Einstein

The faithful sheep dog who travels through time with the Brown family and remains a constant friend to Marty McFly.

Einstein is the faithful sheep dog residing with Dr. Emmett Brown, his wife Clara, and their sons Jules and Verne on a farm in Hill Valley during 1991. In this animated timeline, Einstein serves as a constant companion to the family and a trusted friend to Marty McFly. His vocal effects were provided by Danny Mann during the first season and later by Hal Rayle in the second season. As a key member of the Brown family, Einstein accompanies them on their time-traveling misadventures, sharing in the adventures that take the group to exotic locations across different eras.

Quick Facts

Species: Sheep dog
Owner: Emmett "Doc" Brown
First appearance (animated): Back to the Future: The Animated Series (September 14, 1991)
Residence: Farm in Hill Valley (1991)

Lore & Background

Following the conclusion of Back to the Future Part III, the animated series places Einstein in a new setting: a farm outside Hill Valley in 1991. He lives alongside Doc, Clara, Jules, and Verne, forming the core family unit that replaces the McFly focus of the films. In the animated series the DeLorean has apparently been rebuilt after its destruction at the end of the trilogy, and it now has voice-activated time circuits and can fold into a suitcase. The characters also travel through time using the steam locomotive time machine Doc invented at the end of the third film. While Marty McFly remains a main character, the show focuses primarily on the Brown family. The dog is also seen traveling to parallel time zones where relatives of the McFly, Brown, and Tannen families exist in past or future settings.

Reader's Guide

Einstein functions as the emotional anchor for the Brown family in the animated series, providing continuity as they traverse time. He is explicitly identified as Marty McFly's friend, bridging the gap between the protagonist and the new family unit centered on Doc and Clara. His presence is essential to the show's dynamic, which contrasts with the films by focusing on the Browns rather than the McFlys. Fans should note that Einstein's voice actor changed from Danny Mann in season 1 to Hal Rayle in season 2. The dog accompanies the group whether they use the rebuilt DeLorean or the steam locomotive time machine, proving his adaptability to various modes of temporal travel.