain end up in a pet store, where Elmyra Duff
Elmyra Duff
Elmyra Jessica Duff is a cartoon character from the Warner Bros. animated television series Tiny Toon Adventures. She is one of the main characters from the show. Elmyra is voiced by Cree Summer in all of her appearances...
purchases a turtle which is accidentally carrying Pinky and The Brain in its shell:
- "Trapped inside a store,/A girl ran in the door./She bought a discount turtle,/but ended up with more."
Pinky and the Brain go through new methods of trying to take over the world, sometimes with the useless help of Elmyra.
Controversy
The decision to put Pinky and the Brain with Elmyra was controversial from the beginning. Warner Bros. network executives had wanted Pinky and the Brain to be part of a sitcom "more like The SimpsonsThe Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
". In a press release, Warner called the move "a fresh approach to popular favorites Pinky and The Brain
Pinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain is an American animated television series.The characters Pinky and the Brain first appeared in 1993 as a recurring segment on the show Animaniacs...
." The idea, however, was panned by animation fans and even the producers of the series. Writer and producer Peter Hastings had even left Warner Bros. for Disney over the decision.
Dissatisfaction shown in work
Dissatisfaction with Warner Bros. decision to change Pinky and the Brain even showed up in the actual cartoons of Pinky and the Brain and Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain. On Pinky and the Brain, the last script Peter Hastings wrote before leaving Warner Bros. was the cartoon "You'll Never Eat Food Pellets In This Town Again", in which the demise of Pinky and the Brain are caused by network decisions to change the show.Pinky Elmyra & the Brain had also shown dissatisfaction towards Warner Bros.; the theme song for the series had said: "Now Pinky and the Brain, share a new domain, it's what the network wants, why bother to complain?" A clip during the theme showed Pinky and The Brain getting kicked out of the Warner Bros. office during that line. Furthermore, a spoken line by The Brain towards the end of the theme adds "I deeply resent this."
Nominations and awards
During its short run Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain received critical acclaim, winning major animation awards. The series won an Annie AwardAnnie Award
The Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972...
, in 1999, for "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production." Both Rob Paulsen
Rob Paulsen
Robert Fredrick "Rob" Paulsen III , sometimes credited as Rob Paulson, is an American voice actor, best known as the voice behind Raphael from the 1987 cartoon of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yakko Warner and Dr...
for his voicing of Pinky, and Cree Summer
Cree Summer
Cree Summer Francks , best known as Cree Summer, is a Canadian actress, musician and voice actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as college student Winifred "Freddie" Brooks on the NBC sitcom A Different World...
for her voicing of Elmyra, were nominated in the category, with Paulsen winning the award. That same year Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain was nominated for another Annie Award
Annie Award
The Annie Awards have been presented by the Los Angeles, California branch of the International Animated Film Association, ASIFA-Hollywood since 1972...
, "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Directing in an Animated Television Production," as well as being nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award, "Outstanding Children's Animated Program." The series also won a Daytime Emmy Award, in 2000, for "Outstanding Children's Animated Program."
Media information
Broadcast history
The series's initial run was from 1998 until 1999; the series ended up being unsuccessful with only 6 episodes being shown before the series was cancelled. The rest of the episodes were chopped up into segments as part of The Cat&Birdy Warneroonie PinkyBrainy Big Cartoonie ShowThe Cat&Birdy Warneroonie PinkyBrainy Big Cartoonie Show
The Cat & Birdy Warneroonie Pinky Brainy Big Cartoonie Show, or The Big Cartoonie Show for short, is a compilation program that aired on Kids' WB from January 16, 1999, to August 24, 2000...
along with segments from other Warner Brothers cartoons. The show's part in the Big Cartoonie Show lasted from January to September 1999.
Episode lengths
Many Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain episodes had been split into two parts and aired at different times. The split sections of these episodes were only 10 to 11 minutes long, versus the standard 22 minutes for most animated cartoon series.Home video
Unlike the original Pinky and the BrainPinky and the Brain
Pinky and the Brain is an American animated television series.The characters Pinky and the Brain first appeared in 1993 as a recurring segment on the show Animaniacs...
series, this series was not released on VHS or DVD, and Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
has yet to announce any plans to release the show onto DVD.
Toys
Carl's Jr.Carl's Jr.
Carl's Jr. is an American fast-food restaurant chain located mostly in the Western and Southwestern United States. The first store has opened in Canada in Kelowna, BC. They are in the process of expanding to Mexico, Malaysia, Denmark, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Russia, Vietnam,...
and Hardee's
Hardee's
Hardee's is a restaurant chain, located mostly in the Southeast and Midwestern regions of the United States. It has evolved through several corporate ownerships since its establishment in 1960. It is currently owned and operated by CKE Restaurants. Along with its sibling restaurant chain, Carl's...
offered a collection of four Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain toys with meals.
On Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain
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On The Big Cartoonie Show
Less than halfway through the series's run, Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain began airing on The Big Cartoonie Show, in which one episode segment was shown at a time, rather than complete episodes. The exception to this airing change was episode 10, which was shown completely on its respective airdate.| # | Original title (top) | Directed by | Written by | |Prod. code |
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