| ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. | |
| OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. | |
| NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Parents need to know that this animated series inspired by the classic Looney Tunes characters carries a TV-PG rating due to sexual innuendo, some racial and gender stereotyping, and cartoon-style violence. Most of the sexual content is mild enough (comments implying sexual attraction, women shown in skimpy attire) that it will sail over kids’ head and offer some chuckles for older ones who can put it into context, but it has enough presence throughout the show that parents might want to weigh their kids’ readiness for it. What violence is there reflects the classic series’ exaggerated style (anvils on the head and the like), so today’s kids probably won’t flinch. In the end, it’s probably passable for the tween set, but because there’s some occasional objectification of female characters, it might be worth a parental preview first.
THE LOONEY TUNES SHOW follows the escapades of Bugs Bunny (voiced by Jeff Bergman), Daffy Duck (Bergman again), Speedy Gonzales (Fred Armisen), and the rest of the gang as they leave their home in the woods and move to the suburbs. The stories center on the imperfect relationships within the group and the characters’ attempts to fit into their new society, as well as the new friendship between housemates Bugs and Daffy. Music videos starring the classic characters, as well as CGI shorts chronicling the longstanding tete-a-tete between Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, are interspersed throughout the show as well.
This updated series may rub Looney Tunes purists wrong because of the liberties it takes with the characters, whose move to the ‘burbs changes more than just their address. The classically contentious group now reflects the social demands of their more uptight surroundings, and much of the show's humor is drawn from their attempts to relate to each other and adapt to their new environment. In other words, laughs still abound and the characters are still a delight, but this isn’t just a touched-up version of the original.
None of this will bother kids, though, since they most likely aren’t loyal to a particular version of the characters. But parents might want to give the show at least a cursory glance before giving their kids the go-ahead, since it does have some sexual undertones (busty, scantily clad women and lovestruck characters on the prowl, for instance) that give it a grown-up appeal, and it’s impossible to not see sombrero-wearing Speedy Gonzales as a stereotype. Overall, though, the show is light-hearted fun that both parents and kids can enjoy together.
Families can talk about stereotyping. What examples of stereotyping exist in this show? How extreme are they? Do you think they're offensive in any way? Can stereotyping ever be justified?
How does this show portray female characters? Do any of them seem strong or independent? What messages do their relationships with male characters send about affection and love? How would this content’s impact be different if the characters were human rather than cartoon?
How does this take on the Looney Tunes compare to the original? What changes reflect a more modern time? Are any of the changes bad for the characters? In what way has time improved them?
| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | Cartoon Network |
| Cast: | Fred Armisen, Jeff Bergman, Maurice LaMarche |
| Genre: | Kids' Animation |