Wednesday, October 3, 2018

'Toon Reviews 22: Animaniacs Vol 2 Part 4: Draculee Draculaa/Phranken-Runt


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Episode 29

Draculee Draculaa
 
The following two episodes are examples of how well this show handles holidays.  Since they both feature spooky-themed cartoons, this means they’re appropriate for Halloween.  Episode 29’s Halloween spirit starts with this cartoon of the Warners encountering Dracula. 
They’re on their way to Pennsylvania to meet their parents, pencils (get it?).  If you ask me though, pencils should really be seen as God since they play a role in creating all cartoon characters.  That aside, the true focus is on the kids, who are actually in Transylvania, finding a place to spend the night.  In their usual cartoony fashion, they choose a scary castle over two convenient safer options letting the audience know that they’re just following the plot.  This means they’re heading into danger and know it, but are brave enough to face it.  After all, using hilarious antics to face any threat is what they do despite not many people doing so in real life. 
The scary castle they stay at is home to Dracula, if the setting of Transylvania wasn’t obvious enough.  His first impression is borderline intimidating, which would make the most appropriate response to be intimidated and scared.  However, the Warners are as excited as ever to meet their vampire host with overly friendly greetings and comparing him to other vampires and caped figures of pop culture.  These types of antics are really funny already, but the hilarity grows as much as the stakes do when Dracula sets his sight on sucking Dot’s blood. 
For much of the cartoon from here, the vampire plots to do just that while also give the other Warners a fright.  Through it all, the Warners are clearly wise to all of Dracula’s scheme, and delight with how they fight back through their winning brand of antics.  Some of their antics are sticking to wild suggestions about him like talking to him like an Amish person based on how he’s dressed.  Other antics dare to mock Dracula’s fearsome powers.  An example is when he turns into a big vampire bat while Wakko nonchalantly flies up to him and whacks him with a baseball bat.  The gag’s execution kind of makes you wish handling an actual vampire bat would be that easy. 
The most effective antics however are those that completely catch you by surprise.  The best one to me is when Dracula is alone with Dot who’s in bed and he’s finally ready to suck her blood.  However each Warner suddenly pops in to rapidly and accurately guess the horrible thing he’s about to do, brush his fangs, and even rip them out for Dot to wear as earrings.  Then they all throw Dracula’s scheme for a loop when they make him part of an impromptu slumber party.  I bet most of you probably couldn’t even imagine Dracula in a scenario like that. 
All these antics bring an interesting twist where Dracula, the supposed monster, is the one who’s terrified.  It really goes to show how cartoons can make anything possible to outsmart enemies.  In fact, it almost works too well since Dracula running scared of the Warners makes him a little too sympathetic for his legit torment.  At least the Warners’ antics are still hilarious as they randomly appear in Dracula’s coffin to mess with him and expose him to the morning.  Also, the cartoon is just about over by then, so the Warners just leave to really get to Pennsylvania this time…not before making Dracula destroy his castle though. 
This cartoon astounds for how great the Warners stand against a famous monster with humor and charisma.  It kind of makes you wonder who the real terror is.
A
Phranken-Runt

For this episode’s second spooky-themed cartoon, here’s an amazing combination of cartoonish humor and the soul and showiness of Rita and Runt.  Cartoons of this cat and dog stand out from the others with stronger emphasis on drama and heartfelt ballads.  Still, Rita and Runt can work in any background, including this one of a Frankenstein plot. 
The featured mad scientist is a literal crooked woman and social outcast with an Elmer Fudd-like lisp, Dr. Phrankenstein.  Her creative design, lively performance, and believable reasons for villainy make her an appealing antagonist.  Along with her rat assistant, Mr. Squeak, Phrakenstein creates a monster dog named Scout to use to attack villages.  The problems are that Scout is much more interested in being treated like a normal dog, and a single lightning shock ruins his brain.  The latter problem moves the plot when Phrankenstein cabinet has many brains, including the small ones of TV executives, but no dog brains. 
This is where Rita and Runt come in, having just gotten kicked out of another monster’s home and are trying for two.  Their attempt is capitalized by one of the best aspects of these cartoons, Rita’s song.  “Let’s Try For Two” is hands-down her best one in the series.  The singing talents from Bernadette Peters along with the big band instrumentals are just lively.  Even when she and Runt just explore the area surrounding Phrankenstein’s lab, the energy of the song makes it feel like more is happening.  Finally, it advances the plot by getting Phrankenstein’s attention since she needs a dog brain, so she takes Runt in to extract his brain for Scout.  The nature of Rita and Runt cartoons is really put to great use to have a song like that get the plot going. 
What’s more, it subverts the usual formula with Rita needing to save Runt when most cartoons have it the other way around.  All the while, Phrankenstein continues to charm as an antagonist through acting warm and loving towards Runt despite wanting to remove his brain.  Speaking of Runt, his lack of intelligence, while making him a clueless victim, is also charming as he believes Phrankenstein strapping him to a table is her tucking him in for a nap.  It also makes for a short humorous banter with Rita who responds with a gameshow question of how many brain cells a dog has after coming to save him.  The following chase from Mr. Squeak as they both escape the castle adds to the excitement with a little action and physical comedy.  Runt’s clumsiness is also productive there as he knocks over armor suits while running which stops Mr. Squeak in his tracks. 
As for Scout, who’s revived by another sudden lightning blast, he proves to be fully aware of his surroundings despite behaving like a real dog instead of a monster.  When Phrankenstein and Mr. Squeak pop his favorite ball, he defeats them before running off as his own dog.  It’s actually nice for Scout to run off for a better life after his masters’ mistreatment went too far, even if he is a monster.  Then the whole cartoon is capped off with a grand finish of one last worn out, yet endearing moment from Phrankenstein and a reprise of Rita’s earlier song. 
For bringing together great theatrical qualities along with solid humor, action, and character interactions, this is easily one of, if not the best of Rita and Runt.
A+
Cartoon Ranking
  1. Phranken-Runt
  2. Jockey For Position
  3. Sir Yaksalot
  4. Potty Emergency
  5. Draculee Draculaa
  6. Babblin’ Bijou
  7. I Got Yer Can
  8. Moby or Not Moby
  9. The Good, the Boo, and the Ugly
  10. Mesozoic Mindy



Miscellaneous Ranking
  1. Testimonials
  2. You Risk Your Life
The next Animaniacs review continue with the Halloween spirit as the Warners encounter Satan, Minerva Mink dates a werewolf, and Mr. Skullhead is featured in an Edward Scissorhands parody.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes' "Plazalympics."
If you would like to check out other Animaniacs reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.


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