Looney Tunes Collector’s Choice Volume 1 [Blu-ray]

Twenty years ago, with the advent of DVD, Warner Bros. stated that their goal was to restore every classic Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies short and release them all on disc. Many DVD and blu-ray releases later, there is *still* a lot of the WB cartoon library left to release on physical media.Over time, DVD sales started to dwindle in favor of streaming services. The market for lavish, multi-disc sets of old cartoons with tons of bonus features and expert commentaries simply wasn’t there anymore…at least, that was WB’s logic for pumping the brakes. They claimed sales didn’t make enough money to justify new restorations and releases. After six “Golden Collection” DVD sets, and three “Platinum” blu-ray collections, as well as a series of bargain “Super Stars” character-themed DVDS, they were content to simply repackage and re-release the same material, when they did anything at all.But when the otherwise reckless AT&T Company briefly acquired Warner Bros., they funded the restoration of a HUGE chunk of cartoons for streaming and TV broadcast. This included many classic shorts that are fan favorites and TV staples, and still existed in master copies unsuitable for the HD era, especially for the newly-launched HBO Max.These long overdue remasters debuted on HBO Max, MeTv, and other outlets worldwide, but aside from a nice blu-ray set of Bugs Bunny shorts commemorating that character’s 80th anniversary, those of us who have collected these classics on disc for two decades felt slighted. We still want to own copies of these films, and HBO Max’s sudden decision to remove half of them from their streaming platform earlier this year was even more frustrating.Enter Jerry Beck and George Feltenstein, the masterminds between virtually all of the previous physical releases, and the wonderful folks at Warner Archive. They have finally convinced the company’s “kids and family” division to loosen their chokehold on the Looney Tunes shorts, thanks largely to the excellent job they did on releases of the MGM Tex Avery and Paramount “Popeye” shorts. Now, they can market the Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies library to those of us who want to complete our collections!With “Looney Tunes: Collectors Choice Vol. 1”, they’ve given us 20 classic Warner Bros. cartoons, all completely new to blu-ray, some restored specifically for this disc.These cartoons look better than they ever have. The clarity and color are jaw-dropping, to the point that if you pause a scene, you’ll think you’re looking at an actual cel on top of a background. The backgrounds are particularly striking, as individual brush strokes and pencil marks are visible, and those painted in watercolor reveal the texture of the actual paper in some cases.You’ve likely seen all of these before, on television, VHS, Laserdisc, or streaming, but let me reiterate: you’ve NEVER seen them in the quality they’re presented in here. Not by a long shot! This release is a home run.While it’s nice to at least have streaming and digital TV rips, digital downloads, and the like (fans have done a wonderful job capturing and compiling almost everything), there’s no substitute for a physical copy in true HD.Some discerning fans have complained about the heavy-handed digital manipulation of the title cards In many of the AT&T-era restorations, but this release corrects, or at least crops out, most of them. Once you see the “body” of each short, you won’t care anyway!I’ve written about a few highlights, and included some screen shots below. It’s been suggested that if this sells well, there will be more to come. Let’s make that happen!“Beanstalk Bunny”(Chuck Jones, 1955). This cartoon is worth the price of admission alone. It was previously available on VHS and Laserdisc, but due to damaged film elements, it hadn’t been restored in HD…until now, and it’s breathtaking. Seeing it uncut, with vibrant colors and at the correct speed is a revelation (It was often edited and time-compressed for TV airings). Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck find themselves in the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk". You're not a true Looney Tunes fan if you've never seen this one, and if it's new to you, welcome to the club!Hip Hip-Hurry! (Chuck Jones, 1958) is one of two Road Runner cartoons included on this set, and it has always looked “off” due to bleeding colors. This new remaster corrects that, and you finally get the effect background artist Maurice Noble was going for with the vibrant yellow sky. It looks a lot like Western Texas during a dust storm. At the time it was made, the Warner Bros. Orchestra was on strike, so director Jones had to rely on a library of stock music cues, and film editor Treg Brown’s brilliant use of sound effects. Study the scene of Wile E. Coyote testing an energy drink on a mouse before using it himself if you want to see some of the finest sound editing ever done.Catch as Cats Can (1947, Art Davis)Another brand new restoration done specifically for this release, this cartoon is one of two Sylvester cartoons directed by Arthur Davis. Mel Blanc experimented with a different voice for the character here, and thankfully returned to the familiar, sloppy lisp we all know and love. Sylvester gets mixed up in a feud between a canary and parrot (caricatures of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby). The clarity and vibrant color are astounding compared to any previous copy I’ve ever seen.The Unruly Hare (1945, Frank Tashlin)Elmer Fudd, a railroad surveyor, wants to clear a path to lay railroad tracks. Bugs Bunny stands in his way. Tashlin only directed a couple of Bugs Bunny cartoons, but they’re gems, and while this one’s remaster didn’t impress me on Max, it shines here.His Bitter Half (1950, Friz Freleng)Another one that will make you wonder: “How has this not been on DVD or blu-ray yet?!” Daffy Duck marries a widow for her money, but she turns out to be an abusive nightmare who forces him to play with her unruly son! Background artist Paul Julian really shines in this one, with details and lighting that weren’t evident before this restoration. Director Freleng’s perfect comedic timing is on full display.A Fractured Leghorn (1950, Robert McKimson) I’ve been begging for a copy of this one. Not only does it look amazing, it’s still one of the funniest of McKimson’s Foghorn Leghorn shorts. Foghorn tangles with a cat over a worm. If you don’t like this one: “Awwwww, SHUT UP!”“Two Gophers From Texas” (Arthur Davis, 1948)One of the absolute funniest cartoons Art Davis made during his brief tenure as a director. Easily the best of the Goofy Gophers’ appearances.I won't review every cartoon. Just buy this, and enjoy every second.

