2011 American animated series and sitcom
The Looney Tunes Show is an American animated sitcom produced by Warner Bros. Animation, and aired on Cartoon Network for two seasons from May 3, 2011, to November 2, 2013. The series differed from others featuring characters from the Looney Tunes, by focusing on stories conformed around a sitcom format involving the characters of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, who live a surburban life together within a neighborhood of fellow cartoon neighbors, dealing with various issues in their own way. Both the characters from the Looney Tunes, as well as the Merrie Melodies theatrical cartoon shorts, were given a 21st century update,[1] with episodes also including a musical short; the first season also included computer-animated shorts involving new antics between Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.
The series received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the visual style and voice acting, but criticized its departures from the classic cartoons, lack of ambition, and changes to the characters' designs and personalities.[2][3]
Premise
The Looney Tunes Show revolves around the lives of Bugs Bunny, who owns a surburban home after inventing carrot peelers that pay him royalties, and Daffy Duck, who is Bugs' roommate, as they deal with different issues and problems that they encounter, some of the time caused by Daffy's rather bad lifestyle. The pair reside within a neighbourhood inhabited by a number of notable Looney Tunes characters including Yosemite Sam, Granny, Gossamer, and Speedy Gonzales, with both Bugs and Daffy having girlfriends in the form of Lola Bunny and Tina Russo, and a regular friendship with Porky Pig. Other Looney Tunes characters, like Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, and Sylvester and Tweety, have less prominent roles but still partake in stories in their own way.
Unlike other Looney Tunes productions, the series focused less on slapstick and fewer visual gags, in favor of more adult-oriented dialogue and significant sitcom elements including love triangles, employment and rooming.[4] Episodes often contained at least two stories featuring Bugs and Daffy, and sometimes led by others in the show.
Alongside the main plots of the episode, the story would often include a Merrie Melodies – a two-to-four-minute music videos showcasing classic characters singing brand new original songs. For the first season only, the show also included new computer-animated shorts involving Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, and a new spate of antics between them.
Production
The Looney Tunes Show was originally envisioned as Looney Tunes Laff Riot, a "true-to-the-classics" show emulating the original run of Looney Tunes shorts announced in July 2009 by Warner Bros. Animation.[6] However, it was scrapped because the executives were not impressed, and it was later retooled into the sitcom-inspired The Looney Tunes Show which premiered on May 3, 2011, on Cartoon Network.[7] The show features new character designs by Ottawa-based artist Jessica Borutski which were first created for Looney Tunes Laff Riot and also later retooled for the final series.[8][7] The Laff Riot pilot would surface on September 4, 2020.[9]
As is standard for most modern animated sitcoms like The Simpsons and Family Guy, the series does not use a laugh track.
The animation was produced by Yearim and Rough Draft Korea, along with Toon City Animation in the first season. The Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner shorts were produced by Crew972.
Cancelation and spin-off film
On July 29, 2014, it was announced that the series would not be renewed for a third season.[10] A direct-to-video spin-off film named Looney Tunes: Rabbits Run was released on August 4, 2015.[11][12]
Broadcast
The Looney Tunes Show premiered in the United States on May 3, 2011, through August 31, 2014, on Cartoon Network. In Australia, the series began airing on 9Go! and Cartoon Network Australia.
The Looney Tunes Show premiered in Africa on Boomerang Africa on May 17, 2011, in France on Boomerang France, in the UK on Boomerang UK and on different Boomerang feeds throughout Europe.
The Looney Tunes Show premiered in Canada on Teletoon on September 5, 2011.
Reception
Critical response
The Looney Tunes Show received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the voice acting and animation, but criticized its departures from the original cartoons, lack of originality, and the characters' designs and personality changes.[2][16][3]
In a 2010 interview with CBC News, series animator Jessica Borutski said in response to fan criticism of the series' new character designs, that the original designs were intended for adults and that "[it is] time for a new generation to meet the characters."[3] Borutski said, "a fresh, new design is the only way to keep characters alive."[3] Cartoon historian Chris Robinson noted also that the mark the original characters have on fans is indelible and that fans are not receptive to change. "[Fans] just really become attached to these things," Robinson said. "It's just so strongly rooted in their childhood that they're unable to separate themselves."[3]
Common Sense Media gave the series 4 out of 5 stars, saying: "Fun remake of classic toon has a more grown-up feel."[17] Ian Lueck of Toon Zone panned the series as "bland and recycled", and said: "Parents, if you want to start your kids on something good, show them the original Looney Tunes theatrical shorts. They're better made, funnier, have more energy, and more of a personal touch than the assembly line The Looney Tunes Show."[18] Maxie Zeus of Toon Zone, praised the series' visuals, but also criticized its unfaithfulness to the source material and lack of originality in its sitcom format, writing: "So who thought it would be a good idea to put the Looney Tunes characters—who even in domestic settings tend to reduce the house and furniture to matchsticks—into a sitcom? Say what you will about Loonatics Unleashed, but at least it had the courage of its psychopathic convictions. The Looney Tunes Show is just bland" and "it's no worse than dull."[19]
Awards and nominations
The Looney Tunes Show was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards.[20]
Music
Two albums compiling songs from the show have been released digitally by WaterTower Music:
- Songs from The Looney Tunes Show, Season One (2012)[23]
- Songs from The Looney Tunes Show, Season Two (2013)[24]
