“Warner Bros. Just Pulled the Plug on ‘Looney Tunes’—Fans Are NOT Laughing!”
In a move that has left fans fuming, Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max has completely removed the original Looney Tunes shorts from its streaming platform. Yes, you read that right—Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig have officially hopped off the digital stage, and viewers are not happy about it.
The Disappearing Act
The classic Looney Tunes shorts, spanning from 1930 to 1969, were among the most influential pieces of animation ever created. Many of these timeless toons—some even Academy Award winners or National Film Registry inductees—have now been deemed expendable under WBD’s ongoing content strategy shuffle. According to reports, the company’s focus on “adult and family programming” led to the removal, implying that these multi-generational classics are being sidelined as mere “kids’ content.”
This isn’t the first time the fate of Looney Tunes has been uncertain. Back in January 2023, HBO Max dropped over 250 classic shorts, only to later reinstate some. Then, in February 2024, Max swapped around 130 Looney Tunes shorts, bringing back legendary episodes like Porky’s Duck Hunt, One Froggy Evening, and What’s Opera, Doc? But now? The classics are gone entirely.
A Pattern of Disappointment for Animation Fans
Warner Bros. Discovery’s handling of its animation catalog has sparked a wave of backlash. The company has made questionable cuts and cancellations, including:
- The complete shutdown of Boomerang’s classic cartoon service in 2023.
- The closure of CartoonNetwork.com, a nostalgic digital hub for fans.
- The shelving of the hybrid feature Coyote vs. Acme, scrapped for a $70 million tax write-off.
- Dropping the animated film The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie, which finally found a release through Ketchup Entertainment.
These decisions suggest that WBD’s animation catalog isn’t exactly a priority—a bitter pill for die-hard fans who grew up watching these classics.
What’s Left for Looney Tunes Fans?
While the classics are gone, Max still offers some Looney Tunes spinoffs and newer adaptations, including:
- Looney Tunes Cartoons (6 seasons)
- New Looney Tunes (2 seasons, though some episodes are missing)
- Baby Looney Tunes (2 seasons)
- Tiny Toons Looniversity (2 seasons + Spring Break special)
- The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries (5 seasons)
- Bugs Bunny Builders (2 seasons, preschool-focused)
But let’s be real—while these newer versions have their charm, they don’t quite capture the slapstick brilliance, clever wordplay, and chaotic energy of the originals.
What Happens Next?
With no official statement on whether Looney Tunes will return to Max, fans are left wondering if they’ll have to rely on physical media, digital purchases, or alternative streaming services to enjoy their favorite animated shorts.
For now, it seems like the golden age of animation is getting the short end of the stick, and for a franchise whose catchphrase is “That’s All, Folks!”, fans are hoping this removal isn’t truly the end of the line.
