History YMMV / Animaniacs2020

** Brain's abuse of Pinky was a bit more exaggerated in the first season; while in the original series he mistreated him, it was made clear on numerous occasions that Brain is a JerkWithAHeartOfGold who really does care about Pinky as a friend. The second season tones down the treatment a little and gives Brain PetTheDog moments where he treats Pinky nicer.

*** To a lesser extent, the removal of Hello Nurse, both the character and the gag. Though the official reason is [[ValuesDissonance due to the gag, apparently, not being appropriate in modern time]]. Most audiences didn't have a problem with it, [[CrossingTheLineTwice or at least found it offensive in an enjoyable kind of way]]. Not helping is the DoubleStandard that Dot is still able to act like this towards men.

** Episode 5's "Pinky and the Brain" segment could have been used to explain why the title lab mice [[spoiler:weren't hunted down and mounted by Walter Grubb/Chicken Boo in the previous segment "Good Warner Hunting" even if they just make it a throw-away line]]. Instead, the issue is never brought up.

** Speaking of "Suffragette City" the segment contains many cameos from ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' and Creator/HannaBarbera Cartoons, this is the first time they have been seen together ever! Coincidentally Yogi Bear and Boo Boo exist in this show despite the fact that the show had expies named Calhoun Q. Capybara and Lew Lew (though granted, as that was before Warner Bros. had purchased the rights to Hanna-Barbera).

** Larry from the episode "Pinky and the Brain...and Larry", making a cameo in "The Flawed Couple" was certainly a surprise. He's also only the second direct reference in the show to the events of the non-Animaniacs ''WesternAnimation/PinkyAndTheBrain'' spinoff, and the first (an appearance of the almost-a-word "[[VerbalTic TROZ]]") occurred in the same episode.

** Wakko's russian bootleg counterpart from "Anima-Nyet" describing Ukraine (among other nations) as part of Russia and thinking about starting World War 3 became this when [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022]].

* WereStillRelevantDammit:
** Several critics say that the show, particularly much of the Warner Siblings' segments, tries ''too'' hard to mock late 2010s culture, with a perception that [[DontExplainTheJoke they often over-explain what they're mocking]] and thus come across not as witty as they once were. It has been compared to the later seasons of the original show when it leaned more heavily on parodying 90s pop culture trends, such the "Macarena" and ''Series/{{Friends}}''. In particular, the reboot makes a lot of political jokes, especially ones targeted at the Russian Federation and then-White House resident Donald Trump, with the swearing in of Vice President UsefulNotes/JoeBiden as Trump's successor making most of the jokes centered around him to become outdated only two months after premiering. The series also makes jokes about things that were relevant in 2018 (when the show was written), but which had faded from culture by 2020 (when the show was released), such as Pinky and the Brain ending up in a fidget spinner factory or the infamous Johnny Johnny poster gag in the pilot.
** The second season began with an even more glaring case of this with respect to Trump in "Rome Sweet Rome". While the first season at least had the excuse that he was still in office when it aired, this one came out a year after Biden was already sworn in making it dated as soon as it started, as Nero was a very obvious stand-in for Trump. It didn't exactly help either that nearly every joke done in the episode were generally retreads of the same jokes that had been repeated all the way through his presidency, further putting it in this territory and coming off as very forced.
** The LeeroyJenkins gag from one of the ''Pinky and the Brain'' segments references a video from ''2005''. The referenced video dates back far enough that it's closer to the air date of the final episode of the original ''Animaniacs'' (1998)[[note]]Both the video games ''Animaniacs: The Great Edgar Hunt'' and ''Animaniacs: Lights, Camera, Action!'' came out in 2005, around the time of said video and were the last ''Animaniacs'' media until the reboot[[/note]] than to the release of the reboot (2020).
** The segment "Wakko's Short Shorts: Now Loading" features a BlandNameProduct of ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}}'', which has sharply decreased in popularity since 2018.

*** Pinky’s relationship status being taken was never a constant. Barring an out-of-universe role in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish'', she was only referenced once more in the original ''Animaniacs'' in "The World Can Wait." In the [[WesternAnimation/PinkyandtheBrain spin-off series]], Pharfignewton was referenced only in the season 1 episode “The Third Mouse” as well as the season 3 episode "A Meticulous Analysis of History." Later on in another season 3 episode which takes place after these, "Operation Sea-Lion", Pinky falls in love with a sea-lion.

