ThisNow that HBO Max has finally arrived, this month is an excellent time to revisit Looney Tunes. Chuck Jones’ hand-drawn animation still looks stunning after fifty years; Mel Blanc’s iconic vocal work remains as entertaining and hilarious.
Cartoons continue to evolve over the years in response to parental criticism (like Elmer Fudd trying to shoot Daffy Duck), yet still retain an endearing sense of humor.
Bugs Bunny
Bugs is one of the most beloved Wcofun characters, known for his mischievous antics and constant feuding with Elmer Fudd, Yosemite Sam, Wile E. Coyote and Daffy Duck; yet somehow always triumphant thanks to Friz Freleng’s character design and Arthur Q. Bryan’s more comic pre-Wild Hare voice performance by Arthur Q. Bryan.
He managed to disarm Nazi official Cecil Turtle and Adolf Hitler during 1945’s Herr Meets Hare, dating brainless Porky Pig before falling for Lola Bunny later on in their lives.
Daffy Duck
Daffy Duck, known as an ambitious fame-seeker with an appetite for show business, has made numerous appearances in several cartoons over the years – most prominently his own solo feature with Bugs Bunny in Prom-ise Her Anything as well as appearances in Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries TV show, as well as Honey I Shrunk the Laundry film.
Each cartoon director adds his or her own flair to their characters, whether they be self-centered or eccentric; wisecracking or jealous; even sympathetic as in 1957 Show Biz Bugs when Bugs attempts to entertain his audience with an elaborate stunt involving drinking gasoline, swallowing nitroglycerine, gunpowder and uranium-238!
Porky Pig
Porky Pig made his debut as Warner’s most beloved character in 1935 and quickly rose to popularity among audiences everywhere with his charming stutter that quickly captured public imagination.
was known for being the straight man to more comical characters like Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny. Over time however, his popularity decreased as more outgoing characters took prominence.
Friz Freleng poked fun at this trend in his 1940 short, You Ought to Be in Pictures, when up-and-comer Daffy tried convincing Porky that better paying work existed elsewhere.
Goofy
Porky Pig stands out as one of the more relatable characters from Looney Tunes with his mild manners and severe stutter.
Chuck Jones was an expert at adding depth to cartoons that were otherwise limited in characterization. His Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny characters became more than two-dimensional caricatures – their personalities now extend far beyond just cartoons!
Elmer Fudd
Elmer Fudd is one of Bugs Bunny’s archenemies and an avid hunter; he always seems to be on his heels in search of this wily rabbit.
He often misinterprets things like top hats or bridal veil veils as being inappropriate attire for him, while being quite inept when it comes to firearms.
He frequently replaces his r’s and l’s with “w”s when speaking, making him difficult to understand.
The Road Runner
Road Runner, an iconic cartoon character of the Southwest, races along highways like highway 69 while being pursued relentlessly by an ever-vigilant coyote. Through an endless stream of cartoon shorts, Coyote attempts to catch Road Runner by creating complex devices (often similar to Rube Goldberg machines) which eventually backfire and fail him miserably in surprising ways.
Chuck Jones had directed this series before closing his studio and founding DePatie-Freleng Enterprises. War and Pieces was completed mid-1964 as its final short.
Yosemite Sam
Yosemite Sam is an explosive prospector. When an argument arises between him and Bugs, Yosemite will quickly brandish his gun in response.
Bugs Bunny has long been his archenemy. However, in all these roles he has always been overcome by Bugs Bunny.
Sam frequently makes light of himself by counting to a certain number, only for it all to end in disaster as soon as he hits it, such as running into a tunnel wall, telephone pole or falling off a bridge.
Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales was one of Friz Freleng’s most iconic creations and first appeared in Cat-Tails for Two in 1953.
Sylvester became regularly frustrated and humiliated by Mexico’s Fastest Mouse in All Mexico, who regularly outwitted and humiliated him.
Cartoon Network dropped Speedy due to concerns of ethnic insensitivity in 1999; thanks to fan pressure, Speedy made his comeback on schedule again by 2002.
Lola Bunny
Lola is a rich tomboy who develops feelings for Bugs Bunny in Looney Tunes. Her presence sparks debate across social media platforms as fans question her past and her relationship to her fellow Looney Tunes characters.
She has become an icon among female fans for her sensuous figure and feminine style that have encouraged many young ladies to pursue their goals and challenge gender roles in animation. She appears in The Looney Tunes Show and Space Jam sequel A New Legacy.
