# Bug's Bunny gets a new "hip" look?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447 "2005-02-17T00:08:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/1 "2005-02-17T00:08:28Z")
I just saw a brief segment on CBS news, talking about how Warner Bros. is giving Bugs Bunny and other Loony Toons buddies makeovers, so that they’ll be appealing to today’s younger generation. They talked about them being like a team of superheroes. It’s hard to describe how they look; they’re radically different from the lovable characters we all grew up with. Now they look rather fierce and decidedly not-funny. I’ve been trying to find more information out there on the web, but I keep coming up with nothing. No sneak preview images, no press releases. All I get is a brief blurb from CBS itself: > [@](#): > > Finally tonight, what’s up doc? Well, for beloved cartoon star Bugs Bunny, there’s a makeover in the works, as his look gets updated for a new audience. We’ll turn to Bill Whitaker for a look at the new hare style. Did anyone else see this? Does anyone have more info? I can’t believe they’d actually make such drastic changes to a timeless icon… ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/2 "2005-02-17T00:12:23Z")
forgot the [link](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/10/04/broadcasts/main64925.shtml) for that source… Scroll down to “Tonight on the CBS Evening News” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/3 "2005-02-17T00:13:25Z")
As long as they don’t mess with the originals like Ted Turner did with MGM movies. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/4 "2005-02-17T00:17:57Z")
Apparently this won’t really be Bugs, but a derivative of Bugs: "Warner Bros. has created angular, slightly menacing-looking versions of the classic Looney Tunes characters for its new series, dubbed ‘Loonatics’ and set in the year 2772. Names for the new characters haven’t been finalized, but they are likely to be derived from the originals: Buzz Bunny, for example." [http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~78~2714803,00.html](http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~78~2714803,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/5 "2005-02-17T00:19:54Z")
Try searching Google News for “bugs bunny loonatics”. It’s a new series set 700 years in the future featuring the \*\*descendents \*\* of famous Looney Toons characters. Sounds like WB is just trying to get a little free publicity. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/6 "2005-02-17T00:21:06Z")
Grrr … too slow off the mark … . ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/7 "2005-02-17T00:26:41Z")
It’s not unheard of. I don’t think Tiny Toons did the original characters any favors; but lately, just about every old cartoon has an updated look to it. He-Man, most notably, but also Transformers and Ninja Turtles. Heck, Disney even aged Huey Dewey and Louie for a recent (failed) Donald-centered cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/8 "2005-02-17T00:55:26Z")
I don’t know what to think about this. Warner Bros. Animation’s Sander Schwartz says the series will maintain the “classic wit and wisdom” of the classic Warner characters. _Tiny Toon Adventures_, which also featured characters inspired by the classic Looney Tunes, did this as well (as did _Animaniacs_ and other '90s Warner toons), but _Tiny Toons_ took the tried-and-true method of turning popular cartoon characters into kids and having them face the problems of school and childhood life in the twisted Warner way. Although there is a _Duck Dodgers_ series, I haven’t seen it- I don’t know if a Bugs Bunny-type character in outer space will work. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/9 "2005-02-17T00:59:15Z")
Ah, thanks **pinkfreud** and **Pochacco** , that allays my fears a bit. A new spinoff series I can understand. It doesn’t look like it would be too successful, but then again, I continually underestimate what today’s generation considers popular. And yeah, **Daniel** , I’m aware of those other new looks you mentioned, but even Transformers–as near and dear as it is to so many hearts–isn’t the generations-spanning icon that Loony Toons is. That’s what got me all up in arms; it made no sense to change charaters as timeless as Bugs Bunny. (quick note: careful when doing a search for “Buzz Bunny.” Apparently, that’s the name of a fairly popular vibrator! :eek: ) ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/10 "2005-02-17T01:05:55Z")
[The Fark discussion](http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1359078) of this story features a picture of the as-of-yet-unnamed wabbit character. He’s evil, I tells ya, _ **EEEVIL!** _ (Oh yeah-they pointed out the Buzz Bunny vibrator thing too) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/11 "2005-02-17T01:06:20Z")