Got this for my grandson. He likes it. Fun to sit and watch these cute cartoons with the grandkids.

Love this

I pre-ordered the new Looney Tunes blu ray "Collector's Choice Volume 1" and it came yesterday. I'm pleased with it! The selection of shorts on this one seem to be entirely new, not just to home video but, like, I've not seen but one of them before so it was a treat. I got a decent laugh from most of them because I've not yet played them out. When it comes to Looney Tunes at large there are classics like Duck Amuck that almost always work, then there are some that depend on what mood I'm in like the Penguin ones, and then there are some that I have no use for whatsoever like the "Bruin" Bears (as I call them) who make an appearance here.There's something wonderful about the picture that I don't know how to explain, it's restored and scanned in at high resolution and looks great, but it also looks... organic. It's gorgeous. (I am a sucker for the film look, so maybe it's just me.) Some of the cartoons, in my opinion, look as though you're watching the actual film rather than a digital video, perhaps it's the softness, or the layers of handling on the pictures, or the well preserved grain or something, I don't know. At any rate, I love the fact that they didn't shrink down the opening splash screens (or whatever you want to call it) because when they do that it makes it feel very much like a "preserved" historical image, like you're watching a museum piece or something. They way they're presented here, with everything in full screen all the way through makes them feel alive, like they're still going and haven't missed a beat, just like they appeared on TV when I was a kid.Even the sound is decent with the highs and lows crisp and deep (respectively) regardless of being monophonic sound and not stereo.It also made me think a little bit. One thing that stood out to me is the particular selection of Daffy Duck shorts on this release. I genuinely laughed at these because they were new to me and they were developed with great quality writing and directing (the comedy was brilliantly Daffy-esque in His Bitter Half). But I also see a transitional take on Daffy that I never paid much attention to until now. I've always been aware that there were two major takes on Daffy, Screwball Daffy where he was clever and witty, and Sarcastic Jerk Daffy where he was essentially a disgruntled failure, but I never much thought about how or when the transition between them may have happened. It seems to me that cartoon shorts such as His Bitter Half, Cracked Quack, Daffy Doodles (all of which are on this release), and Henpecked Duck (which I have on a cheap Dollar Store DVD) have at least some value in marking Daffy's journey from screwball to screwup. In Daffy Doodles he's still the very competent screwball antagonist, but his later style of dialogue delivery and tone of voice are beginning to emerge. Someone better versed on the history than I am may know, but I'm wondering if the change in Daffy's character began with the "married life" cartoons where he ends up with a "wife" who is intolerable and abusive. The fact that he can't attract a better class of mate insinuates his own relational incompetence, and it just naturally progresses from there to the logical conclusion of a disgruntled screwup who lacks self awareness.At any rate, I have enjoyed watching this Blu-Ray and am very pleased to have it as part of my cartoon collection.

I enjoyed this. The only issue I have was that I thought it would be in wider format seeing how its a Bluray. Overall great nostalgic cartoons that are great for kids and people of all ages.

Great item, just as described! Will definitely order from you again.