I love the Looney Tunes. My dad loves the Looney Tunes. I can't imagine how many thousands or millions of people still love the cartoon serials from the 1930s. But that's how good they are. They're timeless, hilarious, and super iconic. No matter how many times I see a Looney Tunes cartoon, or recently I just saw it, I still find it hilarious. And now that I've grown, I'm noticing things I never did before, catching references I didn't know about, and appreciating the cartoons on a whole new level.
Everything about them is top notch. It's some of the best animation ever. The characterization is superb, so much that it's why Disney Animation, who was the pinnacle of animated achievement, wanted Warner to be such a big part of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The directing is excellent, allowing the likes of Chuck Jones, Friz Freleng and Tex Avery to create a style all their own and build a name for themeselves, as animation directors. Who does that?! And the voice acting is phenomenal, which is probably why they've always had such a hard time bringing the characters back. Because Mel Blanc made those characters so loveable and entertaining. But that's not to say it's impossible. It just means you have to do it right.
Not crap out on it and bring us the new Looney Tunes Show:
For those who may be scratching their heads trying to figure this out, let me explain. It's exactly like you're thinking it is, but hoping it isn't. The premise of the show is Bugs and Daffy are roommates, they spend time together and misadventures ensue, most like by Daffy's antics leading from one thing to the next until it's all nice and crazy. Also, in case you couldn't tell, Bugs and Daffy are very much the "odd couple", Bugs being the irritable "straight man" and Daffy being the vaguely amoral comedic one. Here's a clip of the show which demonstrates the two's personality, as well as the style of the show:
Now if any of this seems familiar to you, you're probably a fan of Cartoon Network's recent hit, Regular Show. Or maybe your a fan of Clerks: The Animated Series. Or perhaps one of any shows with this exact same premise and style of comedy. If you're a fan of Clerks, you'll like this show. But if you're a fan of the Looney Tunes, you probably won't. But getting back to the point; the premise of 'two roommates, one who drives the other insane with his antics' is the most basic concept for a tv show. I would say it's been done a million times, but every example of a show like it actually had the sense to improve upon the concept some. But not this show, their idea of making this show special is purely 'it's got the Looney Tunes in it.' If it wasn't for the fact this show was heavily relying on brand recognition, it would just be a general sitcom cartoon.
The thing is, I don't really see what's wrong with that. I'd rather see them just make up two random characters, plug them in, and have that be the show. I honestly don't think it would matter either. The show has enough comedy it can hold it's own. Just market it right and it'll work. There's no need to ruin Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck but reinventing them to fit the criteria of these characters who are not really Bugs and Daffy. Bugs is not an irritable down-to-earth type who always disappointed by his roommate. He is a silly guy, who's upbeat even when someone's pissed him off.
He's the one to start shenanigans and get people into ridiculous
situations. He has also screws with people, gets mad, and zones out
dressing someone's scalp like a fruit salad. I'm not even gonna mention
the cross-dressing part of his eccentricity. The same goes for Daffy,
who is usually the irritated one who breaks the fourth wall. They're
both nut jobs who go loony and cause distress for others, but Daffy is
the one who became the go to guy for getting the short end of the stick.
Now it's Bugs. And the audience.I understand that characters evolve and change over time, and that Bugs, Daffy, and half of the Looney Tunes characters didn't start the way they they're most recognized. So I'm not gonna get on how not right I think they look kinda odd and remind me of this. But I want to make clear that I'm perfectly in my right to bash this new show and say, evolution or not, because this new version of the Looney Tunes is not an redesign, modernization, or anything of the sort. This is like making a revamp of Ren & Stimpy but using Mickey and Donald instead. It disregards the integrity of the original characters, the work of the individuals who made these characters, and anybody who has the will to actually take a chance on a new idea.
If Warner really really feels the Looney Tunes are all they have to create a new cartoon series with, then why don't they just make more Looney Tunes cartoons?! Cartoon Network has been running classic Looney Tunes for a month, along with their movies, to rekindle interest in the characters. Personally, I think they're just reminding everyone of why they should be upset with this new show. Still, the cartoons were being shown again, and the world rejoiced. The other day, I caught a new cartoon, in full audience-pandering-3D. It was a Wile E. vs the Roadrunner, and it was great. They didn't speak, he tried to catch the Roadrunner, and the Roadrunner bests him. It was totally in the vain of the original cartoons, just modernized. And they played it among all the classics. It was just fine. Disney released a Goofy cartoon before one of their movies a couple years ago, and the audience loved it. Warner could do the exact same. Then they could let Cartoon Network or whoever wants to air the classics mix in a few new ones and give us new classics. It's As Simple As That.
Keep it simple Warner. No need to reinvent. That kind of thinking gives us stuff like this.
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