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The Mitchells vs. The Machines is an animated Netflix original that delves deeply into an end-of-the-world scenario where robots have taken over the world. While the movie is quiet popular as it is, enjoying the top spot on Netflix’s top ten list last week, it was originally going to include much more in the realm of post-apocalyptic imagery and throwbacks to other post-apocalyptic movies.

At the 2:08 minute mark in the video below, the Flicks and the City narrator explains how the animation team couldn’t get in contact with the appropriate people at Hasbro for permission to use the Furby’s likeness in the film. So an alternative was to create an evil “Tickle Me Melmo” character that mimicked Immortan Joe from Mad Max: Fury Road.

Tickle Me Melmo, complete with eye patch and metal arm, then assembles a gang of microwaves who shout out the familiar “I live, I die, I live again!” and “For Valhalla!”

Of course, the studio eventually got Hasbro’s approval to use the Furbies in the scene, making it one of the most exciting (and disturbing!) from the movie. Still, we would have loved to see those Mad Max references front and center.

You can catch The Mitchells vs. The Machines now on Netflix and check out our podcast where we give our own review of the animated film.

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