The Warner Archive Collection has released a four-disc set titled Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volumes 1 – 4. Containing 97 classic cartoons from Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies, and filled to the brim with familiar names (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner, Sylvester, Tweety, Elmer, and plenty more), and also filled with lesser-known characters who are just as fun to spend time with (Fido, Elmo, Blackie, Daisy Lou, Teeny the Elephant, The Drunk Stork, and the list goes on).
Buy Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Vols. 1 – 4 Blu-rayMany of these cartoons were previously restored for airing on HBO and MeTV; however, several cartoons per disc were newly restored for the four Collector’s Choice volumes. The restored cartoons are: Vol. 1 (Beanstalk Bunny and Catch as Cats Can), Vol. 2 (Brother Brat and Ghost Wanted), Vol. 3 (Mexican Joyride and Riff Raffy Daffy), and Vol. 4 (Holiday for Drumsticks, Peck Up Your Troubles, and Muzzle Tough).
There are well-known classics here, such as Beanstalk Bunny (dir. Chuck Jones) where Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny end up in the clouds fighting a giant known as Elmer Fudd. As if it isn’t looney enough to find a duck and rabbit stuck in a massive glass jar with a giant on the loose, they use an Acme Glass Cutter to cut out exact replicas of themselves to aid in their escape. You may also be familiar with the likes of Hyde and Go Tweet (dir. Friz Freling) where Sylvester chases Tweety until Tweety drinks Mr. Hyde’s nefarious potion and turns into a giant bird of prey who is sick and tired of Sylvester and his shenanigans. Or, favorites to many: Hip Hip – Hurry (dir. Jones) and Hot Rod and Reel! (dir. Jones) wherein Wile E. Coyote orders a ton of useless stuff from Acme and the Road Runner foils his every plan.
The following note is included on the back cover: “Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volumes 1-4 is Intended for the Adult Collector and May Not Be Suitable for Children.” There are a few moments in this collection that come off as problematic. One cartoon that could be seen as culturally insensitive is China Jones (dir. Robert McKimson) starring Daffy Duck as an Irish (one of Mel Blanc’s least successful accents) detective in the Far East who finds his next case inside a fortune cookie and is pestered by a Chinese Porky Pig. While the cartoon has several quality gags; overall, the cultural stereotypes are a distraction that get in the way of entertainment. Adults will quickly understand that these cartoons are a reflection of their times; however, some children may need a quick history lesson to understand a handful of scenarios in the set.
This collection is an absolute treasure trove of great content across all four discs. There may be cartoons in the collection that do not work as well as others, but there are no duds here. No bonus material is included on the first three discs. There are two “Bonus Cartoons” on Vol. 4: Lighter Than Hare and Stork Naked.
