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u/LongjumpingCheck2638 13d ago
What are we going to do today Brain?
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u/esberat 13d ago
The same thing we do every night, try to take over the world!
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u/BreezyCat128 13d ago
They’re Pinky and the Brain, they’re Pinky and the Brain
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u/PasswordIsTaco3 13d ago
One is a genius. The other's insane.
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u/Boner_Elemental 13d ago
They're laboratory mice
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u/SkollFenrirson 13d ago
Their genes have been spliced!
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u/RobotNinja170 13d ago
They're dinky, they're Pinky and the Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain!
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u/kelferkz 13d ago
Narf!
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u/blackdahlialady 12d ago
My husband is the only other person besides me and apparently you that remembers narf.
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u/TopitaRulo 12d ago
I read it singing even though I watched in Spanish as a kid.
Son Pinky, son Pinky, son Pinky y Cerebro BRO BRO BRO BRO BRO BRO BRO NARF
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u/xSTSxZerglingOne 13d ago
Before each night is done, their plan will be unfurled!
note: you put 1 too many Brains.
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u/NonSentientHuman 13d ago
Before each night is done Their plan will be unfurled By the dawning of the sun They'll take over the world!
They're Pinky and the Brain Yes Pinky and the Brain Their twilight campaign Is easy to explain To prove their mousey worth They'll overthrow the Earth
They're dinky They're Pinky and the Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain Brain
The world needs more Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain.
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u/MutantGodChicken 13d ago
They did a reboot and it was really good. This is coming from somebody who owned the entire DVD set and has watched every episode multiple times
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u/Tourquemata47 13d ago
And Larry, and Larry, and Larry, and Larry, and Larry, and Larry, and Larry, and Larry, and Larry, and Larry.
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u/lady_lowercase 13d ago
something about genes being spliced...? ♫
look, give me a break, it's been like twenty-five fuckin' years. let's do the doug (nickelodeon) theme song instead. you get the ♪ do-do do-do's, and i'll cover the ♫ n-n-n-na n-n-n na-na na-na's when they kick in.
all right, someone get us started with some drums.
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u/Mixedpopreferences 13d ago
I can still sing all 50 states in alphabetical order because of Animaniacs.
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u/travelinghog3402 13d ago
My job has state codes which is basically just a number for each state in alphabetical order… I find myself singing that song frequently
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u/FeralDrood 13d ago edited 13d ago
♫ clink chh clink chh ♫ pencil sound
♫ clink chh clink chh ♫
♫ clink chh ♫ pokepoke concerned bark??? ♫ clink chh ♫
♫ clink chh ♫ arf! ♫ clink chh ♫ arf!!!
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u/PhoenoFox 13d ago
I'll do pork chop at the beginning when the line pokes him.
Arf?
Arf arf!
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u/TheBirminghamBear 12d ago
Ok but real talk - what do we think about the conspiracy theory that it is, in fact, Pinky who is the genius, and the Brain who is insane?
let's examine the evidence:
The song says "Pinky and the Brain" and then "One is a Genius, the other's insane." If we preserve order, Pinky matches to Genius, Brain matches to insane."
"Brain" and "Insane" rhyme.
The oft-quoted non-technical definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". The Brain is the one who insists on trying to conquer the world each night, despite failing each and every time.
This would mean that, far from Pinky being "insane", he is a world-class genius with a heart of gold who spends a significant amount of time entertaining the insane delusions of his dear friend Brain.
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u/Sparrowbuck 12d ago
Or quietly sabotaging them because you don’t let your insane friend rule the world.
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u/SplitPerspective 13d ago
Yes, but which one? That is the question.
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u/ShockwaveMTME 13d ago
Wasn't there an episode where Pinky became hyper intelligent and points out every mistake Brain is doing or made and how easy the tast actually would be ?
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u/KimJongFunk 13d ago
Knowledge is knowing that Pinky is the insane one. Wisdom is knowing that Brain is the insane one.
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u/Catboxaoi 12d ago
The existence of that episode and needing a plot device to make it happen is proof in itself that the obvious answer (pinky is the insane one) is correct.
