Disclamer: For the purposes of United States copyright law, this story is a derivative work using characters from the Steven Spielberg TV animation show, Animaniacs and DTV movie Wakko's Wish. Also, elements of this prologue are use characters from Pinky, Elmyra and The Brain. I own none of the characters or the series mentioned; all rights are reserved to Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment. Also the author is not gaining any profit from this and no charge will ever be offered to the readers of this story.

This story uses one element from an anecdote from one of the creators of the show. Also, as in the style of Animaniacs, there are parody characters, however the personalities of these characters do not necessarily reflect their real life personality. All other parts of this story are fiction; any resemblance to any real life events is purely coincidental.

"The Warners That Time Forgot"

By

WarnerGuy

Fade In:

[Exterior shot of Warner Bros. Studios, opening titles]

Prologue: Wakko's Forgotten Wish

It is bright day over the Warner Bros. studios as the entire cast of Animaniacs are just about to wrap up filming for their movie It's A Wakko Wakko Wakko Wakko Wish, to be opening in cinemas in the holiday season. The cast finish their final song inside a soundstage, onto an elaborate set that brings to life the town of Acme Falls. As the final note of the song is belted out by the cast, the director screams, "Cut, print, that's a wrap. Great work by everyone! If anyone needs me I'll be in the coffee room," and then mutters to himself "I really miss my coffee hit." With his job done the cast are left to themselves to give themselves congratulations for a job well done.

The Warners are satisfied with their work as Wakko says, "I love happy endings." Yakko, happy but relieved takes a big sigh and goes "I'm just happy when it ends" in his trademark smart-ass style. Dot trys to cheer-up Yakko, even though she knows he's kidding around. "Oh come on Yakko, anything movie we make has got to be tons better then the cheesy 3D stuff they make at these days. It will never catch on"

Suddenly a serious looking man in a suit comes walking towards the cast. Yakko, usually knowing what men in suits have done to the show, warns Wakko and Dot. "Uh oh sibs, some guy in a suit's coming this way. It's probably The WB censors again!" The man in the suit laughs at Yakko's supposed joke, as he starts explaining, "No I'm not a censor Yakko, I've just come to congratulate you on the filming of your movie. Allow me to introduce myself" Yakko, to a non-existent audience remarks, "The conversation is already starting to get boring." The man in the suit continues, "My name is Doug Wellner, new studio head and CEO of Warner Bros."

Overhearing this, the man everyone though was CEO, Thaddus Plotz is amazed, "I thought I was CEO!" Mr Wellner, in a kind of spiteful tone, explains otherwise, "You were, until the board of directors voted you out of the position" Mr Plotz yelled, "Who authorized this meeting!" Wellner simply states, "I did." At this point Mr Plotz is ready to go at Mr Wellner... until Wakko decided to hit him with an anvil which was just lying around set. How convenient. "Thank you Wakko. That was starting to drag on." Yakko says, again acknowledging the audience that is not there with him. He continues, "Now tell me DW, why exactly are you invading on our lives?"

Mr Wellner looking a little annoyed, proceeds with his reasons for coming here, "First, don't call me DW. Second, I've come to tell you of some changes our studio is making to your program." Wakko feels a little dissapointed, "but why?" Dot agrees, "We work just fine thank you!" Yakko protests, "Yeah! You can't do this to us; we're your networks biggest stars! And that's saying something" Me Wellner tries to reassure the Warners buy calmly saying, like a TV executive, "Relax; they're just some small changes. Now the title of the movie, the guys at marketing think it's too long, so we're going to have to shorten it."

Wakko, again looking concerned, quietly protests, "But I choose the name personally. Everyone loved it." Mr Wellner thinks otherwise, "Wakko, we love your title but could you image the trailer guy saying 'Coming this holiday season It's A Wakko, Wakko, Wakko, Wakko Wish!" Now, we're going to shorten it to "It's A Wakko Wish.'" Mr Wellner ponders a little bit. "Actually I still think it's too long, I like Wakko's Wish better." Wakko disagrees, "But-"

"It's settled. Wakko's Wish, premiering on video this holiday season," Mr Wellner interrupts. The Warners now look quite angry and ready to pounce, but they don't have anything to pound Mr Wellner with heavy objects. All of the material around them are just props and sets made of plastic and wood. Dot is the one who finally says something "The studio promised us a big screen movie premiere! I was going to be the next Barbra Streisand" Mr Wellner, again in a executive way, tries to explain to them, which is hard for anyone to do. "Our WB release schedule has two of our family releases clashing with each other, yours and Pokèmon: The First Movie."

