History WesternAnimation / LooneyTunes

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[[caption-width-right:350:The main ensemble.[[note]] Clockwise from the bottom: WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck, [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner Road Runner]], WesternAnimation/ElmerFudd, [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Tweety Bird]], [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner Wile E. Coyote]], [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Sylvester the Cat]], WesternAnimation/FoghornLeghorn, and WesternAnimation/PorkyPig.[[/note]]\\
Not pictured: [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a supporting cast of thousands]].]]

''Th-th-the-th-th-the-th-th-ThatsAllFolks''

[[ArtifactTitle As the names indicate]], these cartoons were originally meant to riff on the sweet, sentimental musical shorts then in vogue, such as [[WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts Disney's]] ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies''. That basing cartoons around popular public-domain songs -- or, even better, ones the studio already owned -- was a fast and relatively cheap way of producing them didn't hurt any, either.

''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' are two series of theatrical cartoon shorts which initially ran from [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation 1930]] to [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation 1969]]. Creator/WarnerBros initially distributed the cartoons for independent producer Leon Schlesinger before buying the studio in 1944 and moving it in-house in 1955.

[[ArtifactTitle As the names indicate]], these cartoons were originally meant to riff on the sweet, sentimental musical shorts then in vogue: for instance, Disney's ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies''. That basing cartoons around popular public-domain songs -- or, even better, ones the studio already owned -- was a fast and relatively cheap way of producing them didn't hurt any, either.

[[caption-width-right:350:The main ensemble.[[note]] Clockwise from the bottom: WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck, [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner Road Runner]], WesternAnimation/ElmerFudd, [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Tweety Bird]], [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner Wile E. Coyote]], [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Sylvester the Cat]], WesternAnimation/FoghornLeghorn, and WesternAnimation/PorkyPig.[[/note]] Not pictured: [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a supporting cast of thousands]].]]

[[caption-width-right:350:The main ensemble. Not pictured: [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a supporting cast of thousands]].[[note]] Clockwise from the bottom: WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck, [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner Road Runner]], WesternAnimation/ElmerFudd, [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Tweety Bird]], [[WesternAnimation/WileECoyoteAndTheRoadrunner Wile E. Coyote]], [[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Sylvester the Cat]], WesternAnimation/FoghornLeghorn, and WesternAnimation/PorkyPig.[[/note]]]]

Originally, [[ArtifactTitle as the names indicate]], these cartoons were meant to riff off the sweet, sentimental musical shorts then in vogue: for instance, Disney's ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies''. That basing cartoons around popular public-domain songs -- or, even better, ones the studio already owned -- was a fast and relatively cheap way of producing them didn't hurt any, either.

Over the course of their tenures at 'Termite Terrace', as the WB animation studio was informally known, the legendary directors Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/TexAvery, Creator/BobClampett, Creator/FrizFreleng, Creator/FrankTashlin, Creator/ArtDavis, and Creator/RobertMcKimson -- assisted by talented animators such as Ken Harris, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow, Bill Melendez, Virgil Ross, and Rod Scribner; brilliant writers like Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, and Tedd Pierce; ace musical arrangers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn; sound effects whiz Treg Brown; and, of course, the incomparable vocal range of one Creator/MelBlanc -- created and refined a large and diverse cast of characters, the most famous of which include (listed in chronological order of introduction):

Over the course of their tenures at 'Termite Terrace', as the WB animation studio was informally known, the legendary directors Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/TexAvery, Creator/BobClampett, Creator/FrizFreleng, Creator/FrankTashlin, Creator/ArtDavis, and Creator/RobertMcKimson -- assisted by talented animators such as Ken Harris, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow, Bill Melendez, Virgil Ross, and Rod Scribner; brilliant writers like Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, and Tedd Pierce; ace musical arrangers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, sound effects whiz Treg Brown; and, of course, the incomparable vocal range of one Creator/MelBlanc -- created and refined a large and diverse cast of characters, the most famous of which include (listed in chronological order of introduction):

For a complete filmography of the original cartoons, [[UsefulNotes/LooneyTunesAndMerrieMelodiesFilmography visit this page.]] For a taste of the best shorts the series has to offer, refer to ''The50GreatestCartoons'' list, as well as ''Literature/The100GreatestLooneyTunes'' list. For the 2011 animated sitcom that premiered on Cartoon Network, go [[WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow here]]. For an index of related ''Looney Tunes'' media outside of the main shorts (including films, TV shows, and video games), go [[Franchise/LooneyTunes here.]]

