“It’s time for Animaniacs, and [they’re] zany to the max. So just sit back and relax, you’ll laugh till you collapse, it’s time for Animaniacs!” The original Animaniacs was a cartoon that aired from 1993 to 1998 as a variety show containing between two to three short skits featuring a large cast of characters.

In 2018, it was announced that there would be a reboot of the show, which aired on Nov. 20, 2020. Now that it’s here, it has reached critical acclaim by keeping the same heart and spirit that the original had, while also perfectly adapting the show for the modern age.

The structure to the reboot remains fairly similar to the original, having two to three short sketches that normally revolve around some sort of social or political commentary or a parody on another movie, tv show, or trend. The main cast Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are normally the center of attention during the episodes, appearing in episodes that range from a variety of topics from participating in the Greek games, solving a kidnapping, breaking the fourth wall, parodying the 2020 election, and much, much more. The slapstick humor that comes from the Warner siblings is simply unmatched in this reboot, with a fast moving plot in order to keep viewers interested.

New to this show, however, is a mid-show segment called “Pinky and the Brain”, which started as an occasional appearance on the original show, that gained so much popularity to where it received its own show down the line. However, it is featured as an integral part of the reboot normally providing a break between the first and third sketch of the show. This segment revolves around two lab mice respectively named Pinky and Brain. It’s a light-hearted and humorous segment that can often delve into some dark humor, while also commentating on the world from a different perspective.

This show amazingly picks up where it left off by jumping right back into the zany action that people have come to know and love. While the first few episodes revolve around the typical catching up plot, recapping the events that have happened in the past 22 years since the shows airing, the show spares no expense while still making the first few catch up episodes an entertaining piece while doing an excellent job at introducing new audiences to the characters.

Overall, the show has made an incredible comeback, perfectly capturing the spirit of the original while still making it feel completely unique in its own right. Each episode is original and special and has definitely deserved the praise it’s been receiving. With a second2nd season that is set to air some time in 2021, this show definitely has many more seasons coming its way if it keeps up this pace.