To the Warners horror, their movie was being shafted to video for a fad, imported from Japan to make Warner Bros. big bucks. However, who can blame WB? Pokemon had video games, trading cards, a hit TV show, merchandising and all the other stuff that comes with licensing. Compared with Animaniacs they had mildly successful video games, a couple of sing-along VHS and CDs and merchandise that only their most dedicated fans really bought. Yakko tries to change Mr Wellner's mind, "What's so great about Pokèmon? It's just a kid travelling around with some pets. There's no comedy in that." Wakko adds cheekily, "I've seen it. There's no anvils in it, that's why I don't like it." Dot states a fact about the show (which she is right about), "And the boy sounds like a girl. Plus I'm much cuter then any of those things." OK, maybe not the cute comment,

Mr Wellner, now reveals his true attitude to the Warners by talking down to them, "I'll let you talk to out test audiences on that one. Face it, this is new and you're old news. Plus Pokèmon is much more marketable and profitable for the studio then… you three." Yakko catches on to this, "I'm starting to get the feeling you don't like us." Mr Wellner doesn't hide the truth, "Honestly, I don't like you, or your show, which takes me to my next item." In which he shouted to the cast "You're all fired!"

The entire cast shout in horror, except Mindy, she's too young to understand what's going on. Pinky and the Brain are the most upset by this, as it takes away their spin-off show as well. Pinky runs to Mr Wellner, angrily pointing at him, "You can't fire us! We have rights you know, narf!" The Brain, for once, supports Pinky on that statement, "This is an outrage. Our show has been one of the biggest hits of The WB schedule" Yakko interjects, "And that's also saying something." Pinky agrees, "Narf! Except when it was put on Sunday nights." He then laughs before shouting uncontrollably "Troz!" The Brain, as always is not happy with what Pinky is doing, "Quiet Pinky or I shall have to hurt you." "Zort! OK Brain."

Mr Wellner, however has a plan to save Pinky and the Brain, suprising I know, "Oh, don't worry Pinky, you and your friend Brain will still have a job. The network wants a sitcom like The Simpsons and the creative department responded well with adding a third character to the show." He then yells at an open door on the set, "Oh Elmyra!"

Elmyra enters the stage skipping and dancing towards Pinky and The Brain while gleefully singing How Much is That Doggy in The Window? The Brain screams in terror, Pinky not so much. Mr Wellner, acting very fatherly towards Elmyra tells her of her new co-stars, Pinky and the Brain. Instantly, Elmyra falls in love with them, "Oooohhh, cute little talking mousy-heads!" She then picks them up and squeezes them tightly. The Brain is not enjoying this, Pinky is slightly enjoying it however. "I'm going to hug you and squeeze you and we will have sorts of fun times together!"

The Brain protests, "Why on earth did you bring this oaf along?" Mr Wellner explains, "Our test audiences showed us that kids really like this kind of stuff." Once again, Yakko interupts with another smart-ass remark, "You're test audiences must be hyenas, they'd laugh at anything. This is a terrible idea for a show". Mr Wellner ignores Yakko's comment and continues, "Elmyra, are you ready to take your new pets home with you?" In an instant Elmyra agrees and starts to smother Pinky and the Brain, "Yes Mr Angry Bald-headed Suit Man. Come on! We're going to have lots of fun today!" She then proceeds to name Pinky and The Brain, even though they have names, "You look like a cranky big head mousy, I know I'll call you cranky Brainy big head mousy! And I'll call you silly big nose mousy!" Pinky replies, "Yes, I am very fun-fun silly-willy. Troz!" and laughs.

Elmyra starts walking off the set while the Brain ponders, "Well Pinky, out fate has been sealed, but we'll continue what we usually do tomorrow." Pinky replies, "Why Brain, what are we going to do tomorrow? Play dolly-dress up?" The Brain then explains to Pinky the same thing that he has said to Pinky almost every night, "No Pinky. The same thing we'll be doing every day, endure Elmyra and try to take over the world!" He thinks "Hopefully this won't last to long." And so Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain leave the set while a voiceover chior, nowhere to be seen sing, "They're Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain, Brain, Brain, Brain!"

Mr Wellner wonders, "Where did that choir come from?" Wakko says, "What choir?" Forgetting about the choir the story continues with Dot once again wondering about the future, "So what about the rest of the guys? Huh?" Mr Wellner repeats, "I told them all they're fired." Now Skippy is next to speak out although his voice is deeper then we are usually used to hearing, "But, I need this job to pay for my college education." Mr Wellner looks puzzled. Skippy says to Mr Wellner, "What? I've got to hit puberty some time, I've been on this show for 6 years now, the guys back in the studio alter my voice."

Mr Wellner, fed up with the cast just orders them to leave. And then, pre-empting a heart-fealt song from Rita yells "Don't start singing Rita, nobody liked your songs and they made no sense!" Skippy and Slappy start a conversation, with Skippy, in a worrying tone, asking, "What are we going to do Aunt Slappy?" Slappy, with a optimistic attitude... well, her version of optimistic, "Nothing. Don't worry about it Skippy. I've been fired more times by Hanna-Barbera then this yutz."

