Looney Tunes, a True Classic
Yes, Calvin and Hobbs, Savage Chickens, and Tom and Jerry may be fantastic examples of comedy and satire in comics and cartoons, all that has made me laugh, but I chose to devote this page to Looney Tunes because of the cartoon's exemplary example of comedy and satire, plain and simple. Also, this television show of the twentieth century is a true classic, lasting from its first showings in the 1930s to the next century, the new millennium. I can recall countless road trips, illnesses, and childhood memories peppered with my siblings and myself watching this remarkably hilarious and enjoyable show. Even now, after a few years of absence from watching numerous shorts of Looney Tunes I can remember distinctively many scenes from episodes that seemed to have installed into my memory. Looney Tunes does more than make a viewer smile; Looney Tunes introduces a person to a new kind of reality where something simple can be most profoundly amusing and enjoyable to watch.
What is Looney Tunes?
Related to Silly Symphonies and preceding Merry Melodies, Looney Tunes is the first animated dramatic, theatrical series created by Warner Bros. Showing multiple characters throughout the original series, some of Looney Tunes's main, most recognizable characters, mostly animals, includes Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, Wile E. Coyote, and the Road Runner. These characters bring to life numerous short episodes that may have similar characters, plots, or settings, but usually are not an actual series except in a couple cases.
Created in the second quarter of the twentieth century with the first episode showing in 1930, Looney Tunes has maintained fame for 80 years and counting, and this cartoon "series" can truly be "considered a milestone in animation history". From the very first episode "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (Cruz) to the much newer shows created off of the cast and ideas from Looney Tunes, Merry Melodies and the Looney Tunes Show, the legend continues on in hilarious shorter to longer films. The original and purely creative genius of Warner Bros. in creating this cartoon truly is shown to have carried on into this century in Looney Tunes: Back in Action the 2003 movie, showing that the legend and popularity of Looney Tunes still lives nearing a century later.
Doubtless and regardless of the passage of time that Looney Tunes has existed, the Warner Bros. truly outdid themselves in their first animated series. To put together such a brilliance of cartoons with lovable characters, both the good and bad characters, is a feat that is still being celebrated our day in age. A true accomplishment that I commend, and one more reason of why I love the Warner Bros.
Created in the second quarter of the twentieth century with the first episode showing in 1930, Looney Tunes has maintained fame for 80 years and counting, and this cartoon "series" can truly be "considered a milestone in animation history". From the very first episode "Sinkin' in the Bathtub" (Cruz) to the much newer shows created off of the cast and ideas from Looney Tunes, Merry Melodies and the Looney Tunes Show, the legend continues on in hilarious shorter to longer films. The original and purely creative genius of Warner Bros. in creating this cartoon truly is shown to have carried on into this century in Looney Tunes: Back in Action the 2003 movie, showing that the legend and popularity of Looney Tunes still lives nearing a century later.
Doubtless and regardless of the passage of time that Looney Tunes has existed, the Warner Bros. truly outdid themselves in their first animated series. To put together such a brilliance of cartoons with lovable characters, both the good and bad characters, is a feat that is still being celebrated our day in age. A true accomplishment that I commend, and one more reason of why I love the Warner Bros.
The Comedy and Satire Witnessed
To watch every episode from the creation of Looney Tunes to the most recent episode of the Looney Tunes Show it would seem quite probable to be able to witness at least a little bit of every type of comedy and satire. With over 80 years and with hundreds and hundreds of episodes it really is quite remarkable how much comedic material and satirical messages and ideas there are throughout the whole of Looney Tunes and all the related entertainment film that has come after the precedent.
To name one such example among countless there is the constant battle between Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. In some obscure desert for the majority of the shorts, these two characters consist mainly upon the slapstick humor that is being fed almost constantly to the audience and the satirical actions of Road Runner. Wile E. Coyote does his best to catch Road Runner for his dinner and Road Runner evades his attempts again and again without fail, and instead of Road Runner just missing the attempts of capture that Coyote makes, often times whether on purpose or by coincidence Wile E. Coyote gets caught and hurt in his very own traps. Smashed by boulders, running into walls, blown "up" by explosives, and falling off cliffs are regular activities of this one particular hungry mammal. Despite his countless injuries and failed attempts Wile E. Coyote comes back again and again to attempt to do the seeming impossible: capture the elusive Road Runner.
No matter the comedy, humor, or satirical tool that is being used in Looney Tunes the audience can be sure to be entertained and greatly amused. That is why Looney Tunes's legend still lives.
