Original voices set to return for 'Animaniacs' reboot on Hulu
As if the return of “Animaniacs” wasn’t amazing enough, now there’s even better news.
This is big: You’d better get the bologna ready for your slacks.
Let’s set the stage. Back in early 2018, it was announced that Steven Spielberg was teaming up with Hulu to bring two seasons of the ’90s animated comedy back to TV. Spielberg will serve as executive producer.
Now, the even better news: The original voices of Yakko (Rob Paulsen), Wakko (Jess Harnell) and Dot (Tress MacNeille) are on board, too.
The news was formally announced via Twitter.
We are VERY pleased to finally see in PRINT today in @yakkopinky's "Voice Lessons" that the original voice cast of #Animaniacs has indeed been working on the upcoming reboot! ?
Rob, @MAURICELAMARCHE @JessHarnell and #TressMacNeille are back! (Pic from Maurice LaMarche) pic.twitter.com/cHQUxAzIsp
— The Animanicast (@animanicast) October 8, 2019
“We are VERY pleased to finally see in PRINT today in @yakkopinky’s “Voice Lessons” that the original voice cast of #Animaniacs has indeed been working on the upcoming reboot!” the post reads.
That was followed quickly by a tweet from the voice of Brain — Maurice LaMarche — that read, “Yes, the worst-kept best-kept secret in the animation biz is out! Slap the cuffs on us, I guess.”
It’s comforting news to the throngs that fell in love with the animated series that ran on Fox from 1993-95, and then The WB from 1995-98.
According to the original press release from Hulu, the reboot sounds wonderfully like the original series: “The Warner brothers, Yakko and Wakko, and the Warner sister, Dot — three inseparable, irascible siblings — have a great time wreaking havoc and mayhem in the lives of everyone they meet.
“They have been locked away in the Warner Bros. water tower for a very long time, but they have found a way to escape. And escape they do — every day! Causing chaos and comic confusion, Yakko, Wakko and Dot run loose in the city, turning the world into their personal playground. And fan-favorite characters Pinky and the Brain will also return to make appearances in each episode.
The deal also gives Hulu the rights to the complete library of all 99 episodes of the original “Animaniacs,” as well as “Pinky and the Brain,” the subsequent “Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain,” and all of the Tiny Toon Adventures collection.
New episodes, which are being co-produced by Amblin TV and Warner Bros. Animation, are set to debut in 2020.
Chris Pastrick is a TribLive digital producer. An Allegheny County native, he began working for the Valley News Dispatch in 1993 and joined the Trib in 1997. He can be reached at cpastrick@triblive.com.
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