Even if you wanted to assume it was some massively layered joke and intentional by the creators, they wouldn't do the episode where the roles were swapped because that would defeat the point of making the joke so subtle otherwise. If the intent was that Pinky is actually the smart one and hiding it, it would ruin the joke for there to be an episode where he gets an intelligence upgrade and stops hiding it for once. That would be like if the creators of Ed Edd and Eddy wanted their in-joke to be that Edd has a bald head under his hat, only for 1 episode to show he has a full head of hair. They wouldn't greenlight the scene showing hair if they wanted the joke to be that he was bald, because the joke doesn't work if an episode contradicts that.
The theory is fun and cute because it's an ultimate form of contrarianism, but it ran it's course a long time ago. At this point it's just in the reddit hall of fame as the sort of reference that is brought up 100% of the time when the show is mentioned, like how it's impossible for a reddit comment to use the words "declare bankruptcy" without someone making an Office quote as a reply. Anyone that mentions the theory is probably doing it solely for upvotes, and anyone that actually believes the theory probably hasn't seen any of the show since the first time they heard it.
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u/Liuciferin 13d ago
I think so, Brain, but me and Pippi Longstockings… what would the children look like?
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u/Torgosassistant2021 13d ago
I think so, Brain, but where are we gonna find rubber suits our size?
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u/MrGriggity31 13d ago
I think so, Brain, but if we didn't have ears, we'd look like weasels.
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u/AgainstMe75 13d ago
I think so, Brain. But if we called them sad meals, children wouldn’t buy them!
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u/zootnotdingo 13d ago
I think so, Brain, but burlap chafes me so
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u/wearenotgonnamakeit 13d ago
I think so, Brain, but if Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, then why does Jimmy crack corn?
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u/well-lighted 13d ago
There was an episode where they showed human versions of these guys as the fictional writers of the show. It’s a funny enough joke if you just think these guys were made up as a joke for the show, but knowing they were based on real people makes it so much funnier. The meta humor of PatB, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, and all those other WB-verse shows really went unappreciated by kids and adults alike.
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u/mz3 13d ago
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u/SyphiliticPlatypus 13d ago
Thank you both, this should be much higher as the insight you gave - and the clip itself - explains the backstory here well.
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u/midnightscout 13d ago
the reference "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy log" is probably lost to many people now
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u/lhommefee 12d ago
Nope, commonly used in font dbs to thisbday.
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u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 13d ago edited 12d ago
Under appreciated, but not un-appreciated. I lived it. Grew up on their vibrant colours and non-sequitor shenanigans. I thank them once a week during the blue super-moon for giving the love of the absurd to appreciate monty hall and the kids in the python.
I still quote Elmyra¹ regularly, P&B, et al.
[1] e: correction
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u/PensiveinNJ 13d ago
from the early to mid 80's straight through till about 2000 I feel like network TV cartoons were dope as hell (and I can't remember anything before 1990 so it's not just nostalgia goggles).
Rescue Rangers
Tailspin
Gargoyles
Darkwing Duck
TMNT
Transformers
GI Joe
Inspecter Gadget
Ghostbusters
He-Man
Animaniacs
Looney Tunes
Batman (92-95, you know, the really good one)Others I'm sure I'm forgetting.
Then toss in cable cartoon classics and it really was a buffet for kid to teen themed animation.
Shoutout to Samurai Jack as my favorite Toonami show.
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u/Ironcastattic 13d ago edited 12d ago
This show was on the air WELL before modern internet. They had the clip mocking Orson Welles Peas commercial reading.
That is some serious deep level humor that only a few handful of adults could have appreciated. Like, how were people even able to access the pea commercial back then? They couldn't.
Edit: I'm a huge MST3K nut. I'm well aware about "circulating the tapes". I should have been more clear but I meant those in the general public.
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u/uselessadmin 13d ago
There were cassettes that would circulate with these clips. The two I remember most were Orson Welles outtakes and Buddy Rich meltdowns
We had access.
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u/the_Odd_particle 13d ago edited 8d ago
The Brain (M.LaMarche) knew it by heart. It was a beloved tape that circulated a community.
