As a lifelong cartoon enthusiast who grew up with the timeless charm of Looney Tunes, I find myself both excited and disheartened by the recent developments surrounding this beloved franchise. On one hand, I’m thrilled to see the return of Daffy Duck and Porky Pig in a new adventure that promises to be out of this world (pun intended). The idea of these iconic characters embarking on an intergalactic journey to save Earth from alien invasion is nothing short of exhilarating.
Long Live Looney Tunes. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for a lot of other IP’s once under the Warner Brothers banner. Among a laundry list of theatrical take-downs, website wipes and digital content deletions, WB recently scrubbed one of its longest-standing streaming services. Standing as the director and writer behind The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (the first fully-animated, wholly original Looney Tunes theatrical picture in history), Pete Browngardt commented on the recent cancelation of Boomerang, the all-around classic toon channel:
It’s getting harder and harder to discover traditional animation these days, particularly through streaming services. While they offer a lot of great content, they also control what we can access. My advice is always: if you value something, track down a physical copy and store it at home. That way, when I want to revisit something from the past, I have a copy – whether that’s a Blu-ray or any other format.
This firm stance by Browngardt only amplifies what is currently being felt by those who — at one point — fell in love with all things streaming. While hundreds of classic Looney Tunes shorts were removed at the beginning of last year, they were luckily put back in rotation last March. But other offerings weren’t that lucky. Just in October alone, 80 movies were quietly removed from Max. Not only that, but some hit animated series which once dominated Cartoon Network’s lineup vanished from the platform as well. These included fan favorites such as Regular Show, Ben 10 and Chowder (which Browngradt worked on). That’s not even mentioning the Coyote vs. Acme controversy.
A Classic Duo for Modern Audiences
It’s inevitable that challenges arise when updating traditional intellectual properties. Max has experienced this firsthand, with their animated series “Velma” facing criticism for its innovative takes on the classic Scooby-Doo gang. However, unlike “Velma,” the director of “The Day The Earth Blew Up” ensured that Daffy Duck and Porky Pig would not experience major changes in their appearances or personalities by the end of this “Looney Tunes” movie.
I wanted them to have experiences and learn from their experiences – but at the core, Daffy’s still nuts and Porky’s still the good guy.
Browngardt explains his decision to select these well-known characters was because they can peacefully share a space without wanting to harm one another, unlike other duos such as Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam or Sylvester and Tweety who often have confrontations. This particular pairing offers the opportunity to create an intriguing narrative.
Back in October, The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie graced the screens at its North American Premiere in Los Angeles. But fear not, fellow enthusiasts of this timeless animated series, or simply cartoon lovers like myself, as we’ll get to witness this spectacle on the big screen when it hits theaters on February 28th, 2025! Until that exciting day arrives, let’s catch a glimpse of what’s to come with a brief synopsis and sneak peek of the upcoming movie below:
In an unforeseen turn of events, Porky and Daffy become our unsuspecting champions as they grapple with the looming peril of an alien attack. This action-packed, side-splitting adventure finds them in a mad dash to save Earth, filled with humor that’ll make you laugh out loud and stunning visuals reminiscent of Looney Tunes’ classic charm – only this time on a grander scale and magnitude never seen before! It’s going to be an out-of-this-world experience!
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2024-10-25 04:03