Originally, [[ArtifactTitle as the names indicate]], these cartoons are meant to riff off the sweet, sentimental musical shorts then in vogue: for instance, Disney's ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies''. That basing cartoons around popular public-domain songs -- or, even better, ones the studio already owned -- was a fast and relatively cheap way of producing them didn't hurt any, either.

''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' were two series of theatrical cartoon shorts running from [[UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfAnimation 1930]] to [[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfAnimation 1969]]. Creator/WarnerBros initially distributed the cartoons for independent producer Leon Schlesinger before buying the studio in 1944 and moving it in-house in 1955.

Originally, [[ArtifactTitle as the names indicate]], these cartoons were meant to riff off the sweet, sentimental musical shorts then in vogue: for instance, Disney's ''WesternAnimation/SillySymphonies''. That basing cartoons around popular public-domain songs -- or, even better, ones the studio already owned -- was a fast and relatively cheap way of producing them didn't hurt any, either.

Over the course of their tenures at 'Termite Terrace', as the WB animation studio was informally known, the legendary directors Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/TexAvery, Creator/BobClampett, Creator/FrizFreleng, Creator/FrankTashlin, Creator/ArtDavis, and Creator/RobertMcKimson -- assisted by talented animators such as Ken Harris, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow, Bill Melendez, Virgil Ross, and Rod Scribner; brilliant writers like Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, and Tedd Pierce; ace musical arrangers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, sound effects whiz Treg Brown; and, of course, the incomparable voice actor Creator/MelBlanc -- created and refined a large and diverse cast of characters, the most famous of which include (listed in chronological order of introduction):

Helping the anarchistic spirit along were a succession of humourless bosses that more or less invited open rebellion. Founder Schlesinger won unwitting immortality as the inspiration for Daffy Duck's trademark lisp: "You're dethpicable!". However, as much as a cheapskate Schlesinger was, the dilapidated studio he provided wasn't called "Termite Terrace" for nothing, he largely stayed out of creative affairs as long as the films made money. By contrast, the Warner Bros. themselves really didn't know or care what was going on in their animation unit, apparently studio head, Jack L. Warner thought they produced WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse cartoons, leaving hands-on oversight to bean counter Eddie Selzer, whom the animators considered an interfering bore. Recounting the genesis of the classic "WesternAnimation/BullyForBugs", Jones recalled the day Selzer showed up at his door as he and writer Mike Maltese were hashing out story ideas, and bellowed: "I don't want any pictures about bullfights! Bullfights aren't funny!" Then Selzer marched off, leaving his dumbfounded staff staring at each other. "Well," Maltese said, "Eddie's never been right yet..."

* '''[[WesternAnimation/SylvesterTheCatAndTweetyBird Granny]]''' -- "Little Red Walking Hood" 1937, Avery. A kind, elderly woman most remembered as Tweety's owner, and [[CoolOldLady who packed a hidden amount of badass-ery]] when inflicting pain on Sylvester when he tried to catch Tweety.

* '''Gossamer''' -- "WesternAnimation/HairRaisingHare", 1946, Jones. A large, furry monster created by a Creator/PeterLorre-esque MadScientist used to caputre Bugs Bunny to use as the scientist's next test subject. Naturally, Bugs uses his wits to stop the monster.

* '''Witch Hazel''' -- "Bewitched Bunny", 1954. A parody of the WickedWitch trope who was [[AffablyEvil always in a delightfully flighty mood]], and who [[PunchClockVillain was interested in cooking, fashion, and gossip]]. Usually acted as a BigBad for Bugs and/or Daffy when trying to cook them into her soup cauldron.

* '''Michigan J. Frog''' -- "WesternAnimation/OneFroggyEvening": 1955, Jones. A frog from TheGayNineties is discovered by a man in modern times. Unfortunately, the frog acts as his NotSoImaginaryFriend. Listed here as an honorable mention, as he only ever appeared in two cartoons (one a direct sequel to the other) which he didn't share with any other iconic characters, and was never really iconic himself until he became the mascot for the WB Network in the 90's.

* '''Gossamer''' -- "WesternAnimation/HareRaisingHare", 1946, Jones. A large, furry monster created by a Creator/PeterLorre-esque MadScientist used to caputre Bugs Bunny to use as the scientist's next test subject. Naturally, Bugs uses his wits to stop the monster.

...along with dozens of lesser known and one-shot characters. Quite nearly all of these were voiced by Blanc, the ManOfAThousandVoices; in fact, that was used as a gag in at least one short. Other WB voice actors -- who, unlike Mel Blanc, weren't credited onscreen -- included Creator/StanFreberg, Creator/JuneForay, Creator/DawsButler, Bea Benaderet, Billy Bletcher, Arthur Q. Bryan (the voice of Elmer Fudd), and Robert C. Bruce (who narrated most of the "travelogue" and "newsreel" shorts).

