Loonatics Unleashed is an American superheroanimated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation that ran on Kids' WB for two seasons from 2005[1] to 2007. The series was based/inspired on the Looney Tunes cartoon characters, with the series described by Warner Bros. as an action comedy. Loonatics Unleashed is meant to be a mixture of the Looney Tunes shorts' irreverent style of humor and a modern action animated series, with the characters designed in a more action cartoon-inspired style.
Unlike previous Looney Tunes-related shows, Loonatics Unleashed has a darker tone and takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, following multiple minor story arcs.[2] The initial concept designs were met with backlash among fans and there were petitions to have the designs changed, while Sander Schwartz defended the show's direction, saying "the classic characters were just “sharing DNA” with these new ones and it was merely an extension of the franchise."[3]Sam Register, who became WB's executive vice president of creative affairs in 2008, considers the character designs "a reminder of what not to do".[4] This serves as the final series of the Looney Tunes TV franchise to premiere in the 2000s decade. After Loonatics Unleashed ended, the franchise would go on hiatus until the release of The Looney Tunes Show on Cartoon Network, four years later.
Plot
"In the year 2772, a meteor strikes the city-planet of Acmetropolis, knocking it off its axis. This cosmic event releases supernatural forces unleashing a new kind of hero...The Loonatics!"
- Zadavia's opening monologue from season 1.
The events of Loonatics Unleashed occur in the year 2772, the year that a meteor strikes the city planet of Acmetropolis by crashing into one of its oceans, knocking it completely off its original axis. Instead of destroying the planet, the meteor crashes in a waterfront, releasing waves of supernatural energies causing some of the planet's citizens' genetic codes to be severely altered, granting them special abilities and strengths.
A mysterious and powerful woman named Zadavia calls upon six teenagers of the affected residents to form a team of superheroes. She becomes their commander, dispatching them for the purpose of combating any and all threats to Acmetropolis and its citizens. The newly formed team is known as the Loonatics and reside on the 134th floor of a large tower. These characters are the descendants of the classic Looney Tunes characters, according to multiple press releases and official sources. Descendants of other Looney Tunes are unverified, though they can be inferred in certain situations.
It is later revealed that Zadavia is in fact an alien and had used her powers to knock the meteor slightly off-course, preventing the total destruction of the planet. It is also revealed that a mysterious figure, later revealed to be Zadavia's older brother named Optimatus, caused the meteor to strike Acmetropolis in an attempt to destroy his sister.
In the second season, the show takes on a lighter tone and many more descendants of other Looney Tunes characters are introduced, the majority of which only appear once in the series. The super villain characters from the previous season are rarely mentioned or rarely appear. Zadavia becomes a less mysterious figure and regularly participates with the Loonatics in their adventures. Two more aliens from Zadavia's home planet are also introduced, Deuce and Keyboard Man. In the season's finale, the Loonatics are temporarily joined by Sylth Vester and Optimatus is replaced by Deuce as the series arch-villain.
Main characters
Ace Bunny: Descendant of Bugs Bunny. Before the meteor hit the city, Ace worked as a stunt rabbit in movies.[5]
Lexi Bunny: Descendant of Lola Bunny. Before the meteor hit the city, Lexi was trying out to become a cheerleader at Acmetropolis University.[5]
Danger Duck: Descendant of Daffy Duck. Before the meteor hit the city, Danger was employed as a pool boy.[5]
Slam Tasmanian: Descendant of the Tasmanian Devil. Before the meteor hit the city, Slam was a fighter in a ring. Due to the nature of his combat, it is implied that he was a pro wrestler in staged fights.[5]
Tech E. Coyote: Descendant of Wile E. Coyote. Before the meteor hit the city, Tech was a college student at the Acme Institute; although it was never explicitly stated, it is implied he was kicked out under the pretense of being "mad" after one of the faculty misused his machine, though, in his defense, he installed the self-destruct button for extra credit.[5]
Rev Runner: Descendant of Road Runner. Before the meteor hit the city, Rev was a delivery boy and invented things.
Original character designs under the initial working title of Loonatics originally named from left: Slick, Spaz, Buzz, Duck, Lexi, and Roadster.[6]
Loonatics Unleashed began as a pitch by Christian and Yvon Tremblay, originally titled The Loonatics using reinterpretations of classic Looney Tunes characters.[7][8] The team presented their pitch to then President of Warner Bros. Animation, Sander Schwartz, who responded favorably to the pitch, and after showing the concept to a focus group of kids was given a formal production commitment.[8] David Janollari, then President of Kids' WB expressed enthusiasm for the series and referred to it as "a great way to take the classic Looney Tunes franchise that has been huge with audiences for decades and bring it into the new millennium".[7]
The Loonatics were first unveiled to the public in February 2005 with live-action/animated promotional short that featured the characters with early designs and names such as Zadavia being originally named Maxima.[6] The reveal of Loonatics, in particular the characters' more angular and imposing designs, was met with ire throughout the Looney Tunes fandom. A petition demanding a change to the Loonatics designs garnered 85,000 signatures.[9] The petition garnered enough of a response that Warner Bros. Animation issued a statement that the circulated drawings were early preliminary designs that had been since modified with softer, less imposing features.[7]
In September 2006, The CW presented its line up for the 2006–07 Saturday Morning schedule with Loonatics Unleashed returning for a second season with the press release describing the show as a "breakout hit".[10]
In March 2007, The CW presented its line up for the 2007–08 Saturday Morning schedule with Loonatics Unleashed no longer among the shows scheduled for air.[11]
In the New Looney Tunes episode "One Carroter in Search of an Artist", Ace Bunny makes a brief appearance. Bugs Bunny attempts to get the artist of the cartoon to fix his appearance. After turning into his original premiere design, he begs the artist to change him into something more current, and he turns into Ace, prompting Bugs to state, "Okay, now you're just messing with me".
