Loonatics Unleashed

''Loonatics Unleashed'' is an American superhero animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation that ran on Kids' WB for two seasons from 2005 to 2007. It also aired on Cartoon Network internationally (excluding US and Japan). 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. 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 "sharing DNA" with these new ones, and it was an extension of the franchise. 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". 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

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.Loonatics Unleashed Episode 6: The Comet Cometh
* Lexi Bunny: Descendant of Lola Bunny. Before the meteor hit the city, Lexi was trying out to become a cheerleader at Acmetropolis University.
* Danger Duck: Descendant of Daffy Duck. Before the meteor hit the city, Danger was employed as a pool boy.
* 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.
* 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.
* Rev Runner: Descendant of Road Runner. Before the meteor hit the city, Rev was a delivery boy and invented things.

Principal voice cast

* Charlie Schlatter – Ace Bunny
* Jessica DiCicco – Lexi Bunny
* Jason Marsden – Danger Duck, Rupes Oberon
* Candi Milo – Zadavia, Harriet Runner, Misty Breeze, Queen Grannicus
* Rob Paulsen – Rev Runner, Gorlop, Mr. Leghorn (2nd time)
* Kevin Michael Richardson – Slam Tasmanian, Tech E. Coyote, Trick Daley (uncredited)

Additional voice cast

* Charlie Adler – Optimatus
* Joe Alaskey – Sylth Vester, The Royal Tweetums, Melvin the Martian, Stoney the Stone
* Dee Bradley Baker – Otto the Odd
* Jeff Bennett – Professor Zane, Dr. Fidel Chroniker, Colonel Trench
* Bob Bergen – Pinkster Pig
* Steve Blum – Fuz-Zs
* Dan Castellaneta – College Professor
* Michael Clarke Duncan - Massive
* Bootsy Collins – Boötes Belinda
* Jim Cummings – Additional voices
* Kaley Cuoco – Weather Vane
* Tim Curry – The Ringmaster
* Grey DeLisle – Apocazons
* Jeannie Elias – Elegant Woman
* Bill Farmer – Mr. Leghorn (1st time)
* David Faustino – Time Skip
* Vivica A. Fox – Black Velvet
* Mark Hamill – Adolpho, Ship Captain
* Florence Henderson – Mallory Mastermind
* Mikey Kelley – Rip Runner
* Tom Kenny – Gunnar the Conqueror
* Maurice LaMarche – Ophiuchus Sam, Pierre Le Pew
* Phil LaMarr – Drake Sypher
* Phil Morris - Additional voices
* Daran Norris – Alien Dad, Ralph Runner
* Khary Payton – General Deuce
* Cree Summer – Little Kid
* James Arnold Taylor – Bugsy the Bug
* Simon Templeman – Dr. Dare
* Billy West – Electro J. Fudd, The Sagittarius Stomper
* Serena Williams – Queen Athena

Production

''Loonatics Unleashed'' began as a pitch by Christian and Yvon Tremblay, originally titled ''The Loonatics'' using reinterpretations of classic ''Looney Tunes'' characters. 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. 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".

''The Loonatics'' were first unveiled to the public in February 2005 with a live-action/animated promotional short that featured the characters with early designs and names such as Zadavia being originally named Maxima. 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. 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.

In September 2006, The CW presented its lineup 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".

In March 2007, The CW presented its lineup for the 2007–08 Saturday Morning schedule with ''Loonatics Unleashed'' no longer among the shows scheduled to air.

Episodes

Season 1 (2005–06)

Season 2 (2006–07)

Home media

Reception

''Loonatics Unleashed'' received negative reviews from critics and fans alike.

Joly Herman of ''Common Sense Media'' gave the show two stars out of five, saying that the jokes are "no longer very funny" and the characters have "become little more than filler material."

In other media

*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. Another episode called "Unleashed" was more focused on the series with the Titans having to replace the Loonatics after they are killed off by a giant meteor strike.
*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

Notes

External links

* (Archive)
*

"Loonatics Promo Short Gives First Look at New Series"

National Public Radio ''Talk of the Nation'' interview about ''Loonatics Unleashed''

{{Kids' WB

Works set in the 28th century
2000s American animated comedy television series
2000s American children's comedy television series
2000s American comedy-drama television series
2000s American superhero comedy television series
2005 American animated television series debuts
2007 American television series endings
American animated television series reboots
American animated television spinoffs
American children's animated action television series
American children's animated space adventure television series
American children's animated comic science fiction television series
American children's animated drama television series
American children's animated science fantasy television series
American children's animated superhero television series
American time travel television series
American English-language television shows
Children's television series about talking animals
Kids' WB original shows
Looney Tunes television series
Post-apocalyptic animated television series
American post-apocalyptic television series
Television series by Warner Bros. Animation
American teen animated television series
Animated television series set in the future
Animated television series set on fictional planets
The CW original programming
The WB animated television series
2000s American time travel television series
American anime-influenced animated television series
American action comedy television series