Taking Over the World
The Brain's nightly plan, and the reasons it never works.
Taking over the world is the goal that drives every Pinky and the Brain segment. In the bulk of each episode the Brain devises a new plan to take over the world with Pinky's assistance, and the plan ultimately ends in failure.
Lore & Background
The failures usually come from the impossibility of the plan, the Brain's own arrogance and overconfidence, an oversight on his part, Pinky's bumbling, circumstances beyond their control, or a combination of these. The formula has exceptions: one episode centers on the hamster Snowball's plan to take over the world using Microsponge, a parody of Microsoft, and in another the Brain spends a single day trying to do anything but take over the world, only for a group of people to vote that he should. There is very little continuity between episodes, though some early plans are referred to again later, such as the mechanical human suit first used in "Win Big".
Reader's Guide
The idea came from two producers of Tiny Toon Adventures, Tom Minton and Eddie Fitzgerald: Tom Ruegger said that Minton always seemed to be scheming to take over the world, while Fitzgerald comedically agreed with him. A common element in nearly every episode is the Brain's question, "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the character responsible for trying to take over the world?
The primary villain behind these schemes is The Brain, a highly intelligent laboratory mouse from Acme Labs who is almost always accompanied by his dim-witted sidekick, Pinky.
What are the specific goals and methods of this recurring gag?
The Brain's sole objective is global domination, which he attempts to achieve through elaborate scientific inventions or cunning strategies devised during his nightly routine.
How does the story of these world-domination plans typically end?
Every single attempt inevitably fails due to a combination of Pinky's confusion, unforeseen flaws in the plan, or simple bad luck, ensuring The Brain never succeeds.
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