WARREN — Rob Paulsen may be Randy Rogel’s biggest fan.

Paulsen was the voice of Yakko, who caused mayhem on the Warner Bros. lot with his siblings Wakko and Dot in the ’90s animated series “Animaniacs,” and he also was the voice of Pinky in “Pinky and the Brain.” Rogel wrote the songs that were an integral part of the comedy on those shows, which mixed a modern sensibility with the comedic style of the classic Looney Tunes cartoons created by people like Tex Avery and Chuck Jones and featuring music by Carl Stalling, Milt Franklyn and others.

Paulsen and Maurice LaMarche, who was the voice of the Brain, will perform with Rogel on Saturday when “Animaniacs in Concert” comes to the Robins Theatre.

“I’m good at my job, but the star of the show is Randy’s music,” Paulsen said. “Every single time, there are moments in the show where I’m transfixed.

“This music is cartoon Sondheim. That’s not hyperbole either. It’s brilliant and has stood the test of time. You’ll hear how the songs were created. You’ll hear songs that never made it. It’s a wonderful way to have this lovely intimate opportunity to get this huge dose of nostalgia and laugh like crazy. It’s a glorious evening of pure entertainment.”

“Animaniacs” was popular with kids of the ’90s as well as their parents, who grew up on the cartoons that inspired it. Paulsen continually is reminded of its impact, because those children of the ’90s now occupy the writers’ rooms on today’s comedies or are young executives with the networks, cable channels and streaming services that keep him working.

Without fail, there comes a moment in a meeting with those executives where they pull out an “Animaniacs” toy or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figure (Paulsen was the voice of Raphael and later Donatello on that animated series) and say, “‘It would mean everything if you would sign this for me,'” Paulsen said. “For me, that’s a victory whether the show gets picked up or not.”

And “Animaniacs” is about to get discovered by a new generation. Hulu has ordered new episodes of the animated series, which are expected to debut later this year. The new show features the original voice cast. Steven Spielberg, whose Amblin Entertainment produced the original series, is involved in the reboot, and having the “king of Hollywood” involved, as Paulsen describes Spielberg, has its perks.

“We’re scoring with a full orchestra again,” Paulsen said. “That never happens unless you have Steven, but the difference is astonishing.”

Paulsen nearly wasn’t here to enjoy it. In 2016 he was diagnosed with throat cancer, a scary diagnosis for anyone, even more so for an actor who makes his living with his voice. Treatment for stage three cancer changed his appearance and his taste buds, but it didn’t take away his voice.

He now can look back on the diagnosis and the treatment as a gift.

“At the risk of getting existential, the joyful aspect of my work is even more heightened,” he said.

He also has become more empathetic. Long before he had cancer, Paulsen often was asked to call or visit sick children whose favorite cartoon characters were the ones Paulsen brought to life. He was happy to do it before, but those moments are more meaningful now.

“I can hold someone’s hand, and I get it in a completely different way. It hasn’t made me more talented, but it’s made me more appreciative of being able to help.”

agray@tribtoday.com