The Case for Kiddie Nostalgia - Part 5

Well, I am bringing this one closer to now than then, but these entries are still pretty nostalgic (to me anyway) nonetheless, so I now offer them up for your own reminiscencing.

11. Eek the Cat

Only the fact that this is a nineties thing really kept me from mentioning this earlier. Eek the Cat was one version of cartoon perfection. It was actually a show made of two cartoons: one, the headlining feline with his fat (really?) girlfriend Annabel, and Eek's sometime friend Sharkey the psychotic sharkdog and his sometimes girlfriend and superwrestler Platinum; and the second was man v. dinosaur in the Terrible Thunder Lizards, with puny humans Bob and Bill pests to be hunted by high tech Schwarzeneggerian dimdinosoldiers.


I don't think the twain of these two cartoon strains ever met, but their own separate, insane universes were perfectly matched side by side - Eek with its cumbayaical nonsequitoriality and the thunder Lizards with its twisted social commentary.

Influences: Lots and lots of catch phrases ("Cumbaya", "When will the hurting stop?", Elmo the Elk constantly doing good works for the charity of his little nephew Timmy), and a definite appreciation of the absurd. And there was a profoundly amusing Psychology lecture many years ago where time intervals were indicated by the catchphrases by an obviously smitten tutor.

DVD: Well, Amazon doesn't seem to stock it, though the image implies there is one. The world must be coming to an end. Eek!

Verdict: I loved this one. It was great. 'Nuff said. 5 Eeks out of 5

12. Animaniacs

I had the joy of appreciating this one in both English (Aa-nimay-niacs!) and French (Les ahnee-manyaks), and appreciating them both times (the english credits are here!). If you don't know who Yakko, Wakko and Dot are, don't know what Pinky and the Brain plan to do tomorrow, don't appreciate the comic genious of Slappy the Squirrel, and have never heard the 50 US states and their capitals song... well, hang your head in shame and weep that you have lived a life deprived.

The 90s were an amazing time for Warners animation - Batman animated, Tiny Toons (who will get their own entry, number 13), Freakozoid and of course, the jewel in the Speilberg-sponsored crown, the Animaniacs. Nothing was safe - everything was parodied, lampooned, mocked and otherwise insulted, except the intelligence of the audience. I am sure the wee kiddies had no idea what was going half the time (did they really understand what Goodfeathers was based on? Could they fully appreciate the brilliance of the Star Wars spoof?), but it didn't matter - there were layers and levels and onions, and they were all brilliant.

Influences: Everyone always notices when the Brain's voice animates other characters. "Hellooooo NURSE!". Much like Eek the Cat really, though in a more mainstream and popular way. And still brilliant.

DVD: Yes, yes, they are all at Amazon. And yes, I would love them all. And treasure them. Like... treasure.

Verdict: Absolutely brilliant. 100 out of 10.

13. Tiny Toons

I had not originally intended to go down this path, but how can I mention Animaniacs without mentioning this show? I still recall when the gang of three appeared on this show as black and white cartoons from a bygone era. But when Wakko, Yakko and Dot made it big, the parent show Tiny Toons wound up, and now Warners appears to have abandoned this whole concept - the offspring of the original classic Warner characters are now nowhere to be seen. Actually, in time, Elmyra and Furball migrated from here to Animaniacland but the rest kind of faded away...

Tiny Toons was utterly mad. They even said they were all in a little looney in the opening credits (oh yes, they are linked). My favourite character was Shirley the Loon, but the sketch I remember most was Baby Plucky and his adventures with the elevator ("Elelator go down the hooole"). As it was the first in the "new Warners" stable, it was a bit uneven, but its paved the way for the series that were to follow, reintroducing variations of the classic Warner characters to a more cynical audience.

Influences: Well, there was the odd catchphrase that I still recall, but the obvious influence here was a total appreciation for all Speilberg/Warners were achieving (though I never did really get into Freakozoid). It was fresh, funny, and a lot smarter than the more "family friendly" Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons this was spawned from. I mourned its passing, while appreciating the havoc it unleashed.

DVD: There appears to be some on DVD at Amazon, but my memories of the Tiny Toons is somewhat dimmer than that of the Animaniacs. I would love to have this, but do fear a bit of disappointment considering how hallowed this is in my head. On the wish list definitely, but a few entries down.

Verdict: Not perfect, but fondly remembered. And the visit to Gogo's world was completely bonkers. Tiny Toons earned a First Class Honours from Acme Looniversity, though it graduated second in the class to the Animaniacs.

And now our song is done.