Pinky and the Brain began as recurring characters on Animaniacs in 1993 before getting their own Warner Bros. animated series in 1995. The premise follows Brain, a genius lab mouse, and Pinky, his good-natured but foolish sidekick, with nearly every episode built around Brain's nightly scheme to take over the world. The line became a defining 90s cartoon catchphrase, widely quoted on early internet forums and later meme videos. It endures because the setup instantly frames any small plan as hilariously grandiose.