# Bugs Bunny Has Been Saved. "Loonatics" makeover scuttled by young boy. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054 "2005-05-02T15:25:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/1 "2005-05-02T15:25:05Z")
The idiotic plans for the ugly & menacing _Loonatics_ series, [AS SEEN HERE](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050217/050217_loonatics_hmed.hlarge.jpg), have been scrapped, in part to a child’s online campaign. [http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/04/30/100ae\_makeover001.cfm](http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/04/30/100ae_makeover001.cfm) Thank you, Tommy Adams, for helping to save America’s favorite Toons. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/2 "2005-05-02T16:07:26Z")
This whole controversy was ridiculous. They weren’t even the same characters. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/3 "2005-05-02T16:12:49Z")
I have a new hero. God bless him. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/4 "2005-05-02T16:30:54Z")
In related news, the National Association for Mental Illness has complained to Warner Bros. Television about the title “Loonatics,” because they think it may be offensive to the mentally challenged. This I find ridiculous. Although it is true that the title is a play on the word “lunatic,” part of the base word is “looney,” another offensive term for someone with a mental problem that has been the base word of a 70-year-old animation franchise that is the inspiration for this series and which NAMI has never complained about. What about _Animaniacs_ or _Histeria_? Puns relating to mental insanity are a cartoon tradition to point out just how offbeat these characters are. As for the petition, my feeling are mixed. When a major studio decides to scrap their plans for a new animation franchise due to the effors of _an eleven-year-old boy_, one wonders exactly how far up their ass their creative heads are. (Obviously, they were pretty far up there to begin with, but still…) I quote here from [CartoonBrew.com](http://CartoonBrew.com)’s Amid Amidi: > [@Amid Amidi](#): > > a.) If you truly believe in the quality and value of your product, you don’t change it every time somebody in the public raises an objection (the creative process in animation should not be a collaborative effort between studios and the entire American population), and, > b.) if your product is so bad that an 11-year-old’s advice makes it better, then you should get out of the fucking animation business. The last time a major animation studio listened to a single person’s opinion, Itchy and Scratchy ended up sitting in rocking chairs drinking lemonade. (Or was that just a TV show? I forget.) On the other hand, I like the fact that Adams stood up for what he believed in and got a change made. But the whole thing is still weird to me. Forget Buzz or Ace or whatever the hell his name is and his crew- the real Loonatics are the guys at Warner Bros. Animation. (Sorry, NAMI.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/5 "2005-05-02T20:36:55Z")
> [@](#): > > As for the petition, my feeling are mixed. When a major studio decides to scrap their plans for a new animation franchise due to the effors of an eleven-year-old boy, one wonders exactly how far up their ass their creative heads are. Are you suggesting that a company which makes entertainment should ignore the feedback of members of their target demographic? The idiocy was in coming up with Loonatics in the first place, not in scuttling them when a kid pointed out that it was idiotic. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/6 "2005-05-02T22:18:46Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > The idiotic plans for the ugly & menacing _Loonatics_ series, [AS SEEN HERE](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/050217/050217_loonatics_hmed.hlarge.jpg) I dunno, I kinda like the “BatRoadrunner” character on the far right. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/7 "2005-05-02T23:19:16Z")
It’s not like the series has been scuttled. > [@](#): > > Warner Bros. Entertainment spokesman Scott Rowe said his company wants the thousands of fans upset by the made-over characters unveiled in February to know “that’s not all, folks.” > > Those “early drawings” have been revised into characters that are softer and less menacing, he said. It doesn’t even really sound as though the kid had anything to do with the decision to redesign the “Loonatics.” Nearly everyone who saw them hated them. “Including Thomas.” Big deal. Those concept drawings are so self-consciously “Xtreme” and “Kewl” that they’re just embarrassing. They didn’t test well. Back to the drawing board. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/8 "2005-05-03T05:53:39Z")
It stinks of **New Coke®** to me. ---
**Author:** ![Gamaliel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b487fb/32.png) [@Gamaliel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gamaliel)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/9 "2005-05-03T09:04:05Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Those concept drawings are so self-consciously “Xtreme” and “Kewl” that they’re just embarrassing. Have they been rastafied? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/10 "2005-05-03T11:11:44Z")
> [@Gamaliel](#): > > Have they been rastafied? RASTAFIED!?! SH\*T NO!!! THEY WERE EDGY TO THE X-TREEEEEEEME!!! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/11 "2005-05-03T14:30:27Z")
I think they need to be %10 more rasta. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/12 "2005-05-03T17:52:44Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I think they need to be %10 more rasta. Can we get a shmeer of surfer? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/13 "2005-05-03T19:15:03Z")
They were so edgy, they made Poochie look like a cartoon dog by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![sleeepy2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@sleeepy2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleeepy2)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/14 "2005-05-03T19:45:12Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > They were so edgy, they made Poochie look like a cartoon dog by comparison. Let’s not bag on Poochie. The poor guy’s spaceship blew up on it’s way back to his home planet. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/15 "2005-05-03T20:46:30Z")
> [@sleeepy2](#): > > Let’s not bag on Poochie. The poor guy’s spaceship blew up on it’s way back to his home planet. :dubious: Poochie came from another planet? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/16 "2005-05-03T20:54:26Z")
> [@Kaspar Hauser](#): > > This whole controversy was ridiculous. They weren’t even the same characters. As you claimed in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=302821), until you saw the cartoon and then you said > [@](#): > > It seems I was the only one willing to give this series the benefit of the doubt… after seeing that promo, it turns out my postition was laughingly unjustified. That sucked donkey balls. Given that the promo toon showed an ink bottle pouring over the classic characters and them transforming into their “Xtremez” versions, is obvious that WB wanted you to think that Buzz was a hipper version of Bugs. It’s what’s known as “brand extension” in the advertising industry. Instead of creating something new and trying to market it under it’s own merits, you slap a variation of an existing brand name on it. Which is why Coke pushes Diet Coke so heavily, while allowing Tab to languish on the shelves gathering dust. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/17 "2005-05-03T21:18:30Z")
If they weren’t replacements for classic characters, I’d love to see the show. The designs are really intriguing to me, even if the rabbit does look way too much like Frank from Donny Darko for comfort. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/18 "2005-05-14T16:18:48Z")
> [@yours truly](#): > > In related news, the National Association for Mental Illness has complained to Warner Bros. Television about the title “Loonatics,” because they think it may be offensive to the mentally challenged. Sorry to bring this puppy back, but…I don’t know if it was due to NAMI’s complaints, but the show will no longer be called _Loonatics_. They are now looking for a new title. I tell you, this project was doomed from the start. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/19 "2005-05-14T16:23:47Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > Sorry to bring this puppy back, but…I don’t know if it was due to NAMI’s complaints, but the show will no longer be called _Loonatics_. They are now looking for a new title. > > I tell you, this project was doomed from the start. Well, they might as well go back and change the name of the Looney Tunes cartoons as well. Damned PC bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/20 "2005-05-14T17:09:13Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Well, they might as well go back and change the name of the Looney Tunes cartoons as well. > > Damned PC bullshit. Speaking as someone who’s batshit crazy, I always found the Looney Tunes to be a great source of comfort in periods of mental anguish, and I can assure you that my mental health status would deteriorate greatly if they were to change the name of the original Looney Tunes to something else. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054.md?page=2)