** Either that or the Animaniacs writers had a [[HarsherInHindsight magic crystal ball]] when it came to the coming 2022 Ukranian War... Needless to say the jokes about autocratic Russia began to feel seriously earned only a few years after the series first made them.

* UncannyValley: One of the reasons the show received mixed reviews was due to the grotesque design of some human characters, strangely quite assimilating to [[Creator/JohnKricfalusi John K.]]'s style.

** Brain's abuse of Pinky was a bit more exaggerated in the first season; while in the original series he mistreated him, it was made clear on numerous occasions that Brain is a JerkWithAHeartOfGod who really does care about Pinky as a friend. The second season tones down the treatment a little and gives Brain PetTheDog moments where he treats Pinky nicer.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:

*** In the same episode there's also a jab at UsefulNotes/({Venezuela}}.

*** In the same episode there's also a jab at Venezuela.

** As was the case in the past when UsefulNotes/BillClinton was in office, UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton is made fun of at least twice.

** As with before, the Warners aren't afraid to take potshots at American politicians. UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump in particular is the target of several jokes, notably being depicted as an {{expy}} of Polyphemus from the Odyssey in "Warners Unbound" (as well as being the obstacle in that episode that finally makes Odysseus give up and beg for mercy) and to an even greater extent as UsefulNotes/{{Nero}} in "Rome Sweet Rome".
** As was the case in the past when UsefulNotes/BillClinton was in office, Hillary Clinton is made fun of at least twice.

** Either that or the Animaniacs writers had a [[HarsherInHindsight magic crystal ball]] when it came to the coming 2022 Ukranian War... Needless to say the jokes about autocratic Russia began to feel seriously earned only a few years after the series made first them.

** In "Warners Unbound" Odyseuss is sent to Hades and treats it like a ''Series/NinjaWarrior'' course, causing the Warners to say "Is he trying to win at Hades?" Due to the delay between writing and release of the episode, a game called ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'' was actually released about a month before the episode, and players had complained it's NintendoHard. You ''can'' win at Hades, but only with a lot of hard work.

*** Pinky’s relationship status being taken was never a constant. Barring an out-of-universe role in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish'', she was only referenced once more in the original ''Animaniacs'' in "The World Can Wait." In the [[WesternAnimation/PinkyandtheBrain spin-off series]], Pharfignewton was referenced only in the season 1 episode “The Third Mouse” as well as the season 3 episode "A Meticulous Analysis of History." Later on in another season 3 episode which takes place after these, "Operation Sea-Lion," Pinky falls in love with a sea-lion.

** Yakko near the end of "Good Warner Hunting". He claims that [[spoiler: Chicken Boo is the least popular character on the show and that he's on the "bottom of every fan list" despite the existence of less popular characters (i.e. Katie Kaboom) and the fact that Boo did have his fans. Was Yakko just voicing his opinion or was he exaggerating Chicken Boo's unpopularity to make him reveal himself?]]

* AngstWhatAngst: yakko,wakko and dot doesnt show being angry or sad that the recurring characters of the original series (long time coworkers)arent in the reboot.

** "Rug Of War!"'s musical number about William the Conqueror is just plain good in general.

* FanartAtFirstSight: The trailer featured {{Animesque}} versions of Yakko, Wakko, and Dot that got a lot of fanart made out of it even before the context behind said scene, which was [[spoiler: an ImagineSpot the Warners had when trying to get rid of a swarm of rabbits]], was revealed.

** With the ''Creator/{{Netflix}}'' original series, ''WesternAnimation/{{Hilda}}'', thanks to the show tying with the Netflix animated series for the Daytime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Editing in a Children's TV Series". Why? Both shows featuring a PowerTrio? Check! Going on zany and wild adventures and never letting anything get in their way? Double check! Looks like Yakko, Wakko, and Dot have found some new friends to bring with on their adventures. Fans of ''Hilda'' also flocked over to the 2020 reboot for a breather show after witnessing ''Hilda'' 's sudden season 2 cliffhanger. In addition, a second season of ''Animaniacs'' has dropped in 2021 while ''WesternAnimation/HildaAndTheMountainKing'' premiered on December 30th, 2021. By then, ''Animaniacs'' Season 2 is already streaming so that fans can have one heck of a breather after watching one heck of a wham-movie.

