Looney Tunes Collector's Choice is a series of Blu-ray discs from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's Warner Archive division collecting various Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies theatrical animated short subjects from Warner Bros. Cartoons. According to Jerry Beck, the aim of this series is to release Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts that have been previously unavailable in restored form to animation fans and collectors on the various DVD and Blu-ray sets, such as the Looney Tunes Golden Collection, Looney Tunes Platinum Collection, Looney Tunes Super Stars, and Bugs Bunny 80th Anniversary Collection sets. Roughly 400 shorts had yet to be released in said DVD or Blu-ray format before the release of this series, but the series also includes shorts that were previously released as bonus features on various Warner Bros. DVDs. However those shorts included as bonus features were usually presented in unrestored form, whereas the Collector’s Choice series uses newly restored versions.
This is the first Looney Tunes Blu-ray to be released through Warner Archive, as opposed to the main home video division (second overall home media release after the Porky Pig 101 DVD set in 2017). Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1 was announced on March 28, 2023[1] and released on May 30.[2] Keeping with tradition with other Golden Age of Animation releases by Warner Archive (such as Popeye the Sailor: The 1940s and Tex Avery Screwball Classics), Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1 is a single-disc set with no bonus material. The set contains 20 cartoons that were previously unavailable on DVD or Blu-ray, presented uncut and digitally restored.
Animation historian and curator, Jerry Beck and Warner Archive President George Feltenstein indicated that strong sales of Volume 1 could result in future volumes, with more cartoons and multiple discs.[3] On September 18, due to strong sales of Volume 1, Warner Archive announced Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2 — which included 25 cartoons and was released on December 12, 2023.[4] On January 23, 2024, Warner Archive announced Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3, which was released on March 12.[5]
On July 30, 2024, Warner Archive announced they are working on Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 4 with an intended release date of November 26.[6] A four-disc set, Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volumes 1–4, containing the four volumes in the series will also be released on the same date.[7]
Volume 1
edit| Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1 | |
|---|---|
 Blu-ray Cover | |
| Directed by | Chuck Jones Friz Freleng Arthur Davis Robert McKimson Frank Tashlin |
| Produced by | Leon Schlesinger Eddie Selzer John W. Burton |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Music by | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
Release date | May 30, 2023[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1 was released on May 30, 2023. The set includes 20 cartoons- none of which have previously been released on DVD or Blu-ray before. They are all presented uncut and digitally restored.[2]
Beanstalk Bunny and Catch as Cats Can were sourced from new 4K scans from the original camera negatives.[8] According to Jerry Beck, the set was delayed for almost a full year because the Library of Congress had difficulty shipping the camera negatives for Catch as Cats Can to the Warner Bros. Studio in Burbank.[3] The other cartoons on this set had previously been restored for HBO Max streaming service in 2020[9] - with HBO removing many of them earlier that same year.[10] However, for this release Warner Archive corrected many of the errors initially made by HBO Max, such as Photoshopped titles.[9]
| # | Title | Characters | Year | Director | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beanstalk Bunny | Bugs, Daffy, Elmer | 1955 | Chuck Jones | MM |
| 2 | Catch as Cats Can | Sylvester | 1947 | Arthur Davis | MM |
| 3 | The Unruly Hare | Bugs, Elmer | 1945 | Frank Tashlin | MM |
| 4 | His Bitter Half | Daffy | 1950 | Friz Freleng | MM |
| 5 | Daffy Doodles | Daffy, Porky | 1946 | Robert McKimson | LT |
| 6 | Cracked Quack | Daffy, Porky | 1952 | Friz Freleng | MM |
| 7 | Little Orphan Airedale | Charlie, Porky | 1947 | Chuck Jones | LT |
| 8 | Hip Hip-Hurry! | Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner | 1958 | Chuck Jones | MM |
| 9 | Hot-Rod and Reel! | Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner | 1959 | Chuck Jones | LT |
| 10 | Greedy for Tweety | Sylvester, Tweety, Granny, Hector | 1957 | Friz Freleng | LT |
| 11 | Stooge for a Mouse | Sylvester, Hector | 1950 | Friz Freleng | MM |
| 12 | A Mouse Divided | Sylvester | 1953 | Friz Freleng | MM |
| 13 | A Fractured Leghorn | Foghorn | 1950 | Robert McKimson | MM |
| 14 | Plop Goes the Weasel | Foghorn, Barnyard | 1953 | Robert McKimson | LT |
| 15 | Tale of Two Mice | Babbit and Catstello | 1945 | Frank Tashlin | LT |
| 16 | The Foxy Duckling | 1947 | Arthur Davis | MM | |
| 17 | Two Gophers from Texas | Goofy Gophers | 1948 | Arthur Davis | MM |
| 18 | Doggone Cats | Sylvester | 1947 | Arthur Davis | MM |
| 19 | What's Brewin', Bruin? | The Three Bears | 1948 | Chuck Jones | LT |
| 20 | The Bee-Deviled Bruin | The Three Bears | 1949 | Chuck Jones | MM |
Volume 2
edit| Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2 | |
|---|---|
 Blu-ray Cover | |
| Directed by | Chuck Jones Friz Freleng Tex Avery Robert McKimson Frank Tashlin Arthur Davis Abe Levitow Norman McCabe Maurice Noble |
| Produced by | Leon Schlesinger Eddie Selzer John W. Burton David H. DePatie |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Music by |
|
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
Release date | December 12, 2023 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2 was released on December 12, 2023. This set included 25 cartoons never before released on DVD or Blu-Ray - five more than on Volume 1.[11] In contrast to the previous volume, Volume 2 focuses more on miscellaneous "one-shot" cartoons and characters.[12]
