Looney Tunes is one of the most iconic animated brands in entertainment history. Parents likely know and adore Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner, Elmer Fudd, and Foghorn Leghorn, among other legendary characters from the franchise's vast catalog. Unfortunately, today's youth may not have Looney Tunes in their childhoods. My biggest fear is that this film may be the last we see of these icons. How Warner Bros. Discovery has been handling the property - and animation in general, but for this review, I'll exclusively focus on Looney Tunes - is nothing short of disgraceful. I may be anticipating numerous films from their upcoming slate, such as "A Minecraft Movie," "Sinners," "Final Destination: Bloodlines," and "Superman." However, there's no way to overlook their attempt to bury this Looney universe. If it isn't the infamous tax write-offs of projects "Bye Bye Bunny" and "Coyote vs. Acme," it's the complete removal of every Golden Age short. They kept their early efforts, but even as a kid, I focused on everything from the 1950s onward, including my favorite, "Duck Amuck," if you couldn't tell from the title. (UPDATE: I was looking on Max for verification, and they have some Golden Age shorts back, but not all of them. As of 2025, "The Looney Tunes Show" show from the last decade is gone. Okay. I'm still frustrated at WB for not extending a licensing agreement with themselves that gave them the rights to the shorts. "Duck Amuck" is still stuck in the pit of licensing hell, so I'm not accepting their half-hearted attempt at an unofficial apology) As much as I hate "Space Jam: A New Legacy," I don't attribute that to the brand's current situation. That happened way before the current circumstances. Let me go back to this fantastic adventure before discussing why the high praise. WB isn't distributing the movie themselves. Instead, they gave those rights to Ketchup Entertainment. It's no disrespect to them, but I don't feel they have enough name power to handle a film of this caliber. If Briarcliff can't make the must-watch "My Dead Friend Zoe" at least profitable enough to make the Top 10 Box Office on its debut, what hope does "The Day the Earth Blew Up" have? I'm being overdramatic. I want this film to make the Top 10, and below is why, but more importantly, show why Looney Tunes has stood the test of time. Let go of your disappointment from the Space Jam sequel and support this 2D pleaser. If your priority is elsewhere, do a double-feature after you get out of "Novocaine," "Black Bag," or, less likely, "Opus." If this film flops, we may dress up for a funeral of childhood memories in record time. By the end of this ride, I almost teared up, not only because of what was occurring in the movie but because this may be my only time seeing these guys on the big screen. If you're a Looney Tunes fan or a fan of animation, support this flick.
Okay. Let me get back on track and discuss "The Day the Earth Blew Up" now.
First, the animation was stellar. It resembles the style of old-school Looney Tunes cartoons while achieving the feat of not being a direct replica.
The voice acting was also top-notch. Looking at who did the voices just now, did you know that Eric Bauza did the voices of both Daffy Duck and Porky Pig? Admittedly, beyond "A New Legacy," I haven't seen much new from this universe. Either way, Bauza's performance can't be understated, helping to create a believable dynamic between Daffy and Porky. Additionally, he's been playing the Duck and other Looney characters for years, so thank you, Bauza, for your involvement in this franchise. The other voice actors did exceptionally, with the other standout being Candi Milo as Petunia Pig.
The comedy's priceless, too. Like the animation, it has the spark of the franchise's Golden era, and I was highly entertained and nostalgic without it being nostalgia bait. It has more writers than "Captain America: Brave New World," but I'm giving them all credit anyway. Alex Kirwan, Andrew Dickman, Darrick Bachman, David Gemmill, Eddie Trigueros, Jason Reichmer, Johnny Ryan, Kevin Costello, Michael Ruocco, Peter Browngardt, and Ryan Kramer, you all killed it, not only with the comedy but the genuinely investing story. Browngardt deserves added attention for his directing, voice acting, producing, and character layout, as well as for his massive involvement with the franchise alongside Bauza, Dickman, Gemmill, Kirwan, Kramer, Ruocco, Ryan, and Trigueros.
All the above elements didn't forget to be Looney. Once again, it feels like old-school Looney Tunes, which I love. It's as simple as that: a Looney time at the movies that's never bad. It ceases to be too juvenile, making for pure family fun!
Technically, the voice acting, directing, 11-man screenplay, and outstanding animation make for a 10/10 technical score.
The enjoyment score may be biased since I grew up with Looney Tunes, but it's a project that honors its legacy, so it doesn't matter. "The Day the Earth Blew Up" is one of the effortless 10/10 enjoyment scores I've ever given, further proof that this franchise deserves better. It's a must-watch worth the theatrical experience!
