'Toon Reviews 22: Animaniacs Vol 2 Part 8: Cartoons in Wakko's Body: Noah's Lark/The Big Kiss/Hiccup

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Episode 33

Cartoons in Wakko’s Body (A)

The centerpiece for this episode is a set of bumpers that tell their own mini-story put together.  They’re basically the same gag every time, but the gag itself is so inventive an entertainingly delivered it hardly matters. 

In this one, Wakko complains to Yakko and Dot posing as doctors that he has a pain in his head.  Yakko looks into his head and discovers that Wakko has a cartoon stuck in his ear.  The camera zooms into the ear and said cartoon begins. 

It’s a simple yet creative way to introduce the episode’s featured cartoons, and the overactive line deliveries, particularly Wakko in pain, add to the comedy.  Before we move onto the next bumper, let’s analyze exactly what was in Wakko’s ear:

Noah’s Lark

You just know this show is calling in the big guns when it turns to religion for a cartoon’s backdrop or subject matter.  Having turned to the Bible for inspiration before, it’s all set up to give another effective humorous take on a sacred story. 

This time, the story tackled is of “Noah’s Ark” and instantly this interpretation has an effective humorous take.  The reason for the ark to be made is shown through scenes of the world partying like modern teenagers in a burning village and the narrator bluntly saying everyone was being jerks.  It’s silly and light-hearted, but works for getting the basic idea across. 

Noah himself is also an enjoyable feature of the cartoon.  He’s assigned by God to take on this huge task of helping create a new world. However, rather than wise and serious like a saint most would expect, he’s neurotic, whiny, and is very open about his fear of spiders.  This direction works because it enhances the idea that even though many people have done great world-renowned feats, they were still human and open to faults.  This makes this Noah well-rounded and likable enough to follow through the whole cartoon.  As he goes through the motions of building that ark and summoning two of every animal, his pathetic portrayal makes for solid entertainment.  He’s enjoyably clueless and reluctant going along with the plan, and often gives snide remarks and solid one-liners to the animals going onboard. 

Eventually, established members of the cast come aboard, and they’re unfortunately some of the weaker characters, the Hip Hippos, Flavio and Marita.  Treating going on this ark like a modern day couple taking a cruise is mildly humorous from them.  Still, what we get is most of the traits that bring them down.  They’re a likable couple who act as friendly as possible for sure, but it’s not all that funny.  Also working against them is how oblivious they are of all the problems caused by their enormous weight as well as how much they’re annoying Noah, the “captain.” 

Unlike most of the Hip Hippos’ starring roles, their antics actually don’t affect the entertainment too much.  Because they’re generally nice and well-meaning, they have potential to work off of funnier and more dynamic characters.  Noah happens to be just that.  Despite the Hip Hippos’ presence, Noah feels like the more major character with more scenes of him going through God’s plan than Flavio and Marita enjoying the cruise.  This is good because Noah is clearly the most sympathetic of the bunch. He’s thankfully not too sympathetic for the sake of the comedy.  Noah being whiny about what he’s put through despite its importance makes the humor from his banter with God and enduring the Hip Hippos work.  It’s a good use of negative character traits helping an overall product instead of hurting it. 

Still, when the 40 days and 40 nights are up, even after Noah being a total joke character throughout the voyage, it’s a nice moment when he finally settles down in the new world.  It’s so nice, I feel the last moment of the Hip Hippos showing him the two spiders from the ark and him running scared is a little uncalled for.  At least it’s decent as a punchline. 

While not the funniest thing from the show, this is a fun watch with well-defined characters and a well-executed light-hearted approach to a major Bible story.

B+

Cartoons in Wakko’s Body (B)

This is basically the same as the first bumper, only this time Wakko’s pain is in his eye.  Redundant as this may be, the hilarious line deliveries and the creative concept make it work. 

Now onto the cartoon that was in Wakko’s eye:

The Big Kiss

Of all the formulaic Chicken Boo cartoons, this is one of the most effective ones.  It’s got an interesting setting, mines the premise for its comedic potential, and everyone turning on the giant chicken makes more sense than usual. 

This time, Chicken Boo is a professional movie star called in to take part in a film’s climactic kiss scene.  The setup to the whole cartoon nicely plays to what makes Chicken Boo work on a comedic level to begin with, boiling down to his disguise.  There’s usually some extravagance to them to hide his true identity, but this time, all Chicken Boo is wearing is a mustache, and a thin one at that.  Because the disguise takes flimsy to a whole new level, it’s hilarious that Chicken Boo is considered such a huge movie star. 