Like the previous volume, only two cartoons (Brother Brat and Ghost Wanted) were specifically restored for this release, while the other cartoons were previously restored for HBO Max and Me-TV, with Warner Archive correcting the Photoshopped titles (most notably on A Hound for Trouble).[13] In addition Cross Country Detours had its original opening title sequence restored, as opposed to the Blue Ribbon re-issue titles featured on previous releases.[12]
Volume 2 includes the following cartoons:
Volume 3
edit| Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3 | |
|---|---|
 Blu-ray Cover | |
| Directed by | Chuck Jones Robert McKimson Friz Freleng Tex Avery Arthur Davis Gerry Chiniquy Earl Duvall Maurice Noble |
| Produced by | Leon Schlesinger Eddie Selzer John W. Burton David H. DePatie |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Music by |
|
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
Release date | March 12, 2024 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 3 was released on March 12, 2024.[5]
Like the previous volumes only two cartoons were specifically restored for this release - Mexican Joyride and Riff Raffy Daffy - while all the other cartoons were previously restored for HBO Max and MeTV, with Warner Archive fixing most of the Photoshopped title cards. Riff Raffy Daffy was originally released on the Looney Tunes Super Stars' Porky & Friends: Hilarious Ham DVD set but in an unrestored form. For this release Riff Raffy Daffy was given a brand-new transfer. Since the original separation exposure negatives are missing, critics noted that while Riff Raffy Daffy doesn't look as pristine as the other cartoons on the set, it still looks far superior than on previous releases.[14] Hobo Bobo also had its original opening titles restored.[14]
Volume 3 contains the following cartoons:[15]
Volume 4
edit| Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 4 | |
|---|---|
 Blu-ray Cover | |
| Directed by | Friz Freleng Robert McKimson Chuck Jones Tex Avery Bob Clampett Arthur Davis Norman McCabe Hawley Pratt |
| Produced by | Leon Schlesinger Eddie Selzer John W. Burton David H. DePatie Friz Freleng |
| Starring | Mel Blanc |
| Music by |
|
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Home Entertainment |
Release date | November 26, 2024 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 4 will be released on November 26, 2024. The set will contain 25 cartoons - including a newly restored version of Peck Up Your Troubles (1945) - as well as two bonus cartoons: Stork Naked (1955) and Lighter Than Hare (1960) presented in their original 4:3 aspect ratios (both cartoons were previously released on the Looney Tunes Super Stars' DVD sets, however were cropped to 16:9).[16]
The set will include the following cartoons:[17]
Bonus Shorts
edit| # | Title | Characters | Year | Director | Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1 | Stork Naked | Daffy | 1955 | Friz Freleng | MM |
| B2 | Lighter Than Hare | Bugs, Sam | 1960 | Friz Freleng | MM |
See also
edit- Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography
- Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography (1929–1939)
- Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography (1940–1949)
- Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography (1950–1959)
- Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography (1960–1969)
- Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies filmography (1970–present and miscellaneous)
References
edit- ^ Millard, Tim (April 3, 2023). "Warner Archive May Part 1 Release Announcement: Border Incident, Clash By Night, Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 1". The Extras. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ a b c Miller III, Randy (May 15, 2023). "Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 1 Blu-ray". Blu-Ray.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Millard, Tim (May 23, 2023). "Looney Tunes Review & Collector's Choice Vol. 1 Preview". The Extras. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ "Warner Archive Announcement". Facebook. September 18, 2023.
- ^ a b Millard III, Tim (January 23, 2024). "Warner Archive February & Early March Release Announcement". The Extras.TV. Otaku. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Yes, it is happening.....Warner Archive Collection will be releasing LOONEY TUNES COLLECTOR'S CHOICE VOLUME 4 on Blu-Ray". Facebook. Warner Archive. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volumes 1-4 Blu-ray (Warner Archive Collection). Retrieved October 18, 2024 – via www.blu-ray.com.
- ^ Beck, Jerry (April 10, 2023). "Looney Tunes Collectors Choice Vol. 1". Cartoon Research. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Komorowski, Thad (May 16, 2023). "Thad K Reviews "Looney Tunes Collectors Choice" Vol. 1". Cartoon Research. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (January 3, 2023). "HBO Max Removes 256 'Looney Tunes' Shorts, Three Seasons of 'The Flintstones'". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ Miller III, Randy (December 13, 2023). "Looney Tunes Collector's Choice: Volume 2 Blu-ray Review". Blu-Ray.com. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Millard, Tim (December 12, 2023). "Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 2 Blu-Ray Preview". The Extras. Otaku Media. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ Komorowski, Thad (December 11, 2023). "Thad K Reviews "Looney Tunes Collectors Choice" Vol. 2". Cartoon Research. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Komorowski, Thad (February 22, 2024). "Thad K. Reviews Looney Tunes: Collector's Choice Vol. 3". cartoonresearch.com. Cartoon Research. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
- ^ "COMING TO BLU-RAY FROM THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION ON MARCH 12th: LOONEY TUNES COLLECTOR'S CHOICE VOL. 3". Warner Archive Collection. Facebook. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Millard, Tim (September 20, 2024). "Top Cat's a Cool Cat! PLUS an EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEAK of Looney Tunes Collector's Choice Vol. 4". The Extras. Okatu Media. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Coming to Blu-ray from the Warner Archive Collection on November 26th! LOONEY TUNES COLLECTOR'S CHOICE-Vol.4". Facebook. Warner Classics. September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.