Title: My god...what have they done to the Looney Tunes!?
Description: Loonaticz to the MAXXTREME!
Comrade Natrak - February 19, 2005 03:46 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
WB to update characters for 'Loonatics'
Associated Press Feb. 17, 2005 05:10 PM
NEW YORK - Bugs Bunny and his pals are being updated for the future - way in the future. The WB network will take the famed Looney Tunes characters as models for a new children's series, "Loonatics," that will air on Saturday mornings starting this fall. The characters' descendants - Buzz Bunny and the like - will be superhero action figures for the cartoon set in the year 2772.
The network's animators have re-imagined Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Wile E. Coyote as sleek new figures for a modern age.
"We all flipped for it," David Janollari, president of the Kids' WB, said this week. "We just said, `Wow, what a great way to take the classic Looney Tunes franchise that has been huge with audiences for decades and bring it into the new millennium.'"
Janollari said both boys and girls enjoyed the new action figures in test runs of the show. Their parents may be a little surprised, however.
"I think the legacy is intact," he said. "If anything, it's an homage to the legacy instead of a destruction of the legacy." |

| QUOTE |
February 17, 2005 -- HAS Warner Bros. gone daffy?
That's what fans of the studio's classic cartoon characters might be asking after they get a look at the new, futuristic versions of some of their favorite animated heroes, which Warner unveiled yesterday.
The Looney Tunes characters — six in all — have been "reimagined" (in studio parlance) for a new series called "Loonatics," which is set to air next fall on WPIX/Channel 11 as part of the Saturday morning Kids' WB program lineup.
The show features new versions of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, the Tasmanian Devil, Road Runner and Lola Bunny (the newest of the characters, who was introduced in the 1996 Michael Jordan movie "Space Jam").
For "Loonatics," the six characters are being projected 700 years into the future, given superpowers, and outfitted in tight-fitting, slenderizing space gear.
Apparently, falling anvils and exploding cigars are no longer enough to keep kids 6 to 11 years old entertained.
"This is a kids show intended for kids today who are growing up in the Internet age, an age of technology, an age of hip, cool animation, and something that we hope will resonate with that age group," explained Sander Schwartz, president of Warner Bros. Animation, in a phone interview from Hollywood.
He said the characters' superpowers have not yet been finalized. And neither have their names, although they are expected to have names close to those of their ancestors (think Buzz Bunny).
And what of all the other classic Looney Tunes characters? What about Sylvester and Tweety, Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepe Le Pew, Speedy Gonzalez and Marvin the Martian?
And what about Porky Pig? Is poor Porky destined to stutter and remain fat and pantless for the rest of history?
Schwartz said Warner settled on six characters because that's as many as a half-hour ensemble show can handle. But he didn't rule out guest appearances by some of the other legends of Looney Tunes, although in futuristic form.
But cartoon purists, raised on the easy-to-understand hilarity of Elmer Fudd blowing Daffy Duck's bill off with a shotgun blast to the face, might rightfully lament the fact that their own kids won't get a chance to grow up exposed to that same kind of classic comedy.
To that complaint, Schwartz notes the old Looney Tunes cartoons will likely run forever on some channel or another, including the Warner-owned Cartoon Network and Boomerang cable channels.
"And secondly," he said, "these are cartoons. Lighten up! They're fun and the existence of one doesn't preclude the existence of another." |

Personally, I don't like it one bit. It looks to me like WB have made some half-arsed attempt at injecting some 'attitude' into the Looney Tunes.
BrotherEstapol - February 19, 2005 03:53 PM (GMT)
Usually I'm opent o stuff like this, but not this time.
I hope it doesn't get past season 1.
Loach - February 19, 2005 05:18 PM (GMT)
That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen.
[DZ] - February 19, 2005 09:40 PM (GMT)
Whaaa? :blink: But Looney Tunes characters are supposed to cute an happy, not "sharp" evil looking mutant super heroes. :(
Although I like the art, I just can't accept Loonatics as a reborn LT. It just looks and sounds so wrong.
I don't thinks its gonna last too long. I hope, actually!
KickyFunkFresh - February 19, 2005 11:53 PM (GMT)
They should just bring back Animaniacs, or even Tiny Toons for that matter.
