So I've gotten the ANIMANIACS theme song stuck in my head since hearing this news, because like many of you, this was an important part of my childhood. Who could forget "Helloooo Nurse", or Yakko's World Song, or the debut of PINKY AND THE BRAIN? When animation was at an all-time low, shows like ANIMANIACS helped usher in a new Golden Age of children's cartoons – that proved that animation could be funny, sophisticated, and satirical while still being entertaining for kids. This, alongside contemporaries like REN & STIMPY, helped pave the way for the kinds of kid's cartoons like ADVENTURE TIME, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, and STEVEN UNIVERSE that we enjoy today.
Anyway, it seems that Steven Spielberg himself (who helped create the '90s original) is on board to help shepherd a new reboot of ANIMANIACS. It's still in the very, very early stages, but the fact that work is being done on it at all is pretty exciting nonetheless. The plan is to distribute it on a streaming service, like Netflix, should it indeed come to fruition.
Now, there's always a fear of shows or movies being rebooted after decades won't be able to recapture the magic of the original (in fact, there are critics who are saying the same thing about the rebooted TWIN PEAKS), and that's definitely a danger here too. But I'm optimistic. Hollywood and pop-culture has definitely changed a lot in the close to 20 years since the show ended in '99, and it could be fun to see how the Warner Brother Yakko and Wakko – and sister Dot – respond to it. Count me in, for now.
But what do you Schmoes think? You down for more ANIMANIACS? Either way, sound off below!