jacksonamrobeson Review of Looney Tunes Cartoons

Looney Tunes Cartoons (2019–2023)

This is a fun, successful continuation of the originals.

[6/10 · 27 May 2020]

Pete Browngardt's "Looney Tunes Cartoons" is fun, amusing, and ultimately a step in the right direction for the Looney Tunes franchise. The art style is classic eye-candy and the animation is stunning on the foreground characters despite using computer rigs. In terms of voice acting, Eric Bauza gives a hell of a performance playing Daffy and Bugs and the same goes with Bob Bergen voicing Porky, but the other characters don't sound quite right for some odd reason. The music, while decently arranged and composed, isn't played by a full orchestra and instead played by a small ensemble, which makes it sound "empty". The music could be improved by a better sound editing crew as well. Most importantly, the characters and stories fit the spirit and tone of the original cartoons from the early 1940s, however, the more you watch, the cartoons start to wear thin and feel repetitive. The gags and comedic execution are hit and miss, but when the gags hit, it's very funny. The slapstick and visual gags are fairly creative and can push simple ideas to crazy heights, but it needs more of that signature subtle wordplay that made Looney Tunes iconic. It simply just needs a little more wit, satire, and wisecracks. It would also help if this show didn't try to copy Bob Clampett and Tex Avery's work, it needs more influences, especially from Chuck Jones. Instead, why don't these directors experiment with their own distinct styles of art, storytelling, and humor. This is a great return to form, but this is not as mindblowing, unique, or as funny as Paul Rudish's Mickey Mouse Shorts from this past decade. Think of this as a continuation of the cartoons of the '40s, not a reinvention. It guarantees quality, but it lacks a certain "distinction" to make it truly unique on its own. Overall, I highly recommend some great, wholesome fun.