Heartwarming / Animaniacs (2020)

Face it. Even after 22 years, being with your siblings is the best!

Even the totally insaney adventures with Yakko, Wakko, and Dot have their sentimental moments.

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General

• Just like in the original series, every time Yakko, Wakko, and Dot engage in a Security Cling when they face uncertainty. These three, even 22 years later, have it out for protecting each other from harm.
• The Incredible Gnome in People's Mouths' whole gimmick. The intro describes him as being driven by rage, but he chooses to channel that rage positively by being a Voice for the Voiceless.

Season 1

• The Jurassic Park parody introducing the series. Even Played for Laughs, the sheer emotional power of the original scene still comes through, and you're right there with the characters freaking out over the show coming back.
  Dr. Satler: Where are they going?
  Steven Spielberg: Home.
  • A small moment, but it's Dot who carries Steven in her arms when he explains how he "reanimated" them.
  • It's even more poignant compared to the introduction of the original series, where the Warners were The Dreaded among animators and had to be locked up. Now people miss them and are in awe to have them back.
• The first episode, "Suspended Animation", literally had Yakko, Wakko, and Dot in a secure group hug◊ when Wakko accidentally sets the alarm in their water tower and the siblings immediately turn their "protection gears" on. Even though the net misses them, we still get an adorable shot of the Warners hugging as they protect each other.
• During "Here Comes Treble", after Dot makes a funny joke, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot share a group laugh. Awww...
• The entirety of "Future Brain", which is basically dedicated to showing how much Brain truly cares about Pinky: The mice are visited by Brain's jaded, lone future self, who has concluded that Pinky is nothing but a liability and the reason all his plans failed and is determined either to convince his past self to get rid of him, or... eliminate him. Brain refuses to listen to him or get rid of Pinky, despite every argument that Pinky is the reason his plans for world domination fail. There's no hesitation, no temptation. The conflict is Brain literally fighting his future self, not questioning whether or not he's right. When the visitor first whisks the mice away from the Oscars, the first thing Brain says to him once they stop at the lab is, "I demand that you untie my friend immediately!" When Pinky suggests they get back to the Oscars, brain immediately sides with the mouse who's "been my loyal assistant for years," preferring to work with him rather than his future self. It leads up to Future!Brain holding a laser gun to Pinky's head, begging his past self to "let me do this." Despite the fact that Pinky did legitimately just ruin his Oscar plan, as soon as his future self is distracted, Brain tackles him in a ferocious rage. It ends with a tender moment where Brain all but directly reciprocates Pinky's statement that they're best friends and always will be.
  Brain: Thank you... for saving my life, Pinky.
  Pinky: Why, of course, Brain! You're my best friend!
  Brain: And you... are Pinky.
  Pinky: Oh, that's sweet, Brain.
  • After Brain deduces from the newspaper what happened to his future self, he makes a point to say, "Pinky, I want you to know that I've never questioned how devoted you were. ... You know what? I will take your unthinking loyalty over intellectual cynicism any day."
  • Fortunately, it's implied Future!Brain isn't as cynical as he tries to appear. Despite his insistence of how Pinky can't be trusted, he truly seems to enjoy his company, from happily eating all the homemade cheesecake Pinky brings him to doing the Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering? bit with him. The end finds him teleported back to the dawn of time, where he immediately becomes friends with a walking fish with a familiar face and catch phrase.
  Future!Brain: How do you feel about taking over the world, fish friend? I shall call you Blinky.
• The ghosts of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Sojourner Truth getting their well-deserved kudos in Dot's song about the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage.
• When Wakko gets hurt during the Animesque sequence in “Bun Control”, Yakko goes ballistic, attacking Dwayne LaPistol head on. Even though he doesn’t win, it’s incredibly wholesome seeing Yakko be so protective of his younger siblings.
  • From an earlier point in the same episode when Dwayne first offers the bunnies, you have Wakko and Dot cheerfully begging Yakko if they could keep them like little kids asking their parent for a new pet or toy. It should also be noted that while Yakko has his suspicions, he does initially let his siblings keep them because it makes them happy and the buns weren’t immediately dangerous. It’s only when the situation gets out of control that Yakko asserts that the bunnies have to go.
• The fact that they brought the old cast back (albeit in non-speaking cameos) in "Good Warner Hunting", reassuring fans that these characters haven't been forgotten — and also leaving open the possibility that they could return.
• At the end of "Gold Meddlers," the Warners actually take pity on their antagonist after seeing him reduced to tears, and (albeit briefly) wonder if they went too far.
• Dot rescuing Yakko’s soul from Nickelwise and both her and Wakko reassuring Yakko in “Fear and Laughter in Burbank” when the latter is shaken up by his fear being exploited:
  Yakko: (desperately) You guys think I’m funny, right?!
  Dot: Of course! You’re one of my funniest brothers! Easily top 2!
  Wakko: Same for me!
  Yakko: Awww, thanks!
  • Immediately after this, Yakko asks where his younger siblings have been while they were separated, clearly worried about the prospect they were subjected to similar ordeals like what he went through. It’s only after they assure him they’re fine that Yakko goes back to his chipper self again, laughing and dancing around with his brother and sister.
  • It's also been pointed out that Yakko literally had just finished having a panic attack right before asking where his siblings have been; yes he asked if they thought he was funny but that was clearly just because he was in the middle of panic and once said panic was resolved, his concern immediately goes to his charges.
• The ending of "Gift Rapper", in which Jay-Pac gracefully accepts his defeat by the hands of Yakko's rhymes. It's notable because in Animaniacs, it's rare for an antagonist to own up to the Warners without suffering a Disproportionate Retribution and/or Humiliation Conga first.
  Jay-Pac: Respect.
  • During Yakko's Mic Drop gag, he tosses a giant microphone from the rafters. In a rare moment of averting slapstick to respect their competitor, Wakko and Dot actually pull Jay-Pac out of the way when it crashes into the stage.
• The scene in "Bride Of Pinky" where Pinky is crying over Drusilla breaking up with him, Brain approaches Pinky with the intent of kissing Pinky's tears away.
• In A Zit! Dot is dismayed at having a zit on her face, and the zit starts talking and says he doesn't like having Dot attached to his butt. But then Dot has sympathy for the zit on hearing that zits only live for 7 days, and the two of them visit a zoo. Cut to a memorial of the short lived talking zit.
• "Hindenberg Cola":
  • Turns out the reason why Hello Nurse hasn't appeared is revealed in a line made by Scratchy:
  Dr. Scratchansniff: I should have joined Doctors Without Borders like Hello Nurse.
  • The Warners decide to help Dr. Scratchansniff recover from his food poisoning. While they say it's because it's no fun if he's sick for real, we know they care. They go to the most obscure mom-and-pop shop, and wrestle with Niedermann to get it for their closet parental figure. While the whole thing was just a way for Scratchy to get the upper hand on the Warners for once, the fact that they went to such lengths to help him feel better is incredibly sweet.
  • Despite the fact that Dr. Scratchansniff revealed that he was faking his illness to get revenge on the Warners, they look more worried for him given how shaken up the can has become. Yakko even kindly warns him about it before the doctor sprays them. They're willing to let him have this win.
• After a decade of "Yakko's World" and "Wakko's America", Dot, following in her brothers' footsteps, finally gets a solo history song with, "Flotus, Flotus, What Do You Know About Us?". And upon singing it throughout, Yakko and Wakko cheer her on, proud of their baby sister. See what happens when her brothers are cool?
  • Prior to it, Dot also gets a solo song not just about Women Suffragettes, but also successfully rallying all the cartoons together and securing their right to vote. Dot has really matured a lot after 22 years.
    Dot: That's why the right man for the job is always a women.

