A Look @ Looney Tunes Super Stars: Daffy Duck

Warner Home Video released a couple of new DVD releases of classic Looney Tunes earlier this month.
I already provided a look at the Bugs Bunny collection, so let's move onto that wacky webfoot wonder, Daffy Duck.Like the Bugs Bunny set, 10 out of the 15 new-to-DVD cartoons have been cropped to widescreen dimensions. CinemaScope was introduced in the 1950's so many studios took advantage of the newly-sized theater screens. Warner's developed animated shorts that could be viewed on both standard and wide screens where the actual footage could be cropped on the top and bottom of the picture. I still wish the DVD developers gave the consumer a choice to watch the cartoons cropped or not.
Let's have a look at the classic cartoons that were released in this new collection:
"Tick Tock Tuckered" (1944)
"Nasty Quacks" (1945)"Daffy Dilly" (1948)"Wise Quackers" (1949)"The Prize Pest" (1951)"Design for Leaving" (1954)"Stork Naked" (1955)"This is a Life?" (1955)"Dime to Retire" (1955)"Ducking the Devil" (1957)"People Are Bunny" (1959)"Person to Bunny" (1960)"Daffy's Inn Trouble" (1961)"The Iceman Ducketh" (1964)"Suppressed Duck" (1965)Unlike Bugs' collection, Daffy's comes with a warning on the back cover of the DVD: "Intended for the Adult Collector and May Not Be Suitable for Children" - so you know they have to be good. Pick up a copy today so all the classic Looney Tunes can be released onto home video!

Happy 70th Birthday Bugs!

July 27th, 1940 marks the debut of Bugs Bunny's definite personality in Tex Avery's "A Wild Hare".

Warner Bros should have released the upcoming "essential" DVD collection today to mark the event. But I suppose a couple of new DVD releases and a new animated TV show is tribute enough.

The Essential Bugs Bunny 2-DVD set

Warner Home Video will be releasing a new 2-disc DVD set this October that will include "career-building cartoons" as well as "choice TV specials, shorts and rare appearances" of that wascally -wabbit: "Bugs Bunny".
http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Bugs-Bunny-Looney-Tunes-Comedy-Hour-Essential-Bugs-Bunny/13982

Tom & Jerry Deluxe Anniversary DVD Set

Warner Home Video is releasing yet another Tom & Jerry collection for the modest collector.
Coming June 22nd is the Tom & Jerry: Deluxe Anniversary Collection, a 2 disc set that features various shorts of the comic duo plus excerpts from Anchors Aweigh and Dangerous When Wet. Follow the link for more info on this upcoming release...
http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Tom-Jerry-Deluxe-Anniversary-Collection/13859

Happy 102nd Tex Avery

If you don't know who Fred "Tex" Avery is, you probably shouldn't be here.
That animation pioneer of the Golden Age of Animation would be celebrating his 102nd Birthday today if he hadn't passed on back in 1980.
Tex Avery was the ultimate animation director because he created cartoons that took full advantage of the art form. When you watch a cartoon filled with outrageous gags, wild takes, unexpected 4th wall jokes and ultimate humor, you know you are watching a Tex Avery cartoon.

He helped shape many of the classic Looney Tunes characters at Warner Bros during the 30s and early 40s and perfected his craft at MGM during the rest of the 40s while introducing The Wolf, Red, Droopy and Screwy Squirrel. He went onto create Chilly Willy at Walter Lantz, invented the crazy cartoon bugs that still feature in Raid commercials to this day, and continued to create characters and stories for Hanna-Barbera up until his death.

Back in 1995, Dark Horse Comics wanted to celebrate the animation director's career with his own line of comic books featuring his characters that were created at MGM. The Mask live action feature with Jim Carrey was based on a Dark Horse comic line and the film featured a heavy influence of the classic shorts by Tex Avery, this could have been their way to say thanks for the inspiration. Here is a story that was featured in Tex Avery's Wolf & Red #1...

Warner Bros Animation Hits Home

YES!!! The touring art exhibition "The Art of Warner Bros. Cartoons" will be available for viewing at The Winnipeg Art Gallery starting this March.
http://wag.ca/art/upcoming-exhibitions/667/60/the-art-of-warner-bros-cartoons
The show will be displaying production artwork created and used by Warner Bros. Pictures' Termite Terrace artists from the 30's through to the 60's. Complete with a chronological history, evolution of famous cartoon stars, a breakdown of how classic animation was created and an in-depth look at Bugs Bunny, this is a show not to be missed!
(a great big thanks to Doug for this information!)

More Looney DVDs in April

Warner Home Video is finally releasing more from the classic Looney Tunes library this spring.
"Looney Tunes Super Stars" kicks off with Bugs Bunny: Hare Extraordinaire & Daffy Duck: Frustrated Fowl with more releases to follow.Each disc will contain 15 restored and uncut shorts that haven't been available on DVD.
http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Bugs-Bunny-Looney-Tunes-Comedy-Hour-Looney-Tunes-Future-Plans/13214
Jerry Beck has even hinted that Warners may have a Blu-Ray release planned for the Tunes in the future as well. Be sure to add these new collections to your library when they become available April 27th!

Oscar Martin's New T&J Blog

With an invite by Mr. Martin himself, may I announce his brand new Tom & Jerry artwork blog!
http://tomandjerryartwork.blogspot.com/
The blog will feature his artwork of the famous cat and mouse duo which he has been working with since 1986! Be sure to visit it often as Oscar reviews his career over the years.

DVD Look: Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Vol 1

This past May saw two new releases from Warner Home Video, Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1970s Vol 1 & Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Vol 1.In an attempt to capture the retro feel and shows of the classic Saturday Morning cartoons, Warner Bros has released these new DVD collections for people who grew up watching these cartoons and to introduce them to a new generation."Saturday Morning Cartoons: The 60's" contains quite a bit of classic Hanna-Barbera shows, many which are making their DVD debut, plus an episode of The Porky Pig Show complete with bumpers along with an episode of an early Anime series called Marine Boy, which is presented with a crisp picture and sound which makes me wonder if Warners is planning on releasing a season set?Along with an extra episode of The Quick Draw McGraw Show, there are 3 featurettes explaining the histories behind Quick Draw McGraw, The Herculoids, and Frankenstein Jr. & The Impossibles.Golden Age Cartoons has a great review of the set by Jon Cooke which includes a listing of the complete contents of the 60's set:
http://reviews.goldenagecartoons.com/2009/1960s/Add this great classic cartoon set to your animation DVD collection today! Perhaps Vol 2 is in the works?