Animaniacs: Wakko's Wish (1999)

Memorable, crazy movie

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Best movie ever!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The final Animaniacs project was released on VHS on Y2K Eve but I didn't see it until it aired on Teletoon Retro a few days ago.All the characters from the show are here but instead of being in their natural habitats they have all been placed in a town called Acme Hills. The Warners and friends are under the oppression of evil King Salazar; who took over their land in a hostile takeover and forces those in Acme Hills to live in abject poverty. As well, Dot needs an operation to help save her life. Wakko goes into the outside world and he returns with a Ha'penny which he intends to use to pay for the operation. However, Baron (Thaddeus) Plotz takes the money away as taxes and leaves Wakko broke again.Wakko then makes a wish to the stars and Pip (a character similar to the one Ben Stein voiced in an episode) grants Wakko his wish but he must trek to where it fell. He tells everybody about the news and it ends up being a mad dash to reach the star, including Baron Plotz and the Evil King Salazar.Wakko's Wish, sadly, isn't the ultimate Animaniacs movie I had hoped for. The story is done to death and the Animaniacs come off this time around as dull. Very few moments of zaniness abound and those moments are the only reason to sludge through the badly disjointed and overlong songs and redundant plot devices. The voice acting is good but it seems many characters have been toned down a lot, such as Jess Harnell's Wakko (who sounds more Continental than British) and Pinky (seemingly less nutty) among others. The animation is terrific and the characters have never looked better but everything else screams mediocre. If you're a huge Animaniacs fan as I am, you should still see the movie and decide for yourself if they finished the series with a bang or a whimper. I feel it was both and that's never a good result.

I am a proud lover of Animaniacs. I love the show so much my classroom where I teach is filled with trinkets and statues dedicated to the show, along with a Rob Paulson autographed statue of Pinky and video cassettes of the show and Pinky and the Brain I occasionally use to illustrate points I am teaching about throughout the year. So, I am a definite fan and a charter member of the PLEASE, PLEASE GET A LIFE FOUNDATION.Unfortunately, this final farewell from Animaniacs is one of the biggest disappointments in film. Instead of the edgy and non-stop humor, some bonehead had the bright idea of making the film maudlin. I hate PATHOS!!! Give me anvils dropping on Baloney's head or make Dr. Scratchnsnif lose his marbles with incessant annoyances--DON'T make the Animaniacs something they are not! This is to be avoided by fans and non-fans--as it gives the impression that this is a worthless show when it is far from true--it's just a worthless movie.

A must for animation fans, the new Animaniacs movie offers music, humor, and wit for viewers of all ages. Adults and teens will enjoy the humor, and the kids will eat up the slapstick. Don't pass up this wonderful conclusion to the Animaniacs saga - it's too much fun to miss!

One of the key factors that went into the development of Animaniacs was the vaudeville-type nature of the show: a large cast of characters with some headliners, and a little bit of something for everyone of all ages. Wakko's Wish continues this tradition with a plot that combines all the major Animaniacs characters, adds a large number of well-done musical numbers, humor for all ages, and overall is an excellent addition (and hopefully not a conclusion) to the Animaniacs series.If you have never seen Animaniacs, this movie may not be the best place to start: there's a lot of in-jokes (such as Dot's story, Pinky and Pharfignewton's relationship, and the oddities in the Cave), and the large number of musical bits may remind you of typical theatric animated films. However, those that are familiar with the show will recognize that music plays a significant role in both the series and in the movie. The music itself is outstanding as composed by Randy Rogel, including several original works as well as a lyrical adaptation of Liszt's 'Hungarian Rhapsody #2' that does an excellent job of progressing the plot instead of being an aside to it.The plot itself is very good; simple and easy to understand for the youngsters, but leaves enough meat for the creative humor that attracts adults to this show. The pacing is a bit off at points; the first and last 10 minutes may seem slow as the characters and setting is established, then concluded, but once the movie hits the middle block, it moves quite well, and you'll wonder where the time went. Given that there are 9 teams aiming towards the Wishing Star (in a "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World"-type fashion), they are connected very well, with airtime shared being all of them fairly (Needless to say, the Warners get most of it, but it's their show to begin with). Even more impressive is that the characterization remains unchanged: Brain still wants to take over the world, Slappy is still grumpy, Mindy is still overly curious. This is also quite surprising given the number of characters actively involved with the plot.Voicework is well done: Rob, Jess, and Tress do an excellent job on their voices for the Warner Sibs throughout, and the supporting cast supply their voices well. All the characters aid in the lyrics, which may be odd for some of the voice actors; for example, Nathan Ruegger, who voices Skippy, is in his own 'wonder years', and his singing may be off at points (but is nicely commented on within the movie).Animation is top-notch as done by TMS, who has done the best animation for Animaniacs in the past. A good use of shadows on both characters and background help to immerse the viewer into the story. There's a few CGI parts, some painfully obvious, some not, but these are limited and do not detract from the overall enjoyment of the show.Those with younger viewers will be glad to know there are no real sensitive parts in this movie. Besides Pinky getting bopped on the head with a pencil, there's no real violence. There is on Bambi-esque like moment near the end, but it passes quickly, and you shouldn't have to worry about consoling your youngster after it's over.Overall, Wakko's Wish is a joy for any fan of the Animaniacs show, and continues the tradition of bringing humor and entertainment that can be enjoyed at multiple levels. Some of the humor and plot requires a passing knowledge of the TV show, but for those that have it, this movie is a great trip, and is an excellent addition to the series.