** With the upcoming ''Creator/AdultSwim'' series, ''WesternAnimation/{{Pibby}}''. After the trailer for the series dropped with massive critical acclaim, fans began creating Pibby-themed edits of the monstrous [[EldritchAbomination glitchy blob]] invading the Warners' world, infecting the Warners and other characters. Fans have also created fan-art of the Warners taking part in the battle with Pibby, herself, to stop the glitch from taking over.

** In "Bride of Pinky" Dr. Brainenstein says that his castle was built by masons expert in the most advanced techniques of "wall-stone craft". This is a reference to Literature/{{Frankenstein}} author Mary Wollstonecraft's maiden name, before she married Percy Shelley.

** Within the first season itself. Some critics feel that the first few episodes are lackluster and somewhat too caustic, but the humor improves and the cynicism decreases in later episodes. The exact turning point is "Good Warner Hunting," which is all about lampshading why the Warners and Pinky and the Brain are the only ones carrying the reboot and they learn [[spoiler:Chicken Boo was attempting to murder all the Toons to kill the show out of revenge]].

** Ikue Ohtani, the voice of [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Pikachu]], voiced Dot in the short-lived Japanese dub of the original series. Here, one of the ''Pokémon'' anime dub voice actors, Creator/ZenoRobinson, voiced Jay-Pac in "Gift Rapper". It's a case of reverse franchise dubbing.

** Brain attempts to first hug and then kiss a heartbroken Pinky's tears away in "Bride Of Pinky" after the latter is left at the altar, but he loses his nerve before he can go through with either. When Pinky notices, he brightens up immediately and goes in for a hug, only for Brain to flinch and tell him, "Don't."

** During "Reichenbrain Falls", Pinky calls Brain "babe" while telling him not to interrupt. [[spoiler: It wasn't the real Pinky, just Julia in disguise, but it must be pointed out that being called "babe" didn't raise Brain's suspicions, implying that's normal for Pinky. Julia also no longer harbors such feelings for Brain, so presumably she ''also'' did it as part of the Pinky act.]]

** "Good Warner Hunting" [[spoiler: has us believe the hunter has hunted and killed almost every supporting character from the original series, only to be revealed at the end of the segment that they're all alive and well. It's also a collective HesBack and ShesBack moment; Slappy Squirrel, the Goodfeathers (yes, Squit too), and Katie Kaboom are all ready to kick some butt.]]

** Dwayne [=LaPistol=], the villain in "Bun Control," crosses it by trying to [[ItMakesSenseInContext drown the Warners in buns]] when they rightly point out that these are too many bunnies for one Hollywood lot.
** Dr. Walter Grubb [[spoiler: aka Chicken Boo (!!!)]] crosses it when it's revealed [[spoiler:he stuffed and mounted every Animaniacs character, including ''children'' like Skippy and Mindy, along with countless other innocent toons if you look closely, because he was expressly forbidden in the reboot contract to return. He almost says that if he couldn't appear, then no one could, even if it meant he killed the franchise. If anything he ought to have taken revenge on the studio executives rather than the relatively innocent Toons. Heck, even the Warners are disgusted if sympathetic when they realize it. Alleviated a bit when it's revealed none of the supposedly killed characters are actually dead, but the context is still pretty scary]].

** "Starbox and Cindy" isn't just a retool of the general concept behind ''Pinky Elmyra and the Brain'' -- Elmyra actually kept an alien prisoner as one of her pets on that show!

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in "The Warner's Vault," where a heavy-handed lecture about "current" economic turmoil is complimented with a blinking sign that reads "DATED MATERIAL WARNING."

