New Looney Tunes DVDs: Contents and Discussion

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For a long time, Warner Brothers was being very good to the classic cartoon buyer. 60 new Warner Brothers cartoons every year, restored and uncut, in a 4 DVD set. It was intended for the collector, and not only had the classics everyone remembered, but also obscure B&W; gems and forgotten obscurities, with extras galore and commentaries. Life was good.

And then the economy went down the tubes, and the expensive yet not very profitable DVDs were canceled. To try to make up for it we have two single-disc releases out this April 27th, each containing 15 new-to-DVD collections, which the publicity says is restored and uncut, even if it will have no extras whatsoever. Hey, you take what you can get.

Then, to make matters worse, a listing of the shorts was leaked to TV Shows on DVD Monday. It was pretty great! It also turned out to be wrong. Now we have a revised list, which is… well, a bit less great. To be fair, they can’t all be winners, and as a cartoon fanatic I eventually want every single cartoon restored and released, regardless of quality. And there are some stone cold classics sprinkled in here. But yes, this is a very good example of why companies hate false leaks.

Here’s the contents, with a brief description of the cartoon, and a quick note if the cartoon had been censored, cut, or suppressed on television for violence, racism, or both. I don’t know the order the short will be in (the site has them alphabetically), so I’ll do it in chronological order. The year and cartoon director will also be provided.

Bugs Bunny: Hare Extraordinaire
1) Mutiny On The Bunny (1950, Freleng). Yosemite Sam shanghai’s Bugs to be the crew on board his pirate ship. Bugs getting clubbed by Sam and Sam pointing a gun at Bugs used to be censored for TV.
2) Bushy Hare (1950, McKimson). Bugs ends up in Australia, where he teams up with a kangaroo and its mother to battle a savage Aborigine. When this was on TV, they sometimes cut the savage gleefully stabbing into Bugs’ hole. Nowadays, it’s banned from TV for questionable portrayals of Aborigines.
3) Hare We Go (1951, McKimson). Bugs joins Christopher Columbus to help discover America. A mallet hit used to be censored for TV.
4) Foxy By Proxy (1952, Freleng). A remake of an old Tex Avery cartoon, this has Bugs trying to evade a particularly dumb dog who thinks he’s a fox. The ending used to be cut.
5) Hare Trimmed (1953, Freleng). Yosemite Sam plans to marry Granny (from the Tweety cartoons) for her money, so Bugs dresses as a rival to stop him. A great cartoon, frequently seen on TV cut to ribbons, so an uncut print will be great. Lots of censored violence.
6) Lumber Jack-Rabbit (1954, Jones). Bugs ends up in a giant carrot patch, but then must battle a giant dog. This cartoon was originally released in 3-D, the only WB cartoon to be released thus.
7) Napoleon Bunny-Part (1956, Freleng). Bugs heckles and outwits Napoleon Bonaparte. Bugs taking snuff was cut for a while on TV after a controversy with Mighty Mouse and the Rev. Donald Wildmon.
8) Bedevilled Rabbit (1957, McKimson). The Tasmanian Devil was such a big hit that they ordered 2 more cartoons immediately. Here’s the first from that year, which is almost a remake of the first one from 1954. Also features Mrs. Taz. Some explosives used to be cut for TV.
9) Apes of Wrath (1959, Freleng). A remake of McKimson’s Gorilla My Dreams, only not as good. The stork knocks Bugs out and gives him to the Gorillas as their baby. Hijinx ensue. Lots of smashing on the head used to be cut for TV.
10) From Hare To Heir (1960, Freleng). Bugs is offering a million pounds (in 17th century England) to a mild-tempered person. Yosemite Sam wants the money, but… yeah. Some head bashing cut for TV.
11) Lighter Than Hare (1960, Freleng). SPACE Yosemite Sam! Sam uses a bunch of robots, but is just as bad at catching Bugs as his human counterpart. In the end, Bugs makes an Amon ‘n Andy ref that sometimes gets cut from TV.
12) The Million Hare (1963, McKimson). Bugs and Daffy compete on a game show to win a million dollars. Daffy is in his greedy, evil phase here (something I loathe).
13) Mad As A Mars Hare (1963, Jones & Noble). The last and least of the Marvin cartoons, this at least has a very bizarre ending with Bugs becoming a neanderthal rabbit.
14) Dr. Devil and Mr. Hare (1964, McKimson). The Tasmanian Devil is after Bugs, who disguises himself as a doctor and puts him through the wringer… though in the end they both get beat up. Lots of explosions edited for TV.
15) False Hare (1964, McKimson). The final classic theatrical Bugs Bunny cartoon. Shame it’s only average. The Big Bad Wolf tries to show his nephew he’s cool by going after Bugs. TV prints cut the wolf getting gooshed by an Iron Maiden.