Hello - February 20, 2005 12:02 AM (GMT)
This reminds me of Space Jam, but even more shit.
Film Guru - February 20, 2005 02:20 AM (GMT)
Oh my gosh they've raped Loony Tunes. :blink:
Not only have they taken some of the most classic characters and ruined them, but they've given them super powers and made them look like spawns of the devil. :nooo:
Seriously, it's not that hard to create a new group of super heroes, but for everyone's sakes, don't ruin a classic franchise. But, in the end, it's up to them. Their mistake.
WB, you're crazy... :argh:
Gio - February 20, 2005 02:20 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (KickyFunkFresh @ Feb 20 2005, 10:53 AM) |
| They should just bring back Animaniacs. |
Heh heh, they were the best thing ever. :P
This "Loonatics" business makes me sad. :(
Stevorooni - February 20, 2005 09:31 AM (GMT)
This idea is as stupid as Poochie the rapping dog.
* Drops a giant anvil on WB *
kami - February 20, 2005 09:39 AM (GMT)
I'm just wondering why "reimagined" = evil looking. If it was say for Elmer Fudd or maybe even Wile E. Coyote it would maybe be even slightly understandalbe, but all of them including bugs?
~DC - February 20, 2005 09:45 AM (GMT)
Plus since when does black = modern age?
kami - February 20, 2005 09:51 AM (GMT)
Perhaps they were trying for some sort of Tron-like look?
DJ-Civic - February 20, 2005 01:04 PM (GMT)
*Spits*I find this an insult to Chuck Jones, Friz Freeling, Mel Blanc and all those who created the now classic Looney Toons. They should create a new IP instead of butchering these characters! Stupid WB! Stupid kids!
Manny M - February 20, 2005 09:33 PM (GMT)
"Now we return you to the Mattel chocobot hour"
Ok, so they're trying something new and "edgy", big deal. Your WB characters of old are still there, waiting for you to relive those memories on a video tape.
Despite the animation, which I quite like (wonder if road runner will now swear, causing a "beep, beep" of censorship, instead of his trademark "meep, meep"), i'm just waiting to see what the actual show will be like.
Dorepoll - February 20, 2005 10:49 PM (GMT)
What the hell? Make it go away. This is, as many others have pointed out, an insult to everything the original cartoons stood for. Loony Tunes was never about attitude, it was about silly gags that made you roll on the ground laughing.
They better not fight crime or some shit.
Stevorooni - February 21, 2005 06:08 AM (GMT)
If they're all futuristic and stuff, Elmer Fudd will probably be a badass intergalactic bounty hunter.
kami - February 21, 2005 06:37 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Manny M @ Feb 21 2005, 08:33 AM) |
"Now we return you to the Mattel chocobot hour"
Ok, so they're trying something new and "edgy", big deal. Your WB characters of old are still there, waiting for you to relive those memories on a video tape.
|
Well except this seems at best like some sort of half arsed effort that hasn't really been thought out too well. And that stuff DJ said about butchering the characters and insulting memories of Chuck Jones et al.
I almost get the impression that the following conversation took place.
"Hey, we should do something with these characters. They're old. And old is definitely bad."
"I know! Let's put them in the future. Everyone likes stuff put in the future."
"Yeah, and since they're in the future we'll give them special future suits. How do black suits sound? And maybe we should make them thin as well."
"Yeah, I like Black. And Black is also very slimming. Very futuristic. And we should give them super powers too. Everyone likes super powers."
"Great idea! And while we're at it, we need to think of an edgy, cool name. Something extreme. Like Loonatics."
"I think we're on to a winner here."
Whilst it's perhaps just as bad to try and keep things the same and not trying anything new, it would have been a little bit better to have a more appropriate context, or just create new IP.
markymark - February 21, 2005 08:25 AM (GMT)
i must admit that i've never been the hugest looney toon fan... but even i can recognise this as an abomination.
so who is the pink bunny? buzz in drag?
Shadow Knight - February 21, 2005 09:45 AM (GMT)
Worst. Idea. Ever.
Well close enough. >_> :P
kami - February 21, 2005 10:31 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (markymark @ Feb 21 2005, 07:25 PM) |
| so who is the pink bunny? buzz in drag? |
That would be Lola Bunny - the character introduced in Space Jam.
