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Looney Tunes 3-D Animated Shorts Are Returning to Theaters

by Ethan Anderton
May 20, 2010
Source: NY Times

Before they were entertaining me on TV every Saturday morning when I was younger, Warner Bros' classic Looney Tunes served as their first animated theatrical series playing before movies in theaters from 1930 to 1969. Since I'm technically all grown up now, I'm not all up to date on the current state of cartoons for kids these days, but I'm well aware that Looney Tunes is certainly not the staple it once was on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, and that's just sad. However, NY Times is reporting that kids will finally discover (or maybe re-discover) characters like Bugs Bunny all over again in 3-D shorts hitting theaters this summer.

After the abysmal attempt at the Looney Tunes revival that was "Loonatics Unleashed" (essentially an action comedy cartoon with anime Looney Tunes characters that completely missed the train), WB is anxious to get back to the core of what made the original Looney Tunes so great and made Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and more, household names. Stuart Snyder, who oversees Cartoon Network as the COO of Turner's kids media division even said that art from "The Loonatics Unleashed" is hanging in Warner's animation offices as a reminder of what not to do. Thank the maker! Even Looney Tunes: Back in Action didn't suck that bad.

And so Looney Tunes will hit theaters again, but despite a return to the classic character design and humor, the animation itself is a bit more polished with pseudo realistic texture as these 3-D shorts will be rendered on computers, fitting in with all of the computer animation today's kids are used to seeing. Well, at least it's a happy mix of past and present rather than a complete overhaul. The first 3-D short (Warner has approved three, with three more in development) will feature Wile E. Coyote (seen above) and the Road Runner and will play before Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore when that movie hits theaters on July 30th. Not exactly the best movie to start this new venture, but maybe it will convince a few people to see that flick.

Filed under Hype, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Al

Yes to Looney Tunes. Boo too 3D and CG. If Chuck was still alive, this atrocity would never happen. 2D hand drawn or nothing.
- Francis
  
  As long as the spirit of the characters is maintained, I think it is good to play with new technologies to keep the characters with the times. These new cartoons have preserved Chuck Jone's ideals, only in a newer way.
Spider94

so there trying to get back to the original cartoons by bringing the original characters,and yet using 3D .wheres the love for 2D animation these days?
http://www.nicksears.com Nick Sears

Best news I've heard all week!
http://www.nicksears.com Nick Sears

Even if its not 3D, I'm pumped
Xerxex

I grew up on Looney Tunes cartoons so this is the best news ever!!!!! Bit of a surprise though when I learned that the majority of the cartoons I grew up on were from the 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's. But the 3-D and CG ruin it. Daffy Duck, Yosemite Sam, Marvin Martian, Wile E. Coyote, Foghorn Leghorn, Sylvester and Tweety, and Bugs Bunny do not, I say do not belong in 3-D and CG!!!!!!!!!!!
Rashad

The cg ruin it but I don't know why guys are complaining about 3d. Looney Tunes is perfect for 3d enjoyment. People need to just have fun
Moviegimp

Hells Yeah! Love Looney Tunes. The first one up is a Road Runner and Coyote one as well. Life is good indeed. That picture looks pretty good so I say bring on the CGI and 3D. I'm sure they can animate them, the thing I wonder is can they write them? It takes a special kind of writer to do it right. When they started releasing all the old Looney Tunes on DVD they made these two new ones. It was a bunch of cartoon shorts set in present day. Not sure if that is what Alex was talking about or not. I still haven't watched more than a few. They are horrible, in the writing. Plus my friend has already mentioned wanting to see Cats and Dogs so at least there will be this.
dave13

cool idea, but that still above looks like crap in MHO. go back to classic 2D!!
Voice of Reason

Wah, CGI! WAH, 3-D!!! boo hoo whoo cares, this step is key to bringing back Looney Tunes and although its a departure from the cartoons I love so fondly, I'm all for it. Maybe this could help bring these cartoons to a new generation and slowly reclaim the characters currently lost in mudflaps, XXXL sized shirts, faux-thuggery image branding, amusement parks, terrible movies and so on. Bring it.
beavis

i'm not wild about the 3-D stuff, but i grew up on "loony toons"; so this is cool news.
klausey

Didn't everyone still alive basically grow up on Looney Toons?
Xerxex

@11 not the 2000 kids. Voice of Reason, there is no reason for Looney Tunes to go 3-D, they were created in the 2-D world and they belong in the 2-D world.
ryderup

Could and should have been kept in 2D
DaftPUNKFAN

i wana see one with bugs and daffy
DoomCanoe

god damnit this was my idea
http://www.beautyability.com Tiffiny C.

Dude, this is such a great idea. I grew up on cartoons in the 1980's and they played Looney Tunes reruns every weekend. Amazing. I can't wait to see this in 3D, and I really hope they do a Pepe le Pew short!
bozo

crap - this might actually coax me into some 3d showings >:(
Kay

I approve. Well, maybe except for the 3D part... I love me some Looney Tunes!
http://www.cgfolio.co.uk dom

http://freakanimator.blogspot.com/2010/07/cg-looney-tunes-exclusive-clip.html