Brinky

Brinky is the slash ship between Pinky and The Brain from the Animaniacs and Pinky and the Brain fandoms.

Canon
Pinky and The Brain are best friends, but it is heavily implied they have romantic feelings for each other.

It is clear that the mice care very deeply for each other. Pinky is always by Brain’s side, cheering him on, and wants him to be happy. In the Christmas Special, Pinky writes a heartfelt letter to Santa Claus about the Brain, and later gives him a globe on a keychain. In Pinky’s Plan, he wants to give Brain the world for his birthday. Brain is also shown to care for Pinky, though he is more reserved about his feelings. In the Halloween Special, he gave up the world for Pinky. In That Smarts, Brain never even considered getting rid of Pinky, despite him being the apparent cause for the duo’s nightly failures.

The mice have shown on many occasions (A Pinky and the Brain Halloween, Broadway Malady, Narf Over Troubled Waters) that when they are separated, they grow sad and are not able to function properly. The part of the reboot theme song, when the mice are connected by the tails, and fall apart when they try to separate, is a perfect representation of this, though probably not intentional.

Brain and Pinky have parodied love interests multiple times, such as in Snowball, Run, Pinky, Run, and Narf Over Troubled Waters. They also often dress up as husband and wife for a plan (My Feldmans, My Friends, The Flawed Couple, Noah’s Lark). In Wakkiver Twist, Pinky and Brain are actually married, and it is ironic since they are happy together, but the couple they are parodying (Mrs. and Mr. Bumble) aren’t.

Both Brain and Pinky have referred to each other as “cute” at least once, and in Pinky Suavo, Brain is implied to be attracted to Pinky. Pinky has been known to call Brain “darling” or “babe” on occasion, and Brain referred to Pinky as “my dear Pinky” twice.

In Brain’s Night Off, the mice go out to have dinner together. It could easily be read as a romantic date since both mice are in nice clothes and it’s very awkward.

Pinky and Brain have acted in parental roles twice. In Two Mice and a Baby, they raise the super baby Clark, but more notably is Brinky, when Brain tries to clone himself but Pinky’s toenail clipping gets in the way. The clone, Romy, is a mix of Pinky and Brain’s DNA. Brain gets freaked out when he realizes that he and Pinky technically had a child. Romy is also in one comic issue, and Brain wants him to call Pinky his uncle so things won’t get confusing. This could be alluding to homophobia.

Though Pinky and Brain have had multiple heterosexual relationships, none of them have worked out. Brain once fell in love with a mouse named Billie, who is very similar to Pinky in looks and personality. In You’ll Never Eat Food Pellets In This Town Again, Brain dreams that he is in a loveless marriage with her, and then wakes up in the bed with Pinky. Pinky had a relationship with a horse named Phar Fignewton that apparently ended, because Pinky is shown to try online dating in the reboot. When Phar and Pinky were in a relationship, Brain constantly pestered Pinky about it, hinting that he was jealous (particularly when he says that “Pinky needs a mousey date” in Wakko’s Wish). Pinky has been in a couple of relationships that didn’t work out, such as with Winnie, Penny, and Drusilla. Each time Pinky is upset about a relationship that didn’t work out, Brain tries to comfort him, and in one case, actually leans in to kiss him on the cheek.

Pinky has daydreamed about being a housewife on one occasion, and often acts in the role of a housewife to Brain. He also shows stereotypical “gay characteristics”, such as acting in a feminine way and cross-dressing often.

In the Pinky and the Brain and Animaniacs comics, the potential romance between the mice is even more heavily hinted. In one issue, Brain says that he could kiss Pinky, which Pinky shows no objection to. In another issue, Pinky becomes smitten with a male mouse, and reassures Brain that he thinks Brain is cute too. And in one issue, Pinky admires Brain while he is taking a bath. There are many more instances like these in the comics.

Their romance is also heavily implied in the Animaniacs reboot. In Babysitter’s Flub, when Brain tells Pinky to repeat his plan back to him, he says, “I kiss you over there, then you hug me…”. In some episodes (2 in the original, 1 in the reboot) the writers name drop the ship name, either in the title or the episode. In Plight Of Hand, Brain kisses his hand and caresses Pinky’s face when he thinks his friend is dead. In The Prisoner’s Dilemma, Pinky says he will have to wear yellow at a traffic light party, and glances at Brain when he says, “It’s complicated.” A traffic light party is when people wear red if they are taken, green if they are single, and yellow if undecided. In Narf Over Troubled Waters, the mice parody a lovers elope scene. There are also multiple instances of hand-holding in season 2.

Animaniacs (1993)
In Where Rodents Dare, when Brain is sad when he hears static over the walkie-talkie and thinks Pinky's gone. When he hears Pinky's voice, Brain has a split second look of elation on his face.

In Battle For the Planet, Brain says Pinky flatters him.

In The World Can Wait, Brain falls in love with Billie, a female mouse who is incredibly similar to Pinky in both physical appearance and personality.

In Meet John Brain, Pinky plays as Brain's first lady.

In Twas the Day Before Christmas, Brain says, "my dear Pinky."

In Ralph's Wedding, Pinky and the Brain attend a wedding. Pinky holds out his hand sweetly, but Brain bonks him.

In Noah's Lark, Brain and Pinky plays as a couple.

Pinky and the Brain (1995)
In Das Mouse, Brain holds Pinky when asking if he's alright.

There are a few notable moments in Of Mouse And Man:


 * The interviewer asks if Brain is married. Brain says he isn’t and hesitates before he says he has a roommate. It is interesting how Brain’s mind jumped immediately to Pinky when asked if he was married.
 * Pinky acts in a housewife manner, then he and Brain bicker like an old married couple.
 * At the end, Pinky tends to Brain's wounds.