DJ-Civic - February 21, 2005 02:58 PM (GMT)
I can see all the toy recalls now; "Due to extremely sharp corners, eye gougings and toy-related stabbings, ALL Loonatics toys are being recalled due to safety reasons."
I mean seriously, can you imagine toys with those angles being sold?
Manny M - February 21, 2005 08:47 PM (GMT)
Yes, and it'll make them millions ;)
Old fashioned pessimists the lot of ya. Continue yer bellyachin' when it actually comes out, and you see for yourself how it runs.
Although, if they touche my beloved Yosemite, they're dead meat!
h&r - February 22, 2005 04:31 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Hello @ Feb 20 2005, 10:02 AM) |
| This reminds me of Space Jam, but even more shit. |
The versatility is so beautiful I'm crying.
Fyuusii - February 23, 2005 09:06 AM (GMT)
They'd look grand if they were some kind of absurd fan project, but it does seem a bit much to replace a classic franchise with something horrifically jazzed-up. I like the style; it's just not "replacement" material... Heck, nothing really is.
Though really, Animaniacs and Tiny Toons weren't much different. I hated them all. I'll roll out with Optimus Prime any day over hunting wabbits.
DJ-Civic - February 23, 2005 03:21 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Manny M @ Feb 21 2005, 08:47 PM) |
| Although, if they touche my beloved Yosemite, they're dead meat! |
Too late... :P
Hello - February 23, 2005 08:48 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (h&r @ Feb 22 2005, 03:31 PM) |
| QUOTE (Hello @ Feb 20 2005, 10:02 AM) | | This reminds me of Space Jam, but even more shit. |
The versatility is so beautiful I'm crying.
|
Heh. I think I express myself beautifully, too.
Manny M - February 23, 2005 09:26 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (DJ-Civic @ Feb 24 2005, 02:21 AM) |
| QUOTE (Manny M @ Feb 21 2005, 08:47 PM) | | Although, if they touche my beloved Yosemite, they're dead meat! |
Too late... :P
|
:o
Actually, he doesn't look too bad, except for that pointy hat. I just can't wait to watch it, just to see what the hell they all do.
Film Guru - February 23, 2005 10:00 PM (GMT)
It's a photoshop job, dude. :P
Citizen Erased - February 24, 2005 11:50 AM (GMT)
WTF is this..
Loony Tunes on crack.
well, it good bye to falling anvils and singing frogs
DJ-Civic - February 24, 2005 01:14 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Film Guru @ Feb 23 2005, 10:00 PM) |
| It's a photoshop job, dude. :P |
I thought he would've noticed. Took me 10 minutes to "design" and draw that. :lol:
Gio - February 25, 2005 11:05 AM (GMT)
I just don't get it. Are they supposed to make you laugh or jump out of the TV and kill you with their pointy fingers?
>_< My childhood cartoons ruined!
DJ-Civic - February 25, 2005 02:31 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Gio @ Feb 25 2005, 11:05 AM) |
| >_< My childhood cartoons ruined! |
Childhood? You're still a kid. :P
Gio - February 26, 2005 12:29 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (DJ-Civic @ Feb 26 2005, 01:31 AM) |
| QUOTE (Gio @ Feb 25 2005, 11:05 AM) | | >_< My childhood cartoons ruined! |
Childhood? You're still a kid. :P
|
Childhood years 1-12
Teen years 13-19
:P
DJ-Civic - February 26, 2005 02:39 PM (GMT)
I love how when you're young you want to be old(er). ("I'm 13 and 11/10ths, and that's OLD!")
And when you're old, you want to be young. ("I'm only 25.... *cough*") ;)
Film Guru - February 27, 2005 01:53 AM (GMT)
I dunno, I like the idea of aging, just not to the point where you're all fragile. :P
Besides, I guess seeing a legendary cartoon series older than all of us looking younger than we remember makes us all feel older. :lol:
Manny M - February 28, 2005 09:28 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (DJ-Civic @ Feb 25 2005, 12:14 AM) |
| QUOTE (Film Guru @ Feb 23 2005, 10:00 PM) | | It's a photoshop job, dude. :P |
I thought he would've noticed. Took me 10 minutes to "design" and draw that. :lol:
|
I thought it might have been a photoshop job, but you did a good enough job of it to convince me. Good work Civ!