**Tiny Toon Adventures** was fun. I actually preferred the toonsters over the “adult” originals. **Animaniacs!** was fun, though it lacked the cohesiveness of **TTA.** **Baby Looney Tunes** was a disaster – not only was it an [uninspired rip-off](http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-13123/Baby_Looney_Tunes/) of **Muppet Babies,** but it wasn’t even any good on its own merits. And now… **Loonatics?** When your star character has the warmth and appeal of a wood shredder, this show’s gonna be the [Glendale train wreck](http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/news/012705ap_nw_train_derailment.html) of WB animation. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/12 "2005-02-17T01:07:49Z")
Are there any images anywhere online? After clicking a few links at random, I’ve turned up empty handed and while I’m curious, I don’t care enough to search intensively. Personally, being 23 and watching Tiny Toons as a 12 year old, I’m not too bothered by the idea although, at first, I admit I had a very knee-jerk reaction to the idea. After reading further and seeing that it’d just be an adaptation, it didn’t bother me though. Screwing with the originals is out of the question though. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/13 "2005-02-17T01:13:27Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Are there any images anywhere online? After clicking a few links at random, I’ve turned up empty handed and while I’m curious, I don’t care enough to search intensively. Besides the Fark link I mentioned, cartoon buffs [Jerry Beck](http://www.cartoonbrew.com) and [Mike Barrier](http://www.michaelbarrier) also have images of the wedesigned wabbit. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/14 "2005-02-17T01:15:15Z")
Looks like we were posting at the same time and I didn’t notice your post until you drew attention to it. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/15 "2005-02-17T01:18:40Z")
> [@Sir Dirx](#): > > That’s what got me all up in arms; it made no sense to change charaters as timeless as Bugs Bunny. You speak like Bugs hasn’t been redesigned - sometimes subtly, sometimes not - half a dozen times over the years. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/16 "2005-02-17T01:20:57Z")
…and that’s the stupidest looking adaptation of Bugs Bunny possible. When is this **XTREME!!!** fad going to end already? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/17 "2005-02-17T02:29:57Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > You speak like Bugs hasn’t been redesigned - sometimes subtly, sometimes not - half a dozen times over the years. I meant it didn’t make sense to change him so drastically. Yes, I know he’s been redesigned a bit from time to time, but none of those tweaks were nearly as huge a divergence as the current Loonatics design is. It’s not the same as going from [this](http://www.nonstick.com/wpics/prebugs.jpg) to [this](http://www.vegalleries.com/wbopc/51bugs.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/18 "2005-02-17T02:49:11Z")
> [@Sir Dirx](#): > > I meant it didn’t make sense to change him so drastically. Yes, I know he’s been redesigned a bit from time to time, but none of those tweaks were nearly as huge a divergence as the current Loonatics design is. It’s not the same as going from [this](http://www.nonstick.com/wpics/prebugs.jpg) to [this](http://www.vegalleries.com/wbopc/51bugs.jpg). Well, yes, it is, actually. In both cases it’s going from one character to a very different character rather loosely based on it. The only difference is there were a few more intermediary stages between the madcap early Bugs, and the character we know and love than between Bugs and Buzz. ---
**Author:** ![don\_Jaime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b4bc9f/32.png) [@don\_Jaime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_Jaime)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/19 "2005-02-17T04:59:03Z")
This thread is far too quiet and self-effacing. I think [the Pit](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302821) is a better place for _Loonatics_. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447/20 "2005-02-17T07:27:00Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > When is this **XTREME!!!** fad going to end already? Hopefully, five minutes after this series leaves a big smoking crater in the landscape. I don’t think I want to see the character designs of the other “Loonatics”… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-gets-a-new-hip-look/290447.md?page=2)