In Tokyo Grows, Brain jumps into Pinky's arms when he is scared.

In That Smarts, Brain compliments Pinky and asks what Pinky thinks of the next one, calling him “Colleague.” He puts a suggestive emphasis on the word, and his eyes are lidded, it looks like he’s flirting. Pinky further proves this by saying, “Oh, Brain,” with lidded eyes.

In Pinky and the Fog, Pinky says that he loves it when Brain demonstrates.

In TV Or Not TV, Pinky and Brain ride on a motorcycle together.

There's a couple moments in Napoleon Brainaparte:

There's a few notable moments in Snowball:
 * The mice are in the hot tub together.
 * They think they are going to die and see each other as angels.


 * Pinky calls Brain's name in his sleep.
 * Brain sees a poster of Pinky and says he must save his world.
 * The mice parody a romance scene at the end.

The Christmas Special has the iconic letter-reading scene and gift-giving scene.

In Around The World In 80 Narfs, Pinky sighs and says Brain amazes him.


 * Later in the episode, he says Brain is a lamp unto his feet.
 * And at the end, he gets tearful when Brain pats him and says it's thanks to Pinky that the mice will finally take over the world.

Pinky saves Brain in Mouse Of La Mancha.

In The Visit, Brain hesitates before calling Pinky his friend.


 * Later in the episode, Brain gives Pinky a dinosaur sticker, which Pinky loves, and he says, "Hold me!"

In It's Only A Paper World, Brain tells Pinky to move closer because he's lonely.

In Plan Brain From Outer Space, Pinky gets flustered when Brain compliments him, saying that Brain is making him feel "all gooshy".

Pinky calls Brain "Babe" in Brain's Song.

In Welcome To The Jungle when Brain saves Pinky, Pinky says "My hero..." in a swoony voice.

In Megalomaniacs Anonymous, Brain almost says he loves Pinky, changing the word to "tolerate" at the last minute.

In Brain of the Future, Pinky states that he loves when Brain says things about him that he doesn't understand.

In Brinky, an episode which is titled their ship name, Brain tries to clone himself, but Pinky's toenil clippings get added to the mix. The "clone", Romy, is composed of both Pinky's and Brain's genetic building blocks, making Romy their son. Brain freaks out when he realizes this. The episode demonstrates marriage and family troubles, and has multiple gay metaphors.

In Hoop Schemes, Brain says that the Chumsicles are a delicious treat only to be shared between him and Pinky.

In Brain Noir, Billie says that she can never have Pinky with Brain in the way. This could have a double meaning that implies Brain and Pinky have romantic feelings for each other.

In Pinky and the Brain... And Larry, Brain complains that Larry is ruining his and Pinky's chemistry.

At the end of Brain Bogie, there is a specific shot where Brain is staring and smiling at Pinky for seemingly no reason.

Pinky invites Brain into the hot tub in Say What, Earth.


 * Additionally in this episode, Pinky tells Brain, "Where you go, I go."

The mice play a married couple in My Feldmans, My Friends.


 * Also in this episode, Brain says Pinky's giant heart more than makes up for his feeble mind.

In Pinky's Plan, Pinky wants to give Brain the world.

The rescue scene in This Old Mouse is particularly sweet.


 * Also, when Pinky says "Tough love time."
 * And when he tearfully tells Brain to go find his smile.

A cute goodnight scene in Funny, You Don't Look Rhennish.

Pinky is cocerned for Brain in The Pinky Protocol, and wants to help him.

In Pinky Suavo, Brain refers to himself as "hypnotized" when attempting (but failing) to bop Pinky in his Suavo form. Also, the way Brain says, "Yessss..." while his eyes light up implies he is attracted to Pinky Suavo.

In Brain's Way, Pinky refers to Brain as "baby".

The whole Halloween special shows how much Brain cares about Pinky. He went to h-e-double chopsticks for him.

In Brainy Jack, Pinky says, "Oh, Brain. You really know where the kids are at." Brain smiles softly at this.

Brain refers to Pinky as his partner in But That's Not All, Folks.

Brain comforts Pinky after Winnie leaves in Operation: Sea Lion.

Pinky comments on how amazing Brain is in You Said A Mouseful.


 * Also, the crew name drops "Brinky" at the end.

In Schpiel-borg 2000, Steven Spielberg (who is actually Pinky in a suit) says that the show is about the love between the mice.

In Broadway Malady, Pinky sings about how he misses Brain. Brain sees this and tears up. Later in the episode, when Pinky explains what he did for Brain, Brain smiles fondly.

The mice parody lovers at the end of Brainie the Poo.

There is an emotional "death" scene in A Melancholy Brain.

In Brain's Night Off, the mice go to a fancy restaurant together on what seems like a date. It is very awkward because they have nothing to talk about.

In Beach Blanket Brain, Pinky and Brain dance together, and in one part, they have lidded eyes.

Children
Roman Numeral I/Romy

Fanon
Fans tend to believe that the two are a couple, or are at least portrayed that way.

On AO3, Brinky is the most written ship for both Pinky and Brain. It is also the most written ship in the Pinky and the Brain tag and the second most in the Animaniacs tag.

Pinky and The Brain's voice actors Rob Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche seem to be on board with Brinky as they often do skits at conventions where Pinky and The Brain say I Love You to each other. Maurice even said that the series isn't just about taking over the world, but about two people in love. Rob follows this up by saying "I love you Brain" in Pinky's voice, with Maurice replying in Brain's voice "I tolerate you Pinky"

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Pinky/Brain tag on FanFiction.net
 * Pinky/Brain tag on FanFiction.net

TUMBLR