** Despite being based on a show intended for all ages that originally ran on kid-oriented programming blocks, the show is significantly RuderAndCruder than its original iteration and features a ''lot'' of references to pop culture and current events that you actually need to be somewhat familiar with in order to follow the plots, even if both seasons so far are rated TV-PG, although a technical error in Hulu's database rated the second season as TV-14 at its premiere.
*** The TV-14 rating on season 2 might actually be intentional. [[spoiler:The season includes a passing mention of incest, has Pinky commit murder (albeit unintentionally), Julia's twisted mind in general, a character slowly dying on-screen, the Warners themselves dying at the end of three episodes, and no sugarcoating on slavery and genocide]].
** It doesn't help that showrunner Wellesley Wild used to work on ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''.

*** It is also HilariousInHindsight when the second season of both shows ended on a surprise cliffhanger with both yet to be resolved, with Hilda solving theirs with ''Hilda and The Mountain King'', while ''Animaniacs'' preps for an already-renewed third season to solve the situation where [[spoiler:Ralph is promoted to CEO of Warner Bros.]]

*** Pinky’s relationship status being taken was never a constant. Barring an out-of-universe role in ''WesternAnimation/WakkosWish'', she was only referenced once more in the original ''Animaniacs'' in “The World Can Wait”. In the [[WesternAnimation/PinkyandtheBrain spin-off series]], Pharfignewton was referenced only in the season 1 episode “The Third Mouse”. Later on in a season 3 episode which takes place after this, “Operation Sea-Lion”, Pinky falls in love with a sea-lion.

** Wakko's russian bootleg counterpart from "Anima-Nyet" describing Ukraine (among other nations) as part of Russia and thinking about starting World War 3 has become this ever since the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022]].

** Wakko's russian bootleg counterpart from "Anima-Nyet" describing Ukraine (among other nations) as part of Russia and thinking about starting World War 3 has become a lot less funny ever since the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_invasion_of_Ukraine Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022]].

* AngstWhatAngst: yakko,wakko and dot doesnt show being angry or sad that the recurring characters of the original series besides pinky and the brain(long time coworkers)arent in the reboot.

*** Depending on how bad the pandemic death toll situation is and how harsh the lockdown restrictions are in your country/area at the time when you watch the show, this song can come down on the side of FridgeBrilliance or of FunnyAneurysmMoment or be ''both'' in equal measure...

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:
** The song about television show reboots mentions [[WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017 the 2017 reboot]] of ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' (at the time of the show's writing, a year old), when only a few days after the premiere of this show, it was announced that the 2017 ''[=DuckTales=]'' would be ending after three seasons.
** Steven Spielberg tells Dr. Grant and Sattler that he is bringing back ''Pinky and the Brain'' as well as the Warners. Dr. Grant needs to sit down and calm himself from an anxiety attack in excitement. [[spoiler:A few episodes later, the show reveals that the Warners and mice were the ''only'' major characters brought back to headline shorts; Dot comments that they seem to be carrying the weight of the reboot and realizes the [[OhCrap Hollywood lot is empty]]. Cue Dr. Walter Grubb revealing he hunted down and stuffed all the Toons out of revenge for not being included; he was Chicken Boo in disguise. Fortunately, the ending of "Good Warner Hunting" hints that the rest of the cast may return; you can see Minerva, Buttons and Mindy, Katie Kaboom, and Rita and Runt among the mob glaring at Chicken Boo]].
** A ''lightning round'' of it caused by AnimationLeadTime. The first episode has a gag that seems to have been intended to reference the [[YouTubeKidsChannel Johnny Johnny Yes Papa]] videos, with a poster showing Creator/JohnnyDepp starring in a film called "Johnny 2: Telling Lies"[[note]]Relevant lyrics from the Johnny Johnny Yes Papa videos: "Johnny Johnny / Yes Papa? / Eating sugar? / No Papa! / Telling lies?"[[/note]]. This apparently being intended as a meme reference is underscored by immediately following the "Telling Lies" poster with one for "Johnny: The Beginning" that features what appears to be a baby in the style of Johnny Johnny Yes Papa eating sugar. Unfortunately, while the meme reference was relevant in 2018 when the episode was written, plenty of people didn't catch it in 2020, instead believing the "Telling Lies" title was accusing Depp of lying about being a victim of domestic abuse, leading to cries of poor taste.

* HarsherInHindsight: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSGbLxbiODo This parody short released five years before the Reboot]] pretty much predicted The Brain's origin story.

** Let's just say the show's portrayal of Donald Trump and allies is rather divisive.