To name one such example among countless there is the constant battle between Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner. In some obscure desert for the majority of the shorts, these two characters consist mainly upon the slapstick humor that is being fed almost constantly to the audience and the satirical actions of Road Runner. Wile E. Coyote does his best to catch Road Runner for his dinner and Road Runner evades his attempts again and again without fail, and instead of Road Runner just missing the attempts of capture that Coyote makes, often times whether on purpose or by coincidence Wile E. Coyote gets caught and hurt in his very own traps. Smashed by boulders, running into walls, blown "up" by explosives, and falling off cliffs are regular activities of this one particular hungry mammal. Despite his countless injuries and failed attempts Wile E. Coyote comes back again and again to attempt to do the seeming impossible: capture the elusive Road Runner.
No matter the comedy, humor, or satirical tool that is being used in Looney Tunes the audience can be sure to be entertained and greatly amused. That is why Looney Tunes's legend still lives.
Reviews
Looney Tunes the original with truly hilarious shorts seems to have been misrepresented in this century. Obviously it is loved because of the shows and movies that have been based off its characters and general ideas, but there is much skepticism toward whether the newer productions are simply a bad rip off of the original animated series. Though there is cause to wonder why the original Looney Tunes itself does not have reviews that can be easily found; perhaps it is because the internet was created a long while after its debut and it was just another cartoon back when it was new.
One television critic from the Los Angeles Times seems to feel sympathy toward the original cartoon characters because they have no power of how they are portrayed. Robert Lloyd seems overall displeased with the Looney Tunes Show: “Pity the poor cartoon character. Unable to speak for himself against those who would redraw or rewrite him, he is the slave and plaything of whomever owns the copyright. The human fan can only watch or not and note that in most cases the better work is not usually the latest, and that theatrical versions of old cartoons are almost invariably superior to their television revivals.
"But revivals there will be. "The Looney Tunes Show," which debuts Tuesday night on CN, at the big-kid-but-not-little-kid-friendly hour of 8 p.m., is the latest attempt to do something new with the Warner Bros. roster of cartoon players -- the greatest cartoon cast of them all, to my mind. It is a certainly a new take on the classics, making suburban neighbors of its players in a show framed like a sitcom, and while it doesn't improve on the originals, it does not at least turn them into toddlers, as in the 2002 "Baby Looney Tunes." It's useful to remember that even in their youth these characters evolved, and taken on its own merits, ignoring the cognitive dissonance, the show can be pretty amusing.” (Lloyd)
Despite the overall displeasure of having such a exemplary show changed somewhat drastically, Lloyd seems to give some credit and credence to the newer show. No matter the comedy, humor, or satirical tool that is being used in Looney Tunes the audience can be sure to be entertained and greatly amused. That is why Looney Tunes's legend still lives.
Looney Tunes the original with truly hilarious shorts seems to have been misrepresented in this century. Obviously it is loved because of the shows and movies that have been based off its characters and general ideas, but there is much skepticism toward whether the newer productions are simply a bad rip off of the original animated series. Though there is cause to wonder why the original Looney Tunes itself does not have reviews that can be easily found; perhaps it is because the internet was created a long while after its debut and it was just another cartoon back when it was new.
One television critic from the Los Angeles Times seems to feel sympathy toward the original cartoon characters because they have no power of how they are portrayed. Robert Lloyd seems overall displeased with the Looney Tunes Show: “Pity the poor cartoon character. Unable to speak for himself against those who would redraw or rewrite him, he is the slave and plaything of whomever owns the copyright. The human fan can only watch or not and note that in most cases the better work is not usually the latest, and that theatrical versions of old cartoons are almost invariably superior to their television revivals.
"In my opinion, Looney Tunes: Back in Action succeeds admirably in these areas. While drawing on an extensive and much-loved cartoon tradition, it plies the audience with endless cartoon sight gags, verbal wackiness, SF film references and Looney logic. Even the live stuff feels like a Warner Bros cartoon." (Hood) This excerpt is by Robert Hood, a critic, praising the new movie based off of Looney Tunes.
In one more review by Brian Lowry the new show of Looney Tunes is criticized harshly:"As pleasant as it is to see the characters again, 'The Looney Tunes Show' represents a miscalculation -- and basic misunderstanding of the franchise. Popularized through slapstick-laden shorts, this new Cartoon Network series (synergistically provided by Warner Bros. Animation) reconstructs the characters into a half-hour sitcom, with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as mismatched buddies, and other players popping in along the way. Bugs thus becomes Daffy's straight man in a program that proves short on sight-gags and action, static, and nearly crumbles under the weight of warmed-over stories despite the odd amusing moment." (Lowry) I will have to agree with him; the original version of Looney Tunes is better and will always be.