All the while, as the crew prepares to film the kiss, there’s actually some build-up to Chicken Boo’s identity getting exposed beyond the usual single detractor.  Since that’s not the usual case, the cartoon further stands out.  For one thing, there’s a brief mention that Chicken Boo is a vegetarian when offered a chicken salad sandwich.  An even bigger example is a running scene of the director having sneezing fits due to an allergy to chicken feathers.  With this in mind, you’re led to wonder how Chicken Boo isn’t exposed sooner. 

This is where the kiss scene the cartoon was building up to happens, and it's already huge given what the cartoon is able to show of the featured actress.  It’s a sexy kind of funny when she puts a lot of passion into the kiss, completely unaware that her costar’s a chicken.  When the mustache comes off as a result of the kiss, it’s also amusing how quickly she goes from seductive and restrained to totally freaking out that she kissed chicken lips.  It’s this factor that makes Chicken Boo getting belittled for who he is work.  He may have apparent skill, but humans and chicken germs do not go well together and can honestly lead to of health hazards.  The director’s allergies also support this.  If all Chicken Boo cartoons brought this point up, they’d probably be a lot better. 

As this one shows, with the right direction, Chicken Boo can be winning cartoon material despite his redundancies.

A

Cartoons in Wakko’s Body (C)

Wakko’s operations turn to dentistry when the next cartoon is in his mouth this time.  It’s the same premise as before and funny for the same given reasons.

Hiccup

Cartoons starring the Goodfeathers go either ways.  They’re either interesting takes on the Italian mafia genre with creative potential and character banter or endless collections of pain gags which aren’t always very enjoyable.  This one is of the former category, but is mostly basic and lacking anything truly noteworthy.  That’s saying a lot since most plots to this show are basic and at times formulaic, but they’re usually executed well to feel like something more. 

This cartoon is executed to be no broader than its simple concept.  It’s just about Squit getting the hiccups and turning to Bobby and Pesto for help to cure them.  For the most part, the cartoon is nothing more than that.  They go through many of the basic attempts to cure hiccups used in most shows, especially those made just for kids.  There’s Squit holding his breath, drinking, and getting a pigeon-styled Heimlich maneuver from Pesto.  The fact that not one of these attempts work despite their effectiveness in real life makes the cures very dull and too long.  It even makes the cartoon feel repetitive at times, particularly when Bobby and Pesto frighten Squit with stories of pigeons who got hiccups so bad they croaked.  At least they mean no ill-intent and are still keen on genuinely helping Squit. 

In that regard, the cartoon can be seen as an edgy approach to a typical day-to-day problem.  This especially benefits the cartoon because the biggest strength of the Goodfeathers is their characterizations.  They’re all distinct in personality as a street gang would be.  Their portrayal as street pigeons adds an interesting and funny layer to the dynamic.  This strength often tends to get lost in cartoons bent on hurting them violently.  Here, there are hardly any pain gags at all.  In fact, most of the humor comes from funny expressions to emphasize certain points or the effects of Squit’s hiccup cure attempts, thus keeping the cartoon enjoyable. 

The characters prove so entertaining that they themselves bring all the comedy we need.  As usual, Pesto is a riot for finding insults in Squit’s innocent remark resulting in a rant that builds up to a fast-paced beating.  Bobby's tempers also have an enjoyable edge to them as seen every time Pesto badgers him with remarks that his cure attempts won't work.  It's like proportionate retribution for how much Pesto's always whacking on Squit for similar reasons.

In the end, it’s a surprise appearance from the Godpigeon that solves the problem while also adding to his already mysterious character. 

Instead of just talking in his unintelligible language, he shocks the Goodfeathers with a surprise monster face brimming with more character from him than expected.  The old saying that a good scare gets rid of hiccups wins out with Squit finally cured, though one last Pesto rant truly ends it all on a good joke. 

Even if this is a very basic and mostly uninteresting cartoon, it’s one of the better showings of the Goodfeathers’ dynamic and appeal.  It’s not one I’d continually watch, but I commend it for actually doing the featured characters justice.

B

Cartoons in Wakko’s Body (D)

Another great thing about the “Cartoons in Wakko’s Body” bumpers is that they lead to something instead of just being creative transitions. 

