"Tiny Toons Looniversity" Season 1 Talkback (Spoilers)

[pallas]

That's a reach. That particular trope existed loooooong before 1972. It's not like Charles Schulz invented that. There are so many iterations of this trope that it's almost pointless to pick an example.

I'd be interesting in hearing the best example you can think of: which pre Clara/ Elmyra cartoon should I check out that features a girl kidnapping animals?

 

[Silverstar]

I'd be interesting in hearing the best example you can think of: which pre Clara/ Elmyra cartoon should I check out that features a girl kidnapping animals?

First, you're being extremely literal here; do you specifically want examples of girls deliberately kidnapping animals or the general gag of kids going too far with their playtime and torturing the poor creatures in the process? Because the latter's a pretty old trope. To name just three examples off the top of my head:

• The Tom & Jerry short "Baby Puss" (1943)
• The aforementioned WB short "A Kiddy's Kitty" (1955)
• Another WB short, "A Waggily Tale" (1958)

All made before 1972.

I'm just saying that it's a tad presumptuous to state that Clara from Snoopy, Come Home was THE direct inspiration for Elmyra Duff, unless you know of someone who worked on the show who can actually confirm this, in which case I would say if you possess some form of inside information, please share it with the rest of the class. Otherwise, it's just speculation.

-Just to get back on-topic, I wonder how the producers are going to work Elmyra into the show, given that they've stated that she won't be a student or a member of the faculty, given how focused this series on the characters' academic lives and how even the typically non-anthropomorphic characters like Furrball and Barky Marky are students here. I guess the gang will just inadvertently cross paths with her in some way. This episode could be when Elmer Fudd makes his first actual appearance on this show; so far he's only been seen as a statue on campus, he appears in a photo and he's mentioned as the villain in the play "Wabbit Season".

 

[Fone Bone]

I think what amazes me about the praise the show is getting is nobody but me has really commented on how poor the scripts are and how the show isn't funny. For some reason it's getting a HUGE free pass for both of those things. I understand why the original show got that same free pass (cartoons back then didn't tend to be funny, OR well-written, as rule) but in the years since, animated comedy has made a big comeback, as has animation with solid non-cliche scripts. I don't get why this show isn't being dragged on more.

 

[Goldstar!]

I think what amazes me about the praise the show is getting is nobody but me has really commented on how poor the scripts are and how the show isn't funny. For some reason it's getting a HUGE free pass for both of those things. I understand why the original show got that same free pass (cartoons back then didn't tend to be funny, OR well-written, as rule) but in the years since, animated comedy has made a big comeback, as has animation with solid non-cliche scripts. I don't get why this show isn't being dragged on more.

Well, I can't speak for everyone, but the reasons why I haven't said a whole lot about Tiny Toons Loooniversity so far is because:

a) While this show isn't perfection, I've seen much worse. I've seen every episode of Loonatics Unleashed. TTL looks like Masterpiece Theater in comparison. And...

b) I've only seen the first 10 episodes. Usually, if a show doesn't do anything for me after 3 episodes, I'm done with it. However, TTL doesn't repulse me, although there are some notable flaws in the writing and character development, so I'm going to try to wait until I've seen all of the episodes made for this season so that I can judge the season as a whole.

There are some things that I like about TTL (such as rock 'n' roll Granny being the dean and no "shipper" moments) and some things that I don't (such as Babs being somewhat restrained). Overall, I find TTL to be a tad more ambitious than Animaniacs 2020 was. It seemed that with A! 2020, they were just going through the motions and hoping that this would be as popular as its predecessor. Animainiacs 2020 tried to make lightning strike twice, whereas TTL is trying to introduce these characters to a new generation of fans. A! 2020 lost me the moment that I learned that Slappy Squirrel wouldn't be rertuning. Going back to just a few months earlier, I said that I didn't think either show needed to be rebooted, and I stand by my original statement. I would have much rather gotten a new Looney Tunes series or a completely new show that's not based on any existing franchise than reboots of TTA or A!.

