Bugs gets a makeover....

DjaugheOld · February 17th, 2005, 06:49 AM

Quote:

LOONEY TUNE-UPS
BY ADAM BUCKMAN

For Kids' WB's new show "Loonatics," a futuristic bugs Bunny loses his light-and-fluffy look to become a fierce, sharpclawed beast with superpowers.

Warner Bros.

February 17, 2005 -- HAS Warner Bros. gone daffy?

That's what fans of the studio's classic cartoon characters might be asking after they get a look at the new, futuristic versions of some of their favorite animated heroes, which Warner unveiled yesterday.

The Looney Tunes characters — six in all — have been "reimagined" (in studio parlance) for a new series called "Loonatics," which is set to air next fall on WPIX/Channel 11 as part of the Saturday morning Kids' WB program lineup.

The show features new versions of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, the Tasmanian Devil, Road Runner and Lola Bunny (the newest of the characters, who was introduced in the 1996 Michael Jordan movie "Space Jam").

For "Loonatics," the six characters are being projected 700 years into the future, given superpowers, and outfitted in tight-fitting, slenderizing space gear.

Apparently, falling anvils and exploding cigars are no longer enough to keep kids 6 to 11 years old entertained. "This is a kids show intended for kids today who are growing up in the Internet age, an age of technology, an age of hip, cool animation, and something that we hope will resonate with that age group," explained Sander Schwartz, president of Warner Bros. Animation, in a phone interview from Hollywood.

He said the characters' superpowers have not yet been finalized. And neither have their names, although they are expected to have names close to those of their ancestors (think Buzz Bunny).

And what of all the other classic Looney Tunes characters? What about Sylvester and Tweety, Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Pepe Le Pew, Speedy Gonzalez and Marvin the Martian?

And what about Porky Pig? Is poor Porky destined to stutter and remain fat and pantless for the rest of history?

Schwartz said Warner settled on six characters because that's as many as a half-hour ensemble show can handle. But he didn't rule out guest appearances by some of the other legends of Looney Tunes, although in futuristic form.

But cartoon purists, raised on the easy-to-understand hilarity of Elmer Fudd blowing Daffy Duck's bill off with a shotgun blast to the face, might rightfully lament the fact that their own kids won't get a chance to grow up exposed to that same kind of classic comedy.

To that complaint, Schwartz notes the old Looney Tunes cartoons will likely run forever on some channel or another, including the Warner-owned Cartoon Network and Boomerang cable channels. "And secondly," he said, "these are cartoons. Lighten up! They're fun and the existence of one doesn't preclude the existence of another."

maddogkf · February 17th, 2005, 07:03 AM

just say no.

FischerKing · February 17th, 2005, 07:09 AM

shawn

Stout · February 17th, 2005, 07:11 AM

Ack! A cartoon remake!

CaptTurbo · February 17th, 2005, 07:20 AM

I am no longer opposed to nukes and the ending of the world.

azdad1978 · February 17th, 2005, 07:22 AM

Worst idea ever!!!

DjaugheOld · February 17th, 2005, 07:27 AM

I dunno...I guess i'm intrigued....

Chaplin · February 17th, 2005, 07:29 AM

What's the big deal? They're doing it for a single television show at a time when most of you people will never see it. All this moaning about "not being able to grow up watching the originals" is bull. If it's that important to you, go out and buy the DVDs! There's over a hundred looney tunes cartoons already available. So who cares? They're updating Thundercats, and they've updated Transformers and other more classic cartoons, so I don't see how this is any different.

FischerKing · February 17th, 2005, 07:29 AM

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Originally Posted by Djaughe

I dunno...I guess i'm intrigued....

are you serious? why not come up with something new and original instead of trying to continually cash in on retreads? what the hell do those people in hollywood get paid for anyway - it's obviously not original ideas. what next, remaking Underdog, Speed Racer, Johnny Quest and the Flintstones?

blech...

shawn

Chaplin · February 17th, 2005, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FischerKing

are you serious? why not come up with something new and original instead of trying to continually cash in on retreads? what the hell do those people in hollywood get paid for anyway - it's obviously not original ideas. what next, remaking Underdog, Speed Racer, Johnny Quest and the Flintstones?

blech...

shawn

Are you kidding? Several cartoons have already been redone or "reimagined" or whatever--haven't heard you complain about them...

FischerKing · February 17th, 2005, 07:31 AM

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Originally Posted by Chaplin

Are you kidding? Several cartoons have already been redone or "reimagined" or whatever--haven't heard you complain about them...

this is the first one that i've seen - i would have complained about the others as well.

shawn

Brian in Mesa · February 17th, 2005, 07:31 AM

Loonatics? You'd think they'd at least come up with an original name...

Raving Loonatics

FischerKing · February 17th, 2005, 07:32 AM

seriously - why not just shut hollywood down now - because they aren't doing anything except putting out the same ole stuff. doesn't it get old for you? it's a bit disheartening imo.

shawn

FischerKing · February 17th, 2005, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian in Mesa

Loonatics? You'd think they'd at least come up with an original name...

Raving Loonatics

uh...speechless...

shawn

Brian in Mesa · February 17th, 2005, 07:36 AM

If It Ain't Broke....

HOLLYWOOD, CA-February 17, 2005 — The cartoonists at Warner Brothers have given one of the nation's most-beloved cartoon characters a makeover. Will you like what they have in mind?

The old look of the cartoon character Bugs Bunny is saying "That's all folks!" to the generations who grew up with him. Bugs, the Road Runner and other Looney Tunes cartoon characters are getting a new look and even new names.

The "reimagined" Bugs Bunny is going to be renamed "Buzz" and star in a new series called "Loonatics." The series will be set in the future and will feature a tough-talking rabbit with laser eyes who is a martial arts expert. Even Daffy Duck will get a techno-update with built-in sonar.

President of Warner Brothers Animation, Sander Schwartz says it was time for a change.

Sander Schwartz/President of Warner Brothers Animation: "What we're doing is taking Bugs Bunny, a classic and changing him for the kids – making him fresh, cool and hip."

"Loonatics" starring Buzz Bunny and friends will be set in the year 2772 and, according to Warner Brothers, the characters will display the same wit and humor as the classics.

But for the parents out there who still love the classic bugs – he'll still be around.