Animaniacs Are Zaney To The Max

Who remembers these guys:

Woohooo!!!  I came across this theme song on YouTube this morning.  I used to LOVE Animaniacs!  What a great cartoon.  Constant silliness, weirdness, and just about anything you can think of under the sun that completely doesn’t make any sense.  Since I’m at work all day now, I don’t know for sure that a niche channel runs this show, but I’d be willing to find out.  I do know that seasons 1-3 are out on DVD.  There are some interesting similarities with this theme song and the Garfield theme song I wrote about earlier:

1. Both explain who the characters are in the show and what the show is about (as opposed to a generic song with visuals).

2. Both show examples of incredibly looney, absurd, borderline obnoxious situations.

3. The main characters in both shows are animals who sing the actual theme song.

4. Somehow in each show, there is always a segment with secondary characters.  Animaniacs – Pinky and the Brain.  Garfield – Orsen and Friends.  All of these characters are featured in the theme song.  

You get the idea…

So, similar shows from a similar era, that put me in a similar state of nostalgia.

Animanics also makes me think of one friend with the initials “KK” who I know really loves this show and all that it stands for.  This one’s for you!

How It Started – Cartoons and Commercials

 

 

The above two YouTube videos sparked my initial interest in this “project.”  My brother actually posted these videos on my facebook wall.  When I first clicked “play” I was so, so excited!!!  

Not only did I remember the words to the entire Garfield and Friends theme song and the entire Crossfire commercial, but I absolutely remember every visual of each segment.  These really take me back to Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons in elementary school.  I actually owned a Crossfire game at one point, and am not sure where it is.  I have to go digging for it in my basement.  If I recover it, I’ll be sure to post some nice action photos.  I can’t promise I’ll be surfing on one of the game pieces though.

In terms of Garfield and Friends, wow did I love that show!  What’s there not to love about a cat who eats everything in sight.  I did collect lots of Garfield (and Odie!) merchandise over the years.  Stuffed animals, T-shirts, pencils (I probably received these in a goody bag from a birthday party) and of course, the Garfield stuffed animal with the suction cups on his paws, that everyone used to stick on the inside of their car windows.  What a fun site to see on the Long Island Expressway.  The one thing I never fully understood about the show was the cut to Orson and his farmland-friends, but I enjoyed it just the same.  It was a nice break from the constant sarcasm and digestion taking place in Jon’s kitchen.  But poor Wade with his inner tube.  A duck who can’t swim - no wonder he almost got the crap kicked out of him every episode. 

I miss this lasagna-loving lump!  “Disguises, surprises and pies of all sizes” for all!