At the very end of an episode is a scene that brings all of Yakko and Dot’s treatments of pulling cartoons out of Wakko’s body full circle.  They take the abstract concept to creative extremes by announcing their findings to an entire auditorium, treating Wakko like their own personal science project.  This is honestly an appropriate thing to do with such a bizarre occurrence.  Wakko essentially being a cartoon transition is something so creative, how can you not treat it like a science project? 

Also, if you think about the cartoons pulled out of his various body parts, it kind of makes sense that they emerged from where they did.  The one in his ear is about someone being annoyed, the one in his eye features people not noticing the obvious, and the one in his mouth is about the hiccups.  The cartoons may seem random, but tie into the framing device better than you’d expect.  With this in mind, I’m personally grateful that we don’t see the cartoon causing pain in Wakko’s bottom.

These bumpers successfully do more than just what they’re intended to do.  They may tell the same joke, but keep it funny every time and what they lead to in the end is very satisfying.  While not all the cartoons they lead into are the best of the series, it's interesting that they have their ways of fitting the framing device.  Not to mention, the framing device itself is still immensely entertaining.  It’s a unique approach to the episode and a testament to the series’ versatile approach to the art of cartoons.

A

Cartoon Ranking

1. Chairman of the Bored
2. Hot Bothered and Bedeviled
3. O Silly Mio
4. Phranken-Runt
5. Jockey For Position
6. Sir Yaksalot
7. Potty Emergency
8. Puttin’ on the Blitz
9. The Big Kiss
10. Draculee Draculaa
11. Babblin’ Bijou
12. I Got Yer Can
13. Astro-Buttons
14. Moby or Not Moby
15. Noah’s Lark
16. Skullhead Boneyhands
17. The Good, the Boo, and the Ugly
18. Hiccup
19. Moon Over Minerva
20. Mesozoic Mindy

Miscellaneous Ranking

1. Testimonials
2. Cartoons in Wakko’s Body
3. You Risk Your Life
4. The Great Wakkorotti: The Summer Concert

Song Ranking

1. The Planets

The next Animaniacs review features Wakko dealing with a clown that keeps scaring him, and Brain try his hand at country western singing.

Next time on MC Toon Reviews is "Gem Drill" from Steven Universe.

If you would like to check out other Animaniacs reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.

'Toon Reviews 14: Animaniacs Vol 1 Part 4: Hooked on a Ceiling/Goodfeathers: The Beginning

Episode 4

Hooked on a Ceiling

In another cartoon that places the Warners in a significant moment in history, we’re treated to a humor-filled interpretation of Michelangelo assigned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. 

The thing that propels this cartoon into animated greatness is unique light-hearted approach to the creation of such an artistic triumph.  Much of that comes from the portrayal of Michelangelo himself.  With so much detail in the actual work, you might picture him as a serious artist with a tactful faith. Well here, he’s certainly serious about his project set to be shown to His Eminence, but it’s carried out in a much more relatable manner as Michelangelo obsesses over getting the ceiling to look perfect leading to many overly dramatic yet hilarious outbursts.  Through tossing out his assistants, getting annoyed by innocent bystanders praying even though this is a church, and fretting over the deadline, Michelangelo is not just a riot, but also is an example that even though historical figures like him were known for many great accomplishments, they were still only human like the rest of us.  Therefore, it’s fitting to watch him as such an emotional wreck, especially since anyone would be one under the pressure. 

The hilarity, through no surprise, only builds up when the Warners arrive to give Michelangelo the assistance he’s desperate for.  The kids, for all their animated greatness, are really at the top of their game in the name of paining a ceiling.  They enter the Sistine Chapel with great enthusiasm for the job and a lively musical number about painting ceilings, and advertise their jobs with all the energy of a car salesman, and it’s clear that they won’t let anything stand in the way of their job.  This is especially shown in a hilarious gag where just as Michelangelo is about to throw them out, HE gets thrown out in the next shot. 

The cartoon gets funnier as the Warners proceed to the job without understanding what’s meant to be done.  What they do to the ceiling amounts to going against painting the intended images full of “naked people” through whiting out the entire ceiling or putting in random images when they’re told that the ceiling need pictures.  This is basically a joke against the sacred image the Sistine Chapel ceiling is meant to convey, but it’s a harmless one that simply states what’s actually seen externally regardless of the deeper meaning.  Plus, aided with more of Michelangelo’s hilarious reactions to how much the Warners don’t get what’s meant to be done with the ceiling’s paint job, the whole cartoon ends up being a great example of a plot that relies on jokes to move forward.  It’s a unique style of storytelling, and it’s nonstop hilarity all at once.  This is especially shown when even when the Warners are finally convinced to paint the “naked people” all over the church, there’s still room for jokes.  They fit in one more silly image for the ceiling of E.T. and Elliot from their respective movie, but it turns out to be ok because His Eminence is a caricature of the film’s creator, Steven Spielberg.  That last joke is so clever and fitting for the show, it seals the deal for this cartoon being a creative masterpiece.  Also, it comes with a fitting line that people who want to work in entertainment should take to heart: “Painting is like show business; you have to know your audience.” 

