The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie

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The Day the Earth Blew Up:
A Looney Tunes Movie
The Day the Earth Blew Up A Looney Tunes Movie poster.jpg
Teaser poster
Directed by Pete Browngardt
Written by
  • Darrick Bachman
  • Pete Browngardt
  • Kevin Costello
  • Andrew Dickman
  • David Gemmill
  • Alex Kirwan
  • Ryan Kramer
  • Jason Reicher
  • Michael Ruocco
  • Johnny Ryan
  • Eddie Trigueros
Based on Looney Tunes
by Warner Bros.
Starring
Edited byNick Simotas
Music byJoshua Moshier
Production
company
Distributed by Ketchup Entertainment
Release dates
  • June 11, 2024 (2024-06-11)(Annecy)
  • February 28, 2025 (2025-02-28)(United States)
Running time
91 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is a 2024 American animated science fiction comedy film produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Directed by Pete Browngardt in his directorial debut, it is the first original fully animated feature film of the Looney Tunes franchise to receive a worldwide theatrical release. The film is an adaptation of the Looney Tunes Cartoons series developed by Browngardt and features the voices of Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicol, Fred Tatasciore, and Laraine Newman. Its story centers on Daffy Duck and Porky Pig as they try to save the Earth from an alien invasion.

Contents

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 11, 2024, and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States by Ketchup Entertainment on February 28, 2025, making it the second Looney Tunes film to not be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures domestically after Bugs Bunny Superstar (which was originally released by United Artists).

Premise

Due to a series of antics at the bubblegum factory, Daffy Duck and Porky Pig discover a secret alien plot to take over the Earth via mind-control. The duo must work together to stop the aliens, while trying to avoid driving each other insane. [2]

Voice cast

Production

In September 2021, it was reported that a film based on the Looney Tunes Cartoons series was in development at Warner Bros. Animation, focusing on Daffy Duck and Porky Pig. [4] Kevin Costello, who previously wrote Warner Animation Group's Tom & Jerry released earlier that year, was announced as the writer, with Pete Browngardt returning from Looney Tunes Cartoons as an executive producer and director. [2] Eric Bauza reprised his voice role as Daffy and took over as the voice of Porky, replacing Bob Bergen. [5] Candi Milo replaced Lara Jill Miller as Petunia Pig. [3] Additional starring cast members include Peter MacNicol, Fred Tatasciore, Laraine Newman, and Wayne Knight. [1]

Release

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie was originally set to be released on Max, which was then known as HBO Max, and the "ACME Night" block on Cartoon Network. [4] However in August 2022, it was reported that due to a restructuring at Warner Bros. Discovery, the film would no longer be released on HBO Max nor Cartoon Network and that instead would be shopped around to other streaming services. [6] In June 2023, the film was retitled Looney Tunes: Bubble Brains. [7] In October 2023, it was announced that the film would instead be released in theaters in 2024, with the title reverting to the original; GFM Animation launched sales and presented first-look footage at the American Film Market, which ran from October 31 to November 5, 2023. [8] [9]

The film's world premiere took place at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival celebration on June 11, 2024. [10] [1] It was first released theatrically in Germany and Switzerland by the local branch of Warner Bros. Pictures on August 1, 2024. [1] [11] [12] [13] That same month, it was announced that Ketchup Entertainment acquired North American theatrical distribution rights. [14] The film was screened at the Animation Is Film Festival in Los Angeles on October 19, 2024. [15] It is scheduled to be released theatrically in the United States on February 28, 2025. [16]

Marketing

The film was promoted during the Warner Bros. Discovery panel at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, where the film's original title was unveiled. [17] An early animation clip for the film was released on September 22, 2022. It was shown during the Warner Bros. Animation panel at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. [18]

Reception

Upon its respective premieres in Annecy and Los Angeles, The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie received overwhelmingly positive reactions from attendees. [19] [20] Peter Debruge of Variety praised the film for its comedy and emotional core, and felt that the entire project was "crafted with love and a genuine respect for the franchise". [1] Rafael Motomayor of IGN awarded the film a 9 out of 10 star rating. He praised its comedy, emotional core, animation, and Bauza's voice performances, and referred to it as "one of the funniest movies of the year". [21]

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References

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  2. 1 2 Milligan, Mercedes (September 1, 2021). "WarnerMedia Kids & Family Launching 'ACME Night' Block Sept. 19". Animation Magazine . Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
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  4. 1 2 "WarnerMedia Kids & Family Launches New Family Destination, ACME Night, Sundays on Cartoon Network Starting Sept. 19 and HBO Max Next Year" (Press release). WarnerMedia. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
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