Customer Reviews

Pinky and the Brain, Vol. 1

5 star:		(61)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Spun-off from Animaniacs, 'Pinky and the Brain' has a fantastic concept that constantly bears fruit - Two lab mice ("One is a genius, the other insane" in the words of the theme tune) are constantly thwarted in their attempts to take over the world. Like Wile E. Coyote before them, they seem to eventually lose sight of what they are trying to do and why, and just use more and more outlandish ruses to reach their target (Brain as the Country and Western singer is my favourite).
The concept itself may not have worked if the characters weren't so well written and performed. To my memory there was only ever three continuous characters in the show - Pinky, Brain and occasionally Snowball, a genius hamster and rival to Brain voiced by the late, great Roddy McDowell. With such reliance on a small cast (the rest of the characters featured - the humans - were different every week), the creators worked hard to get them to be well-rounded and likable (although they are essentially villains - at least Brain is anyway). That they came fully formed from Animaniacs is an even higher praise. The use of catchphrases helped make this show highly accessable ("Poit" and "Narf" from Pinky and "Yes!" from Brain as well as the opening exchange.
Elsewhere on this page, the show is described as "mindless fun" - not so. Fun, yes. Mindless, never. This was a show that had Looney Tunes sensibilites but with a brain (literally). Although the writing was hit and miss at times, it was never short of brilliant and the animation was much more consistant than its parent show which sometimes veered into amateurish. The theme tune is one that gets in the head and refuses to budge, and watch out for the definition of a new word in the end credits of every show.
If there is anyone in Hollywood reading this, I suggest a live-action movie version of this - its rife with possibilities! In the meantime, buy this and make the most of a largely forgotten gem of '90s TV.

As a long time P&B fan I was thrilled to see the series finally coming to DVD. Many fans and would be purchasers have been concerned that this set is labeled as a "collection" of episodes instead of one or more complete "seasons". Don't worry! As has been noted in other reviews this set (Vol I) contains ALL of season 1 and most of season 2 (the last three episodes are missing) for a total of 22 episodes. Why did they do this?? I don't "know" for a fact but I'm sure it is so that they can release 3 volumes of approxiamtely equal size. The show had 65 episodes total. That means 3 volumes each with 22 episodes (OK, so one of the volumes will have 21 episodes - nitpick, why dontcha!). So if you are a fan of the show, cast away your concerns and pick up this first volume ASAP!

For those of you who have never seen the show, expect to be pleasently surprised. This is one of those rare animated shows that appeals to adults and children equally (well maybe not equally, I'm sure I enjoyed watching it on TV more than my kids). The Brain is a super intelligent, meglamaniacal lab mouse intent on taking over the world with schemes that would make Rube Goldberg proud. His sidekick Pinky is affable and kind hearted but somewhat dim wited. Think of them as the animated versions of Laurel & Hardy or Abbott & Costello.

What can you say, its grrreeat!

Episodes contained on DVD
Das Mouse
Of Mouse and Man
Tokyo Grows/That Smarts/Brainstem
Pinky and the Fog/Where No Mouse Has Gone Before/Cheese Roll Call
Brainania
TV or Not TV
Napoleon Brainaparte
A Pinky and the Brain Christmas
Snowball
Around the world in 80 Narfs
Fly
Amubulatory Aide/Mouse of La Mancha
The Third Mouse/The Visit
It's Only a Paper World
Collect 'Em All/ Pinkasso
Plan Brain from Outer Space
The Pink Candidate
Brain's Song
Welcome to the Jungle
A little Off the Top/Megalomaniacs Anonymous
The Mummy/Robin Brain
Two Mice and a Baby / The Maze

The first season of "Pinky and the Brain" arrives on DVD with an extremely nice transfer and at a decent price (particulary if you can find it on special). Featuring the first season of the series plus the bulk of the second(22 episodes) and a 25 minute featurette, "Pinky and the Brain" was a cult favorite that uses the formula of the plot to maximum advantage for the humor. This does include the Emmy Award winning Christmas special. Warner release this so that each set would have a total of 22 episodes according to tvondvd.com in a report posted in November of last year. That way there won't be any redundant content (in other words you won't have to buy sets that have duplicate content).

Basically the plot in every episode features Brain a lab mouse with super intellect and his partner in crime Pinky a clueless but funny mouse with a brain that, well, doesn't do a whole lot more than run his body and make off the wall comments. Their plan--to take over the world. Every episode revolves around that simple plot and it's the ways that they plan to take over the world that make this so much fun.

