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Yakko, Wakko and Dot Warner (also known collectively as "The Warner Brothers (and the Warner Sister)", "The Warner Siblings", or just simply "The Warners") are the main characters from the Warner Bros. animated television series Animaniacs. They are a trio of cartoon characters of indeterminate species (creator Tom Ruegger stated that their species is "Cartoonus characterus"[1]) who were, according to the series' fictional backstory, created in 1929 and locked away in the Warner Bros. Studio's water tower because of their uncontrollable zaniness. Yakko is the tall, talkative one who is a big-time smart aleck; Wakko is the absurd one with a large appetite; and Dot is the cute one.

Appearances in Christmas specials[]

Wakko has a giant Christmas stocking

The Warners hang up their Christmas stockings in "The Day Before Christmas".

Throughout Animaniacs' original five-season run, Yakko, Wakko and Dot starred in several Christmas-themed segments, the first two of which were featured in the show's 50th episode in production order (though it was aired as the 49th). The first of these was the episode's first featured segment, "'Twas the Day Before Christmas". In this parody of A Visit from St. Nicholas, the Warners are shown decorating the water tower for Santa Claus's arrival that night, and later hanging up their stockings. Shortly afterward, Ralph the Guard, portraying Santa for them, shows up and delivers their presents.

The Warners next appeared in "The Great Wakkorotti: The Holiday Concert", the third segment of the same episode. In this installment of the shorts featuring Wakko in his role as The Great Wakkorotti, he belches to the tune of "Jingle Bells".

Warners dress as Dickens characters

"Why, it's Christmas Day! Whoa, dumber than advertised."

The next Christmas-themed segment featuring the Warners was "A Christmas Plotz", the first segment of Animaniacs' 49th episode in production order (though it was aired immediately after the 50th produced episode). In this parody of A Christmas Carol, the Warners appear as both themselves and the three ghosts who haunt the Scrooge-like Warner Bros. CEO Thaddeus Plotz. First, Wakko, as the Ghost of Christmas Past, shows Plotz some home movies displaying how cruel the man has been in the past. Next, Dot, taking on the role of the Ghost of Christmas Present, brings Plotz to the home of the just-fired Ralph, where Ralph's adopted son is now planning to get even with Plotz. Finally, Yakko, as the Ghost of Christmas Future, shows Plotz a future in which he becomes the security guard whom the Warners torment constantly. After seeing this vision, Plotz sends the trio to buy the biggest fruitcake they can find and have it delivered to the trailer where Ralph and his family live.

"Little Drummer Warners", the second segment of that episode, features Yakko, Wakko, and Dot as a trio of shepherds who travel to the town of Bethlehem and come to see baby Jesus in the manger. Unlike the Three Wise Men who also show up, the Warners have no gifts to present to Jesus, but they are able to show him their performance of "The Little Drummer Boy".

The Warners make only a brief cameo in "The Twelve Days of Christmas", the first Animaniacs Christmas segment produced after the show moved from Fox Kids to Kids' WB!, featured in the show's 79th-produced episode. Here, they are shown as members of the orchestra providing the music to the Little Blue Bird's performance of the titular song.

Wakko writes his letter to Santa

Wakko writing his letter to Santa.

The Warners' last starring role in a Christmas segment during the original series was "Noel", featured in the show's 84th episode. While Yakko and Dot are decorating their Christmas tree, Wakko is writing his letter to Santa Claus, but he misspells the name as "Santla". To the tune of the song "The First Noel", Yakko shows him the correct way to spell the name. This is followed by two more spoof verses sung by the Warners, and one last verse in which they admit that they've probably just ruined the original song for everyone watching.

"The Christmas Tree", the final Christmas segment of Animaniacs' original run, features a cameo by the Warners at the very end. After Slappy Squirrel convinces the CEO of Rockyfellow Center to move her tree back to the forest, the city instead uses the Warner Bros. Studio's water tower in place of their annual Christmas tree. Yakko, Wakko, and Dot are shown telling the people of New York City to stop their noisy caroling and turn the Christmas lights off because they're trying to sleep.

Warners singing

The Warners in "Santamaniacs".

25 years later, the Warners have the starring role again in "Santamaniacs", the middle segment for the Christmas episode of the 2020 Animaniacs revival. When they find that Santa Claus didn't leave them any presents, the Warners travel to the North Pole to find out why, and learn that it is because he has become disillusioned due to letters he has received from ungrateful children. The Warners eventually convince him to continue delivering gifts by singing to him about how they could try doing it themselves.

Gallery[]

Citations[]

  1. Interview with Tom Ruegger, Nickelodeon Magazine, May 1996

External links[]

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