In the winter of 2005, preliminary plans for a new Looney Tunes-themed series on Kids' WB! courted not excitement from the fan base, but controversy and resentment.
Loonatics Unleashed presented 28th century descendants of the classic characters such as Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Wile E. Coyote, this time as superheroes. Critics blasted WB for making the characters too dark, and, oddly, the protest was fueled by an 11 year old boy who felt the Loonatics' initial designs made them too mean & scary-looking. By September of 2005, the Loonatics made their debut, their appearance slightly softened, and the credit for that could go to Christian & Yvan Tremblay (SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron), who were credited with "adapting" the characters.
I should note that funk legend Bootsy Collins recorded a new theme for season 2, and also guest-starred in one episode.
Following is a compilation of opens & closing credits for both seasons:
Regrettably, after Loonatics Unleashed was cancelled in 2007, the series has not been seen anywhere else in the US. Cartoon Network has not even bothered to pick up the show for airing, although it could find a new audience. Loonatics' creative staff also included producer Ron Myrick (Avengers: United We Stand), whose experience in superhero cartoons might explain how the Loonatics were presented as a cross between the Justice League and the X-Men, if that was even possible.
Rating: A-.
11 comments:
How did this show end up being forgotten?
It ain't airing anywhere presently. Supposedly, it was so hated, Cartoon Network wanted nothing to do with it after the series was cancelled.
This was on Kids WB!, not Cartoon Network. BTW: Both seasons of this show got released on DVD in 2007. This show really needs to come back.
What I meant was that after Kids' WB! dropped the series, CN could've taken it, but didn't. And, yes, I know it was released on DVD, because I've seen it in supermarkets not named Walmart. Good luck finding them, though, today.
This show should be on The Hub Network.
I agree. However, WB's stuck it in the vault, because they think no one wants to see this show again.
How did this show get so much hate?
Negative media attention, as noted in the first post. Tabloid media took the comments of an 11 year old, and rand with it. Public apathy took hold some time after.
At least this show never got a god-awful live action movie adaptation.
Like, did they really need one?
It was never meant to be, man.
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