The Goodfeathers start walking as Squit, once again, tries to put a metaphor on things, "Well, I guess were out of a job, and we were going to be such big stars too." Pesto, as always, taking Squit's comment the wrong way asks, "What do you mean by that?" Squit tries to tell Pesto, "You know, we were going to be Hollywood's next big thing." Pesto, doesn't understand, "No, I do not know what you mean. Are you saying that I am big? That I look like some large tub of lard here to be put on your garden for you?" Pesto is now getting angry. "No, no, all I'm saying is that we were going to be big stars," Squit repeats. Pesto believes to be understanding now, "I was going to be big?" "Yeah, yeah, that's what I'm saying" Squit appears to be relieved... until Pesto gets really angry and starts to fight with Squit, all with Bobby laughing his beak off.

Buttons and Mindy walk past Mr Wellner, with Mindy simply saying, "OK, Mr Man, I love you, bye-bye," innocently, while waving at him. Everyone has now left the building except Dr Scratchansniff, Hello Nurse, Ralph and Mr Plotz; who has recovered from his anvil dropping.

Yakko again tries to save his show, "Say! What does Steven have to say about this, he couldn't possibly put his name to the shlop you're telling him to make?" Mr Wellner retorts "I don't care if Steven's made award-winning films and TV shows and I don't care how many Oscars he wins, he is only an executive producer who answers to me! The head of the network!" This time Dot tries to sway the CEO, "What about our fans, we have a big Internet following." Again, Mr Wellner has a retort, "The Internet will never be a place for true social interaction. Your fanbase is just a normal fan club, with the exception of it being virtual (I hate the internet!). They will never be able to influence the network!:

Yakko, now fighting a lost cause asks of their fate, "So what about us then?" Wakko and Dot have tears starting to well up in their eyes. "Yeah, what's going to happen to us?" "I don't want to end up living on the street," Dot dramatically pleads. Mr Wellner seems to have this covered, "You're going back to where you belong, your water tower, and I'm making sure you stay there!"

The Warners start to smile and, for the first time in the conversation, band together in defiance. "Many have tried, and many have failed, To keep us locked in the tower!"
Mr Wellner seems to have something up his sleeve, not literally, that'd be just grouse. "But you're forgetting, it's almost the 21st Century, and we have new technology compared with the 1930s. You're staying in your tower, permanently!" He then starts to evilly laugh, the villain.

Yakko gestering to Mr Wellner "Oh yeah, just try and stop us!" But Mr Wellner seems to have that taken care of again. "I've secured the exits, with the latest capturing devices. Oh and Wakko, I've taken away your gag bag, I've made sure of it" He then take out a bag, though it isn't Wakko's gag bag, that'd be just silly "So go on, get in the bag. And the tower will be permasealed with the latest technology. You'll never escape again!

Yakko suddenly looks depressed, "Well sibs, this looks like the end of us… for now" Wakko and Dot are stunned, "But we never give up." "We always pull ourselves out of situations." Yakko explains to his siblings, "Yeah, but he's got us beat, finally we lose." Yakko then winks his eye at Wakko and Dot, unseen by Mr Wellner. Wakko and Dot now realizing Yakko is up to something, play along with him and gasp. Mr Wellner claps his hands slowly, like the villian he is and exclaims, "Well I must say Yakko, this is highly out of character for you, and I congratulate you for it"

The Warners walk into the bag, doing their best to look depressed. All the while Dr Scratchansniff, Hello Nurse, Raplh and Mr Plotz look on. They to try to sway Mr Wellner.

Dr Scratchansniff, the Warners closest 'special friend', "Isn't this taking it a bit too far Mr Wellner?

Hello Nurse, the constant love figure of Yakko and Wakko, "They were pains in the neck."

Ralph, the one who got the worst of the Warners, "Duuuhhh, they always bonked me on the head."

Mr Plotz, the guy whose responsibility is was to keep the Warners locked up: "And they always snuck up from behind and scared me, but…"

And together they display they're affection for Yakko, Wakko and Dot "We've warmed to them!"

Mr Wellner is displesed, reminding them that they work for him "Oh! What do you know, get back to work before I fire you too!"

And so, after escaping from the water tower in 1993, and since being embraced by the old heads of the studio, the new head Mr Wellner, has permasealed the water tower, making sure that they will never escape again! But what is this feeling Yakko has that made the Warners act out of character? I guess we'll never know.

To Be Continued…

Yakko: "Wait, I thought the writer just said, 'We'll never know'

No Yakko, someone will save you, someone will.