 

[Fone Bone]

Loonatics Unleashes should NOT be the comedy bar. Especially in 2023.

Do you know what else the Hulu Animaniacs was? Funny. No, it didn't break any comedic barriers, but I never cringed, and I laughed quite a bit.

 

[pallas]

I think what amazes me about the praise the show is getting is nobody but me has really commented on how poor the scripts are and how the show isn't funny.

I thought episode 10, "The Show Must Hop On" was genuinely funny with the characters throwing tantrums over the casting decisions leading to legit funny moments. I thought "The Looney Tune Show" was very funny and felt this episode got closest to that higher bar of Looney Tune characters in a sitcom situation.

Now that's kind of damning it with faint praise to say one out of 10 episodes was funny, I watched a Youtube review where a fan of the original Tiny Toons said only about 20% of the Tiny Toons Looniversity jokes are landing with him, and I agree the show isn't as funny as it should be.

But when the show fails to be funny it's still often cute, depicting a idealized version of college where everyone is supportive and friendly. So, a number of episodes are fun in a adorable way, even if they are not so funny, to me.

 

[pallas]

I'm just saying that it's a tad presumptuous to state that Clara from Snoopy, Come Home was THE direct inspiration for Elmyra Duff,

That's not what I said though, I said if anything inspired her I think it's likely to be Clara. I never said I actually knew whether Elmyra was inspired by Clara.

As for Tiny Toons Looniversity, I wonder if they'll just have Elmyra be the host of a children's show or something unrelated to her old role, the way that they had Elmer Fudd be a news anchor in the Looney Tunes Show? I'm not sure if Elmyra's old schtick really fits in this world. They could have her be an annoying child actor that Babs has to direct, or something....

Edited to add: Also... Elmer Fudd's backstory is he was a school shooter who tried to kill the rabbits who were freshman at Acme Looniversity in 1933, and they named a dorm after him? They're really gonna have to gloss over that if they ever use the character...

 

[Petran Markou]

I disagree. No offense meant, but I think you're over thinking it. To me, it was just an excuse to show why Fifi couldn't accompany Buster to the concert and also to establish what kind of character Fifi is. It's what known as a "light gag" and not a major plot point. It's funnier that we don't know everything that went down.

We (the audience) don't need to know all the details because it's not important to the episode or to the series as a whole. Over explaining a joke ruins the joke.

the issue is that they show that their stance not to include
relations wasn't because it supposedly would be a detriment to the kids target group. Though OG Animaniacs faced similar issues about the kidfriendliness and fortunately producers did not pay attention to the higher ups at all. Eg they labelled the songs as too hip and wanted them along the style of Barney.

TTL producers don't want to include relationships out of their own principles or probably the higher-ups. Or else they would not have mentioned anything at all about relationships.

 

[Silverstar]

^^Repeat to yourself "It's just a show; I should really just relax."

 

[pallas]

the issue is that they show that their stance not to include
relations wasn't because it supposedly would be a detriment to the kids target group. Though OG Animaniacs faced similar issues about the kidfriendliness and fortunately producers did not pay attention to the higher ups at all. Eg they labelled the songs as too hip and wanted them along the style of Barney.

TTL producers don't want to include relationships out of their own principles or probably the higher-ups. Or else they would not have mentioned anything at all about relationships.

A showrunner who doesn't do the writing was asked why Buster and Babs are twins now and they said" I think maybe a younger audience doesn’t want to see cartoons making out."

I read that as a joke dryly making fun of TTA more than a serious comment, but I could be wrong.

 

[Petran Markou]

^^Repeat to yourself "It's just a show; I should really just relax."

Of course but may I remind you what happened here when I in a relaxed manner compared Spongebob to the Snorks

 

[Silverstar]

Of course but may I remind you what happened here when I in a relaxed manner compared Spongebob to the Snorks

That's because your "comparison" was accusatory, inaccurate and factually incorrect. As I recall, you claimed that SpongeBob Squarepants was a ripoff of Snorks, which it isn't. The two shows have nothing in common beyond both being set in underwater societies, and Snorks wasn't even the first cartoon to do that. There was no conscious attempt by Stephen Hillenberg to copy Snorks when he created SpongeBob; just because two shows share some surface level or cosmetic similarities doesn't automatically make one a ripoff of the other. When you make an unfounded, superficial and frankly, unfair accusation like that, you're going to receive pushback.