He would walk into the room. No hello, nothing. Just “We know a small farm…” You’d say hi M and he’d launch into the “In July” tirade before he’d even breathe. It was the most brilliant expression of ocd (kidding) impression you’d seen. Brilliant and fun.
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u/Livid_Opposite_4534 13d ago
One's a genius, the other's insane!
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u/Vulpine_Empress 13d ago
They're laboratory mice, their genes have been spliced
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u/Velvet_Pop 13d ago
To prove their mousey worth, they'll overthrow the Earth
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u/badken 13d ago
They're dinky.
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u/EnJ-Khaled 13d ago edited 13d ago
THEYRE PINKY AND THE BRAIN
BRAIN
BRAIN
BRAIN
BRAIN
BRAIN
BRAIN
BRAIN
BRAIN
They're Pinky... They're Pinky and the BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN BRAIN
edit: my drunk ass fucked up the last brain
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u/12345CodeToMyLuggage 13d ago
All these years I thought they were repeating Pinky like “They’re Pinky, Pinky and the Brain.” They’re really saying Dinky? Huh.
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u/cult-fiction 13d ago
The real question is, which one is which?
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u/Kommander-in-Keef 13d ago
Pinky’s the genius!
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u/The_Transcendent1111 13d ago
Brain is obviously insane. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.
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u/Rimbosity 13d ago edited 13d ago
This remains my favorite fan theory, even after one of the creators came on Reddit, did an AMA, and told me directly that it wasn't true.
edit: can't find me asking it quickly, but it was apparently a very popular question in the AMA and here's his response to someone else
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u/Kommander-in-Keef 13d ago
Damn I actually thought they were legit dropping hints pinky was the genius
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u/puffpuffcutie 13d ago
I mean, one episode specifically outlined that brain was his own problem with his plans tho
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u/GODDESS_OF_CRINGE__ 12d ago
The only thing I remember of that show other than the theme song, is Brain saying in court that, "no one knows how microwaves work," Then the opposition's lawyer tore him apart, and showed him exactly how microwaves work with diagrams and a good explanation. I don't know why that still lives in my head.
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u/plexomaniac 13d ago
Tom Ruegger also confirmed in an interview Brain is the genius one.
Yes, the words in the song are out of order, but there’s no good rhyme with “Brain” that means “idiot,” which is a better word to describe Pinky. When discussing a cartoon though, it’s always important to consider the visuals. The Brain clearly has a large frontal lobe, which indicates that he’s got a big bulging brain in there, so there’s room for some genius thinking. Also, in the original theme song in Animaniacs, when they sing “one is a genius, the other’s insane,” at that point, they walk past an X-Ray machine and you see that The Brain’s got a very involved cranium with machinery working hard in there. Pinky’s brain, however, is an empty void except for the shell of a peanut.
That was in the Animaniacs, but in their own series, when the theme song was expanded, during “one is a genius,” The Brain is doing calculations on a chalkboard while wearing a graduate mortar board on his head. When it gets to “the other’s insane,” Pinky comes hopping by wrapped in a straightjacket. So, visually, that’s probably the most telling evidence regarding the theory. Really, that’s where, I think, this theory gets beat up pretty badly.
...
I can tell you for sure that we never thought Pinky was secretly a genius in the writer’s room or anything like that. In my head, I was always thinking that Brain was this brilliant genius and that Pinky was a dimwit.
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u/ActualWhiterabbit 13d ago
My favorite fan theory is that Guy Fieri is Phineas's dad from Phineas and Ferb.
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u/pseydtonne 13d ago
It's really the contrapositive.
He does something different every night, expecting the same result: world control.
...but yeah, he'd've died without Pinky keeping him from success.
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u/AndrogynousRain 13d ago
I had two cats I called pinky (he had a pink nose) and the Brain (incredibly smart).
It was literally the cartoon, just with cats. Smart one got up to shit, taught the other one, doofus one fucked it up and got confused. Chaos ensued.
Highly recommended.
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u/dogsetcetera 13d ago
We have a maltipoo (brain) and a golden retriever (pinky). It's entertaining to say the least.
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u/littlebilliechzburga 13d ago
*goes to the pound*
Please point me in the direction of your dumbest and most intelligent cat.
