There wouldn't be any question of seeing anything animated regardless of the studio, director, style, how old it is and its critical reception. Due to being, as said many times, such a huge fan for goodness knows how long. With my knowledge having been extended and broadened, my love and appreciation for animation has overtime significantly increased. Have found this in almost all of my revisits of animated childhood favourites.
Do consider 'Pinky and the Brain' the slightly more superior show to the still wonderful 'Animaniacs'. All of that show's numerous qualities are present in 'Pinky and the Brain' though the latter executes them even better. It, as well as 'Animaniacs', has always been one of my favourite shows, yet actually love it even more now with more knowledge of animation and understanding the humour more, actually think older audiences will get more out of the humour and writing and find it funnier for that writing. Same with animation in general. 'Pinky and the Brain' has something for everybody and children and adults alike will love it, it is so much more than "just another kiddie show" and should never be dismissed as such.
'Pinky and the Brain' showed with their Christmas special that it could do holiday/seasonal episodes brilliantly. The same applies for this "A Pinky and the Brain Halloween", which is every bit as brilliant.
There is nothing to criticise the animation quality for. The characters designs have no stiffness (personally think they have a little more refinement than those in 'Animaniacs'), the backgrounds are very detailed and the colours are a mix of vibrant and atmospheric. The Halloween setting is very vivid and inventive with lots of colour and memorable imagery.
Music is also faultless. The scoring is dynamic and composed in a way that is always adding to the actions, expressions and gestures and doing what good music scores in animation should do in enhancing them.
Have never faulted the writing in 'Pinky and the Brain' and certainly don't here. It is such smart writing, its best parts riotous like the lawyer jokes and the exchanges are mini masterpieces. It achieves a perfect balance of never being too simplistic or too convoluted, while also being imaginative and touching with some tension that never traumatises thankfully.
Writing-wise, in a less formulaic (which was never a bad thing on 'Pinky and the Brain') episode to usual, the cleverness, creativity and idea variety of the writing and storytelling which are nowhere near as silly or confined as one would think looking at the premise. One worries about the episode being repetitive, no worries are needed because there is a lot of freshness and variety to stop that from happening.
Easy to understand for younger audiences but adults will find it still intelligent and with some degree of complexity. It's easy to follow while not being childish. 'Pinky and the Brain' always excelled when it came to references and spoofs, and there is no exception here. "A Pinky and the Brain Halloween" is a quite different 'Pinky and the Brain' episode, with some supernatural elements (uncharacteristic and that's an interest point in a good way) and nostalgic Halloween touches. All imaginatively handled without ever being too scary.
Characterisation continues to shine. Pinky and Brain were two of 'Animaniacs' best characters, Brain especially stole the show whenever he appeared and elevated already very good to great episodes to an even better level, and more than deserved their own show. For me they are even more interesting and defined here in 'Pinky and the Brain' and that is present here. It is hard not to endear to Pinky and his inane comments and actions, he is very stupid and one can see why he frustrates Brain. But he is one of the finest examples of stupid not falling into the trap of being obnoxious, a trap often fallen into. Pinky instead is very funny and often hysterically so and simply adorable, one has to admire his spirit and perseverance. But "A Pinky and the Brain Halloween" sees more depth to him, where he is selfless and would anything for Brain showing how much he cares despite the abuse he gets, plus his reactions to what he goes through surprises.
Do find Brain the slightly more interesting character in the show, though here he and Pinky are about equal. He is the infinitely smarter one of the two, a genius in fact, although also the meaner and more intricate one, a very large contrast. Somehow though he is still very endearing when these traits could easily have made him unlikeable and un-rootable, his scheme and how he goes about it is one of his more imaginative ones and it is impossible not to love his deadpan personality and dark sarcasm. Like Pinky though there is more substance to him here, showing a more conflicted side in trying to think what is more important to them between world domination and Pinky.
Mr Itch is a great supporting character, very entertaining while also sinister and the two are very well balanced.
One of the biggest strengths of 'Pinky and the Brain' is, and always has been, the relationship/chemistry between Pinky and Brain and that is obvious in "A Pinky and the Brain Halloween" and the different slant on it and the two characters makes it even more interesting. The depth to their contrasting personalities and relationship doesn't feel forced at all. The chemistry between the two is just delightful, and like the Christmas special there is more substance to it than usual with it being obvious how much they care for each other underneath the frustration and such.
Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche both are amazing and throughout the show gave some of their best ever work, especially LaMarche. The life and depth they bring to the characters is instrumental in why the characters work so well, their voices suiting the them and their personalities perfectly. The bond between them throughout 'Pinky and the Brain' has always been present.
Gary Marshall is also creepy and fun as Mr Itch.
In summary, brilliant. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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