Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Animaniacs season 2.

Animaniacs season 2 ended on a surprise cliffhanger, which teased the question of whether or not the show would be renewed for a third season. Ironically, the show’s fate has never been in doubt, as Animaniacs season 1 was a hit with audiences and the show was renewed several months before season 2 premiered in November 2021. Yet the series still ended with a major change to the status quo of life on the Warner Movie Lot.

Originally airing on Fox and The WB, Animaniacs was one of the most popular animated series of the 1990s. Produced by Jaws director Steven Spielberg, the series was meant to be a throwback to the classic Looney Tunes cartoons, with pop-culture references and subtle satire for adults mixed with slapstick children could enjoy. The series, largely centered around the Warner Siblings Yakko, Wakko and Dot, won multiple Emmy Awards during its original five-year run.

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The final cartoon of Hulu’s reboot Animaniacs season 2 finale, “23 and WB,” followed the Warner Siblings as they tracked their newfound family after getting a DNA test online. The results declared them to be long-lost cousins of Nora Rita Norita, the CEO of Warner Bros. in the world of Animaniacs. This led the siblings to crash a Norita family reunion, where the Warners immediately endeared themselves to the Norita family matriarch, Flora Dora Norita, who was also the CEO of Warner Bros.’ parent company, Mucho Telefono. (This was a joking nod to AT&T, who merged WarnerMedia and Discovery earlier in 2021.) Hijinks ensued as Flora put her family through a series of challenges to be named heir apparent to her empire, such as fixing her computer, preparing a proper cake, and looking at all her old photo albums with her without yawning. The Warners easily emerged as the clear winners, as Nora Rita Norita and her venomous sisters and spoiled daughter were eliminated, one by one, and Yakko, Wakko and Dot were promised Flora Dora Norita’s fortune, “barring any unlikely last-minute revelations.”

How The Animaniacs Season 2 Finale Sets Up Season 3

Naturally, shortly after the last of the scheming and greedy Noritas were dismissed following a Willy Wonka-style musical number, a scientist from 23 and WB arrived to deliver the unlikely last-minute revelation that the Warners’ lab results had been mixed up with someone else’s. The identity of the true lost cousin of the Norita family was swiftly revealed, as Ralph, the security guard (who typically chased the Warner Siblings around the Warner Movie Lot) arrived with the kettlebell that Nora Rita Norita had sent him to retrieve earlier in the episode. Flora Dora Norita instantly recognized Ralph, whom she said was the spitting image of her beloved long-lost brother Ralphonozo.

One transition later, Ralph was promoted to Chairman of the Board at Warner Bros. and luxuriating in the pool of a fabulous mansion with Flora. The hapless Nora Rita Norita was stuck producing movies based on unlikely mash-ups of Ralph’s two favorite things, DC Comics superheroes and food. The episode ended with Warner Bros. apparently on the verge of bankruptcy thanks to Ralph’s ideas for movies like P for Pancetta, Stew-icide Squad and Wonder Woman Bread, as the Warners mused upon the troubles Ralph’s promotion presented. Dot Warner concluded that the situation sounded “like a problem for next season. If there is one…“

Animaniacs Season 3 Is Happening

Despite the Animaniacs season 2 finale ending with the fate of the series uncertain, Animaniacs has been secure in its fortunes for quite some time. Hulu confirmed Animaniacs season 3 in February 2021, with a 10-episode season order. This is unsurprising given that Animaniacs’ season 1 premiere garnered the most social media mentions of any Hulu Original to date. It is unknown how quickly audiences can expect to see Animaniacs season 3, but with the early renewal and shorter season order, Hulu seems to be pushing for a late 2022 release.

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About The Author


Matt Morrison
(1835 Articles Published)

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Matt Morrison has been writing about comics since before the word
“blogging” was coined. He got his start writing for the
legendary DC Comics digital fanzine Fanzing,
before receiving his own column, The Mount. Since then he has gone on
to write for over a dozen websites, including 411
Mania, Comics
Nexus and The Cult of Nobody. He holds both an MS in Information
Science from the University of North Texas and a BFA from the
University of Texas at Arlington. Known as a font of comic book
history trivia, he has delivered lectures on the history of American
Comic Books, Japanese Manga, Doctor Who, and Cosplay at over a dozen conventions
and served as an Expert In-Residence for a course on Graphic Novels
for Librarians at the University of North Texas. In addition to his
work for Screen Rant, Matt is currently the Editor In Chief of
Kabooooom.com and writes reviews for No
Flying, No Tights – a graphic literature and anime review site
aimed at teachers and librarians. He also maintains a personal blog –
My Geeky Geeky Ways –
which hosts his extensive episode guide for the television series
making up The Arrowverse as well as his
comedic Let’s Play videos. What little spare time he has is
devoted towards acting, role-playing, movie-riffing and sarcasm. You
can follow his adventures on Twitter, @GeekyGeekyWays.

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