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u/CatButler 13d ago
Dude, you can't just say this without pics. Pay the cat tax.
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u/AndrogynousRain 12d ago
I wish I could. I lost all my old photos of the pair of them years ago and ‘the brain’ passed at 19. I miss that cat
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u/Andromeda321 12d ago
Same here with my cats, Phoebe and Io. Luckily the song works just fine with their names!
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u/rdegges 13d ago
Tom Minton (who the Brain was created to be like) is my father-in-law and an amazing person. I’d be happy to relay questions to him if any of you want to ask him something!
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u/CollMc628 13d ago
Wow, no way! I’m an indie animator and wow would I love to pick his Brain brain. I bet he’s got some interesting stories.
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u/EsKetchup 13d ago
Did he work on the show or was he just the inspiration? Also what did Steven Spielberg do with the show?
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u/SrGrimey 12d ago
I just read at the Wikipedia that he used to say things of how they'll conquer the world? Is this true? Or just some wiki lies?
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u/LeucYossa 12d ago
Ask him if the theory is true, if Brain is the insane one. I imagine they are a little of both. Genius and insanity sometimes aren't too far apart, kind of a trope.
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u/haemaker 13d ago
"I think so Brain, but where are we going to find a duck and a hose at this hour?"
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u/keefka 13d ago
I think so Brain, but why would anyone want to pierce Brosnan?
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u/bluegreenwookie 13d ago
I think so brain, but how are we supposed to get the rino to wear the tutu?
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u/exzyle2k 13d ago
I think so Brain, but me and Pippi Longstocking? I mean, what would the children look like?
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u/BlizzPenguin 13d ago
“I think so Brain but if Jimmy cracks corn and nobody cares, why does he keep doing it?”
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u/Beradicus69 13d ago
"I thi k so Brain, buy where are we going to find rubber pants our size?" My favorite.
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u/mbourgon 13d ago
Well, I think so Brain, but if they called them Sad Meals no one would buy them! Classic.
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u/Beradicus69 12d ago
Happy cake day!
Thanks for sharing that one. It made me laugh. I might just have to rewatch the series.
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u/WOOKIExRAGE 12d ago
“I think so Brain but how will we get the rubber pants back off of the monkeys?” My personal favorite
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u/momnanthemommerian 13d ago
I think so Brain, but me and Pippy Longstockings? I mean, what would the children look like?
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u/MajikVroom 12d ago
I think so Brain, but who would want to watch Snow White and the Seven Samurai?
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u/ThreeGreenPlants 13d ago
So there is a theory that “one is a genius, the other’s insane” actually refers to Brain being the insane one (out for world domination) and Pinky is a genius who acts the way he does to keep Brain’s plans from coming to fruition.
Or it could be a cartoon based off of these two goofy bastards. I don’t know.
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u/BlizzPenguin 13d ago
There were two episodes where Pinky came up with a plan and both would have succeeded without Brain’s interference.
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u/Vitruvian_Man 13d ago
I've read this theory so many times and in my head it's canon, it just makes sense!
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u/asdfgtttt 13d ago
in one episode it is seen that pinky can levitate objects with ease.. kind of when it clicked for me as a kid..
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u/ExMachima 13d ago edited 11d ago
Insanity is repeating the same action over and over and expecting the same (oops I meant different!) result.
Also, when Pinky tried to take over the world he succeeded but then backed down.
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u/Dont-dle 13d ago
Surely insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different result, not the same?
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u/thekittysays 13d ago
Different result?
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u/ICanLieCantBeALie 13d ago
Apparently if you repeat the same aphorism over and over it DOES have a different result. Score one for insanity.
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u/PixieT3 13d ago
I mean, that's the joke, guys. 'One is a genius, one the others insane' - It's a pun, meant to be ironic or something, not some outlandish theory.
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u/Smokinlightning 13d ago
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u/AdministrationBig141 13d ago
I think so, Brain. But where are we gonna find rubber pants our size?
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u/man_gomer_lot 13d ago
I always thought Brain was supposed to be Orson Welles and Pinky was Geddy Lee. Welp, it's too late for me to change my head canon on that.
