Two lab mice, ("One is a genius, the other insane") living in the Acme labs seek to formulate a plan for the duo, led by Brain, to take over the world. Watch each episode as Pinky and the Brain take on each attempt with a ... more »dry wit and humor and likely a parody of other media. 22 Episodes from the Emmy Nominated Series for the first time on DVD« less
Margaret S. (morgan2010) from GLENVIEW, IL Reviewed on 11/16/2009...
I warn you, you will find yourself singing "Pinky and the Brain, Pinky and the Brain," all day long, after watching just a few episodes. They are great! You can never have too much of trying to conquer the world.
Movie Reviews
Failed World Domination Attempts 101
Mark Clegg | Great Britain | 05/30/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Spun-off from Animaniacs, 'Pinky and the Brain' has a fantastic concept that constantly bears fruit - Two lab mice ("One is a genius, the other insane" in the words of the theme tune) are constantly thwarted in their attempts to take over the world. Like Wile E. Coyote before them, they seem to eventually lose sight of what they are trying to do and why, and just use more and more outlandish ruses to reach their target (Brain as the Country and Western singer is my favourite).
The concept itself may not have worked if the characters weren't so well written and performed. To my memory there was only ever three continuous characters in the show - Pinky, Brain and occasionally Snowball, a genius hamster and rival to Brain voiced by the late, great Roddy McDowell. With such reliance on a small cast (the rest of the characters featured - the humans - were different every week), the creators worked hard to get them to be well-rounded and likable (although they are essentially villains - at least Brain is anyway). That they came fully formed from Animaniacs is an even higher praise. The use of catchphrases helped make this show highly accessable ("Poit" and "Narf" from Pinky and "Yes!" from Brain as well as the opening exchange.
Elsewhere on this page, the show is described as "mindless fun" - not so. Fun, yes. Mindless, never. This was a show that had Looney Tunes sensibilites but with a brain (literally). Although the writing was hit and miss at times, it was never short of brilliant and the animation was much more consistant than its parent show which sometimes veered into amateurish. The theme tune is one that gets in the head and refuses to budge, and watch out for the definition of a new word in the end credits of every show.
If there is anyone in Hollywood reading this, I suggest a live-action movie version of this - its rife with possibilities! In the meantime, buy this and make the most of a largely forgotten gem of '90s TV."
A choice set of Pinky and the Brain
A. CLEMENS | Texas | 08/02/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"What can you say, its grrreeat!
Episodes contained on DVD
Das Mouse
Of Mouse and Man
Tokyo Grows/That Smarts/Brainstem
Pinky and the Fog/Where No Mouse Has Gone Before/Cheese Roll Call
Brainania
TV or Not TV
Napoleon Brainaparte
A Pinky and the Brain Christmas
Snowball
Around the world in 80 Narfs
Fly
Amubulatory Aide/Mouse of La Mancha
The Third Mouse/The Visit
It's Only a Paper World
Collect 'Em All/ Pinkasso
Plan Brain from Outer Space
The Pink Candidate
Brain's Song
Welcome to the Jungle
A little Off the Top/Megalomaniacs Anonymous
The Mummy/Robin Brain
Two Mice and a Baby / The Maze
"
"Narf" "Pinky, you're the poster child for cheese whiz"
Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 07/26/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The first season of "Pinky and the Brain" arrives on DVD with an extremely nice transfer and at a decent price (particulary if you can find it on special). Featuring the first season of the series plus the bulk of the second(22 episodes) and a 25 minute featurette, "Pinky and the Brain" was a cult favorite that uses the formula of the plot to maximum advantage for the humor. This does include the Emmy Award winning Christmas special. Warner release this so that each set would have a total of 22 episodes according to tvondvd.com in a report posted in November of last year. That way there won't be any redundant content (in other words you won't have to buy sets that have duplicate content).
Basically the plot in every episode features Brain a lab mouse with super intellect and his partner in crime Pinky a clueless but funny mouse with a brain that, well, doesn't do a whole lot more than run his body and make off the wall comments. Their plan--to take over the world. Every episode revolves around that simple plot and it's the ways that they plan to take over the world that make this so much fun.
A very different show from "Animainacs", "Pinky and the Brain" actually survived for a while as a prime time TV show (3 seasons)on the WB. This nicely packaged set includes all 22 episodes on four discs. If Animaniacs is like The Marx Brothers (chaos incarnate) or Robin Williams than Pinky & The Brain is Abbott and Costello, Hope & Crosby, Martin & Lewis and..Steve Martin. What I mean to say is that Animaniacs is chaotic comedy and Pink & the Brain uses its formula for its own brand of inspired lunacy.In conclusion--"Zot! Narf!" "Pinky are you pondering what I'm pondering?" "Yeah, I think so Brain...only why would people want to laugh at two lab mice when they could be laughing at themselves?" "They are Pinky, they are!""
A must have collection for fans of all ages.
tonsir | Seattle, WA - USA | 07/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a long time P&B fan I was thrilled to see the series finally coming to DVD. Many fans and would be purchasers have been concerned that this set is labeled as a "collection" of episodes instead of one or more complete "seasons". Don't worry! As has been noted in other reviews this set (Vol I) contains ALL of season 1 and most of season 2 (the last three episodes are missing) for a total of 22 episodes. Why did they do this?? I don't "know" for a fact but I'm sure it is so that they can release 3 volumes of approxiamtely equal size. The show had 65 episodes total. That means 3 volumes each with 22 episodes (OK, so one of the volumes will have 21 episodes - nitpick, why dontcha!). So if you are a fan of the show, cast away your concerns and pick up this first volume ASAP!
For those of you who have never seen the show, expect to be pleasently surprised. This is one of those rare animated shows that appeals to adults and children equally (well maybe not equally, I'm sure I enjoyed watching it on TV more than my kids). The Brain is a super intelligent, meglamaniacal lab mouse intent on taking over the world with schemes that would make Rube Goldberg proud. His sidekick Pinky is affable and kind hearted but somewhat dim wited. Think of them as the animated versions of Laurel & Hardy or Abbott & Costello."
You can stop auditioning now, Pinky.
Elizabeth Albert | 01/11/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"No one is hiring village idiots anymore.
In the interview with the voice actors, it is revealed that the show is all about the relationship between Pinky and Brain. I never really thought of it like that before, but it fits. Like the self-help man asks, "Are you tired of hurting those you ... tolerate?" Brain does "tolerate" Pinky, but Pinky is always astounded by Brain. Brain is unwilling to admit his reliance on Pinky. The few times he decides to go rogue, he cannot conquer the world. Then again, he can't do it even with Pinky. But that's not to say that the plans aren't brilliant!
Invader Zim reminded me of this show. Some misfit tries to conquer Earth. Or Chia Earth. There are lots of "silly-willy" plans, but in the end, it's all about the characters. I love the Christmas episode. All Brain wants is the world, and who else to give it to him but Pinky? ^_^
The only complaint I have with this set is the same as the Animaniacs set. The menus are all the same, even though only two discs have any special features. And I don't really consider the trailers special features - they're advertisements. The one real special feature - the interview - is worth it.
The nostalgia value of both this set and the Animaniacs Vol. 1 set are what made me get them. I understand more of the jokes now, and it's still as insane as ever. Hopefully Warner Brothers will release Tiny Toons as well.
And what do you call those little hot dogs on sticks? Your intellectual superiors."