Through its many jokes constantly hitting the bullseye, a funny and relatable portrayal of a historical figure, and even a meaningful message to close everything, this is yet another cartoon that’s a perfect representation of this show’s strengths. 10/10

Goodfeathers: The Beginning

This cartoon for prominent cast members is one that focuses on the titular trio coming together so to set up all of their cartoons to follow.  While it’s overall not entirely funny or interesting, it’s a solid way to show the potential these pigeons have for entertainment. 

The plot follows Squit, a friendly and innocent pigeon who wants to join a tough, street-smart group of pigeons called the Goodfeathers which at the time consists of Bobby, the most level-headed Goodfeather, and Pesto, the most entertaining of the three for his explosive temper.  While the two laugh at the idea of Squit joining them at first, and do so a bit too long at that, Squit ultimately gets his chance at joining them from the official leader of the Goodfeathers simply called the Godpigeon. 

Scenes of the Godpigeon will go on to become a frequent point of interest with these types of cartoons.  Through his Godfather-like design in the form of a pigeon and the mad respect all the Goodfeathers have for him, he sells a lot of the street-gang style these cartoons are clearly going for, and his running gag of randomly showing up to give random advice in a language only the Goodfeathers can understand never fails to amuse. 

Anyway, the Godpigeon gives Squit a chance to join if he can find a good bit of food for the Goodfeathers, and he finds it easily in the form of a bagel thrown from a passing car.  The real challenge is getting the bagel from the road without getting rammed by something.  Through it all, the appeal of this trio is shown when, despite laughing at the idea of him joining earlier, Bobby and Pesto are more than willing to help Squit get the bagel.  However, all their attempts to get it result in painful failures, letting it known that while this group of pigeons are tough and street-smart, they’re still pigeons, and the world around them simply doesn’t pay much attention to them. People drive into them or, in the case of a herd of marathon runners, trample them, much like what happens to pigeons in real life. 

On their own, their beatings are mildly enjoyable, especially when an opposing force comes when they least expect, catching them and the audience by surprise, and transporting them to random spots like an airport or subway.  Put together though, they can get pretty dull and lack the comedic edge the cartoonish physical gags of the cartoons of other characters like the Warners or Slappy Squirrel, thus lowering the appeal. 

What makes the cartoons worth sitting through is the fleshed-out personalities of the characters.  As the most innocent and soft-spoken pigeon, Squit clashes amusingly with tough birds like Bobby and Pesto.  Through the character interactions comes another major point of entertainment for these cartoons.  Whenever Squit tries to compliment Pesto on something, Pesto always points out how what was said can be heard as an insult, rants for a while, and then gives Squit an explosive beating while Bobby keeps his cool all throughout, making the scene a hilarious show of wordplay and build-up to violence. 

Going back to the story, despite everything, especially the constant beatings in the pitiful attempts to get the bagel, it’s ultimately obtained when the Godpigeon walks across the street and eats it since he’s apparently big enough to be recognized, and Squit is officially named a Goodfeather solidifying the trio.  So, for his sake, it’s a solid concluding point for the cartoon. 

It may be a good indication that what we’ll see of the Goodfeathers won’t be the most exciting parts of this show, but with its street-smart edge and use of characters, they’re sure to be thoroughly enjoyable all the same. 8/10

Cartoon Ranking

1. Slappy Goes Walnuts
2. H.M.S. Yakko
3. Hooked on a Ceiling
4. De-zanitized
5. Win Big
6. Cookies for Einstein
7. Goodfeathers: The Beginning

Song Ranking

1. Yakko’s Universe
2. Yakko’s World
3. The Monkey Song

Miscellaneous Ranking

1. Nighty-Night Toon

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where, in the first full half-hour segment, the Warners are taught manners for a celebrity gala which is no easy task for those dealing with cartoon characters so screwy.

If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.

If you would like to check out other Animaniacs reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.