...along with dozens of lesser known and one-shot characters. Quite nearly all of these were voiced by Blanc, the ManOfAThousandVoices; in fact, that was used as a gag in at least one short. Other WB voice actors included Creator/StanFreberg, Creator/JuneForay, Creator/DawsButler, Bea Benaderet, Billy Bletcher, Arthur Q. Bryan (the voice of Elmer Fudd), and Robert C. Bruce (who narrated most of the "travelogue" and "newsreel" shorts).

Over the course of their tenures at 'Termite Terrace', as the WB animation studio was informally known, the legendary directors Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/TexAvery, Creator/BobClampett, Creator/FrizFreleng, Creator/FrankTashlin, Creator/ArtDavis, and Creator/RobertMcKimson -- assisted by talented animators such as Ken Harris, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow, Bill Melendez, Virgil Ross, and Rod Scribner; brilliant writers like Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, and Tedd Pierce; ace musical arrangers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, sound effects whiz Treg Brown; and, of course, incomparable voice actor Creator/MelBlanc -- created and refined a large and diverse cast of characters, the most famous of which include (listed in chronological order of introduction):

Over the course of their tenures at 'Termite Terrace', as the WB animation studio was informally known, the legendary directors Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/TexAvery, Creator/BobClampett, Creator/FrizFreleng, Creator/FrankTashlin, Creator/ArtDavis, and Creator/RobertMcKimson -- assisted by talented animators such as Ken Harris, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow, Bill Melendez, Virgil Ross, and Rod Scribner; brilliant writers like Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, and Tedd Pierce; ace musical arrangers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, sound effects whiz Treg Brown; and incomparable voice actor Creator/MelBlanc -- created and refined a large and diverse cast of characters, the most famous of which include (listed in chronological order of introduction):

Over the course of their tenures at 'Termite Terrace', as the WB animation studio was informally known, the legendary directors Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/TexAvery, Creator/BobClampett, Creator/FrizFreleng, Creator/FrankTashlin, Creator/ArtDavis, and Creator/RobertMcKimson -- assisted by talented animators such as Ken Harris, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow, Bill Melendez, Virgil Ross, and Rod Scribner; brilliant writers like Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, and Tedd Pierce; ace musical arrangers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, sound effects whiz Treg Brown; and of course the incomparable voice artist Creator/MelBlanc -- created and refined a large and diverse cast of characters, the most famous of which include (listed in chronological order of introduction):

Over the course of their tenures at 'Termite Terrace', as the WB animation studio was informally known, the legendary directors Creator/ChuckJones, Creator/TexAvery, Creator/BobClampett, Creator/FrizFreleng, Creator/FrankTashlin, Creator/ArtDavis, and Creator/RobertMcKimson -- assisted by talented animators such as Ken Harris, Emery Hawkins, Abe Levitow, Bill Melendez, Virgil Ross, and Rod Scribner; brilliant writers like Warren Foster, Michael Maltese, and Tedd Pierce; ace musical arrangers Carl Stalling and Milt Franklyn, sound effects whiz Treg Brown; and of course the incomparable Creator/MelBlanc -- created and refined a large and diverse cast of characters, the most famous of which include (listed in chronological order of introduction):

...along with dozens of lesser known and one-shot characters. Quite nearly all of these were voiced by Creator/MelBlanc, the ManOfAThousandVoices; in fact, that was used as a gag in at least one short. Other WB voice artists included Creator/StanFreberg, Creator/JuneForay, Creator/DawsButler, Bea Benaderet, Billy Bletcher, Arthur Q. Bryan (the voice of Elmer Fudd), and Robert C. Bruce (who narrated most of the "travelogue" and "newsreel" shorts).

Helping the anarchistic spirit along were a succession of humourless bosses that more or less invited open rebellion. Founder Schlesinger won unwitting immortality as the inspiration for Daffy Duck's trademark lisp: "You're dethpicable!". However, as much as a cheapskate Schlesinger was, the dilapidated studio he provided wasn't called "Termite Terrace" for nothing, he largely stayed out of creative affairs as long as the films made money. By contrast, the Warner Bros. themselves really didn't know or care what was going on in their animation unit, apparently studio head, Jack L. Warner thought they produced WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse cartoons, leaving hands-on oversight to bean counter Eddie Selzer, whom the animators considered a interfering bore. Recounting the genesis of the classic "WesternAnimation/BullyForBugs", Jones recalled the day Selzer showed up at his door as he and writer Mike Maltese were hashing out story ideas, and bellowed: "I don't want any pictures about bullfights! Bullfights aren't funny!" Then Selzer marched off, leaving his dumbfounded staff staring at each other. "Well," Maltese said, "Eddie's never been right yet..."

