Pinky

A good-natured but feeble-minded mouse who helps his brilliant partner try to take over the world.

Pinky is a genetically enhanced laboratory mouse residing in a cage at Acme Labs alongside his partner, the Brain. Good-natured but feeble-minded, he contrasts sharply with the Brain's high intelligence and arrogance. Despite his scatter-brained nature, Pinky steadfastly assists in world domination plans, often laughing even when berated or hit on the head. He is the Brain's moral compass and his only true friend: when Pinky sold his soul to the devil to give the Brain the world, the Brain saved him because he missed him.

Quick Facts

Genre

Science fiction comedy

Creator

Tom Ruegger

Director

Andrea Romano (voice director)

Voices

Rob Paulsen; Maurice LaMarche

Theme music

Richard Stone

Opening theme

"Pinky and the Brain Theme" by Jess Harnell
Rob Paulsen
Dorian Harewood
& Jim Cummings

Composer

Richard Stone
Steven Bernstein
Julie Bernstein
Gordon Goodwin
Carl Johnson

Country

United States

Lore & Background

He is tall with a straight tail, blue sclerae and a severe overbite, and speaks in a high-pitched voice with a Cockney British accent. His name was given to him by the Brain by accident: insulting the two scientists behind their gene splicing, the Brain said they had less knowledge in both their heads than he had in his pinky. He has verbal tics such as "Narf", "Zort", "Poit" and "Troz"; he began saying the last after noticing that it was "Zort" reflected backwards in a mirror. Described as extremely unstable and hyperactive, Pinky can still show surprising sense: in "Welcome to the Jungle" he survived on his instincts and became a leader to the Brain, and in "The Pink Candidate", as president, he cited constitutional amendments and legal problems that barred the Brain's latest plot.

Reader's Guide

To understand Pinky, one must recognize his unique speech patterns and tics: "Narf," "Zort," "Poit," and "Troz." He is voiced by Rob Paulsen across the original run, which began in 1993 as a segment on Animaniacs before spinning off into a series with 65 episodes. The show was created by Tom Ruegger for Kids' WB, a collaboration with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Animation, marking it as the first animated series presented in Dolby Surround. Pinky often points out flaws in the Brain's plans that ironically lead to their downfall or offers non-rational solutions. In "The Pinky P.O.V.," an entire episode shows a typical night from his perspective, revealing how he formulates strange responses to the Brain's question: "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"

Origins and Production History

Pinky first appeared in 1993 as a recurring segment on Animaniacs. Due to popularity, the characters were spun off into their own series with 65 episodes produced. The show was created by Tom Ruegger for the Kids' WB block of The WB, in collaboration with Steven Spielberg and his production company Amblin Entertainment, alongside Warner Bros. Television Animation. It holds the distinction of being the first animated television series ever presented in Dolby Surround. The characters later appeared in the sequel series Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain and returned as segments in the 2020 revival of Animaniacs.

Core Premise and Narrative Structure

The series centers on two genetically enhanced mice at Acme Labs, located under a suspension bridge in a large American city. In most episodes, the Brain devises a plan to take over the world with Pinky's assistance, which fails due to impossibility, arrogance, oversight, or Pinky's bumbling. The show frequently parodies films and novels and occasionally takes place in historical times with figures like Merlin, H.G. Wells, Ivan Pavlov, and Johannes Gutenberg. While there is little continuity between episodes, some plans from early seasons are referenced later, such as the Brain's mechanical human suit first used in "Win Big" reappearing in "Snowball." Exceptions to the formula include an episode where the Brain tries not to take over the world only to be voted into power by a group of people.

Character Dynamics and Psychology

Pinky is tall with a straight tail, blue sclerae, and a severe overbite, contrasting with the Brain's short stature, crooked tail, and pink sclerae. He speaks in a high-pitched Cockney accent while the Brain uses a deeper, eloquent voice. Pinky's name originated from the Brain's insult to scientists about having less knowledge than he did in his "pinky." Unlike the coldly unemotional Brain, Pinky is open-minded, kinder, and happier. He often points out flaws in plans or finds non-rational solutions; for instance, in "Welcome to the Jungle," he survived using instincts, and in "The Pink Candidate," he cited legal problems to stop the Brain's plot. In a Christmas special, Pinky wrote a letter to Santa stating that the Brain had the world's best interests at heart.

Scientific Backstory and World Building

Pinky and the Brain are white lab mice whose genes were spliced, granting them amplified intelligence, anthropomorphism, and the ability to talk. The episode "Project B.R.A.I.N." suggests this occurred on September 9, 1995. In "Brainwashed," it is revealed that Dr. Mordough performed the gene splicing using an Acme Gene Splicer, a bagel warmer, and a hot dog steamer, also modifying Snowball the hamster and Precious the cat. The show's title lyrics state "their genes have been spliced." In one episode, the Brain reveals he originally lived with his parents in a tin can at the base of a tree before being captured by ACME researchers.