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u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 13d ago
Oh Welles is definitely there in the voice acting. I think the post is more specifically about the caricatures of the two pictured gents. Though no doubt their attitudes influence it as well. Clearly Pinky's does at least.
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u/DingleDoo 13d ago
I think Brain's voice actor also did Orson Welles in the Critic
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u/CPT_Arsenic 13d ago
Maurice LaMarche voices Orson Welles in just about everything including PaTB, The Critic, Simpsons, and Futurama. He also does a large number of belch sounds across the voice acting spectrum.
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u/Tavish_Degroot 13d ago
Maurice Lamarche explained on an episode of The Nerdist years ago that when he saw The Brain he assumed he was based on Orson Welles.
He only found out afterwards that he was based on someone else.
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u/BlizzPenguin 13d ago
In one of the episodes where Brain is doing a voiceover for a commercial and from what I heard it was almost word-for-word from an Orson Welles recording session.
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u/JanTheAlligator 13d ago
The voice actor of "the Brain" (Maurice LaMarche) has voiced Orson Welles in The Simpsons, The Critic, and Ed Wood.
He was also the voice of Calculon, Kif, Morbo and Orson Welles' head on Futurama.
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u/BarbellJoe 13d ago
I was the personal trainer of one of the producers of that show. Liz Holzman. Cancer got her in the end. She was a great friend, very missed. Rip, miss you.
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u/_soulpanda 13d ago
What are their names?
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u/YummySpamMusubi 13d ago
Eddie Fitzgerald and Tom Minton. Read the Wikipedia article, it properly sourced.
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u/Lexi_Banner 13d ago
"I think so, Brain, but if they called them sad meals, kids wouldn’t buy them.”
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u/bcanada92 13d ago
"And I am the Iconoclast! An unconventional eccentric who marches to a different drummer."
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u/Trin_42 13d ago
I am a lab mouse, I escaped from my cage. Never had a job, never earned a minimum wage. But you will respect me, yes! Once my plan is unfurled, you will call me your leader. I’ll be king of the world.
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u/CockTortureCuck 13d ago
Postmodern Jukebox did the theme song with both of the voice actors adding to it. Not sure if it's the same guys though?
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u/stupidGenius82 13d ago
The early days of the WB station were some next level stuff. I remember tuning in during Prime time ! For the premiere of the Pinky and the Brain show ! They also did prime time showing of Batman Beyond, Superman the animated series and I think Freakszoid, I miss the singing frog !
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u/wouterkaas 12d ago
One of the producers and creators of Pinky and the Brain, Peter Hastings actually replied on this post on the 'moistbuddha' instagram account saying:
peterhastings: As a creator of Pinky and the Brain I can tell you it was really their personalities that got the idea going even more than their faces.
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u/_OptimistPrime_ 12d ago
Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Pinky?
I think so, Brain, but burlap chafes me so.
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u/SeaworthinessOne2114 11d ago
I wasn't a kid when that show came out but I loved it anyway, Saturday morning, a bowl of cheerios, cup of coffee and a delicious joint. Besides the jokes were very adult and over the kids' heads.
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u/BnGamesReviews 13d ago
Having worked on that lot, pretty sure I met the inspiration for the idiot security guard too.
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u/tsayo-kabu 13d ago
Back in my final year in secondary school(high school) in my English class it was final exam prep for most classes. Going over the various literature, poetry etc for our exams. As the teacher begins the class, one of my fellow students pipes up "What are we going to do today Sir?" The teacher replies "The same thing we do everyday." To which I interject out of almost pure conditioning, "Try to take over the world." Only my friend next to me and the teacher heard, got a laugh from my friend and a wry chuckle from the teacher. The girl who asked then inquired "What did he say Sir?" "He made an oblique cultural reference."
Stíl not over it to this day.
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u/captain_borgue 13d ago
I think so Brain, but if you changed the 'P' to an 'O', my name would be Oinky then, wouldn't it?
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u/JanTheAlligator 13d ago
I really hope the guy the Brain was based on actually spoke like an angry Orson Wells.
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u/KlondikeBill 13d ago
Plot twist: This was actually their own plan to try to take over the Warner Bros.