Episode 37 (PATB): Brain Acres

Brain Acres is the 12th episode of the 3rd season of the Pinky and the Brain spin-off series and the 37th episode overall. It originally aired on September 27, 1997.

Brain Acres[]

Animation by Wang

Plot[]

Brain schemes to grow monster vegetables, resulting in the carrot Maurice being created. Due to Maurice being more "Pinky"-like than "monster"-like, the Brain and Pinky move to a rural farm to properly grow and train giant monster vegetables to take over the world. The plan is sidetracked when the trio comes into conflict with two local farmers who steal their vegetables for a fair contest.

Crew[]

• Written by Charles M. Howell IV, Earl Kress, Wendell Morris and Tom Sheppard
• Directed by Nelson Recinos

Songs[]

• "Brain Acres"
• "Pretty Fair Fair"
• "Grow Free"

Trivia[]

• The title of this cartoon and its titular song are a parody of the sitcom Green Acres.
• Maurice the Carrot appears to be a slight caricature of David Letterman (but with a completely different voice akin to that of Gogo Dodo, who was also voiced by Frank Welker).
• Maurice's origin story is a take on the Frankenstein story.
  • The scene where Maurice approaches Pinky, who is throwing flower petals into the sink, is a nod to the film adaptation of Frankenstein when the monster approaches the little girl by the lake.
• At the beginning of the episode, Pinky reads Highlights for Children, specifically the Goofus and Gallant comics.
• The moment when Maurice gives the mice a thumbs up as he returns to the soil is a reference to Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
• Throughout the episode, Maurice is regarded in a similar manner to Larry. Brain even utters "...And Maurice" when ordering him and Pinky to follow.
  • Just as the ending chorus is heard, Maurice is heard saying "...and Maurice!" after the iris closes; just like how Larry was referred to in the theme song during his debut episode.
• Barry Caldwell received the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Storyboarding at the 26th Annie Awards for his work on this cartoon.
• As of 2022, this is the only production in the Animaniacs franchise to feature Mark Hamill of Star Wars and Batman: The Animated Series-fame.

Soundtrack[]

• "Peer Gynt: Morning Mood" composed by Edvard Grieg
• "We're in the Army Now" by Isham Jones
• "The Poet and the Peasant Overture" by Franz von Suppé
• "This Is The Way" (Traditional Children's Song)
• "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair" by Stephen Foster
• "Someone in the House With Dinah" (Traditional)
• "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" (Traditional Children's Song)
• "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (Traditional Children's Song)
• "Arkansas Traveler" by Sanford Faulkner
• "Rock-a-Bye Baby" by Effie I. Canning
• "Study 1" by Rudolf Kreutzer

Cast[]