In the early 1990’s, a cartoon debuted on television that I quote endlessly to this day. If you’re a regular reader of Big Shiny Robot! then you are probably already familiar with my Animaniacs obsession.
But this funny and educational television series almost turned into several feature films. (Yes, educational. I never even heard of Namibia before watching Yakko sing about the countries, and I can’t even tell you how the President’s Song has increased my Jeopardy score).
Producer Tom Ruegger’s blog shares some artist sketches for Animaniacs movies that never made it to production. The posters are by Bob Doucette. The only story not produced for the half hour Steven Spielberg television series was Wakko’s Wish, but it was a straight to video release rather than a feature film.
You can visit Ruegger’s blog for more information on the posters, but one, Little Orphan Warners, was a take on Oliver Twist
Revolutionary Warners, in which Warner siblings Yakko, Wakko and Dot become involved in the American Revolution, is another story that was considered.
And yet another story idea:
Yakko, Wakko and Dot play troubadours sent on a mission by the King to track down his heir, the princess, in order to save the kingdom. In “Wandering Warners We,” the fourth Warner sibling is introduced: the profoundly untalented “Lakko.” (Before the midpoint of the movie, Lakko is unceremoniously fired from the production by his brothers and sister due to an abject lack of timing and charisma.)
Unfortunately, none of these were ever produced, but we now have the opportunity to relive the fun and frivolity and froinlavin of the Warner siblings on the Hub channel and in a newly released DVD boxed set.
(Via Movies.com)