Rita and Runt
A cat and a dog form a reluctant duo amidst cartoon chaos and danger.
Rita and Runt are a homeless cat-and-dog duo from the original Animaniacs series. Rita, voiced by Bernadette Peters, is a sarcastic, aloof and intelligent cat who sings; Runt, voiced by Frank Welker, is a dim-witted dog who believes Rita is a dog like himself and keeps saying "definitely". The pair starred in 12 segments and were dropped after the first season.
Quick Facts
- Species
- Cat and Dog
Lore & Background
In their first story the two meet in an animal shelter and break out together to look for a real home. Later segments send them through history and across the map: in a Les Misérables parody set in Paris, Runt helps free Rita and other captured cats; Rita is adopted by Cleopatra and saved by Runt before she can be sacrificed; and during the invasion of Poland the pair help a girl named Katrina find her father. Both characters also appear in the film Wakko's Wish, with Bernadette Peters again voicing Rita.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Rita and Runt?
They are a recurring duo consisting of a tough female cat named Rita and her gentle male dog companion, Runt. Bernadette Peters voices Rita and Frank Welker voices Runt.
Where do their stories take place?
Their segments move from an animal shelter to revolutionary Paris, Cleopatra's court, wartime Poland, Alaska and Nebraska.
More in Episodes & Segments
Elsewhere in Animaniacs
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