Animaniacs (TV Series) Piano Rag/When Rita Met Runt (1993) User Reviews

Piano concerts and dogs

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 7 June 2018]

Love animation to bits. It was a big part of my life as a child, especially Disney, Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbera and Tom and Jerry (with tastes broadening further getting older with Pixar, Studio Ghibli and some of the more mature animations out there), and still love it to this day as a young adult whether it's film, television or cartoons. Actually appreciate it even more now, with more knowledge of the different animation styles, directors, studios and what work went into them.

'Animaniacs' has always been one of my favourites. From an early age, it always stood out as one of the most colourful, unique, funniest and cleverest shows, animated and otherwise, ever made. It is not to be dismissed as a show just for children. There is plenty for children to enjoy, any child who loves great animation, humour to laugh at and unique characters will be in heaven. There is more than plenty for adults too, especially the hugely clever in-jokes/poking fun that is likely to be better understood by older viewers with more familiarity for what is being referenced and poked fun at.

While not one of the best episodes, with "When Rita Met Runt" being occasionally too cute and not with much funny and occasions of routine repetition, there is still a huge amount of what makes me love 'Animaniacs' so much. Plus it's back to the more-than-one-story format.

In all the segments, the animation is very well done, with vibrant colouring, crisp beautiful backgrounds and convincing movements for the characters. The music is not only catchy it is actually memorable as well, with an instantly hummable main theme.

The scripts and humour are witty and amusing with clever references and inside jokes in particularly "Piano Rag". As are the situations no matter how silly they are the characters get into. This all springs from a great concept, some shows have a great concept but don't live up to it.

'Animaniacs' was always one of the finest examples of execution of a great concept doing that and superbly, with the story lines here being funny and endearing. Can't decide which is the better one. The characters are immensely likable with unique personalities, with no exception. The Warners are as endearing as ever.

Characters that are brilliantly voiced by the likes of Rob Paulsen, Tress MacNeille, Jess Harnell, Frank Welker and Maurice LaMarche.

Overall, not one of the best from 'Animaniacs' but it is a long way from disgracing it. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Direction Good; Stories Fair

[ccthemovieman-1 · 6/10 · 26 July 2009]

Actually, the song "piano rag" was only done in the last 20 seconds of this eight-minute first segment. The rest of the time our three stars - Yakko, Wakko and Dot - were being chased by their "keepers" or causing havoc at the theater when a snobby pianist was giving a performance. They drive the latter crazy by eating loudly, chewing bubble gum, etc., while he's trying to play Schubert. Most of the gags were routine, nothing to get excited about. The best part of the cartoon was the direction by Peter Bonerz and Charles Visser, who used a lot of ground-level shots which looked cool. The artwork was a lot better than the jokes.

The second half of this episode explains how two characters, who apparently a part of this show in future episodes: Rita and Runt - met each other. Runt is a lovable dog and portrayed as dumb as a brick. He loves human beings. Rita the cat is the opposite. Some of these traits are based on fact but just once I'd like to see dogs portrayed as smart and cats as dumb. It's almost a stereotype in the animation business at Hollwyood. Both of these "pets" are quickly abandoned by their owners. The man who owned the canine said the dog was ripping his house and the cat owner said she wanted someone to cuddle up with and was glad to see her come home - something a cat won't volunteer to do.....usually. Anyway, they both wind up at the pound, waiting for someone to adopt them, or to be "gassed," as the cat puts it.

I'll leave it at that and let you see what happens to these two animated animals, but I wasn't very impressed with either of them as characters who will provide a lot of laughs in further episodes.