From Muppet Wiki

Steven Spielberg presents Animaniacs is an animated variety series mainly featuring three "puppy-like" creatures the Warner Brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and their sister Dot. The trio live in a water tower on the Warner Bros. studio lot (and often create havoc there). The show featured rotating segments with other characters like The Goodfeathers, Mindy and Buttons, Slappy the Squirrel, and Pinky and the Brain, a pair of rodents who are bent on world domination.

Animaniacs premiered on September 13, 1993 and new episodes ran through the 1998 season. A total of 99 episodes were produced along with a direct-to-video movie and a theatrical cartoon short film. The show introduced the popular cartoon characters Pinky and the Brain, who were subsequently spun-off into their own TV series in 1995.

Muppet Mentions

• "Draculee Dracula"

Upon meeting Count Dracula, Yakko asks the vampire "Didn't you used to teach math on Sesame Street?", a reference to the Dracula-esque Count von Count.

• "Video Revue"

A song full of references to popular movies and specials on video References A Muppet Family Christmas with the line: "Amedaus was a genius, Beethoven was a dog, The Muppet Family Christmas was about a pig and frog!". As each title is mentioned an animated video cover is shown. On the cover, Kermit (dressed as Santa Claus) is crushed as Miss Piggy leaps onto his lap.

Connections

Many Henson/Muppet actors provided voices for Animaniacs. In addition, staff writer/voice actor Paul Rugg has been a regular performer in The Jim Henson Company's Puppet Up! improv team. Steven Spielberg was producer and was heavily involved in the show.

• Ivy Austin played Carlotta
• Jack Burns played Sid the Squid
• Dan Castellaneta played Dracula
• Barry Dennen played Czar Nicholas
• Dan Haskett designed Minerva Mink
• Arte Johnson played Newt
• Michael McKean played Spink
• Brian Stokes Mitchell played Noodles
• Rob Paulsen played Yakko, Pinky, Dr. Scratchansniff and others
• Bernadette Peters played Rita
• Avery Schreiber played Beany the Bison
• Ben Stein played Pip Pumphandle
• Cree Summer played Elmyra
• Frank Welker played Runt, Ralph, Buttons, Mr. Plotz, Walter Wolf and others
• Jonathan Winters played Stinkbomb