Daffy Duck: Frustrated Fowl
1) Tick Tock Tuckered (1944, Clampett). A remake of Clampett’s first cartoon from 1937, only in color and with Daffy replacing Gabby Goat. It’s quite funny. Daffy and Porky have to get to work on time, but circumstances keep them awake all night.
2) Nasty Quacks (1945, Tashlin). Daffy at possibly his most obnoxious in this wonderfully frantic Frank Tashlin effort. He’s the pet duck of a spoiled brat… until the father decides to get even. The TV print of this is wretched, so a restored version is greatly needed.
3) Daffy Dilly (1948, Jones). One of the transitional Jones Daffy cartoons, where he’s greedy but still daffy and likeable. Jones would later play up the greed and selfishness, and the other directors would make him a villain. This cartoon shows that he didn’t have to, and is fantastic. Daffy tries to get some cash by making a stubborn billionaire laugh.
4) Wise Quackers (1949, Freleng). In order to avoid getting served as Elmer Fudd’s duck dinner, Daffy offers to be his slave. Daffy makes a pretty poor slave. The gag with Daffy as a poor beaten slave, then switching to Abraham Lincoln, would be reused in a later Bugs Bunny cartoon. Due to the questionable slavery plot, this cartoon isn’t seen on TV these days.
5) The Prize Pest (1951, McKimson). Possibly the last of the pure screwball Daffy cartoons. Porky “wins” Daffy in a radio contest, but Daffy tries to overstay his welcome by pretending to have a split personality. Features some great cartoon reactions.
6) Design For Leaving (1954, McKimson). Daffy as a salesman again, trying to sell various modern items to a reluctant Elmer Fudd. One of Daffy’s best ’50s cartoons, folks remember this one. “For a small price, I can sell you the little BLUE button to get you down!” A scene with Elmer accidentally getting hanged by a tie is cut from TV prints.
7) Stork Naked (1955, Freleng). The stork is trying to deliver an egg to Mr. and Mrs. Daffy Duck, but Daffy is doing his best to stop him, not wanting more children. A fun mid-50s effort (that I admittedly don’t remember all that well).
8) This Is A Life? (1955, Freleng). Bugs is the guest of a parody of This Is Your Life, and we see clips from several cartoons. Daffy bitches and moans, while Elmer and Sam try to get revenge. Tons of explosions and beatings cut from TV. Friz Freleng can’t do what Chuck Jones did and make Daffy selfish yet likeable.
9) Dime To Retire (1955, McKimson). Porky tries to rent a hotel room from Daffy, for only 2 cents. However, Daffy has ways to make the costs increase. Daffy’s a jerk in this, but he’s also hysterical. A very underrated cartoon. “It’ll cost you $666! Just put it in that slot by the phone…”
10) Ducking The Devil (1957, McKimson). Bob McKimson used a wacky Daffy the longest after the greedy Daffy became the norm, and this was perhaps his last hurrah. And it’s awesome, one of my favorite Daffy cartoons. Daffy is fleeing from the Tasmanian Devil… till he hears about the reward money. In the end, Daffy succeeds and gets the money! Very rare for a later Daffy cartoon.
11) People Are Bunny (1959, McKimson). Another game show parody with Bugs and Daffy, this one of the old Art Linkletter show People Are Funny. Daffy getting shot gets cut for TV.
12) Person To Bunny (1960, Freleng). And another TV parody, of Edward R. Murrow’s Person To Person. Bugs is being interviewed, and won’t let Daffy in on it. He also trashes Elmer, who tries to settle the score. Naturally, Daffy gets all the beatings and shootings. Which tend to get cut for TV. This was the final cartoon to use Arthur Q. Bryan as the voice of Elmer Fudd, as he passed away after this was made.
13) Daffy’s Inn Trouble (1961, McKimson). Daffy, a disgruntled street sweeper, tries to start a hotel to compete against Porky’s. This goes about as well as you’d expect. Some gunplay is cut for TV. By now McKimson was using the greedy selfish Daffy.
14) The Iceman Ducketh (1964, Monroe). Daffy tries to capture Bugs so he can sell his pelt for money. Yeah, we’re hitting the dregs here. There’s no reason this couldn’t be Yosemite Sam, or any other villain. Chuck Jones was fired right as this cartoon began (though not because the cartoon was bad), so Phil Monroe finished it.
15) Suppressed Duck (1965, McKimson). The only ‘post-64’ cartoon on the DVDs, though this thankfully does not have Daffy battling Speedy Gonzalez. Daffy attempts to hunt a bear, but the strict hunting rules, as well as Daffy’s general personality by this time, do him in.