Helping the anarchistic spirit along were a succession of humourless bosses that more or less invited open rebellion. Founder Schlesinger won unwitting immortality as the inspiration for Daffy Duck's trademark lisp: "You're dethpicable!". However, as much as a cheapskate Schlesinger was, the dilapidated studio he provided wasn't called "Termite Terrace" for nothing, he largely stayed out of creative affairs as long as the films made money. By contrast, the Warner Bros. themselves really didn't know or care what was going on in their animation unit, apparently studio head, Jack L. Warner thought they produced WesternAnimation/MickyMouse cartoons, leaving hands-on oversight to bean counter Eddie Selzer, whom the animators considered a interfering bore. Recounting the genesis of the classic "WesternAnimation/BullyForBugs", Jones recalled the day Selzer showed up at his door as he and writer Mike Maltese were hashing out story ideas, and bellowed: "I don't want any pictures about bullfights! Bullfights aren't funny!" Then Selzer marched off, leaving his dumbfounded staff staring at each other. "Well," Maltese said, "Eddie's never been right yet..."

Helping the anarchistic spirit along were a succession of humourless bosses that more or less invited open rebellion. Founder Schlesinger won unwitting immortality as the inspiration for Daffy Duck's trademark lisp: "You're dethpicable!". The Warner Bros. themselves really didn't know or care what was going on in their animation unit, leaving hands-on oversight to bean counter Eddie Selzer. Recounting the genesis of the classic "WesternAnimation/BullyForBugs", Jones recalled the day Selzer showed up at his door as he and writer Mike Maltese were hashing out story ideas, and bellowed: "I don't want any pictures about bullfights! Bullfights aren't funny!" Then Selzer marched off, leaving his dumbfounded staff staring at each other. "Well," Maltese said, "Eddie's never been right yet..."

%% NOTICE: Do NOT add tropes related to The Looney Tunes Show or Wabbit: A Looney Tunes Production/New Looney Tunes. That goes on their respective pages.

* '''WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck''' -- [[WesternAnimation/PorkysDuckHunt "Porky's Duck Hunt"]]: 1937, Avery. Was originally [[ScrewySquirrel a screwball]]/CloudCuckooLander, later {{Flanderized}} into a {{jerkass}} [[SmallNameBigEgo with an enormous ego]]. In this incarnation, he's used either [[WesternAnimation/DuckDodgers to parody action-adventure heroes]], or paired up and serving as a foil for Bugs in an OddCouple scenario. Later also joined Sylvester on the hunt for Speedy Gonzales. First named in the short "WesternAnimation/DaffyDuckAndEgghead".

For a complete filmography of the original cartoons, [[UsefulNotes/LooneyTunesAndMerrieMelodiesFilmography visit this page.]] For a taste of the best shorts the series has to offer, refer to ''The50GreatestCartoons'' list, as well as ''Literature/The100GreatestLooneyTunes'' list. For the 2011 animated sitcom that premiered on Cartoon Network, go [[WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow here]]. For the video game starring Bugs Bunny and Taz in a time-traveling adventure, go [[VideoGame/BugsBunnyAndTazTimeBusters here]].

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!!TropeNamer For:
* AcmeProducts (indirectly) -- the Coyote's quest to catch the Roadrunner with gadgets inevitably purchased from the Acme Corporation
* AndCallHimGeorge -- the Abominable Snowman
* DuckSeasonRabbitSeason -- Bugs and Daffy, respectively.
* EarthShatteringKaboom -- Marvin's snit fit in "Hare-Way to the Stars" when Bugs foils his attempt to clear the Earth out of his view of Venus: "WheresTheKaboom There was ''supposed'' to be an Earth-shattering kaboom!"
* ElmuhFuddSyndwome
* HadTheSillyThingInReverse
* HairRaisingHare -- a Chuck Jones-directed Bugs cartoon from 1946 (which marked the debut of Gossamer)
* MexicansLoveSpeedyGonzales
* OneBuwwetWeft (formerly)
* PorkyPigPronunciation
* PronounTrouble (possibly; the phrase turns up in "Rabbit Seasoning", but refers to a series of variations on DuckSeasonRabbitSeason and has nothing to do with gender)
* RoadRunnerVsCoyote
* SeenItAllSuicide -- one of many reasons why the Looney Tunes get edited on TV
* ThatsAllFolks -- but often subverted, see below
* WheresTheKaboom -- "There was ''supposed'' to be an EarthShatteringKaboom!"
* WrongTurnAtAlbuquerque

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