Season 2

• Cora is a spoiled brat throughout most of My Sour Sixteen, but after doling out some karmic justice, Dot realizes the problem is Cora's crush didn't show up and they share a hug.
  • Speaking of "My Sour Sixteen," when Nora shoves Wakko off her desk, the next shot shows Yakko holding him with a concerned look.
• Some of the Warner sibling moments in "Please Submit":
  • Just when they thought the Warners are safe, they spend a few seconds dancing in a circle.
  • Pictured above, immediately after saving Wakko from being hacked, Dot and Yakko have no words needed to say and embrace Wakko in a group hug.
• "The Warners are Present": after the three siblings start asking a long list of inane questions to the artist (who is meant to sit there motionless, putting herself on display), she eventually snaps — not at the Warners, but at herself, asking WHY she is doing this and what her art even means. The Warners then take her out for pizza.
• The ending of "Yakko Amakko" is surprisingly sweet; after being tormented by an unseen animator throughout the whole episode, she's pulled into the cartoon by Yakko after he tricks her into giving him extra arms. She reveals that tormenting cartoon characters is one of the only outlets she has and that he's actually her favourite Warner. Yakko is quick to forgive her, and after messing with Scratchansniff, Nils Neidhart and Nora instead, it cuts to the animator's desk where the two of them are eating ice cream.
• The entire ending of "Happy Narfday": Pinky reveals that his birthday was actually a month ago, but he didn't want to bother Brain because he was so busy with his plans. And what's the final thing he wants to do on his list? To try and take over the world. Even Brain gets choked up at this.
  • And a Freeze-Frame Bonus when Pinky points at his birthday on the calendar reveals that his birthday is March 11th... the same day as his voice actor, Rob Paulsen!
• The Warners sharing a tearful group hug◊ during their apology video.
• The Reveal of what's inside the purple egg in "Warner's Ark"; it's Baby Chicken Boo.
• Sure, it's played for laughs, and it's hinted that his inane ideas will bankrupt the studio... but it's still nice to see Ralph get a happy ending for once in "23 and WB."
• Even though the season finale ends on a cliffhanger, we still get one last sibling moment with the Warners as they hang out at the security gate.

Season 3

• "Soda-pressed": Despite her cutesy on-stage persona, Gigi Soda is forced to work all the time and never be a kid. The Warners take her out to do traditional kid activities like looking for a Four-Leaf Clover and riding a shopping cart. For the first time, Gigi seems genuinely happy.
• In "Warner Games", Yakko apologizes for his jokes at Wakko's expense:
  Yakko: It's easier than telling you how much I care.
• "Crumbly's Moment" features a clumsy football mascot who dreams of being a ballet star. At the end, the ballerinas accept him and he joins their class.

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