“The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” released on March 14, 2025, is a brand new 2D animated film directed by Pete Browngardt, and distributed through Ketchup Entertainment. Despite a low marketing budget, “Looney Tunes” returns to the big screen as looney as ever.
Story
This sci-fi inspired story follows Daffy Duck and Porky Pig growing up as siblings, looking to scrape up enough money to fix their roof that has mysteriously broken apart through the night. Meeting Petunia Pig, a taste scientist working at the local gum factory, the dynamic duo start to work in the gum factory, leading to a complete alien takeover of earth. With Daffy, Porky and Petunia as the last non-brainwashed beings on earth, it is up to them to save the world from bubblegum-fused aliens.
Characters
While Porky Pig is still the same pants-less, overthinking and stuttering pig we know from throughout “Looney Tunes” history, this Daffy Duck is less of the grumpy, fame-craving, selfish duck we have seen in recent representations. Daffy Duck is a chaotic and misguided duck who means well and has his friends at heart, harkening back to the original cartoon Daffy, who was more looney and less mad.
“In the early black-and-white Clampett, they lived together and they don’t always want to kill each other,” Browngardt said in an interview with The Moveable Fest. “Porky and Daffy have the Yin and Yang personality like Abbott and Costello, so it made it a little bit easier to say, ‘Okay, I can make a movie out with them, I can tell a larger story with them because they have a relationship and you can put that through its paces.’”
Surprisingly, both characters are developed through the course of the movie, understanding their flaws and growing closer as brothers. Seeing Daffy take a step back from running head first into a problem, and seeing Porky actively thinking on his feet would almost be a surreal experience if the movie didn’t properly build their characters up to that point.
Animation
After seeing shows such as “Invincible” season 3 and “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” this year, we are slowly accepting mediocre animation for classic franchises. In an era where the animation industry is being mistreated, and animation is on a decline, “The Day the Earth Blew Up” is a breath of fresh air, with beautiful hand-drawn art, fluid animation all throughout and scenes that deviate from the set art style in creative ways.
Comedy
Despite a few topical jokes riddled throughout the film, all of the slapstick hijinks feels right at home with the older “Looney Tunes” comedy. From fourth-wall breaks and jokes that go over children’s heads, to Daffy wrecking everything in sight with a giant mallet, there are jokes for everyone in the audience.
Conclusion
“The Day the Earth Blew Up” is a love letter to old “Looney Tunes” cartoons, and a breath of fresh air for fans of the animation industry. Whether you grew up watching the original “Looney Tunes” cartoons, or you haven’t seen them a day in your life, just about any viewer can find some enjoyment out of the story, the comedy, or the characters. Despite some scenes running just a tad too long, the film is a welcomed return for the “Looney Tunes” to the big screen.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
