Which famous director served as executive producer of "Animaniacs"?

In 1993, Warner Bros. Animation took a wild swing at reviving their cartoon legacy and released "Animaniacs" to the world. For the show to succeed, it needed star power behind the scenes – someone who could blend classic slapstick with modern wit. Which Hollywood director stepped in to shepherd one of the most innovative animated series of the '90s?

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The answer is: Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg wasn't just dabbling in animation when he signed on to executive produce "Animaniacs" – he was fulfilling Warner Bros.' longtime dream. The studio had been courting him since the mid-'80s, hoping to recapture their golden age of animation with some Spielberg magic. After the success of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and "Tiny Toon Adventures," Spielberg was ready to push the envelope even further.

The Warner siblings – Yakko, Wakko, and Dot – turned afternoon cartoons into comedic anarchy. Loose in the studio lot after decades locked in the water tower, they terrorized executives with rapid-fire wordplay and perfectly timed pratfalls. Parents found themselves snorting at "Goodfellas" references while their kids memorized songs about the state capitals.

The show assembled an incredible roster of recurring characters, making each segment feel like it escaped from a different corner of cartoon paradise. Pinky and the Brain's world domination schemes spawned their own spinoff. The Goodfeathers paid homage to Scorsese with pigeon-based parody. Slappy Squirrel brought bitter old-school cartoon violence into the '90s. Rita and Runt channeled classic Hollywood musicals. Even the transitional segments and theme song became iconic.

Spielberg's involvement went beyond the credits. He reviewed storyboards, pitched jokes, and wielded his influence when network executives balked at the show's sharper edges. Under his protection, writers slipped social commentary and sophisticated wordplay between the slapstick. A song about the solar system could share airtime with a detailed parody of Les Misérables.

The original run ended in 1998, but the show's popularity never really faded. In 2020, Hulu brought "Animaniacs" back with much of the original creative team, including Spielberg. The revival kept the meta-humor and musical numbers while updating its satirical targets for the streaming era. The Warner siblings may have been locked in that water tower for 22 years, but they emerged with their anarchic spirit fully intact.

Spielberg knew every generation needs its own brand of chaos. Some kids grew up with Bugs Bunny dropping safes on Elmer Fudd. Others had Yakko rapping about the universe while Wakko ate the props.