Updated on December 10, 2021
A while ago, I finally got to see the newest Looney Tunes TV series, “Wabbit.” (Its full title’s “Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Production.”) The new series is centered around Bugs Bunny, and marks a return to the original shorts’ style of humor: slapstick humor, some parodies, and Bugs as a trickster. It’s definitely the opposite of its predecessor series, the “Seinfeld”/sitcom-like “The Looney Tunes Show.”
A few changes have been made for this series. New characters added for this show include Squeaks, a squeaky-voiced squirrel that hangs out with Bugs, and Bigfoot, a dim-witted creature that tends to smack Bugs around and not remember his name. The show also has an original, albeit rather short, theme song. But given the original theatrical shorts had a short theme song, I suppose for once TV’s current annoying practice of shortening (or eliminating) theme songs to squeeze in more commercials fits here.
As noted above, the slapstick elements are in force in this series, though modernized: gags are present about passwords, government agents hunting for Bigfoot, and so on. Highly unusual for a modern comedic animated series, there’s even firearms shown being used by Yosemite Sam.
The character designs are as stylized as they were on “The Looney Tunes Show,” though more adapted for “Wabbit”‘s slapstick tone.
So far, online reaction to this series seems positive, and the ratings are as well. Originally meant to just air on Boomerang, the ratings are strong enough that Cartoon Network plans to also keep airing the show.
As for my feelings? From what I saw so far, I think it’s a pretty funny show, and like it a lot better than “The Looney Tunes Show.” While obviously the classic theatrical shorts are the best Looney Tunes material, what I saw holds up quite well. I’d favorably compare it to some of the best modern usages of the Looney Tunes characters: “Tiny Toon Adventures,” “Taz-Mania,” “Duck Dodgers,” and the “Bah, Humduck” Christmas special.
Here’s the opening for “Wabbit.”