Though I may have bitched once or twice during this list, I’m genuinely looking forward to these cartoons on DVD. Any Looney Tune or Merrie Melodie is better than 99% of what’s on TV today, and they should be cherished.

One Piece Volume 26

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By Eiichiro Oda. Released in Japan by Shueisha, serialization ongoing in the magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. Released in North America by Viz.

The first half of this volume continues to introduce the new arc, as our heroes (who are all on the cover for once) arrive in Skypeia. Sky Islands turn out to be quite different from what they’re used to, and the scene where Usopp demonstrates why one should not swim to the bottom of a cloud sea is both hysterical and unnerving. Oda is essentially world building here, and later of we get such things as wavers, dials, giant trees and fauna, and a world ruled by God. Literally.

Speaking of which, I’m pleased with how Viz handled the translation with Enel. They generally use the Japanese word ‘Kami’, but are not shy about noting that it can mean ‘God’. Enel is not any sort of a God, of course, but try telling that to the citizens of Skypeia after he zaps them.

Having arrived and met a few new characters, the Straw Hats naturally get right into trouble. (As a side note, Robin’s comment about finding adventure through exploration, rather than more dangerous definitions of piracy, is rather touching, and Zoro’s glance to her is pretty much the last time he’ll be grumpy about her joining the crew.) Oddly enough, it’s Nami starting it off, powering her waver to the Forbidden Forest and getting noticed by the Kami’s henchgoons.

This being One Piece, you know that the assistants to the Big Bad are going to be incredibly goofy. We only have a chance to meet the first one in this volume, Satori, but his appearance fits in well with Oda’s tendency to match looks with powers. He’s a round ball-like guy… who controls balls! What a coincidence!

Oh yes, on Page 179 Sanji says Idoit. Bad Viz! Spellchecker should have caught that!

The most striking moment in the volume is where Enel decides that cute young lady Conis has revealed too much to the strangers, and decides to call down heavenly fire on her. The lightning strike that follows (which Luffy and the Sky Knight only barely rescue her from) is really impressive in the way that it’s built up, and helps to establish Enel (still unseen at this point) as a terrifying presence.

And as always, seeds are planted that end up being important much later on. The description of the various dials and how they work is done in a “welcome to this weird world” way, but will have a huge impact (pardon the pun) on the rest of Skypeia, as well as future arcs.

And hands down, the funniest moment of the volume goes to Sanji, who looks through binoculars, sees Nami and the others being kidnapped, and his first thought is “why’d she put her T-shirt back on?”. Oh Sanji, the fact that some fans actually think you are a smooth ladies’ man amuses the hell out of me.