Here, you're reading way too much into what was just a single throwaway line. It was literally just a joke. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Fifi's offhand remark from that one episode doesn't require this:

But I think we've muddied the waters enough with this particular topic. I'm all for talking about something, anything, regarding TTL besides romantic relationships. Who's with me?

 

[Goldstar!]

One thing that I find to be somewhat curious on this show is that (so far), Babs hasn't done a single impression, whereas in the original series that was one of the things that the character was known for. Even Buster marveled on Babs' ability to do impressions. As I understand it, Ashleigh Crystal Hairston can do impressions, but for some reason she hasn't been asked to do any as of yet.

Also (and this is minor), from a design standpoint, I do like how Buster doesn't wear gloves in this series. Even before, there was real reason for him to wear gloves except that he wanted to emulate his hero, Bugs Bunny.

 

[Petran Markou]

That's because your "comparison" was accusatory, inaccurate and factually incorrect. As I recall, you claimed that SpongeBob Squarepants was a ripoff of Snorks, which it isn't. The two shows have nothing in common beyond both being set in underwater societies, and Snorks wasn't even the first cartoon to do that. There was no conscious attempt by Stephen Hillenberg to copy Snorks when he created SpongeBob; just because two shows share some surface level or cosmetic similarities doesn't automatically make one a ripoff of the other. When you make an unfounded, superficial and frankly, unfair accusation like that, you're going to receive pushback.

Here, you're reading way too much into what was just a single throwaway line. It was literally just a joke. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Fifi's offhand remark from that one episode doesn't require this:

View attachment 302295

But I think we've muddied the waters enough with this particular topic. I'm all for talking about something, anything, regarding TTL besides romantic relationships. Who's with me?

The thing is, when here one is jesting, others take it seriously, when on the other hand one tries to discuss after watching a series, others say there is no need for the topic to be taken too seriously

A little confusing, hopefully just in a whimsical way.

 

[Goldstar!]

The thing is, when here one is jesting, others take it seriously, when on the other hand one tries to discuss after watching a series, others say there is no need for the topic to be taken too seriously

A little confusing, hopefully just in a whimsical way.

Just let it go, man. Some things are worth going into a deep dive over, and some aren't.

With that, I refer you all to my previous post:

One thing that I find to be somewhat curious on this show is that (so far), Babs hasn't done a single impression, whereas in the original series that was one of the things that the character was known for. Even Buster marveled on Babs' ability to do impressions. As I understand it, Ashleigh Crystal Hairston can do impressions, but for some reason she hasn't been asked to do any as of yet.

Also (and this is minor), from a design standpoint, I do like how Buster doesn't wear gloves in this series. Even before, there was real reason for him to wear gloves except that he wanted to emulate his hero, Bugs Bunny.

Thoughts?

 

[Petran Markou]

sure I will. Triffles.

 

[Markus Nelis]

While it isn't as good as the original, it's still better than all the CN reboots so far. This is how you make a good reboot, I'd say.

 

[Perla Magica]

I had doubts about how this reboot will go, but ultimately I can say, this reboot is very decent. It's even better than the original show in terms of animation, and the humor is sometimes amusing.

 

[harry580]

calling it now, this reboot is better than the animaniacs reboot in my opinion, if theres a third animaniacs show, they could take notes from this

 

[Silverstar]

calling it now, this reboot is better than the animaniacs reboot in my opinion, if theres a third animaniacs show, they could take notes from this

I really hope there isn't another A! reboot, not unless they do it the way Tom Ruegger wanted to do it. We need new ideas; in order for reboots and revivals to exist, original shows need to exist. Producers can't just keep going back to the nostalgia well forever.