Animaniacs to return for two seasons on Hulu

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Submitted by Mike 'Ace' Maillaro on Thu, 01/04/2018 - 17:33

From Entertainment Weekly:

Wakko, Yakko, and Dot are coming back to television. On Thursday, Hulu announced they have partnered with Amblin Television and Warner Bros. Animation to create and premiere a brand-new version of beloved cartoon franchise Animaniacs. New episodes will premiere on Hulu in 2020.

The show follows the zany trio, who have finally found a way to escape from the Warner Bros. water tower after being locked away for a long time, and they will be unleashed to wreak havoc on the city. Fan-favorites Pinky and the Brain will also return to make appearances in each episode.

The show marks the first Hulu Original series for families, and it will join the Hulu Kids library alongside other children’s programming.

Under the two-season straight-to-series order, Steven Spielberg will return as executive producer of the series, with Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, and Amblin Television co-presidents Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank also serving as executive producers.

“We cannot wait to work with Steven Spielberg and the entire Amblin and Warner Bros. teams to bring more sketches, catchphrases, songs, and laughs from the Animaniacs to kids and adults everywhere,” Craig Erwich, SVP of content at Hulu, said in a statement. “Now one of the most beloved, inventive and funny animated franchises in history, Animaniacs and its cast of witty characters can live on, on Hulu. This marks yet another big move for us as we continue our efforts to be the No. 1 streaming destination for premium animated content.”

In addition to the development of a new series, the deal also includes the complete libraries of the original Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, the subsequent Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain, and the complete Tiny Toon Adventures collection. They will be available exclusively on Hulu starting Thursday.

“I am so pleased and proud that Animaniacs will have a home at Hulu,” said Spielberg. “Together with Warner Bros., we look to bring new audiences and longtime fans into this wild world of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. I am also excited that the full library of Animaniacs and Tiny Toon Adventures episodes are included in the deal.”

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Commentary: ANIMANIACS has held up surprisingly well over the years. My kids watch them and enjoy them about as much as I did when they first aired.

I will admit, part of me is a little concerned. When POWERPUFF GIRLS returned, but it didn't have the heart of the original. But, I am encouraged that Spielberg will be involved in this revival.

Something really cool to come from this story is that they are adding ANIMANIACS, PINKY AND THE BRAIN, and TINY TOON ADVENTURES to Hulu immediately. I actually have all of ANIMANIACS and PINKY AND THE BRAIN on DVD, but TINY TOONS are far harder to come across.

I hate to be greedy, but in all this love for the awesome Spielberg cartoons of the 90's...can we get FREAKAZOID? Freakazoid was Deadpool or Harley Quinn before they had become hugely popular.