A very different show from "Animainacs", "Pinky and the Brain" actually survived for a while as a prime time TV show (3 seasons)on the WB. This nicely packaged set includes all 22 episodes on four discs. If Animaniacs is like The Marx Brothers (chaos incarnate) or Robin Williams than Pinky & The Brain is Abbott and Costello, Hope & Crosby, Martin & Lewis and..Steve Martin. What I mean to say is that Animaniacs is chaotic comedy and Pink & the Brain uses its formula for its own brand of inspired lunacy.In conclusion--"Zot! Narf!" "Pinky are you pondering what I'm pondering?" "Yeah, I think so Brain...only why would people want to laugh at two lab mice when they could be laughing at themselves?" "They are Pinky, they are!"

No one is hiring village idiots anymore.

In the interview with the voice actors, it is revealed that the show is all about the relationship between Pinky and Brain. I never really thought of it like that before, but it fits. Like the self-help man asks, "Are you tired of hurting those you ... tolerate?" Brain does "tolerate" Pinky, but Pinky is always astounded by Brain. Brain is unwilling to admit his reliance on Pinky. The few times he decides to go rogue, he cannot conquer the world. Then again, he can't do it even with Pinky. But that's not to say that the plans aren't brilliant!

Invader Zim reminded me of this show. Some misfit tries to conquer Earth. Or Chia Earth. There are lots of "silly-willy" plans, but in the end, it's all about the characters. I love the Christmas episode. All Brain wants is the world, and who else to give it to him but Pinky? ^_^

The only complaint I have with this set is the same as the Animaniacs set. The menus are all the same, even though only two discs have any special features. And I don't really consider the trailers special features - they're advertisements. The one real special feature - the interview - is worth it.

The nostalgia value of both this set and the Animaniacs Vol. 1 set are what made me get them. I understand more of the jokes now, and it's still as insane as ever. Hopefully Warner Brothers will release Tiny Toons as well.

And what do you call those little hot dogs on sticks? Your intellectual superiors.

"Gee Brain, whadda ya wanna do tonight?" "The same thing we do every night, Pinky, try and take over the world!" And with that opening thus begins another adventure of Pinky and The Brain. This is a truly underrated cartoon which is really for the parents as much (if not more so) than the kids. I'm very glad to see this one FINALLY coming out on DVD. Way overdue. Perhaps in life on DVD it will reach the critical mass it really couldn't get when it was run as a kids' cartoon.

It would be nice if Amazon had 1/2 star increments as I'd really give this 4 1/2. The only slight against the series is that a lot of the stories were done to things very specific to the mid-late 1990's. Many a send-up of former President Bill Clinton, for example. Not so much of a handicap now, as that period is still in recent memory. but I somehow don't think P&TB will play as well 40 years later as does say 'Rocky & Bullwinkle' some 45 years later. Much of the humor comes from knowing the context of who's being lampooned.

That aside, there is enough going on between these two mice to keep you entertained. Heck, watch enough of these and soon "Narf" will be part of your vocabulary. You'll be able to handle crises like "What if the chicken won't wear the nylons?" or, "Brain, you can't expect me to sing a whole opera in Yiddish!" You might even take on the idea of taking over... well, that's a Brainy idea there, isn't it?

Well recommended!

Poit!!!
NARF!!!

I think it's safe to say 1,000's upon 1,000's of mid-late teenagers, and even a few young adults, miss the hell out of this cartoon. It really is a stroke of genius, it's got plenty of aspects for kids to enjoy - but, at the same time, there's an intellectual undercurrent running throughout, which is the exact reason I still thoroughly enjoy watching hours upon hours of Pinky & The Brain even today.

If you're a fan of cartoons, anything from Spongebob to Futurama, I highly suggest purchasing this. I'd be surprised if anybody didn't enjoy watching this wonderful little show. On a smaller note, the casing is beautifully designed - if you're one who appreciates such things.

I can rightfully claim this as one of my most prized possessions. The day I heard Pinky & the Brain was finally going to DVD, I quite literally jumped for joy. I've been saying for years, "that show needs to go to DVD"... low and behold, it came - and with thunderous applause from all it's faithful fans.

Bought it expecting to see the good old cartoons that i grew up with and i found a political cartoon that was equally entertaining as an adult.

Undoubtedly one of the best satirical cartoons ever made, Pinky and the Brain can be viewed as a social commentary, or can be just plain funny. For fans of witty inclusive humor, Orson Welles, or lab mice with ingenious plots - Pinky and the Brain is sure to amuse the TV critic and the couch potato all at once.

Pinky and the Brain are two of the cleverest animated characters ever developed and the series is just perfect from the theme song to the many clever pop culture/political references. As others have said can be enjoyed at different levels by all age groups. A worthy heir to the dry humor crown of Rocky and Bullwinkle!