So it’s not as fantastic as the previous two volumes, but it’s still a nice solid One Piece.

Teru Teru x Shonen Volume 6

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By Shigeru Takao. Released in Japan by Hakusensha, serialized in the magazine Hana to Yume. Released in North America by CMX.

Those who know me well know that I have a certain bad habit of defending lost causes. Give me a series where there’s a character everyone hates, and inevitably they will be my favorite. Likewise, give me a series people say is the worst thing ever, and I’ll start talking about its virtues.

To be fair, Teru Teru x Shonen doesn’t quite have the bad reputation that, say, The Magic Touch does. This is partly because it’s a CMX title, so barely anyone sees it or hears of it beyond the blogosphere. But it’s also because of many flaws that make it a hard title to get behind. Despite this, I think it’s a series that rewards a patient reader with many sweet, suspenseful, and fun moments.

(I tend to pick on CMX for its lack of marketing quite a bit, but seriously. This is a romance manga about NINJAS! How are you letting the opportunity slip through your fingers?! There are teens out there who will buy anything that even looks like it has ninjas!)

To mention its faults, let’s start with the heroine. Shinobu is a very typical Japanese shoujo trope, which is to say she’s a girl who’s had such a traumatic upbringing that she’s found it easiest to live with a veneer of ‘rich bitch’ around her, so that no one gets close enough to hurt her. Unfortunately, she can sometimes be too good at this, and it becomes hard to like her. It doesn’t help that the hero of this story, Saizo, tends to act like a doormat around her.

Well, most of the time. This manga juggles several plot balls, and one of them is that Saizo seems to have a touch of split personality. Glasses on, he’s a wimpy wuss who cries and frets. Glasses off, he’s a kick-ass ninja who’ll destroy anyone who tries to hurt his Shinobu-sama. Volume 6 is an especially good one as Shinobu is starting to reveal her secrets to him, and also has confessed her love (after being double-dog-dared to by her mother, sort of). These two are terrified of ruining what they have, so communication is an effort.

We also get melodrama. If I had to describe the genre of this manga, I’d call it a potboiler. Shinobu’s relationship with her mother is emotionally abusive, there are enemies constantly attempting to kidnap her, and to top it off, her revelation right at the end of the volume might turn everything around 180 degrees. And then there’s Sasuke, who’s dealing with his brother’s betrayal. Really, this series reminds me a lot of Fruits Basket (which was running in Hana to Yume concurrently with this) in the way that it deals with angst. It starts off looking like a typical school comedy with an arrogant princess and her crybaby ninja, and then starts to reveal that every single person has a backstory from hell.

Oh, and for those who recall Shinobu’s troubling relationship with her guardian, Shogo, you’ll be relieved to hear that she decides to stop sleeping in his bed after confessing her love to Saizo. And thank God, frankly. Their casual affection was incredibly creepy.

There’s not as much humor here as previous volumes, mostly as the plot is moving away from the school setting and into revelations and the ninja clan. The one amusing part is Shinobu and Saizo realizing that yes, the exams will contain everything they missed while away dealing with ninja plots, and that they don’t get a free pass for being absent.

There’s a few other issues. I understand CMX’s decision not to translate the title, as it translates to ‘Shiny-Shiny x Boy’ literally (I think it’s meant to reflect Shinobu and Saizo), but it makes it harder to sell to casual buyers. As always, CMX’s lower paper quality might also stop a buyer. And there’s an unfortunate tendency, whenever Shinobu tries to get involved and solve her own problems, to tell her that she should just sit back and let herself be protected or else she’ll get hurt. Saizo is especially bad at this. I’m hoping that it’s deliberate and making a point that will come to fruition later, because for the moment it reads like “Get back in your cage please, adorable little bird”.

But overall, I think the good outweighs the bad. I always find myself eager to see what happens next. And now that we’re over halfway through, I expect events to move even faster. If you want an angst-filled adventure with ninjas and princesses, this could be the title for you!