Warner Brothers' decision to remove its entire catalog of original Looney Tunes shorts from HBO Max is a significant blow to fans and animation enthusiasts alike. Spanning from 1930 to 1969, these shorts represent a "golden age" of animation and played a pivotal role in establishing Warner Brothers as a major player in the entertainment industry.
According to Deadline, this move is part of a broader strategy to focus on adult and family programming, as children's content reportedly does not attract substantial viewership on the platform. This decision seems to overlook the cultural significance of the Looney Tunes series. Notably, HBO also ended its partnership with Sesame Street for new episodes at the end of 2024, despite the show's long-standing contribution to childhood education since 1969. While some newer Looney Tunes spinoffs are still available on HBO Max, the essence of the franchise has been removed.
The timing of this decision is particularly odd, coinciding with the theatrical release of "The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Story" on March 14. Originally commissioned by Max, the film was sold to Ketchup Entertainment after the Warner Brothers and Discovery merger. The limited marketing budget for the film, distributed across over 2,800 theaters nationwide, resulted in a modest box office opening of just over $3 million.
The recent controversy surrounding "Coyote Vs. Acme," another Looney Tunes project that Warner Brothers Discovery chose not to release despite its completion, has fueled further frustration among fans and artists. The decision not to distribute "Coyote Vs. Acme" was criticized heavily, with actor Will Forte labeling it as "f—king bulls—t" and expressing his anger over the studio's choice.
This series of decisions by Warner Brothers reflects a troubling trend of prioritizing financial considerations over the cultural and historical value of their content, leaving many to question the future of beloved franchises like Looney Tunes.
