Looney Tunes Musical Masterpieces, a recent release from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, consists of over two hours of unforgettable fun. Merrie Melodies began in 1931, likely in response to Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony shorts that dominated the Oscars from 1929-1939. As it turned out, Merrie Melodies struck a chord with viewers, and the studio continued to produce them through 1969.

For me, like many other children, the shorts that ran no longer than ten minutes and starred beloved Looney Tunes characters (everyone from Bugs Bunny to Porky Pig, and Speedy Gonzales),was their first introduction to classical music. The eighteen shorts featured on this one disc collection feature everything from opera to blues. Part of the greatness of Merry Melodies is their diversity; if it was music, it was fair game.

Anyone even slightly familiar with Looney Tunes will likely recognize some of these shorts. “Rabbit of Seville” and “What’s Opera, Doc?” are among the most celebrated ‘toons of all time, and the refrain of “Kill The Wabbit” is known the world over. There are some real gems included on this disc. What’s Opera, Doc? Directed by the great Chuck Jones—of Tom and Jerry fame—was voted “greatest cartoon ever made” in 1994, by one thousand animation professionals.

The 18 shorts on the disc are as follows:

“Corny Concerto,” “Page Miss Glory,” “Rabbit of Seville,” “Katnip Kollege,” “One Froggy Evening,” “High Note,” “Rhapsody Rabbit,” “Pigs in a Polka,” “What’s Opera, Doc?,” “Three Little Bops,” “Hillbilly Hare,” “Rhapsody in Rivets,” “Pizzicato Pussycat,” “Back Alley Oproar,” “Nelly’s Folly,” “Holiday Shoestrings,” “I Love to Singa” and “Lights Fantastic.”

Presented in 1.33:1 full frame, the transfers are taken from recent digital restorations, so image and colors appear top notch. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The levels are perfect for a sing along. English subtitles are included!

There’s actually a pretty solid selection of extras:

  • Audio Commentaries are provided for fourteen of the included shorts.
  • Music Only Tracks are provided for seven of the cartoons.
  • Merrie Melodies: Carl Stalling and Cartoon Music (4:24) is a brief, but interesting biography of the man who created the tunes to match the characters zany actions.
  • It Hopped One Night: The Story Behind One Froggy Evening (7:10) An explanation of how the famous short came to be.
  • Wagnerian Rabbit: The Making of What’s Opera, Doc? (9:33) Traces how Chuck Jones went about bringing the Ring Trilogy to animation.
  • Sing-a-Song of Looney Tunes (6:22) investigates the way pop songs were used in the cartoons.

Though the material released here was previously available on other collections, Looney Tunes Musical Masterpieces represents an excellent way for the casual fan, or someone new to the Looney Tunes universe to dig into Merrie Melodies. All eighteen shorts included here are quality stuff, and the impressive list of extras only serves to sweeten the pot.