One television critic from the Los Angeles Times seems to feel sympathy toward the original cartoon characters because they have no power of how they are portrayed. Robert Lloyd seems overall displeased with the Looney Tunes Show: “Pity the poor cartoon character. Unable to speak for himself against those who would redraw or rewrite him, he is the slave and plaything of whomever owns the copyright. The human fan can only watch or not and note that in most cases the better work is not usually the latest, and that theatrical versions of old cartoons are almost invariably superior to their television revivals.
"But revivals there will be. "The Looney Tunes Show," which debuts Tuesday night on CN, at the big-kid-but-not-little-kid-friendly hour of 8 p.m., is the latest attempt to do something new with the Warner Bros. roster of cartoon players -- the greatest cartoon cast of them all, to my mind. It is a certainly a new take on the classics, making suburban neighbors of its players in a show framed like a sitcom, and while it doesn't improve on the originals, it does not at least turn them into toddlers, as in the 2002 "Baby Looney Tunes." It's useful to remember that even in their youth these characters evolved, and taken on its own merits, ignoring the cognitive dissonance, the show can be pretty amusing.” (Lloyd)
Despite the overall displeasure of having such a exemplary show changed somewhat drastically, Lloyd seems to give some credit and credence to the newer show. No matter the comedy, humor, or satirical tool that is being used in Looney Tunes the audience can be sure to be entertained and greatly amused. That is why Looney Tunes's legend still lives.
Looney Tunes the original with truly hilarious shorts seems to have been misrepresented in this century. Obviously it is loved because of the shows and movies that have been based off its characters and general ideas, but there is much skepticism toward whether the newer productions are simply a bad rip off of the original animated series. Though there is cause to wonder why the original Looney Tunes itself does not have reviews that can be easily found; perhaps it is because the internet was created a long while after its debut and it was just another cartoon back when it was new.
One television critic from the Los Angeles Times seems to feel sympathy toward the original cartoon characters because they have no power of how they are portrayed. Robert Lloyd seems overall displeased with the Looney Tunes Show: “Pity the poor cartoon character. Unable to speak for himself against those who would redraw or rewrite him, he is the slave and plaything of whomever owns the copyright. The human fan can only watch or not and note that in most cases the better work is not usually the latest, and that theatrical versions of old cartoons are almost invariably superior to their television revivals.
"In my opinion, Looney Tunes: Back in Action succeeds admirably in these areas. While drawing on an extensive and much-loved cartoon tradition, it plies the audience with endless cartoon sight gags, verbal wackiness, SF film references and Looney logic. Even the live stuff feels like a Warner Bros cartoon." (Hood) This excerpt is by Robert Hood, a critic, praising the new movie based off of Looney Tunes.
In one more review by Brian Lowry the new show of Looney Tunes is criticized harshly:"As pleasant as it is to see the characters again, 'The Looney Tunes Show' represents a miscalculation -- and basic misunderstanding of the franchise. Popularized through slapstick-laden shorts, this new Cartoon Network series (synergistically provided by Warner Bros. Animation) reconstructs the characters into a half-hour sitcom, with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck as mismatched buddies, and other players popping in along the way. Bugs thus becomes Daffy's straight man in a program that proves short on sight-gags and action, static, and nearly crumbles under the weight of warmed-over stories despite the odd amusing moment." (Lowry) I will have to agree with him; the original version of Looney Tunes is better and will always be.
Cruz, Brian. "Looney Tunes & Merrie Melodies: The Early Years."
Toon Zone. N.p., 01 2003. Web.
Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://bosko.toonzone.net>.
Lloyd, Robert. "Bugs and Daffy get a makeover."
Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 03 2011. Web.
Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/03/
entertainment/la-et-0503-looney-tunes-20110503>.
Hood, Robert. "Looney Tunes-- Back in Action." Robert Hood.
Robert Hood, 2004. Web.
Web. 2 Nov. 2012. <http://www.roberthood.net/
reviews/looney_back.html>.
Lowry, Brian. "The Looney Tunes Show."
Variety Reviews. Variety Media, 3 2011. Web.
Web. 2 Nov. 2012. <http://www.variety.com/review/
VE1117945144?refCatId=32>.
Toon Zone. N.p., 01 2003. Web.
Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://bosko.toonzone.net>.
Lloyd, Robert. "Bugs and Daffy get a makeover."
Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 03 2011. Web.
Web. 1 Nov. 2012. <http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/03/
entertainment/la-et-0503-looney-tunes-20110503>.
Hood, Robert. "Looney Tunes-- Back in Action." Robert Hood.
Robert Hood, 2004. Web.
Web. 2 Nov. 2012. <http://www.roberthood.net/
reviews/looney_back.html>.
Lowry, Brian. "The Looney Tunes Show."
Variety Reviews. Variety Media, 3 2011. Web.
Web. 2 Nov. 2012. <http://www.variety.com/review/
VE1117945144?refCatId=32>.