# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![START](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@START](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/START)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/21 "2005-05-15T08:10:16Z")
> [@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), 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. 🙂 Those characters would have looked cool airbrushed on a black T-Shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2005, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/22 "2005-05-15T09:39:17Z")
I thought they were pretty cool too… but on their own, with nothing to do with Bugs and company. Oh well. If their makers are consciously thinking in terms of Brand Extension rather than dementedly as in the days of Termite Terrace of old, the resulting cartoons would suck wolf ass anyways. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2005, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/23 "2005-06-07T12:22:29Z")
Og help us, it has risen from the grave. Loonatics, take #2. [http://mms.businesswire.com/bwapps/mediaserver/ViewMedia?mgid=46730&vid=5](http://mms.businesswire.com/bwapps/mediaserver/ViewMedia?mgid=46730&vid=5) If at first you do something stupid, keep doing something stupid & hope nobody says anything. ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/24 "2005-06-07T13:02:16Z")
Oh my God, I think that’s worse. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/25 "2005-06-07T15:07:37Z")
“Let’s show how hip and anime-influenced we are.” Sigh. To: Cartoon executives. Re: New designes. As long as you keep thinking primarily in terms of marketing demographics and external appearances, and you try to make your “product” conform to these outside expectations, your “product” will be of low quality. Set your creative staff free to find the cartoons’ own heart, rather than trying to impose an external idea on them. Only then will you have a chance of finding a hit. Sincerely, A cartoon watcher. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2005, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/26 "2005-06-07T16:40:33Z")
Ha! They changed the name of the doomed bunny from “Buzz Bunny” to “Ace Bunny” – supposedly to make it clearer that these are “new” characters and not desecrations of our sixty-year-old buddies. _Not_ because [another ‘Buzz Bunny’](http://www.pornblography.com/daily_grind/images/pp8.jpg) is out on the market. (Fair warning- image is of a sex toy in its packaging – models are clothed.) Nice that the makers of _that_ Buzz Bunny skated as close to trademark violation as they figured they could get away with. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@I\_can\_t\_believe\_that\_s\_butter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_can_t_believe_that_s_butter)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/27 "2005-06-07T17:02:42Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > …_Not_ because [another ‘Buzz Bunny’](http://www.pornblography.com/daily_grind/images/pp8.jpg) is out on the market. (Fair warning- image is of a sex toy in its packaging – models are clothed.) Nice that the makers of _that_ Buzz Bunny skated as close to trademark violation as they figured they could get away with. 😃 [Indeed](http://www.jimhillmedia.com/mb/articles/showarticle.php?ID=1440): > [@](#): > > (Ace was originally “Buzz Bunny”, but the name was changed due to copyright concerns.) Why don’t they, um, just stop doing this? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/28 "2005-06-07T17:05:46Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Ha! They changed the name of the doomed bunny from “Buzz Bunny” to “Ace Bunny” – supposedly to make it clearer that these are “new” characters and not desecrations of our sixty-year-old buddies. > > _Not_ because [another ‘Buzz Bunny’](http://www.pornblography.com/daily_grind/images/pp8.jpg) is out on the market. (Fair warning- image is of a sex toy in its packaging – models are clothed.) Nice that the makers of _that_ Buzz Bunny skated as close to trademark violation as they figured they could get away with. 😃 Actually, according to [this](http://news.toonzone.net/article.php?ID=3843) they changed it because of the vibrator! > [@](#): > > Warner Bros. has released new concept art for its controversial Loonatics series. The new artwork keeps the color schemes for the characters but discards the angular and slightly menacing look for something that has a bit more anime styling to it. Additionally, the network seems to be making it clear that the series is “inspired by” the classic cartoons and that the characters are descendants – not reworked versions of the originals – presumably due to the protest of the characters’ styles. Additionally, as noted before, the name of Buzz Bunny has been changed to Ace Bunny, due to the name “Buzz Bunny” already being used for a decidedly maturely rated product. As stated in the Loonatics press release, the characters get their powers from “cosmic dust.” > > The voice cast and lineup for the series has also been announced, featuring veteran US voice actors for the main roles and a healthy dose of guest stars that range from stage and screen actors (Tim Curry, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Florence Henderson) to industry veterans (Tom Kenny and Phil LaMarr). ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/29 "2005-06-07T17:10:37Z")
> [@](#): > > The voice cast and lineup for the series has also been announced, featuring veteran US voice actors for the main roles and a healthy dose of guest stars that range from stage and screen actors (Tim Curry, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Florence Henderson) to industry veterans (Tom Kenny and Phil LaMarr). Michael Clark Duncan??? Who the hell is he doing the voice for? Can you imagine his deep voice doing Daffy? “Suffering Succotash!” Or how about Tim Curry as the Rabbit, “What’s up Doc!” How interesting… ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/30 "2005-06-07T17:12:30Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Loonatics, take #2. > > [http://mms.businesswire.com/bwapps/mediaserver/ViewMedia?mgid=46730&vid=5](http://mms.businesswire.com/bwapps/mediaserver/ViewMedia?mgid=46730&vid=5) > > If at first you do something stupid, keep doing something stupid & hope nobody says anything. I take comfort in knowing that I can draw better than that. ---
**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:** [June 7, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/31 "2005-06-07T17:14:30Z")
> [@Sage Rat](#): > > I take comfort in knowing that I can draw better than that. Big deal! So can my brother’s goldfish. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/32 "2005-06-07T17:20:35Z")
> [@Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor](#): > > Big deal! > So can my brother’s goldfish. Yeah, but he’s not going to be applying for animation work in a year 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/33 "2005-06-07T17:24:15Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#): > > Michael Clark Duncan??? Who the hell is he doing the voice for? Can you imagine his deep voice doing Daffy? “Suffering Succotash!” > > Or how about Tim Curry as the Rabbit, “What’s up Doc!” > > How interesting… MCD would be Taz…or Spaz or whatever they are gonna change his name too. Of course the Wile E. clone would sound cool with that voice too. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/34 "2005-06-07T17:24:38Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#): > > Or how about Tim Curry as the Rabbit, “What’s up Doc!” > > How interesting… Oh dear, now I’m seeing Bugs in an entirely different style of drag. Hmm… maybe Duncan would be Tazzzzz (or whatever the hell they’re calling these things now), Curry would be the Coyote, and Phil LaMarr would be Daffy? I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/35 "2005-06-07T17:38:49Z")
> [@ronincyberpunk](#): > > Michael Clark Duncan??? Who the hell is he doing the voice for? Can you imagine his deep voice doing Daffy? “Suffering Succotash!” Aw, _hell_ no! ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/36 "2005-06-07T18:52:15Z")
According to a [Warner Bros. Animation press release,](http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050606/65953.html?.v=1) Clarke Duncan and Curry will guest-voice as villains- Curry as “a nefarious carnival barker bent on mutating all of Acmetropolis,” and Clarke Duncan as “a gravity-defying social menace who does his best to bring the Loonatics down.” Apparently, WBA did _not_ change the show name, as I reported earlier. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2005, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054/37 "2005-06-07T19:35:47Z")
The new characters are not as eye-blindingly obnoxious as the originals, but the idea still screams _“cheap exploitative hack!”_ Bugger this, I’m going to bed; wake me for the _Wallace and Grommit_ movie and the next Pixar flick… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bugs-bunny-has-been-saved-loonatics-makeover-scuttled-by-young-boy/302054.md?page=1)