In the Teen Titans Go! episode "Huggbees", when danger is reported to be located at the Warner Bros. studio, Raven asks if someone is rebooting the series, followed by a poster of the series accompanied by a stock scream.
Lexi Bunny, Slam Tasmanian, Danger Duck, and Ace Bunny appear in the Animaniacs reboot episode "Suffragette City". Dot refers to them as "whatever these guys are".
References
^George Gene Gustines (2005-06-06). "It's 2772. Who Loves Ya, Tech E. Coyote?". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
^Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 370–371. ISBN 978-1538103739.
^Barnes, Brooks (2010-05-19). "For Looney Tunes, a Big Left Turn at Albuquerque". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
^ a b c d eLoonatics Unleashed Episode 6: The Comet Cometh
^ a b""Loonatics" Promo Short Gives First Look at New Series". toonzone.net. Archived from the original on 2005-02-23. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
^ a b c"Kathie Lee Gifford returns to morning TV at Today". Today.msnbc.msn.com. February 17, 2005. Archived from the original on February 21, 2005. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
^ a bConan, Neal (August 10, 2005). "Spawn of Looney Tunes Gang Go High-Tech". NPR.com.
^McDonnell, Brandy (2 May 2005). "Tulsan's effort helps halt Loon-acy". oklahoman.com. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
^"Kids' WB! On The CW Announces 2006-2007 Saturday Morning Programming Schedule". warnerbros.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
^"Kids' WB! on an adventure". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 30 March 2007.
^ a bFrom the United States Copyright Office catalog: "Public Catalog - Copyright Catalog (1978 to present) - Basic Search [search: "Loonatics Unleashed"]". United States Copyright Office.
^Freedom Fighter (September 23, 2005). "Fall 2005 Ratings Report Thread". Anime Superhero Forums. p. 1. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^Abigail Azote (September 23, 2005). "For the WB, a Saturday morning push". Media Life Magazine. Archived from the original on May 21, 2006. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
^Freedom Fighter (October 1, 2005). "Fall 2005 Ratings Report Thread". Anime Superhero Forums. p. 1. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^Freedom Fighter (October 7, 2005). "Fall 2005 Ratings Report Thread". Anime Superhero Forums. p. 2. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^Freedom Fighter (October 17, 2005). "Fall 2005 Ratings Report Thread". Anime Superhero Forums. p. 2. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^Freedom Fighter (November 7, 2005). "Fall 2005 Ratings Report Thread". Anime Superhero Forums. p. 5. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
^Freedom Fighter (November 13, 2005). "Fall 2005 Ratings Report Thread". Anime Superhero Forums. p. 5. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^Freedom Fighter (November 21, 2005). "Fall 2005 Ratings Report Thread". Anime Superhero Forums. p. 5. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^"Monday, December 5th, 2005". Cynopsis. Cynopsis: Media. December 5, 2005. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
^"Friday, February 17th, 2006". Cynopsis. Cynopsis: Media. February 17, 2006. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
^"Monday, February 27th, 2006". Cynopsis. Cynopsis: Media. February 27, 2006. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
^"Tuesday, May 16th, 2006". Cynopsis. Cynopsis: Media. May 16, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
^"Friday, May 19th, 2006". Cynopsis. Cynopsis: Media. May 19, 2006. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
^Cynopsis (October 2, 2006). "Monday, October 2nd, 2006". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (October 6, 2006). "Froday, October 6th, 2006". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (October 16, 2006). "Monday, October 16th, 2006". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (November 10, 2006). "Friday, November 10th, 2006". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (November 17, 2006). "Friday, November 17th, 2006". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
^Cynopsis (November 29, 2006). "Wednesday, November 29th, 2006". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (February 16, 2007). "Friday, February 16th, 2007". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (February 26, 2007). "Monday, February 26th, 2007". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (March 2, 2007). "Friday, March 2nd, 2007". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (March 9, 2007). "Friday, March 9th, 2007". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (May 4, 2007). "Friday, May 4th, 2007". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^Cynopsis (May 11, 2007). "Friday, May 11th, 2007". Cynopsis Media. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
^"Loonatics Unleashed – The Complete First Season". Amazon.com. March 13, 2007.
^"Loonatics Unleashed – The Complete Second Season". Amazon.com. August 14, 2007.
Notes
^This episode also received a 3.5 rating and 0.85 million viewers with ages 9–14.[14]
