How to watch

Produced by Steven Spielberg, Animaniacs was a zany sketch-comedy cartoon packed with songs, parodies and jokes aimed at kids and grown-ups alike. Alongside the Warner siblings, it introduced fan favorites such as Pinky and the Brain, two lab mice determined to take over the world. Their segments became a spin-off of their own, and the whole gang returned for a Hulu revival decades later.

🕐 Release Order

Release order shows how the franchise grew from one show into several.

1. Animaniacs (1993–1998)
2. Pinky and the Brain (1995–1998)
3. Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain (1998–1999)
4. Wakko's Wish (1999)
5. Animaniacs (2020–2023)

Animaniacs is mostly episodic, so the chronology matters less than with story-driven franchises, but there is still a natural flow to follow.

📖 Story Chronology

Pinky and the Brain originated as Animaniacs shorts, so the original series comes first. Their spin-off followed, then the retooled Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain. Wakko's Wish is a standalone fairy-tale movie featuring the whole cast, and the revival picks up with the Warners returning after years in the vault.

1. Animaniacs Seasons 1–5 (1993–1998)
2. Pinky and the Brain (1995–1998)
3. Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain (1998–1999)
4. Wakko's Wish (1999)
5. Animaniacs revival Seasons 1–3 (2020–2023)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Release order is the way to go. Begin with the 1990s Animaniacs, branch into Pinky and the Brain once you love the mice, and save Wakko's Wish for a family movie night. The revival is full of meta jokes about its own return, so it's most rewarding after you've seen the original. Since episodes are self-contained, you can also jump in anywhere.

🔗 Related Guides

• Looney Tunes Watch OrderGuide
• Tom and Jerry Watch OrderGuide
• Rugrats Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!