One of the highest grossing media franchises of all time, Looney Tunes debuted in 1930 as a series of shorts featuring a cast of characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd and Porky Pig. Featuring a group of animators including Tex Avery, Friz Freleng, and Chuck Jones, among others, they were given the freedom to create lively characters that a nation dealing with the realities of the Great Depression and beyond, could enjoy.
Following last year’s successful release of Looney Tunes Collector’s Vault Volume 1, Warner Archive has followed up with Volume 2, delivering 51 shorts, compiled by Warner Brothers historian George Feltenstein, and animation expert Jerry Beck. With many unseen in decades, Looney Tunes Collector’s Vault Volume 2 collects from the most minor short to the most popular short, Looney Tunes fans will rejoice at finally having this collection available. They are all making their Blu-ray debut.
Presented in alphabetical order, viewers may be tempted to watch cartoons they’ve never seen, such as the Merry Melodies short “Country Boy,” released in 1935 and directed by Friz Freleng, it features Peter Cottontail, instead of one of the classic characters. Still, it’s a sweet tale that will make you smile.
Like the previous volume, the disclaimer, “intended for the adult collector and may not be suitable for children,” as the warning reads, these shorts are a “product of their time. They portray ethnic, racial, gender and other stereotypes that existed in our society at the time these shorts were made”. Obviously, some are more problematic than others.
Below, I have listed the shorts on each disc, featured characters and director.
DISC ONE:
A-LAD-IN HIS LAMP – Bugs Bunny (Robert McKimson) / AIN’T THAT DUCKY-Daffy Duck (Friz Freleng) / BONE SWEET BONE (Arthur Davis) / BOSTON QUACKIE – Daffy Duck /Porky Pig (Robert McKimson) / BOULEVARDIER FROM THE BRONX (Friz Freleng) / THE BIRD CAME C.O.D. – Conrad Cat (Chuck Jones) COUNTRY BOY – (Friz Freleng) / THE DAFFY DUCKAROO – Daffy Duck (Norm McCabe) / DR. JERKYL’S HIDE – Sylvester – Spike and Chester (Friz Freleng) / THE EGG-CITED ROOSTER – Foghorn Leghorn (Robert McKimson) FASTEST WITH THE MOSTEST – Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner (Chuck Jones) / FOWL WEATHER – Sylvester/Tweety (Friz Freleng) / I TAW A PUTTY TAT – Sylvester/Tweety (Friz Freleng) / I GOPHER YOU – Goofy Gophers (Friz Freleng) / I WAS A TEENAGE THUMB (Chuck Jones/Maurice Noble) / LITTLE BLABBERMOUSE (Friz Freleng) / MOTHER WAS A ROOSTER -Foghorn Leghorn (Robert McKimson) / PESTS FOR GUESTS – Goofy Gophers (Friz Freleng) / THE RATTLED ROOSTER (Arthur Davis) / A SHEEP IN THE DEEP – Ralph/Sam (Chuck Jones/Maurice Noble) / SOCK-A-DOODLE DO – Foghorn Leghorn (Robert McKimson) / A STREET CAT NAMED SYLVESTER- Sylvester/Tweety (Friz Freleng) / TO ITCH HIS OWN Angelo the Mighty Flea (Chuck Jones) / A WAGGILY TALE (Friz Freleng) / WOOLEN UNDER WHERE – Ralph/Sam (Phil Monroe/Richard Thompson) /ZOOM AT THE TOP – Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner (Chuck Jones)
DISC TWO:
AWFUL ORPHAN – Porky Pig/Charlie Dog (Chuck Jones) / A BIRD IN A GUILTY CAGE – Tweety/Sylvester (Friz Freleng) / BOWERY BUGS – Bugs Bunny (Arthur Davis) / CLAWS FOR ALARM – Porky Pig/Sylvester (Chuck Jones) / CROWING PAINS – Foghorn Leghorn (Robert McKimson) / FRIGID HARE – Bugs Bunny (Chuck Jones) HARE REMOVER – Bugs Bunny (Robert McKimson/Frank Tashlin) / THE HECKLING HARE – Bugs Bunny (Tex Avery) / HOP AND GO – (Norm McCabe) / HYDE AND HARE – Bugs Bunny (Friz Freleng) / JUMPIN’ JUPITER – Porky Pig/Sylvester (Chuck Jones) / THE LAST HUNGRY CAT – Sylvester/Tweety (Friz Freleng) / MEXICAN BOARDERS – Sylvester/Speedy Gonzales (Friz Freleng/Hawley Pratt) /MOUSE MENACE – Porky Pig (Arthur Davis) / ODOR OF THE DAY – Pepe Le Pew (Arthur Davis) / OFTEN AN ORPHAN – Porky Pig/Charlie Dog (Chuck Jones) THE PEST THAT CAME TO DINNER – Porky Pig (Arthur Davis) / READY…SET…ZOOM! – Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner (Chuck Jones) / SCENT-IMENTAL OVER YOU – Pepe Le Pew (Chuck Jones) / STOP! LOOK! AND HASTEN! – Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner (Chuck Jones) / TO BEEP OR NOT TO BEEP – Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner (Chuck Jones) / WAGON HEELS – Porky Pig (Bob Clampett) / WHOA, BE-GONE! – Wile E. Coyote/Road Runner (Chuck Jones) / WISE QUACKERS – Daffy Duck/Elmer Fudd (Friz Freleng) / YOU WERE NEVER DUCKIER – Daffy Duck (Chuck Jones)
Shown in their original 1.37:1 aspect ratio, Warner Archive has delivered another stellar Blu-ray release. Newly remastered, each short offers plenty of detail, and smooth line work throughout. colors are vivid, with no apparent fading. Blacks are vivid and inky. Quality mildly fluctuates, likely due to the source material, rather than an error by Warner Archive. Regardless, each short look great, considering their age.
The DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix renders the original mono mixes very well. When it is used, dialogue is clear and concise. Atmospherics are full, adding to the enjoyment of the material. Fans should be pleased by Warner Archive’s efforts.
English SDH subtitles are available on all 51 shorts.
The following previously released audio commentaries are available as extras on disc two:
- “Bowery Bugs” with animation historian, author, and critic Michael Barrier
- “The Heckling Hare” with animator, director (Quackbusters), historian and Warner Brothers consultant Greg Ford
- “Mexican Boarders” with Greg Ford
- “Stop! Look! And Hasten“ with Greg Ford
- “You Were Never Duckier” with animator and director (Pocahontas) Eric Golberg